1. Mitzi’s Sister
1554 Queen W, at Fuller, 416-532-2570, mitzis.ca. Most veggie patties have no flavour at all they’re there to provide texture and little else, their flavour coming from the toppings. But this Parkdale watering hole’s Harvest Veggie Burger ($11.95 with retro potato salad) borders on the – dare we say it? – meaty, a massive 8-ounce puck of grains, nuts, mushrooms and feta cheese dressed with tomato and caramelized onion on a whole wheat mini-pita spread with spicy mayo. Open 4 pm to 2 am weekdays, 3:30 pm to 2 am weekends. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm. Licensed. Access: one step at door, washrooms in basement.
2. Pulp Kitchen
1129 Queen E, at Bertmount, 416-461-4612, pulpkitchen.ca. She’s back! Marie Crawford returns to Leslieville a couple of blocks west of her original digs. The location may be new but her vegetarian card is as tasty as ever, especially the Meat Lover’s Veggie Burger, a whopping 7-ounce high-protein patty dressed with organic mesclun, slow-roasted tomato, vegan coriander Dijon mayo and sweet balsamic-caramelized onions on a two-fisted whole wheat kaiser ($8.50). Open Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 4 pm. Closed some holidays. Unlicensed. Access: short ramp at door, washrooms on same floor.
3. Great Burger Kitchen
1056 Gerrard E, at Jones, 416-778-0111, greatburger.ca. Though it’s easy to dismiss this recently launched take-away as a Burger Shoppe and Gourmet Burger Company clone, its house-made veggie quarter-pounders ($6.50) set it apart from the crowd, a substantial mash of grilled millet, garbanzo and kidney beans on a Brick Street Bakery bun with all the fixin’s, including pickled jalapeños. Open daily 11 am to 11 pm. Unlicensed. Access: two steps at door, no washrooms.
4. Lick’s
720 Spadina, at Bloor W, 416-920-8884, lickshomeburgers.com. Though the veggie patty looks the part on its own, the spicing seems a bit odd. But throw a Nature Burger ($5.49) on a crusty kaiser and run it through the garden – lettuce, tomato, onion – and slather it in mayo-like Guk sauce and behold the Whopper of dreams. Also: 1960 Queen E, at Kenilworth, 416-362-5425 654 Danforth, at Pape, 416-465-6426, and others. Open Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm. Unlicensed. Access: barrier-free.
5. Utopia
586 College, at Clinton, 416-534-7751, utopiacafe.ca. The tasty veggie burgers ($5.50) at this very laid-back lounge and backyard patio get points for their convincing patty – “so good we’ll fool you into believing it’s beef” – whole wheat kaiser and upscale toppings but lose a few for being cooked on the same grill as the regular burgers, much like every other non-vegetarian restaurant in town. No wonder they taste like meat! Open Monday to Thursday 11:30 am to midnight, Friday 11:30 to 2 am, Saturday noon to 2 am, Sunday noon to midnight. Licensed. Access: 2 steps at door, washrooms in basement.
