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Restaurant: Lil’ Empire
Location: 1105 1 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 0C9, Canada
Rating: 4.7 stars
Hello! Today I would like to introduce you to the best burger in Calgary, AB. But, before then, let me tell you a bit more about this blog. My name is Ernest Archambault, and I post new food content weekly. There is no restaurant too popular or too obscure; too expensive or inexpensive; too noisy or too quiet for The Ernest Blog. We do it all. Please feel free to subscribe if you like the content and/or drop us a line if you have any questions/suggestions for future reviews.
In today’s review, we visit Lil’ Empire (“The restaurant”) which is nestled away in quite Inglewood, just 5 minutes away from downtown Calgary. The restaurant itself (see picture to the right) is partitioned into an ice cream shop on one side and a burger joint on the other. Though Covid has limited their seating capacity, it is still a very special experience. It feels authentic, clean, and welcoming. There is plenty of seating outside, with inside seating remaining fairly limited at this time. The restaurant, originally modeled after the Southern California fine casual burger concept has garnered a lot of attention around the city for their simple and carefully crafted menu. In total there are less than ten items on the menu, which are mostly burgers and a couple hotdog options. They have 4.3 three stars on Google reviews, with hundreds of patrons leaving warm and encouraging reviews.
As mentioned briefly, the ambiance is one of a kind. It truly feels authentic. This is mostly created by the warm smiles and hellos that great you at the door. And it is further exacerbated by nice lighting, enjoyable music, and satisfied patrons. Though far from California, they have hit the nail on the head with their SoCal themed restaurant, and it somehow fits in perfectly in the quite suburb of Calgary.
So, let’s get into the food. I ordered an Empire with Cheese. This burger comes with an all-natural beef patty, fried onions, pickles, lettuce, their signature Empire sauce, and American cheese. And let me tell you, it never gets old. We went to Lil’ Empire at various times to try and get a holistic picture of their service and food, and the quality remained amazing every time.
The Empire burger looks phenomenal. There is a lush and organic lettuce that peaks out of each side of the sandwich, while the bun has the perfect width and “fluff” that you want. You are also greeted with a more than fair number of French fries (which we will get into later).
The taste was just incredible. The secret ingredient is the sauce. It has a slight spice that pairs perfectly
with the melted cheese and fresh patty. The lettuce was also not overbearing and tasted equally fresh.
Every bite gets better and better. I was extremely pleased with the flavor and cooking of the patty. I find that too often a patty can be over cooked or undercooked (especially in Canada where they don’t ask you your preference). However, Lil’ Empire gets it. It’s tender and not chewy yet cooked quite well. There are also some slight spices that give it a mild kick. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the taste of the fries, as they were perhaps the best fries I have ever had. Think Five Guys meets McDonalds. The freshness of the former, paired with the salty goodness of the latter is what Lil’ Empire offers.
Avoiding hyperbole, the bun of this burger feels like a cloud at first but offers a slight crunch once you
meet the other side. Further, the fresh lettuce that is just one layer below the bun offers the ideal
crunch. A crunch that doesn’t distract you from the other ingredients, but rather adds the perfect and
most strategic degree of texture. I found the patty itself to also be rather perfect on the texture side. It
was medium rare, but not too stiff or soft.
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During this food review, we ordered food from them three times in a week and half. By the third time we ordered for pickup, they became familiar with us and left a personalized note on the bag. Now, is it embarrassing when a semi-fast-food restaurant remembers your name—yes; however, it is also an incredible testament to their customer service. This rhetorical appeal has been the genesis of their fast-growing popularity around the city. They truly care about their patrons and building a loyal and recurring customer base.
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Conclusion:
Lil’ Empire lives up to the hype. Even if 10 people have told you that a restaurant is unbelievable it is often the case that you won’t truly believe it until you try it. I am ashamed to admit that this was me, as I disregarded repeated referrals to this restaurant. The reviews online, and through personal connections, echo the sentiment perfectly: Lil’ Empire is inexpensive, delicious, and a restaurant that values their customers. They receive a 4.7-star review from me. The only downside was the appearance during one of our orders, as the bun seemed slightly compressed. However, this is a minor issue, and holds very little weight. Lil’ Empire is a must see ever in Calgary.
Thanks again for reading, we look forward to seeing you next week!