That The Burger’s Priest is expanding is not a huge surprise. Since it opened in 2010, the east-end hamburger joint has consistently impressed customers and critics alike: it’s number 20 on Joanne Kates’ 100 best restaurants list, while Toronto Life recently bestowed burger of the year to the Vatican City Burger. But where it is expanding to is somewhat unexpected.
To be honest, we would have guessed that a second outpost of The Burger’s Priest would appear in the west end, but as The Grid reports, the new location is north. Yonge and Lawrence north. Owner Shant Mardirosian is setting up shop at 3397 Yonge Street, right next to Asian fusion restaurant Cravings, in the space that once housed Nona. The new location is expected to open on Dec. 1.
It’s a bold move, especially considering the presence of The Burger Cellar right in the vicinity. That, and the nearby McDonald’s. But, as Mardirosian tells The Grid, it was always his intention to take that particular giant head on.
“I wanted to open up a fast-food California-style burger joint that, in my opinion, competes with McDonald’s—that’s who I wanna go after,” he says.
The new location will apparently seat 16 in a 1,200 square foot space.
[The Grid]