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Moderne Burger is a retro burger joint on West Broadway. All of their burgers are made fresh daily and fries are cut and cooked to order.
I've been here a million times over the years... have no clue why I haven't submitted a review but I digress.
Moderne was THE BEST... I'd say the quality started going down hill 1-2 years ago... gradually but still noticeable on each subsequent visit. It's gotten to the point where I don't think I'm coming back.
The burgers here WERE juicy, and flavorful. I don't know what happened.. it's still juicy (oil and fat), but there's absolutely no flavor. They either changed the quality of the meat they used or just don't season it anymore, or both and then some. The patty literally has no taste!! The mayo and topics could not make up for it.
During my last visit, the only saving grace was the baconaiise mayo dipping sauce for the fries... secret home made recipe my butt LOL.. anyway, it was the saving grace because the burger itself had no taste, so the dipping sauce's flavor was amplified 10-fold.
As a long time customer, I'd say Moderne warranted at least a 4 back in the day... sad to see how this place fell since it's been around for a long time and I love the retro 50's diner feel.
Can't believe I'll be choosing Vera's, Fatburger, or Splitz over Moderne from now on....
My girlfriend and I normally enjoy going to diners, and look forward to going to one. We have been wanting to try Moderne Burger for a while. Every time we think of going, it ends up being closed (ie: limited hours). So today we decided to give it a shot. We came in the afternoon and were initially impressed by the decor, but I was taken aback by how few people were there. We were fairly quickly seated, but it almost seemed like an afterthought.
First Impressions:
As stated, it was fairly empty and we were seated quickly. But it almost didn't seem like the hostess or waitresses were very keen on paying much attention to us. One of them was standing at another table chatting to who I presumed were customers. I was impressed by the decor though. There is a lot of stainless steel, the art decor feel is pretty solid, but it manages to have more of a stiff feeling to it than most diners I have been to. It seemed fairly clean and the bar counter in the middle of the room is pretty neat.
Ambiance:
Despite it having an art decor theme, and being visually appealing, it still didn't feel genuine. It felt very cold, slightly unenthusiastic and everything seemed to be new, clean and expensive. The appliances were all retro styled, but they were definitely new, off the shelf ones - and that doesn't quite have the same charm. There is a jukebox, but it isn't functional. I believe the speaker was hooked up to the radio. Overall, the place looked neat but could do with a lot more enthusiasm.
Service:
As the meal went on, I started to notice that there are more employees than there were customers. There were at least 7 employees, but only about 6 customers. And the employees were all standing around chatting and not doing much. I came to realize that some of the people at the table talking when we first came in were employees, not customers. Service wasn't impressive. I felt almost ignored, but that doesn't mean we waited around much. It just felt like the staff would rather hang out together than serve its customers.
Menu / Food:
Upon seeing the menu, we noticed there are very few options. As in, you can choose to have a burger. That's it. You can choose from different patty options, and add toppings. So we decided to go with 'steak' and add some bacon and cheese. Each extra option (beyond lettuce, tomato, raw onion, mayo, bun..sauce) is $1.50. Not the best value I have seen. The other side of the menu has a few beverage options - pop, float, milkshake. There definitely wasn't any BLT or grilled cheese, as indicated on the website. We got a strawberry milkshake. I was about to order a coffee, but I noticed the coffee pots were empty and stained. If you are going to have 7 employees working, at least get one of them to clean the coffee pots and put some coffee on.
The food came back relatively quickly, definitely made to order. Ingredients seemed fresh, but the food overall wasn't anything special. The burger patties were greasy/ oily and had no flavour. At all. The entire bun was greasy. I don't know if they used low quality meat, or what, but it definitely had no taste. Perhaps no seasoning? It almost tasted .. grey. Lettuce and tomato were fresh. Sauce was okay. Overall, the burgers weren't fantastic. Not as expected from a diner that ONLY has burgers on its menu.
The milkshake was alright. It isn't the worst I have had, but definitely not the best. It didn't taste of the premixed variety, but it still didn't taste like it was made fresh. I did not see an actual strawberry in it, but I have no idea if they were just hiding somewhere.
The fries were the best part. They were cut to order (I think) and quite tasty. I was disappointed when the grease from my burger got on them and made a bunch of them greasy and soft.
Value:
A burger with fries with the basic ingredients costs almost $11.00. Add another topping and that's another $1.50. Was it worth it? I don't think so. Overall, lunch cost us around $40 - LUNCH. This isn't fine dining. This was a tasteless ground steak burger that was dripping in grease. They should lower their prices, increase their hours and have less staff working at any given time (standing around).
I don't think I will be going back again. The venue looks like it would be nice for an event or party, but I am not prepared to spend that amount of money for that level of service and bland food. Sorry Moderne Burger - you are neither modern nor do you have good burgers.
I love this place. The owners are awesome and always make us laugh. We go at least once a month. Freshness is the key to our success. The owners memorized our order and make sure we are always treated well. The fries and buns are the very freshest. All the burgers including the veggie burgers are terrific.
