A new owner’s hustling his buns at Penticton’s retro burger bar
Ronald Bee, the new owner of Burger 55 in Penticton, is torn. Does he declare the Diner burger the eatery’s most beloved or is it the 55 cheeseburger.
“Well, on Thursday’s when we have the 55 cheeseburger and beer for $13.55 special, the cheeseburger is definitely the best seller,” he said.
“But, overall, the most popular is probably the Diner burger.” And, why wouldn’t it be? It’s a triple-A Angus beef patty topped with fried onions, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, dill pickle and cheese slice on a brioche bun. The point is probably moot anyway. Burger 55 has a myriad of burgers, and not all of them beef, but chicken (aka the Hipster burger), bison, salmon, lamb, tuna and three-bean vegan.
And you can customize it any way you want and add fresh-cut fries, onion rings, sweet potato fries, baked beans, poutine or salad.
You can pair your burger with the aforementioned beer – Burger 55 carries Okanagan Springs and Whistler Brewing suds and soon will have brews from Penticton’s own Bad Tattoo – a soft drink, or soon, wine.
“We’re in the middle of wine country, so we should get some on the menu,” said Bee.
Bee took over Burger 55 on May 1 and is planning some renovations and improvements, but will keep all the elements that made the business an institution amongst locals and tourists alike.
“We’re the retro flame-broiled burger bar that was featured on You Gotta Eat Here on the Food Network,” said Bee. “Of course, I’m proud to own such a business.” Burger 55 has 50 indoor seats at its downtown location at 52 Front St. and a patio with 24 seats.
Bee previously worked as a chef at Outland oilpatch camps in Northern Alberta, on Holland America cruise ships, at the Banff Springs Hotel and the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna.