If there's one thing you can be sure to find on the list of foods Torontonians love, it's a good old fashioned burger. Our city is already home to quite a few epic burger options, but whenever there's a newcomer in town, you can count on an influx of curious customers to flock to the scene.
Owner Bosompra (left) and consulting chef, Forte (right).
Last week was no exception, with the opening of Aunty Lucy's Burgers in Parkdale. The Queen West joint takes over the former home of Duggan's Brewery and opened up last Wednesday for pickup and delivery. The spot is owned by Chieff Bosompra, a business-savvy Toronto creative who teamed up with Adrian Forte, former owner of Dirty Bird Chicken and Waffles to create a menu of indulgent fast-food classics.
Right off the bat, the cool and striking branding is sure to catch your eye, featuring a palm tree, block letters and a retro black-and-white feel, designed by the owner's very own agency. The restaurant is named after his grandmother Lucy, who was one of his biggest supporters, and pays homage to both Bosompra's and his father's hometown in Ghana.
Aunty Lucy's opening came as an excellent and timely representation of a Black-owned business here in the city, that serves as both a cultural symbol and a way of bringing Toronto's diverse community together through food.
Smash burgers are at the heart of the menu at Aunty Lucy's, offered up in single- or double-patty style and dressed with melty American cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato and Lucy's special sauce. They also serve up some tasty fried chicken, made using juicy boneless chicken thighs and fried until golden brown and extra-crispy, served with a generous pile of fries.
Non-meat eaters can even grab a Beyond Burger or one of their gooey grilled cheese sandwiches made on potato buns. For crowds, there are 2- or 3-person combos available (that include burgers, fries and drinks), plus a "Squad" combo that feeds a crew with burgers and fried chicken. Their opening week was a smash hit, drawing in daily crowds and leaving them sold out every single evening. We love to see it, and know that Torontonians craving a delicious burger will help them to keep the momentum going!
Aunty Lucy's is currently open from Wednesday to Sunday, 3-11 p.m., and you can order for takeout directly through their website here or for delivery through Uber Eats.
