Opening night at The Works was crazy! From 5pm-7pm The Works was peddling free food by donation to FEED Nova Scotia. My jaw dropped when I saw people lining up all the way down the block. Many of these folks had tasted the deliciousness of The Works on trips to Ottawa, and others had heard tell of its reputation. Still others had caught a social media whiff of the promise of free food, and lined up in droves. Owner Alan Garner entertained the hungry line-up with “true stories”, free milkshake coupons, and his own brand of sarcasm. Two hours later, my toes were frozen solid and the door was finally opened to us!
Totally worth it.
The Beaverbank: caramelized onions, chipotle ketchup, havarti, and 4 double smoked bacon slices $14.66
I first encountered The Works in Ottawa on my way across Canada in 2009, and again in London on my way back across Canada in 2012. I was ecstatic to find out that Halifax would soon boast of the first Works franchise to exist outside of Ontario, lovingly opened by owners Alan and Jody Garner. I was so excited I prematurely blogged about the Works opening way back in August! Those of you familiar with my preliminary Halifax Burger Quest should be eager to know that The Works now takes the title for best service, best atmosphere, best variety AND best burger.
The Love Goat: peppercorn crusted burger with goats cheese and bacon $14.67
Somebody on Yelp stated that the burgers are under seasoned. Personally, I like my burgers to taste like beef. If I want my beef to taste like spices, I’ll eat a donair, or meatloaf, or kafta. However, I realize there are those of you who like spicy burp invoking burgers, and I’ll re-direct you to Cheese Curds. OR – you can try one of the peppercorn crusted burgers from The Works, which has a slight crispiness and a full on peppercorn attack. Slap on some goats cheese or gouda and bacon, and we’re good to go!
Tidball Baker: die cut chips, sour cream, green onions, bacon $12.35
Yes, there are potatoes on that burger. Don’t be surprised. There are 70 burgers on the menu, with toppings ranging from eggplant to kraft dinner. You want a peanut butter burger? The Works has 3 varieties. Boo-yah! Aside from the overwhelming variety, the best part about The Works is the beef. It is the perfect thickness, nice and beefy, and it is perfectly cooked.
Not Yo’ Burger: fried tortilla, avocado, fire roasted cheese dip, a blend of diced ripe tomatoes & minced garlic. $13.34
If beef is not your thing, The Works also has ground turkey, chicken breast, veggie patties, portobello mushroom cap, and domestic elk (+$3.67). If you don’t like gluten, there is a gluten free bun. For sides you can get several varieties of potato or vegetable (I like the coleslaw), or upgrade to onion rings, poutine, deep fried dill pickles, Kraft Dinner, or chilli. I’m not so sure I can recommend the salad. I can say that I was very impressed with the onion rings and dills (the latter being a hard item to find in Halifax). There is also an impressive milkshake menu, some smoothies, floats, and most importantly, there is beer.
Kamikaze – jalapeno, chipotle & banana peppers, cheddar cheese & hotter than hell sauce $12.94
I’d like to extend a big welcome and thank you to The Works! Rather than eliminating the competition, The Works offers a different hamburger experience and compliments the now legendary trilogy of Relish, Ace, and Cheese Curds of the Halifax burger explosion. #burgerlove!
The Works (Halifax)
5431 Doyle Street
(902) 405-9333
Web Site
