Somewhat Off Topic: Burger Quest

Last week, on the train ride home, I overheard a group of men singing the praises of a burger bar/joint/place in Oshawa called "The Patty Shack".

All four proclaimed the burgers were the best they'd ever eaten and said the place offers a variety of toppings ranging from guacamole to caramelized onions. There were even rumblings of deep-fried pickles.

Say what?!

I also recalled a conversation I had with my friend Jill about this place. She was adamant I go.

So last night I rounded up the hubby and kid and we paid a visit to the Patty Shack, located at 24 King St. East in Oshawa, near Simcoe Street. Coincidentally, the Patty Shack is right next door to Chan's Garden Chinese restaurant which serves, in my opinion, the best damn Chinese food - ever. My husband and I have been ordering from Chan's for over 11 years. The food never disappoints.

At the Patty Shack, we were greeted by two enthusiastic and pleasant staff members. Our burgers were cooked to perfection. My husband and I both agreed these were the best burgers we'd ever had. The topping choices were a little over-whelming and often left me second guessing my selections. I ordered sweet potato fries as a side.

The fries were cooked perfectly and tasted incredible. For dipping, we were given "gardillic" sauce, an in-house made sauce which tastes like a combination of yogurt, dill, garlic and onion. My daughter, who usually dunks her french fries in ketchup only, could not get enough of the stuff. At one point, my daughter dropped her slider onto the floor. Dejected, she picked it up and stared at it with tears filling her eyes.

I brought it to the counter, and was ready to pay for another one, only to have the cook fire up another one, compliments of the house. Hey, these small things are what make customers loyal.

We'll be back.