Calling all burger lovers! Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3, 2013, marks the grand opening of P&L, the younger sibling of acclaimed Parkdale restaurant Parts & Labour and newest burger bar in Toronto, Ont. [caption id="attachment_20552" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="L to R: Richard Lambert, Kei Ng, Matty Matheson, Jesse Girard, David Ginsberg"] [/caption] This narrow shop is basically diner-meets-warehouse, embracing the nicked and dented concrete walls, industrial lighting, and Crayola marker graffiti (yes, you can draw on the walls!). The style is similar to Parts & Labour, but in a slightly less polished, rustic-industrial way. Not surprising though, since the same group designed both. You will notice the similar (and, in some cases, the exact same) lighting in both spaces, all of which is crafted by Castor Designs. From the Recycled Tube light formed from burnt-out fluorescent bulbs to the Fresnel pendant lights made from powder-coated aluminum drums, Castor’s use of re-contextualized materials certainly carries the industrial aesthetic from floor to ceiling. The burger phenomenon in Toronto has been an ongoing battle of opening and closing patty-specific restaurants -- both gourment and fancy-free -- but here’s where it gets interesting... P&L will be opening just a few steps down from The Burger’s Priest, who actually lost to P&L in CMT’s Burger Wars, the Toronto edition. But the buzz can only do so much. Chef Matty Matheson likes to keep it simple, focusing on quality product and flavour. Seven ounces of freshly ground Ontario chuck and a toasted milk bun is where it always begins at this joint. Where it can go is something you have to taste to believe! (But definitely try the award-winning P&L -- the dill pickle mayo hits the taste buds in all the right places). [caption id="attachment_20558" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="The Deluxe"] [/caption] [caption id="attachment_20559" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="The Italian"] [/caption]

And, for the vegetarians and gluten-free option hunters, they have you covered, too.

P&L 507 Queen Street West Toronto, ON

Will you try a P&L burger?