One of the city’s longest-running establishments is the new permanent home for an all-new late-night burger joint called Bindi’s Burgers. But they’re not serving up just any old smash burgers—the Indian twist is something you can’t find anywhere else.
Launched as a pop-up last year, Bindi’s Burgers can now be found in the upstairs level of Little Italy’s Monarch Tavern, a space that houses a concert venue downstairs and pub upstairs. Guests can pick up the one-of-a-kind burgers to take away, or enjoy the atmosphere of the bar.
On the menu, you’ll find smash burgers with a patty made with a combination of certified halal and free-range lamb and beef.
“I wanted a place where people who love Indian flavours can get that, but still offer a great entry point to those who are not familiar with Indian food,” says owner Remo Lobo. “It’s a familiar format, but maybe the flavours are a little bit different.”
Lobo, who admits he’s “always had the bug to create,” kicked off his journey to launching Bindi’s while hunting for the perfect smash burger around the city. It was during this quest that he started pondering what an Indian burger joint could offer. After a year of experimenting with various styles, he finally crafted the unique burger he envisioned.
“I don’t know how many different incarnations of the burger I tried,” he explains. “I was just working towards something without a definite endpoint.”
The lamb and beef blend draws inspiration from northern Indian kabobs, where the two proteins unite for a flavour explosion. This mix offers a lighter alternative to a pure beef patty, allowing the meats to elevate each other’s best qualities. The burgers are cooked Oklahoma-style, with thinly sliced white onions pressed into the patty on the griddle, infusing them with a slight sweetness.
“It offers something fresh and new, giving people a unique option,” Lobo shares, highlighting the diverse crowd that has frequented Bindi’s. “I was amazed at how open people were to trying something different. Indian cuisine has really evolved in how it’s perceived.”
The one that started it all is the namesake burger, featuring the signature patty topped with tomato relish, a tangy secret sauce and mint and cilantro. For something more approachable and simple, the new Go West Burger offers a more familiar cheese-topped sandwich, while the Tandoori-spiced chicken thigh offers a crumbly version of a chicken sandwich. Rounding out the menu are vegan and double-patty burgers and sides like fries and chips and dip.
Though you might be going for the smash burgers, you won’t want to pass up pairing it with a mango lassi, an Indian creamy, yogurt-based drink similar to a milkshake. Bindi’s offers a dairy-free version made with almond milk.
“It’s such a nostalgic thing,” says Lobo. “It’s just either the perfect dessert or for if you have something like the spicy chicken sandwich and need a bit of cooling action on the side.”
With the new permanent location in Monarch Tavern, Lobo notes Bindi’s Burgers menu will continue to grow.
“Stay tuned,” he says. “We’ve got some stuff that I’m really excited about.”
