Canadians, What is Harveys?

[Mandingo Jones]

Originally Posted by Macktacular

If you're going to cite old ads you'd better be prepared for what you unleash.

I just did a random youtube search for Harvey's and posted what I found! I was really only going to post the first one, but when I saw the second one I had to post it AS WELL

[Macktacular]

I am saddened that Wikipedia has no entry for pizza burgers.

[Don't Tread on Steve]

When I was a little kid I naturally assumed Harvey's was associated with Harvey Comics (publishers of Casper and Richie Rich)

[bad trotsky]

Originally Posted by Macktacular

They sell Poutine.

And there's the whole "burger your way" thing. Like Subway it's made right in front of you. So you don't have to say "I want a this but without that and those" like you would have to at other fast food places. The burger starts off plain and stuff is added in front of you at your request. Hell you can get onion rings on your burger if you want.

According to Wikipedia the locations that do offer breakfast sell fried eggs with yolks (instead of poached or scrambled like at McDonalds and other places) so you can dip your toast if you'd like.

Otherwise, yeah, it's not much different than any other place. My father likes the one in Sydney NS.


A lot of locations have closed, three in Halifax NS alone. There used to be all kinds of them in Saskatchewan but now there's none at all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey%27s

Thank you for the link. I must say the burger and fries pic'd in the wiki looked very tasty. If I remember correctly A&W is a much bigger franchise in Canada than in the US. The menue at A&W is a little different too. In america you are lucky to have one near you.

[Spak]

I love Harvey's veggie burgers, I think they're lentil-based. I do like hamburgers, but often fast food ones don't sit so well with me (and I often don't know if they contain eggs).

Also, only place I can get a burger with mustard, pickles, lettuce, and hot peppers on it.

[Macktacular]

Originally Posted by bad trotsky

Thank you for the link. I must say the burger and fries pic'd in the wiki looked very tasty. If I remember correctly A&W is a much bigger franchise in Canada than in the US. The menue at A&W is a little different too. In america you are lucky to have one near you.

According to Wikipedia the two chains were once one, but the Canadian ones were bought and formed their own chain. So they're the same restaurant, but not the same restaurant. They're very common in Canada, about as common as Dairy Queens and Burger Kings and such.

The real sit-down places (IE not in a food court) are great because you can get your rootbeer in an actual glass mug that's been chilled, and you can buy various sized mugs. Also they've been bringing back classic menu items that they got rid off years ago like their Chubby Chicken. Everything is very retro-themed and it's a campaign that is working well for them.

We used to have about three A&W Christmas ornaments, felt things of the Root Bear riding a sled. I think everyone in Canada had one.

[Swiftya]

A&W is excellent. best onion rings I've found.

[Shriketastic]

I like Harvey's hotdogs, and I can't stand the burgers. They're more like saussage patties than ground beef.

But the hotdogs are fantastic.

Their little apple pie things are better than any other fast food chain, their fries are pretty up there, but their onion rings is what seals the deal in my case.

Two hotdogs, an onion ring, a pie, and a coke for like eight something.

[Deek]

I miss Harvey's more than I miss my own family.
Shrik, that combo sounds fantastic.

[The Marxist Marksman]

Originally Posted by Macktacular

We used to have about three A&W Christmas ornaments, felt things of the Root Bear riding a sled. I think everyone in Canada had one.

Ha ha, I know I did. That's making me nostalgic for Christmas, and I am usually not a big Christmas fan.

[Shriketastic]

Originally Posted by Deek

I miss Harvey's more than I miss my own family.
Shrik, that combo sounds fantastic.

The best part is that they have boring apple pie.

Or hip raspberry-blueberry pie.

it's awesome.

[Spak]

Originally Posted by Shriketastic

I like Harvey's hotdogs, and I can't stand the burgers. They're more like saussage patties than ground beef.

But the hotdogs are fantastic.

Their little apple pie things are better than any other fast food chain, their fries are pretty up there, but their onion rings is what seals the deal in my case.

