Chuck's first came to my attention through previous Tour guest Claes Oldenburger, who went to Chuck's a few weeks earlier. Although burger joints are a dime a dozen these days, this one had a snazzy logo and the never before seen "Guilty Pleasure" burger, made from ground bacon. Yep, I said it.
Chuck's small and cozy location is located on the nouveau hipster Locke St. South. It's pretty loud and crowded, or as I say "crouded", but the atmosphere is great. All the staff were super friendly and seemed to actually enjoy their work. I can't say enough good things about this great bunch.
The menu is satisfying and intriguing, with 9 kinds of poutine, onion rings, salads, and several unusual burger options, such as bison and venison.
We did not have the ground bacon burger. I know, as a burger blogger, I should have, but I just couldn't. I've heard of this phenomenon also existing in Victoria, BC, but I have yet to know anyone who's tried it.
Instead, we opted for the chips and curry poutine (tasty fries, great sauce)and the panko onion rings which did not disappoint. It's not easy to find a good onion ring; these were hot and crispy, yet you could still taste the sweet juicy onion.
When ordering, we were asked how we would like the burgers done, which was unusual and I wish I'd said "rare" to see if that was available.
Claes had the basic premium burger, with mustard, ketchup, relish and a slice of pineapple. He thoroughly enjoyed the pineapple addition, but he didn't love the texture of the meat. I had the Smokey Blue Haze and Bacon. The first bite was wonderousful. The bacon was super crispy and the blue cheese nice and stinky. I had no issue with the texture of the meat, however it was a bit dense in the middle. I prefer my burgers to be a patty, and not a 'ball' in the middle. But it was a good burger. I could have used a bit more zing to the meat, but this is my standard complaint. The bun was also soft and fresh, and the right size for the patty.
To be sure, I thoroughly enjoyed our tour in Hamilton. The staff were knowledgeable and helpful. We spoke with the manager and had a good discussion on top burgers (yeah that's right, Burgers Priest! You're over-rated!). The atmosphere is hip and chill. Though seating is limited, we sat at the bar and made conversation with the fun-filled staff.
I've come to realize in the war of the burgers, these days with the quality of meat out there, it's hard to make a 'bad' burger; everything else, like the way it's cooked, the patty size and shape, the bun, toppings, and atmosphere, go a long way to make a successful Tour.
Best burger ever? Probably not. One of the best places to go? Absolutely.
I'd give them an overall 8/10 and a definite GO THERE.
