Back to burger basics

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The recently opened Frat Burger on the corner of King Street and University Ave., embodies the local Waterloo culture from top to bottom.

Pictures of historical Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo frats on the wall, locally grown beef and potatoes used in their burgers and fries and the owners Glen Smith and Jerry Smith, epitomise pieces of Waterlooโ€™s story.

โ€œWe love Waterloo,โ€ Jerry Smith said. โ€œWeโ€™ve both grown up here born and raised, never left Waterloo. Weโ€™re just showing support for our community, buy local, eat local.โ€

The partnership between Ethelโ€™s Lounge owner Glen Smith, and former Melโ€™s Diner owner Jerry Smith has been described as a dream team.

Jerry explained the two partnered after, โ€œGlen put my name on the sign board outside of Ethelโ€™s with his number and he told me to call him, and I did. I had about 25 people call me and ask me โ€˜did you know your nameโ€™s on the board outside of Ethelโ€™s?โ€™โ€

As a result of the partnership, Frat Burger was born. โ€œFrat Burger really is a smashed up version of Ethelโ€™s and Melโ€™s, actually itโ€™s more Ethelโ€™s than Melโ€™s,โ€ explained Jerry.

โ€œFrat Burger is really just your run of the mill beer and wings pub, but substitute a really good burger and homemade fries for wings.โ€

Thatโ€™s right, donโ€™t expect to find any wings, ribs or beer-battered fish, because Frat Burger is strictly, burgers, milkshakes, beer and fries.

Jerry explained his philosophy: โ€œdo one thing really, really well. We took that idea and put it down with burgers and fries and thatโ€™s it.โ€
Frat Burger can also appeal to a wide variety of tastes, with some minor changes to the traditional burger.

โ€œThe Portobello mushroom burger and Quiona burger are popular vegetarian and vegan options. The fries are also vegan,โ€ said Jerry.

โ€œWith the burger we just stick to processing every fine detail of it so that we have a perfect burger every time.โ€

When processing the burger Jerry explained, โ€œWe bring in grass-fed beef from Toronto and we double grind it on site and thatโ€™s all it is, thereโ€™s no filler. Weโ€™re the only place in Waterloo region that can offer a medium rare burger because we grind all our meat on site.โ€

That attention to detail also means a large selection of toppings including havarti cheese, two different kinds of bacon, caramelized onions and a signature Frat Sauce and customers seem to appreciate the quality in selection.

First-time customer Chloe Stanois said, โ€œI would come back just for the guacamole.โ€

Greg Martin, another customer, was impressed with the choice of beef gravy or mushroom gravy on his poutine, โ€œthatโ€™s something I never would have thought of,โ€ he said.

But donโ€™t think Frat Burgerโ€™s delicious, quality burgers are going to strain your bank account. Jerry clarified, โ€œGourmet doesnโ€™t mean expensive. Gourmet means done well.โ€ Thatโ€™s what sets Frat burger apart from other fast food burger joints. โ€œNo one pays attention to quality itโ€™s all mass produced.โ€

โ€œAnyone that takes a bite of that burger their eyes widen, and itโ€™s like theyโ€™ve been awakened from mass production,โ€ Jerry added.

The difference in quality is noticeable. As patron Evan Kinsman put it, โ€œa gourmet burger at Harveyโ€™s is about the same price, and this is way better.โ€


Serving the Waterloo campus, The Cord seeks to provide students with relevant, up to date stories. Weโ€™re always interested in having more volunteer writers, photographers and graphic designers.