Thank you for making this one of our favorite places to go!
When I get a craving for a burger, Modern Burger is one of the few places I immediately think of. There isn't much else on their menu, but their burgers are quite juicy and tasty. The interior is also pretty cool, looks like a place from the 50s. If you want a good old-fashioned burger, this is a good place to go. Don't forget cash as they don't accept credit or debit cards.
If you can eat the Burger & all the fries then you have an amazing appetite. The Burger was so juicy with a great bun and a huge serving of fantastic fries. Next time I will skip the fries and go for a milk shake or a malt as I saw people drinking them and they looked so good. THe place is so bright & clean with a nice counter seats. I wished I lived closer as I would eat thre often
This restaurant has the best burgers in the Lower Mainland at this time. Rodeo burger was pretty good when they were open but Moderne Burger has a better interior, service and burger. The milkshake was awesome. Although on the pricier side I think it is definitely worth a visit. I prefer Moderne Burger over Burger Etc. when comparing burgers. When it comes to the milkshakes there is no real comparison - in my opinion.
I would recommend Moderne Burger.
This place was highly recommended. Ate at Modern Burger... they only have burgers. Which is alright. You order the type of burger you want(Beef, Chicken, Veg, Turkey), then pay extra for more toppings. So things like cheese, onions, mushrooms as I had, it adds up. They even charge extra 1.50$ for BBQ sauce! It was 1.50$ per topping, and the burger was around 10$. Too bad the burger doesn't add up. The Bun was nothing special. I had the beef burger, it was a nice big patty, too greasy though, and my burger fell apart completely before I finished. The Decor is pretty trippy, a throw-back to the 50's. But, as far as value goes, I wasn't impressed. The burger was decent, wasn't bad, wasn't special. Final words... Nothing special.
Tried this place out Sat. not many seats but it was full we had to wait till some people left not a big deal the staff was friendly. But for a place that has a burger frys....... burgers fry menu. You would think they would have better fries then what was offered. They gave plenty of fries but they were not cooked ay a high enought temp they absorbed lots of gresse you could squese it out in your fingers.
The burger was ok plain nothing special $1.25 extra for cheese. for the price charge it should have been part of the price. The lettuce was not that fresh. Two burgers and fries with 2 drinks was over $30 too price for the quality of food.
The location was clean period decoration but still bland over all.
ok in search of the best burger
white spot, a bit above average, depends where you go and who makes it
fat burger, awesome but the bun is cheap white bread, the burger is awesome, fresh and perfect
vera's burger. totally pathetic, gross , not much better than mcdonalds
moderne burger, totally average, you can put together a better burger on your bbq anyday. bun was wet and soft mushy absorbed with fat, fries were good. service was a bit above average. atmosphere totally weird, the owner dressed in a hawaiian shirt, sparce decor, weird layout,
wouldnt take visitors there or likely go back ever again.
The food is the best reason to go to Moderne, their burger is second only to Burger Heaven in New West, but their fries eliminate the competition. Such a filling meal - I could barely finish it all.
The 50's diner feel permeates the entire experience, it's so worth it to eat at this place. I recommend to everyone!
FOOD: It sucks for the people who didn't get to experience the delicious-ness of the burger I had, and for those who have...isn't it awesome?! My burger was great!! One of the best burgers I've ever had, or possibly the best! The patty was juicy and fresh, so I suggest you eat it before the fries. My milkshake was good too!!
SERVICE: Everyone was so nice and friendly. They were fast and attentive. Thumbs up!
VALUE: Expect to spend at least $13 there. But it's well worth it and you will be satisfied!
AMBIANCE: I've never seen a restaurant like this. It's more like an old fashioned diner and it looks so genuinely genuine!
I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EATING HERE!
Moderne Burger has returned to its past glory, with double the size and many more staff. We've been back 3 times since the renovation. The first time was a little disappointing but it was the day after our they reopened and the kitchen was having problems with timing (cold fries).
The last two times the food has been excellent. Service is always friendly and efficient. The owners want everyone to go away happy and as far as I could see, they've exceeded those expectations. Great burgers, hot fresh fries and to-die-for chocolate shakes. And the kitchen is operating like clockwork - we were surprised how fast they produced such excellent fare.
I've eaten more than my share of burgers and they are back at #1.
Complaints about Moderne Burger on this site have been mostly price and wasted space, but MB was not created to function like an average modern restaurant, it was created to recreate the 50's diner. The owners went to a huge expense to make the decor authentic 1950's -- the good and the "bad" (lots of floor space, only 4 seats per table) -- not like the 1950's kitsch you find in most restaurants like Sophie's. They import their malt from the US, again for that authentic 50's malted milkshake, and they don't skimp on quality for any of their ingredients - for example the dijon mustard is THE GOOD STUFF. Plan your visit strategically so you don't have to wait in line (remember they close at 7:30pm) and you're in for an unforgettable experience. For example a friend and I went at 3pm on a Wednesday and we were the only patrons in the joint. The staff are very friendly no matter how busy it is. As for price, if you don't want to pay for more fries than you can eat, simply share a platter between you and your date - don't blame the restaurant for wasting food because you make them toss it rather than take it home.
