Burger Pit is probably one of the best-kept secrets of the Barrie Area. Situated just north of Line 9, on Hwy 11, just north of the junction of Hwy 400 and Hwy 11, this rather nondescript little place is relatively easy to find and also easy to miss, unless one is looking for it.
My bride and I were. We had passed it going south on Hwy 11 a number of times before deciding to make a deliberate trip to it on July 24 2020 during the COVID19 crises.
Now I'm a huge fan of burgers and BBQ so this fit right up my ally as far as edibles go. So taking the almost hour drive up from Toronto was not a big deal for me or my bride, who, though not quite the carnivore I am, still enjoys the odd burger too.
Outwardly the restaurant and sign look a bit dated; reminding one of the sorts of places your family would stop at in the late '70s before big chains started taking over the world. This look is also kept inside, with its non-digital menu, simple countertop, large sit-down tables with comfy chairs. They also had wonderfully coloured murals along the walls, lending a bit of charm to the place as well.
Even in the COVID19 era, we were still able to sit in, due to the limited seating they were allowed and other regulations they followed. This was welcome as the day was hot but the inside was comfortable.
The selection was decent, mostly focussing on burgers of various kinds, including a Veggie burger option, along with Steak-On-A-Bun, Grilled chicken, Chicken fingers, Souvlaki pita and Hot dogs. For my first-ever order in this place, I picked the double-burger, which was dressed to my liking (lettuce, pickles, tomatoes) and my bride picked the single-patty cheeseburger with bacon. She also chose the onion rings while I had the fries, along with pop.
The server was friendly and helpful, and the orders came out as we specified. From order to delivery I believe it took no more than 10 minutes but, being hungry, it felt longer. On top of that, the delightful BBQ smells only increased our appetites, making the wait seem even longer.
After getting our order we sat down to eat. The first bite revealed the strong BBQ flavour of the meat, with the flavour of the toppings also coming through.
The meat DID feel a tad dry, likely due to the way the patties are made, which we suspect was with very lean meat. That said, it was still very edible and, upon finishing it, I felt genuinely full, as did my bride.
The fries were cooked to perfection; crispy outside and soft in the inside. Likewise, the onion rings which were large but tasty too.
In terms of what we paid, we felt we got very good value for our food (total under $25.00). This compares favourably to places like McDonald's, Burger King or Wendys, and more fancy burger places too.
All in all, this was a great experience. It certainly beat in flavour and quality Webers which is farther up the highway and is definitely a place we recommend for those hankering for a good sold BBQ meal. In fact, we hope to visit again so I can try the Steak-On-A-Bun too.
As for the rating, the only reason it got 4 stars and not five is the dryness of the meat. It needs a bit more fat to round it out. It is also a bit bland, perhaps requiring a bit (more?) salt to season it. Again, that's not a really a knock, just a personal preference.
In either case, like I said you'll feel quite full when you eat here and you SHOULD eat here when you get a chance.
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