Marben on Postcard

"The Burger with a Story I love a good story and Marben's story is no exception. Owner Simon Benstead told me that in the hometown of his parents in Ipswitch, England there are no house numbers. Thus, each house has a nickname. His parents, John and Mary, took the first three letters of Mary's name and John's nickname, Ben, and combined to name their house Marben, now one of Toronto 's buzziest restaurants. Aptly, the burger is named after John, who was the inspiration for the recipe. Locally sourced meat and short ribs are braised and shredded to use in the burger's carnivore interior. Freshly ground beef is then packed around the outside of the braised beef short rib. Sharp cheddar and John's sweet-and-sour Branston pickle (very similar to a chutney) are added for a simple flavor to this dense patty. It's one of the most unique burgers I've had. The burger as well as its sides, fries and simple salad, are the ideal portion size. Not overwhelming but fulfilling. Though almost 600 burgers are being made on a weekly basis, chef Rob Bragagnolo who has extensive experience as a chef in Mallorca, Spain has added a number of tasty Spanish tapas items to the menu. I loved the warm Mallorcan chickpea salad (topped with kalamata olives) and the tequila ceviche cones. Located conveniently off King West, this is a great spot whether you're on a date, in a group or for a business dinner. Bon Appetit!"

Toronto's Best Burgers

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Hanna Holmes

Google

Came here recently with a friend and the service and food were so great! Friendly staff and stunning plating. We shared the ricotta, squid, and cauliflower. My friend I enjoyed the meal so much I requested the Fenwood chicken as a takeaway with a side of sourdough. Unfortunately, I had already left the restaurant when I checked the chicken and noticed it looked shockingly bad… Besides the general appearance, I noticed mainly the missing ingredients ie asparagus, etc. I understand their presentation can only truly be controlled dine-in, but I hadn’t gone far, so it was quite disappointing given this dish was also the priciest on the menu. In any case, I’d recommend dining in and maybe reconsidering taking away… although, maybe this was a total fluke?

Carol F

Google

Great patio space in front of the restaurant for a good time! We had good service, a great atmosphere and great vibes. Our table had the Midnight Oil Fries, Koji Fried Popcorn Chicken and the Fried Brussel Sprouts to nibble and chat with friends. Those shareable were all such a hit that we had to order a few more! It is more of a higher price tag, but that's what you get for farm-to-table and delicious ingredients from local farmers. Otherwise, the staff are friendly and fast on their beverages and food. Do note that you might not be able to book the patio tables but walk in to see if they have dining space.

Justin Julian

Google

An intriguing contemporary Colonial British dining experience. The unique decor is sure to impress. Menu is diverse and interesting. Ample seating in a variety of arrangements to satisfy just about any dining adventure. Service is fast and friendly, willing to cater to any unusual request. Wide selection of brunch menu items, with the option for fresh orange or grapefruit juice, pressed before your eyes. Certainly worth a try. Coffee is quite good. I think I will return for another try.

Talia e

Google

Did a food tasting with my boyfriend for his birthday. Food and wine pairings were amazing. Everything was absolutely fantastic and the service was incredible. Michelle, Michael, Karen, Isabelle, alyza were incredible. Checked on us through the whole night and we're super kind and thoughtful. Definitely coming here another 100 times. Thank you for the great food, drinks and service.

Kinnon Yee

Google

Excellent food. We had the chef's tasting and everything was well balanced and not too heavy. Highly recommended for the balance between flavours

Leandro Pacca

Google

This is an upscale restaurant... excelente atmosphere and service... loved it. Food was not the 5-star experience I expected. I will break it down: Starters.. delicious... we got the Hummus, ricotta cheese, and the Squid tacos... all delicious... The mains were good but nothing WOW... the Risotto was not warm enough, and the chicken dish was ok to muly taste. Then the dessert were fantastic... the mousse and ice-cream sandwich were WOW.... Ahh .. almost forgot... my cocktail Negroni infused with coffee was good.. my wife one not too tasty (honey I am home) Overall, it is a great place.. Btw.. tips are not added to the bill .. prices you see on the menu include tips.

Susan S.

