Dale's Restaurant: Late-Night Burger Joint

Tasty Tastebuds and I went out last night to shoot some pool with a couple of friends (the bike courier and the commercial insurance saleswoman). We won three games to one. Duffy's Tavern on Bloor, near Lansdowne, was the perfect location for our quiet Saturday night hangout (still a wee bit hungover from a late-night birthday party the night before).

Pool cost only a loonie, and pitchers (choice of blond or red) $12.00. Sure, the pool tables were slightly warped, and the washrooms a little dive-like, but the place was perfect for not having to yell-at-the-top-of-your-lungs conversation. Occasionally, the whole place would scarily quake, as the nearby subway rumbled by. And the place was empty save for a few old guys at the bar. So perfect for a peaceful hangout on a hungover Saturday night.

On our way home, shortly after midnight, we stopped into Dale's Restaurant, located at 1285 Bloor Street West, for a burger. Between Tasty Tastebuds and I, we had only $7.50. Not much to feed two. Burgers at Dale's were only $3.00, so we had a budget enough for one each, plus tax, plus tip.

Dale's Restaurant is a late-night mom and pop shop, open until 1:00 am every night. They also sell alcohol, and that's what most (if not all) of the other patrons were there to consume. Old men sipping on beer in booths, watching infomercials on the TV on the wall in the corner. The washrooms were total dumps -- no toilet paper or soap -- but I'd still go back to try out a milkshake any day. I liked the sketchy, depressed atmosphere of the joint, and sensed that it's the kind of diner that's been around since before I was born. Tasty Tastebuds even gives their burger a generous five stars out of five rating (I give them a big zero on their washrooms downstairs).

Dale's burgers were big and flat, with a sesame seed bun and lots of mustard, a slice of tomato and fresh onion. A late-night treat to see us home, to bed, to sleep.