If we could spend the rest of our lives touring must-stop small-town restaurants and hidden gems across Alberta, we would. And, in fact, we think we will. Today, on our small-town foodie tour, we’re landing in Carstairs, Alberta, for some of the best burgers around.
The Burger Baron is an unassuming little drive-in that offers drive-in, takeout, and delivery. To the untrained eye, it may look like a little red cabin, but it’s actually home to life-changing burgers and some pretty unreal pizzas, too. For such a tiny place, you might be shocked to see how massive the menu is. Let’s start with the burgers.
You’ll find a classic burger, the Baron Burger Single, that has Baron sauce, onions, and pickles. There’s also a double version of that one. Then, there’s the Sonia Burger that has Baron sauce, mushroom cause, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, cheese, and bacon. This burger is known to be spicy and is one of the Burger Baron’s main claims to fame. Seriously, it’s delicious.
Then you’ve got your cheeseburgers, Salisbury burgers, mushroom burgers, pizza burgers with pizza sauce and mozzarella, deluxe pizza burgers with even more toppings, and so much more. There’s the Canadian Burger with Sauce, onions, bacon, ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, the chicken supreme, the spicy chicken supreme, the fish burger, and–of course–a veggie option. You can get yourself one of these bad boys for as little as $5.70, and trust us when we say it’s worth every penny.
In addition to the burgers (not that you need any more convincing), you’ll find onion rings, tater tots, fries, corn fritters, jalapeno poppers, deep-fried pickles, and more amazing side dishes to take your meal to the next level.
If you’re not in a burger mood, you don’t have to worry. There’s a whole array of fried chicken dishes, including nuggets and strips, sandwiches and hot dogs, poutines, fish and chips, wings, donairs, salads, and–last but certainly not least–pizzas.
The pizza menu is almost as impressive as the burger menu, with choices like chicken alfredo, Mexican, Mediterranean, and more. These creative pies are to die for and are sure to impress the next group you have the pleasure of ordering for.
Like any good drive-in, they’ve got a bunch of different milkshake flavours for you to try and ice cream cones, as well. This place is known for super friendly service, generous portions, and a really cool vibe. But, above all else, it’s known for the food. These burgers are big, so come hungry and be prepared to be coming back for more in the future.
Britanny Burr is a freelance writer and a contributor to Great West Media. This content has been republished for the Great West Media & Southern Alberta Newspapers Hot Summer Guide advertising feature. The Hot Summer Guide is a special feature about summer activities, bucket list adventures, staycation options, road trips, attractions, events, and road trip-worthy food & beverage destinations across Alberta. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff.
This article was originally published on September 21, 2023
