Amazingly, this place has been in Pickering since the mid-1960's, longer than I've been in…read morePickering, or even alive for that matter! For ages, we passed by Big M, noting its classic retro vibe and steady flow of customers. For years, we brushed off the recommendations of Pickering friends, but now, we have finally decided to stop by for a burger.
There is outdoor seating only, so in the winter, Big M is a take-out only restaurant. Nevertheless, it was doing a brisk business at 6:00 on a Saturday. We each ordered Banquet Burgers (cheese and bacon). My husband and daughter ordered fries; I went for onion rings. They also each ordered a milkshake.
Our opinion was united in that the burgers, shakes, fries and onion rings were exactly what the traditional, retro décor would lead us to expect. You'll not find surprising toppings or artisanal brioche buns at Big M, nor will you encounter the trending smash-burger. Rather, Big M succeeds because it delivers a fantastic version of the sort of burger that your Dad or Grandpa might have grilled up, or the burgers from that retro diner that you parents may or may not have dropped by on their way to the cottage that your family may or may not have visited or owned. Even if these weren't part of your childhood experiences, Big M serves up great traditional fare.
Our burgers were made to order as we watched, and had a pleasantly browned and smoky finish, flame-licked by the grill, fresh, tasty toppings. The burger patty itself was neither thick nor thin, but classic 1/2 inch or so. The toasted Kaiser roll stayed crispy, and survived the trip home without getting soggy. The onion rings were the old fashioned, somewhat ponderous kind, as opposed to a lighter tempura style batter, and I relied on my husband to finish eating them on my behalf. But that substantial batter was exactly the right choice to pair with a traditional burger. The shakes were also traditional milk shakes, as opposed to, simply, "shakes", which may or may not contain actual milk or ice cream.
The take-away: Big M is what it appears to be, a classic diner offering simple, diner-style fare. As such, it delivers a satisfying meal that more than meets the expectations: words like retro, traditional and home-style spring to mind. If you are in search of a trending, cheffy and possibly pricy experience (and I do tend to flock to those, when budget permits!), then Big M is probably not for you. However, for well-executed, basic, down to earth cooking, Big M serves up an excellent retro experience at a reasonable price.
I'll be back to try the Whistle Dog (cheese and bacon) and the Canadian burger (Cheese and Peameal), plus another order of those indulgent onion rings.
