The WORKS GOURMET BISTRO BURGER...

298 Princess Street

It's been awhile I know.  Our lives have been a whirlwind - all very good and we'll leave it at that.

From our previous post we were not particularly motivated to go out and search for the ultimate burger joint any more because we had such a great experience in the Brooklyn Bar in Dalian, China.  However when Jo's brother and sister-in-law suggested we meet at "The Works" before enjoying a "Dala" concert, we were excited to sample one of Kingston's newest burger offerings.  "The Works" is a Canadian franchise that began in Ottawa in 2001.  It has developed quite a following and after our experience, I can see why.


Jo-Anne's experience:  When we arrived at the restaurant, it was quite busy - not surprising for a Saturday evening at 6 pm.  We were immediately ushered to a table (for 6) in spite of the line-up.  Our waitress was very professional, friendly and helpful.

The decor was very industrial, polished metals mixed with natural stone and wood, with many neat little trinkets like the 'light bulb' salt and pepper shakers shown here on the right.  It was very clean.  Although the seating was somewhat crowded with numerous tables, it didn't bother us at all.

I have to admit that I found the menu somewhat overwhelming with so many choices.  Thank goodness the menu is well organized and it even leads the patron through various steps to create his/her burger experience.
Step 1 - Choose your patty (beef, chicken, turkey, veggie, portobello mushroom, or elk);
Step 2 - Choose your topping (70 combinations to choose from);
Step 3 - Choose your bun (white, whole wheat, or gluten free);
Step 4 - Choose your side (regular or sweet potato fries, various veggies, mashed potatoes or slaw);
Step 5 - Choose an upgrade (18 possibilities).....  SO MANY CHOICES!

Just a few left.....

We were warned to expect a 20 minute wait because our meal was to be made to order.  This was not bothersome as we planned to engage in social chatter. Besides, that gave us an excuse to order the Tower O Rings - an onion ring appetizer.

I selected the "Firestation #6", a ground beef burger topped with avocado, salsa, sour cream and jalapeno peppers with sweet potato strings.  This burger was $12.98 (fries or side included).  I know many will balk at this price, however I challenge you to find a meal in a restaurant at this price.  Remember, this is not a fast food burger joint... this is a full meal entre.  By the standards of an evening meal "out",  the bill was quite reasonable.


The 20 minutes went by quickly and oh my, the onion rings were flavourful and beautifully crisp.  The industrial theme was evident in the plating of our orders.  Very large portions were presented in large rectangular metal baking pans.  I liked the presentation and I liked my burger even more!  It was a juicy flavourful combination on a very fresh bun.  Yes, it was messy to eat and the baking pan captured any drippings but it was heaven.

Stephen's Review: Wow! Talk about choice... as Jo detailed, the amazing number of selections were almost overwhelming except for the organization of the menu. In fact, it was a topic for conversation as the six of us discovered some of the unique combinations and shared them around the table. This really got the juices flowing as several times I changed my mind about which one to order.

The "Dead Ringer"

My final decision was the "Dead Ringer". Like Jo, it was a ground beef burger patty, on a white bun and it was dressed with BBQ smoked brisket, smokey BBQ sauce, jack cheese and an onion ring, with a side of fresh cut french fries and the cost was $12.91. Now my trepidation was that what I might have just ordered would turn out to be an American style, overstuffed burger that relied on quantity rather than quality. You know, one of those massively wasteful and ugly monstrosities you sometimes see on Triple D!  Well, let me tell you that any trepidation was completely and utterly gone with my first view and that first bite. I went directly to burger heaven!

Now this was a big burger, in fact, the biggest burger we have seen in most of our many reviews but thankfully, it was not that ugly overstuffed monstrosity I feared. This was utterly delicious! The flavours were fantastic and the juicy, perfectly cooked, melt in your mouth brisket completely complimented the perfectly cooked beef patty. The BBQ sauce for the brisket along with the jack cheese and other toppings were very well matched and for me, simply the perfect combination.

I know many will scoff at the price but this is not your average burger-joint. This is a destination for a meal with great food that is very well prepared and served by very knowledgable staff who guide you to a great burger experience! For Jo and I, our time in China and that heavenly taste of home at the Brookyln Bar in Dalian will always be a treasure but, if I am being honest, my experience at the Works has jumped to the top of my list!

In summary - highly recommended by BOTH Jo & Stephen.

More yummy offerings...