by Andrew Morrison | Connor Butler is the chef/consultant on Max’s Burgers, a new burger shack destined for the old Max’s Deli location at 521 West 8th (at Cambie across from Whole Foods). The 1,240 sqft space – owned by Bruce Redpath of Redpath Foods – has been in the works for quite some time. It’s on track for an end of November opening, at which point we will see some 55 seats (includes patio); wide, garage door frontage; intricate, white-washed joist-work; and a lengthy pop-up skylight that was really cool to behold. The counter-service restaurant already has its liquor license, which will allow them to pour wine and beer (R&B plus a pair of Pilsners) until midnight. Photos and plenty of details (including a menu preview) after the jump…
The menu is significantly “cheffier” than Vera’s or Sunset, putting them – I suspect – square in the slightly elevated Romer’s/Stackhouse strata. They’re using fresh, griddled chuck from Alberta, brioche buns and Kennebec fries with add-ons like blue cheese, applewood smoked bacon (also house-made bacon marmalade!), Hollandaise sauce, red onion rings, sauteed shrooms and more. Aside from burgers, expect ancho-chili spiced Sloppy Joes, pigs in blankets, real winter black truffle mayo dips, crab po’boys, a $55, 24 ounce “Behemoth” burger that “overfeeds four” (comes with a pitcher of beer), among other excessive doozies. Liquid indulgences include boozy floats, soda selections and serious shakes.
Altogether, it sounds properly awesome. You might remember the chef’s last whirl through Vancouver, at his short-lived eponymous Restaurant Connor Butler on Granville. He always struck me as a food fetishist gone slightly bonkers, a trait in chefs that often translates into amazing dishes. But if Mr. Butler is notorious in the local gastro-community for being a lover and producer of all things decadent (like Verace tableware), it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a peep about him (his restaurant shuttered over two years ago). Where has he been? He worked with a buddy in a local golf course kitchen for a spell, and then toiled with the good people at Cawston’s Orofino Strawbale Winery for a while making wine. To have him back in town – even if it’s just making burgers – is a net positive for our food scene, and I can’t wait to give his creations a try.
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Nice!
Hope he “hit’s it out of the park” with the burgers, etc (and hope they have some good wines on the list too).
Shannon is rather photogenic, non?
Wow, huge change from before – looks 10x better! What happened to all that famed versace tableware (that I have read about in EVERY SINGLE STORY about this guy in the past 5 years)?
If they have the boozy bubble tea I suggested on the menu, I’m gonna ask for freebies! Booze, candy, drinks you can play with: what’s not to like.
It’s been far too long since we’ve had a Connor Butler joint in this city. But…a haircut??? Has he gone (perish the thought) mainstream?
Sounds trendy yummy little over the top everything you want in Vancouver food scene.sometimes you just dont want to dress up and have to use your knife and fork.I’m a fan of the unpretentious but adventuress Connor B
Looks good, but “joyce-work” or “joist-work”?
yup.
My money’s still on Moderne Burger.
Looks great! I can’t wait for my friends and I to mow down on a delicious burger and beer (or wine : ) ) .. Looking forward to opening night!
Wow, when are these guys going to get it? What Vancouver needs is an IN-N-Out or Shake Shack burger type of place. We don’t want the brioche buns and meat that puts the prices over the top for a burger that tastes the same as everyone else here.
Too bad.
There’s a reason people want more of Moderne Burger. And I was really excited about this place.
It was my impression that the premium burger concept had choo-chooed out of the Coolville train station some time ago.
Ooh, I’d disagree with that. I also don’t see this as premium.
It just feels like it’s been five years since the burger bubble (babble?) got started with the truly awesome Feenies burger. . .oh, wait, it has.
At least no-one’s gone all Bymark in Vancouver yet.
In-n-Out burgers are basically disgusting. There’s a Five Guys in West Van and somewhere in Surrey that I’d put into the same category. It’s marginally palatable.
Whether this is premium or not depends on the price of the basics. I should be able to get a good burger, fries and coke for less than $15. Dinner for two would be $25 (sharing fries.)
Feenie’s was overrated.
Don’t worry! I’ve seen the draft of the menu and the prices are going to be nowhere nearly as expensive as Fennie’s was. They also won’t be opening until sometime in December (date to be confirmed).