The Main's shortlist for Burger Week 2025

A block from Concordia University, Patty Slaps is a fresh take on the smash burger. With their perfectly crispy AAA Canadian beef patties, a homemade pretzel bun by Gandom Bakery, and toppings like truffle oil mayo and mushrooms, this spot delivers big flavour in every bite.

The fries here hold their own too—golden, crispy, and just the right amount to pair with your burger, alongside house-made dipping sauces. We’re down with the black pepper-forward poutine, as well. All this is offered in a laid-back yet detail-driven space where quality doesn’t play second fiddle to speed.Pair it all with a cold beer from La Knowlton Co. or a soft drink, and you’re good to go. This is fast food, elevated.

Since it opened its doors in 2010, Fabergé has become a Mile End mainstay for those in search of a laid-back yet energetic atmosphere fuelled by brunches full of creative eggs Benedicts to a signature breakfast poutine served with a velvety hollandaise.

The charm of Fabergé lies not only in its indulgent menu, but also in its vibe. It’s casual yet cool, with a welcoming energy that’s perfectly suited to its crowd. The place is decked out with mid-century modern touches—Eames chairs and a mural by local artist Philippe Legris that displays a map of Montreal adds some neighbourhood flair.

Weekends come with lines out the door, a testament to its ongoing popularity. But with Fabergé, the wait is always worth it. It’s a spot that’s become ingrained in the Mile End brunch circuit, perfect for those who appreciate a place where comfort food meets creativity in the best way.

Housed in what used to be a La Belle Province, Resto-Bar Le Pick Up’s revamped diner keeps the casse-croûte soul alive with retro booths and the right touch of kitsch. The menu, honed by the team behind Dépanneur Le Pick Up and Alexandraplatz (RIP), offers elevated versions of comfort food classics. Expect fried cauliflower that gives fried chicken a run for its money, pulled pork sandwiches worthy of a medal, and fries so crisp they might make you question loyalty to any other potato. Burgers are, of course, more than a solid bet. The drinks lineup balances craft beer, natural wines, and cocktails, all meant to be enjoyed with a sandwich in hand. Bonus: it’s queer-friendly and community-rooted, embodying Hochelaga’s evolving vibe.

Le Jus is what happens when a systems-minded chef with a background in structure and hustle finally builds his own late-night burger joint. After helping shape operations at Café Kuya, Justin Bragg opened this halal-friendly comfort food counter in NDG, bringing with him the same mix of discipline, flavour, and DIY spirit. The menu is short and deliberate—smashburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, cheese fries, and frozen Shirley Temples—from a kitchen that stays open past the point when a lot of NDG has called it a night.

Paulo et Suzanne has been dishing out everything that’s classically Québecois since 1980. Its retro American diner vibe—think black and white tiles and vintage art—sets the stage for one of the city’s best diners. Here, you’re going to want what’s traditional, like two-egg platters for breakfast and famous poutines that can come as classic or as dressed crazily as you want ‘em with ‘toppings’ like whole hamburgers. Open 24 hours on the weekend and until the late hours of the morning throughout the rest of the week, the owners here take pride in a loyal staff that delivers top-notch service.

After more than 15 years holding it down on Crescent Street, Burger Bar has earned its reputation not just for towering burgers, but for how seriously it takes the craft. The team’s approach is indulgent by design—double-blanched fries, candied bacon jam, garlic mayo made in-house, and patties crowned with everything from blue cheese to mini poutines. Even their most over-the-top creations are thought through, each ingredient chosen to balance out the next. The kitchen doesn’t cut corners, and neither does the team—staff tend to stick around, and in over a decade, they’ve had just three chefs. That consistency has made them a standout during Burger Week and a go-to for game nights, weekend crowds, and the all-out frenzy of F1. You don’t come here for restraint.

What happens when three veterans of one of Montreal’s most high-end steakhouses decide to scale things down? In Little Burgundy, it led to Mauvais Garçons—a relaxed, detail-driven restaurant where comfort food gets a sharp edit. Chef Robert Goldberg (formerly of La Queue de Cheval, Maison Boulud, and Le Pois Penché) puts out small plates that lean familiar—sliders, tartare, fried chicken—but every element is house-made and deliberately chosen, from the terrines to the pasta. The goal isn’t to surprise so much as to refine, turning recognisable dishes into something memorable. There’s a solid cocktail list, a wine program with fine-dining roots, and daily oyster happy hours that draw in a post-work crowd. The space—copper-accented and softly industrial—balances its polish with a lived-in energy that suits the street.

Part café, part bar, part urban farm, Café Monk is a daytime hangout and nighttime restaurant rooted in the heart of Ville-Émard. It lives inside a former Laurentian Bank—vault still intact—and runs on a tight loop of local sourcing, in-house prep, and seasonal menus. Co-founded by a crew of industry vets and neighbourhood collaborators, the space pulls double duty: laptop-friendly by day with an all-day brunch menu, then shifting into apéro mode with cocktails, wine, and hearty plates come evening. Downstairs, Ferme Fortuna grows mushrooms, herbs, and leafy greens to feed the kitchen’s ever-evolving menu. The drinks program skews hyper-local, from Quebec beers and natural wines to a coffee program helmed by Escape Roasters. It’s rare to find a spot that does this much without the vibe getting muddled—but Café Monk pulls it off. Friendly, flexible, and fresh in every sense.