I sit at Vera’s Burger Shack on Main and 13th in East Van (in my home town of Vancouver) and the only thing going through my head as I finish my burger, is why do I keep coming back here? The staff is friendly, the location is open to the street and has a big screen locked on sports – (This is where I watched the Blackhawks take the stanley cup in the last 2 minutes of the the 3rd period last month. As to my amazement, no other bar on Main Street would turn the volume on for the final game of the playoffs!) so far so good right? They make their own fries and their own patties here, so this should be an easy home run… but unfortunately, it’s an easy pop up with two outs.
I order my classic, medium rare burger with cheddar cheese and sauce on the side. The burger comes medium well to well done. The cheese is shredded, which maybe I’m being too picky here, but don’t you like seeing the corner of a piece of cheese drop out of the edge of your bun with little beads of greasy goodness pouring out? Maybe I’ve been brain washed by burger ads, but I think that a slice is much more attractive. The bun is ok, but nothing special. Actually, that is my review of Vera’s in a nutshell: nothing special. Overall the meat lacks flavour and seasoning. Combined with an average bun and shredded cheese, it’s a completely average experience.
The Vera’s sauce on the side seems nice on the first taste, but as I continue to dip, it slowly resembles nothing more than a garlic heavy Caesar dressing. (Which I like, but again, seems a little lack-luster. I hate to be too hard on these nice people (that run the place) but I’ve just listened to them plan a vacation to Vegas for the half hour that I’ve sat here eating. A little unprofessional, and I think that’s why my burger was overcooked.
Vera’s is in my neighbourhood and they have the odd special that’s a bargain, so I’ll continue to stop in from time to time or to catch a Canucks game. But this burger doesn’t really even show up on my radar on my search for North Americas Best Burger.
The beer was cold and a proper 20oz pint, so for that I will give them 1 beer out of 5.
Sorry Vera’s, you have the potential to be a great burger joint. With a little focus and attention to quality, taste and providing an amazing experience you could turn things around quickly, but for now you are simply pleasant, but boring.