This was our first visit to Moderne Burger after their renovations. I thought the new space looked pretty great and gave them the elbow room they've desperately needed. I like the bar in the middle and the retro-green instills a calm vibe.
This place has a limited menu, which I do not take issue with. I like restaurants that stick to what they're good at. And this place is good at burgers. We always get the sirloin burgers and they are fresh and very, very juicy. And that's kind of the problem-- your burger starts disintegrating at first bite. Many napkins will be required. Finger licking is encouraged. So, word to the wise: don't go here on a date or on a business lunch.
The fries here are also good! How can you argue with homemade fries cut per order? But I have to say that the milkshakes disappoint: the fake whip cream and maraschino cherry didn't do it for me.
My husband and I LOVED moderne burger before the renovations. The buns were fresh and the patty was large, juicy, and flavorful. If I had reviewed them back then I would have given a 4 for every rating. However, since re-opening the veggie burger patty has completely changed and the steak patty is half the size of what it used to be and doesn't taste as good as it used to. I am not sure why this has happened...I would say the food is quite average and the service and space very nice. We will not be eating there again and will probably head to white spot next time we are out for a burger.
Great burgers, I ordered two burgers and one milkshake, it was $30 tax in. This was a great burger, the patty was clearly homemade, great quality and the flavours were fabulous, fresh soft bun and not toasted, I hate when I get a toasted bun, lettuce and tomato, mayo and cheddar, what more do you need. Sure it's expensive, but damn good. I recommend trying out Moderne Burger for a delicious burger. Fries were a little saugy, they should serve a crispier and perhaps more seasoned french fry. The menu is limited, all you have is a burger and toppings, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's a great concept, clean and crisp look, very retro and funky.
nice renovation, but i think poor use of space. the staff are attentive and well informed. Menu is very simple possible smallest in the city. Meat, Salmon and ?? burgers then fries, pop and shakes.
burgers $ 7 or $ 8 are great quality all 100% meat and big, topping are all extra $ 1.25 and fires also for $ 3 more dollars. a burger would do you alone and fries there are enough for 3 so portions are large. i would say the place is very good but not best burger in town still searching( so far # 2 behind Diva) and the menu is great if all you want is a burger but if not it is to limited.
I recently went to newly opened and hyped up Moderne's Burger on Broadway and was thoroughly disappointed by the fare I had there and I speak for my friends too who I had to cajole into going there.
The burger felt like there was no meat to it and you pay extra for all the condiments you want on the burger even the cheese as well, definitely no value for money there.
Their fries are good thats the only saving grace for the place.
If you are hungry for a burger I would recommend please find another place to go eat.
We went to the Moderne Burger for the first time last night despite some not so great reviews here, and I have to say, either they are reading these reviews and acting on them or it just took them a bit of time to get the ball rolling after reopening.
We were attended to as soon as we walked in, and did have a short wait, but it was worth it. our orders were taken soon after we arrived and came without incident soon after. The food was great and the services was perfect - for us. I don't know about others, but when i go to a "burger joint", I don't expect (or want) a hostess or people hovering around my table waiting to refill my water after one sip. Show me to my table, take my order, deliver the food I order in a timely manner, be attentive enough so I can get your attention if I need it, then bring me the bill. And this is what we got, along with genuinely nice staff, great burgers, real cherry coke (not the stuff out of the can), handmade milkshake and super yummy fries.
Another good sign, was the number of people who came in after us who were recognized by the staff. These were people both coming in to eat and picking up take out. Everyone had a pleasant demeanor and as attentive as needed.
The one thing I'd say is that they could fit a few more tables in - if last night was any indication, they sure can fill them. And we will be helping!
Today I finally got a chance to take my girlfriend to the "recommended" Moderne Burger. The service and the place was not that bad, but when the food arrive after 15 minutes, disappointed started. I ordered a turkey burger with swiss and fries. My girlfriend ordered a coffee mocha milkshake, steak burger with mushrooms and cheddar. My turkey burger was quite well seasoned. But the fries were just horrible. It was like rubber. Not just us complained about the fries, three other tables were also complaining to the owner about it. GUESS what the owner said "sorry, the potato we used to use are out of stock, and for the next three more weeks, we decide to use another type of potato, it is not as good as the one before, yes, but its gotta do for now."
The key factor in making a restaurant successful and would let customers coming back for more is all about the ingredients! But Moderne burger chose a really bad alternative potato which they KNEW! and they still serve it.
When people rate their Steak burger for so high ratings, it isnot so fair for the price they charge. It is a burger with "no fillers, no seasoning of any sort", it's just too plain. It was tastless if you didn't order any sauce with it. At home, we can make the excat same patti, because it just was flavorless.
Definately it was an embarrassment for me taking my girlfriend there. Never go back again.
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