Webers Charcoal Barbecued Hamburgers

Webers on highway 11 near Orillia is one of the best pit stops I've come across on road trips. Best thing I like about them is their menu that has LIMITED options. We got double patty burgers with cheese, poutine and chocolate milk shake. Burgers were not spectacular but was made just right. You can get better poutine elsewhere so stick to fries instead and the chocolate milk shake was not bad. There's always a line up to place an order, however their service is super quick and efficient. I'd definitely go there again to try their foot long hot dog.

It was the 1st of July and me, Mark and our special guest for this review Kerwin, were on the hunt for a joint north of the city. And what better place to try than Webers famous charbroiled burgers on Highway 11! When I was younger, my grandmother was living in North Bay and we would occasionally drive up north for frequent visits. On the way up alongside the highway are many pit stops, but one in particular that caught my attention, just before you enter cottage country, is a stop with two used train cars and a joint that is unique in so many ways. I have always wondered why every time we drive past this stop there was always a huge line. Needless to say, on this particular July the 1st, I got my wish to find out what was driving people there by the thousands.

Ocated just off Highway 11 is Webers Charcoal Barbecued Burgers, which is apparently known for their insane lineup but also equally incredible efficiency. We pull into the grey gravel parking lot just before noon; another parking lot is situated on the opposite side of the highway, where a connecting bridge allows diners to travel across to the restaurant area safely and quickly.<br/ <br/ Weber's main food preparation area, a separate hut for Kawartha's Dairy/yogen fruz, as well as a Roots pop-up clothing booth can be found on the same terrain. Dining spots are in abundance, ranging from two indoor halls taking the form of railway cars to outdoor picnic tables shielded by large patio umbrellas. Colourful lawn chairs are also made available for lounging when sunshine is plentiful.

Despite the long line up, service was not so bad. The burgers were actually good, not at all what we expected from a roadside joint. The hotdogs were footlong and for the burgers, you can choose how many patties you want (1-3) and what you want included such as the usual pickles, tomatoes, onions. The meat was juicy, flavourful and nicely charcoal barbecued. We also got an order of fries and had ice cream for dessert.<br/ <br/ The main place is northbound but if you are going southbound, you can also get to the other side. They have a parking area and folks can cross the footbridge (which apparently used to be a portion of a pedestrian bridge from the CN tower) to get to Webers. No worries about which direction I am going the next time I pass by to get some of these yummy burgers!

I am guessing that, for most visitors to Webers, it is about nostalgia, comfort, tradition for the grownups, and future memories for the little kids. It's about stopping on the way to the cottage, because that's what your parents did on the way to the cottage. It's about the lineups and the friendly staff. It's about the picnic tables and the railroad cars. Anyone who comes here and expects great burgers might be disappointed. Don't get me wrong; the Weber burgers are good burgers, just not great burgers. Sometimes it's not just about the food.