Google

This place was SO good. We had an early dinner in our first night in Toronto and it was some of the best food of the trip. Inventive, unique, and beautiful, our meals were not only delicious, they were pretty. When we arrived the chef was cooling dozens of beef fat brioche buns and, seeing me ogle them, he brought one over for us to try. I died. It was amazing. My meal was the chicken leg and my only complaint was that I wanted more. It was not quite enough for me. But the wine was exceptional and the food left me wanting more rather than feeling so stuffed I couldn’t move. Overall, a very cool vibe and an awesome meal. We’ll be back!

Ed Grochowiak

Google

Marben was awesome! We came for a late dinner and were very impressed. The popcorn chicken and fries were our go to and we loved them both. They had a great selection of tequila which worked perfectly for my friends and I. Would definitely go back sometime soon. We sat outside and enjoyed a lovely evening. The staff was friendly and let us put our favorite song on the speakers before leaving!

Hanna Holmes

Google

Came here recently with a friend and the service and food were so great! Friendly staff and stunning plating. We shared the ricotta, squid, and cauliflower. My friend I enjoyed the meal so much I requested the Fenwood chicken as a takeaway with a side of sourdough. Unfortunately, I had already left the restaurant when I checked the chicken and noticed it looked shockingly bad… Besides the general appearance, I noticed mainly the missing ingredients ie asparagus, etc. I understand their presentation can only truly be controlled dine-in, but I hadn’t gone far, so it was quite disappointing given this dish was also the priciest on the menu. In any case, I’d recommend dining in and maybe reconsidering taking away… although, maybe this was a total fluke?

Carol F

Google

Great patio space in front of the restaurant for a good time! We had good service, a great atmosphere and great vibes. Our table had the Midnight Oil Fries, Koji Fried Popcorn Chicken and the Fried Brussel Sprouts to nibble and chat with friends. Those shareable were all such a hit that we had to order a few more! It is more of a higher price tag, but that's what you get for farm-to-table and delicious ingredients from local farmers. Otherwise, the staff are friendly and fast on their beverages and food. Do note that you might not be able to book the patio tables but walk in to see if they have dining space.

Justin Julian

Google

An intriguing contemporary Colonial British dining experience. The unique decor is sure to impress. Menu is diverse and interesting. Ample seating in a variety of arrangements to satisfy just about any dining adventure. Service is fast and friendly, willing to cater to any unusual request. Wide selection of brunch menu items, with the option for fresh orange or grapefruit juice, pressed before your eyes. Certainly worth a try. Coffee is quite good. I think I will return for another try.

Talia e

Google

Did a food tasting with my boyfriend for his birthday. Food and wine pairings were amazing. Everything was absolutely fantastic and the service was incredible. Michelle, Michael, Karen, Isabelle, alyza were incredible. Checked on us through the whole night and we're super kind and thoughtful. Definitely coming here another 100 times. Thank you for the great food, drinks and service.

Kinnon Yee

Google

Excellent food. We had the chef's tasting and everything was well balanced and not too heavy. Highly recommended for the balance between flavours

Leandro Pacca

Google

This is an upscale restaurant... excelente atmosphere and service... loved it. Food was not the 5-star experience I expected. I will break it down: Starters.. delicious... we got the Hummus, ricotta cheese, and the Squid tacos... all delicious... The mains were good but nothing WOW... the Risotto was not warm enough, and the chicken dish was ok to muly taste. Then the dessert were fantastic... the mousse and ice-cream sandwich were WOW.... Ahh .. almost forgot... my cocktail Negroni infused with coffee was good.. my wife one not too tasty (honey I am home) Overall, it is a great place.. Btw.. tips are not added to the bill .. prices you see on the menu include tips.

Susan S.

Google

This place was SO good. We had an early dinner in our first night in Toronto and it was some of the best food of the trip. Inventive, unique, and beautiful, our meals were not only delicious, they were pretty. When we arrived the chef was cooling dozens of beef fat brioche buns and, seeing me ogle them, he brought one over for us to try. I died. It was amazing. My meal was the chicken leg and my only complaint was that I wanted more. It was not quite enough for me. But the wine was exceptional and the food left me wanting more rather than feeling so stuffed I couldn’t move. Overall, a very cool vibe and an awesome meal. We’ll be back!

Ed Grochowiak

Google

Marben was awesome! We came for a late dinner and were very impressed. The popcorn chicken and fries were our go to and we loved them both. They had a great selection of tequila which worked perfectly for my friends and I. Would definitely go back sometime soon. We sat outside and enjoyed a lovely evening. The staff was friendly and let us put our favorite song on the speakers before leaving!

Marben

Marben

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