Two hotdogs, an onion ring, a pie, and a coke for like eight something.

I haven't had a Harvey's hamburger burger in years, I always get the veggie burger, but Dad claims their 'Angus' burger is better than their regular burgers.

[SketchBoy]

When I was a kid we went to Harvey's a lot, mainly because my dad liked it. Was never a big fan though and haven't been in probably 15 years.

I loved Swiss Chalet though. Mmm...

[Shriketastic]

Originally Posted by Spak

I haven't had a Harvey's hamburger burger in years, I always get the veggie burger, but Dad claims their 'Angus' burger is better than their regular burgers.

Never tried it.
The McDonald's Angus Burger is pretty damn tasty, though. They don't put on the normal kraft-singles, the bread is awesome, they have a slice of red onion instead of tiny pieces of normal onion (red onion is )

[The Adventurer]

I always confuse Harvey's with Shoney's. Mostly because I have never ever ever eaten at either one.

[Tika]

Originally Posted by Thumperhead

I'm not a huge fan of Harveys, mainly because of the consistency of the hamburger patties. It's like they were ground to a paste before being formed and cooked.

That is how I feel about McDonalds hamburgers. On the rare occasion I end up at one at any time not breakfast, I eat chicken selects.

Sounds to me like Harvey's is a medium level hamburger joint. Better than BK or McDonald's, but probably wouldn't hold a candle to a place like Five Guys or Cheeburger. Or hell, even a Red Robin. So now I am gonna equate Harvey's and Spangles in my head.

Originally Posted by Macktacular

Hell you can get onion rings on your burger if you want.

I usually do! One of the great (horrible?) things about living in the US is we eat so many hamburgers we have lots of joints where you can put what you want on a burger or that have lots of different types of hamburgers. My favourite is a western burger, which always has barbeque sauce, cheese, bacon, and onion rings as main ingredients. I figure if I am going to kill myself slowly might as well do it in style.

[Unifex]

Personally, I wouldn't say that Harvey's is the BEST burger chain in Canada, because that title is clearly held by Lick's Homeburgers... and if you don't live in the Toronto area, and thus have a chance to try them, I truly feel bad for you. However...

When I made my last trip up to Canada, to get a new 3-year work visa, and chose to go to Ottawa to visit one of my best friends up there, I made sure that we went to a Harvey's, and it was GLORIOUS. A double bacon cheeseburger with mustard, relish and pickle, fries, onion rings and a coke... godDAMN it was good.

I wanted to go to Lick's there too, since that would have been even better, but the Lick's in Ottawa closed down a few months before, so I was ultimately disappointed... but going to Harvey's was awesome, and it is definitely one of the uniquely Canadian food experiences that I miss (along with President's Choice products and Tim Horton's).

[Weirdo]

Aside from Lick's I can't think of any other better burger chains in Canada.

[Qamarman]

Originally Posted by Unifex

Personally, I wouldn't say that Harvey's is the BEST burger chain in Canada, because that title is clearly held by Lick's Homeburgers... and if you don't live in the Toronto area, and thus have a chance to try them, I truly feel bad for you. However...

When I made my last trip up to Canada, to get a new 3-year work visa, and chose to go to Ottawa to visit one of my best friends up there, I made sure that we went to a Harvey's, and it was GLORIOUS. A double bacon cheeseburger with mustard, relish and pickle, fries, onion rings and a coke... godDAMN it was good.

I wanted to go to Lick's there too, since that would have been even better, but the Lick's in Ottawa closed down a few months before, so I was ultimately disappointed... but going to Harvey's was awesome, and it is definitely one of the uniquely Canadian food experiences that I miss (along with President's Choice products and Tim Horton's).

If you are in Ottawa there is the Works http://www.worksburger.com/ Which is by far the best Burger joint in Ottawa. But its Ottawa area only so I don't know if it is considered a Chain. Licks and The Works are both amazing.

[Unifex]

I'll definitely try to remember The Works next time I'm up there... which will probably be in 2012. heh