Silversmith Brewing Company Burger Review – Virgil, ON
Silversmith Brewing Company Burger Review – Virgil, ON
After a long pandemic detour, my Gold Medal Burger quest made its comeback at Silversmith Brewing Company in Virgil, Niagara-on-the-Lake. What a way to restart. Silversmith scores an 8.8, good for #14 out of 140 burgers on my rankings.
My order
For anyone who forgot during the break: a Gold Medal Burger is a patty, lettuce, onion and pickle on a bun, nothing else. I've been thinking about going lettuce wrap for health reasons, but not today. The burger came to $16.10. When the server offered napkins, I passed. I only take one bite.
First look
A toasted brioche bun with a bit of butter, shredded lettuce, red onion, horizontally sliced pickles and a fresh patty. The burger looked smaller than I remembered burgers looking. Robyn's theory: I've lost 70 pounds, so it's the burger that looks smaller now.
First bite
One bite, everybody knows the rules, and it had been a long time since a Gold Medal Burger hit these lips. The pickles were nice, the bun was amazing and the meat was delicious. The first comparison that came to mind was oddbird in St. Catharines, the leader on the quest.
The breakdown
- Bun: Toasted brioche, buttery and excellent.
- Patty: Fresh, moist and seasoned well, with some pepper and what might be mustard seed.
- Toppings: Crispy shredded lettuce, lots of red onion and pickles I'm sure are homemade.
- Value: $16.10 is on the high side, but the quality is there.
Is it as good as oddbird?
Not quite. I remember oddbird's patty being a little crispier, with a bit more char and the juices seared in a bit more. Maybe the cooking surface is different, or maybe the kitchen was just slammed. The place was packed. Still, this is oddbird quality: cooked well, juicy and seasoned really well.
My verdict
Silversmith earns a solid 8.8 to kick off the return of the quest. I love the atmosphere, with the church setting and the open kitchen in the back, and the staff and every bit of food I've had there have been great. Niagara-on-the-Lake has plenty of options, but this one belongs on your list.
Find Silversmith Brewing Company
Virgil, ON
