BIG STAN’S GOURMET BURGER (238 Queen West, at John, 416-597-9340) Complete meals for $8 per person, including all taxes, tip and a pop. Open Monday to Saturday noon to 8 pm. Closed Sunday and holidays. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free, no washrooms. Rating: NNN Rating: NNN
Still reeling from my dinner at George, I head over to the fast food arcade opposite Citytv to check out Big Stan’s Gourmet Burger, no less. And though I daily curse the nearby Pizza Pizza that replaced my beloved Harvey’s, Big Stan gives Big Harv a run for my money.
Advertised as 6 ounces, the Big Stan Burger’s ($3.99) hand-formed beefy patty weighs in at 3 ounces after cooking. Better to go for the more substantial Crazy Big Stan Burger ($5.29), which only loses 2 ounces on the grill to come in at a beefy 8 ounces.
Buns are regulation sesame-seed-dusted and toppings the usual run through the garden. If you get the chance, upgrade the house hand-cut fries ($1.99) with the superior sweet potato versions coupled with Cajun-spiced mayo ($2.99). Stan does a respectable Grilled Salad ($4.95), too, char-marked sweet red pepper and zucchini over innocuous iceberg lettuce littered with creamy feta. Ed the Sock, your lunch awaits you!
