Fat Rabbit in St. Catharines, Ontario, has been named home to Canada's best burger according to the inaugural World's 101 Best Burger Places list. The whole-animal butcher shop and restaurant ranked No. 38 overall and was the only Canadian establishment to earn a spot on the global ranking.
A Small Restaurant with a Big Honor
Executive chef and co-owner Zach Smith expressed his gratitude for the recognition. "It's a huge honour. We opened Fat Rabbit with the goal of creating the kind of restaurant we wanted to eat at ourselves — one that takes hospitality seriously but doesn't take itself too seriously," Smith said in an email. "To be recognized on a global list, and to be the only Canadian restaurant included, is incredibly meaningful for our team. We're a small independent restaurant in St. Catharines, and this recognition reflects the hard work of our staff and the support we've received from our community since day one."
The Ranking and Its Criteria
The list was released by Upper Cut Media House, the London-based publishing company behind the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants. Publisher and co-CEO Ekkehard Knobelspies explained the philosophy behind the ranking: "A truly great burger is not fast food. It is the result of product knowledge, sourcing, technique, balance, consistency and hospitality. The best burgers in the world are created by people who understand meat, bread, fire, seasoning, texture and service. This ranking is our way of recognizing those places that go beyond the ordinary and set a new global standard."
London, U.K., dominated the top 10 with three spots, including the world's best burger place, Bleecker Burger. Sydney and New York each claimed two spots, while Hong Kong, Copenhagen, and Los Angeles each had one. Fat Rabbit's No. 38 ranking placed it among an elite group of international burger destinations.
Fat Rabbit's Rise to Prominence
Since opening in November 2023, Fat Rabbit has garnered numerous accolades. Led by Smith, who brings over 20 years of professional kitchen experience and also serves as executive chef and co-owner of Les Incompetents and Bar Raval in Toronto, the Michelin-recommended restaurant placed No. 48 on this year's Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list and No. 91 on the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list.
In May, Fat Rabbit expanded into a larger, redesigned dining room and launched a new family-style menu series. The restaurant stated that the series includes "whole roasted cuts, aged beef and the house charcuterie program, each menu pulling from whatever is butchered and at its best that week."
Commitment to Quality and Sustainability
Fat Rabbit is renowned for its zero-waste butchery and charcuterie program, overseen by head butcher Justin Upper. The restaurant sources whole animals from regenerative farms in the region, butchers them in-house, and uses every part. Smith emphasized that their burger approach mirrors their overall culinary philosophy: "We've always approached our burgers the same way we approach every dish at Fat Rabbit: focus on quality ingredients, creativity and consistency."
The recognition underscores Fat Rabbit's dedication to craftsmanship and community support, solidifying its place as a standout in Canada's culinary landscape.
