Butchers Block BBQ

Looking for authentic barbecue on the West Coast? Husband and wife team Calvin and Mary Levesque have been serving up backyard-style ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and more at their Burnaby restaurant since June 2005. Their centrally located eatery is just a short 15-minute drive to downtown Vancouver, close to the North Shore and is only about eight blocks from the couple's own home.

Originally named, “Burgers, Etc.,” the restaurant has evolved considerably over the years. After more than a decade in business, Mary and Calvin decided to change the name to Butchers Block BBQ in 2016. The name change came about as the burger joint expanded into a full-scale barbecue restaurant when Calvin decided to start experimenting with a new smoker. “The former name was a bit deceptive,” laughs Mary, “since it was a big, ‘Etc.’ that kind of took over the ‘Burgers.'"

Despite the name change, burgers are still very much a big draw at the Burnaby eatery. About nine months after the restaurant first opened, CTV asked its viewers to cast their votes in a Vancouver’s Best Burger competition. “We won!" Mary recalls. "There were camera crews…we were on TV…and it all snowballed from there.”

The thick, juicy burgers at Butchers Block BBQ could be a prototype for the genre.  Beef, chicken and veggie patties are garnished with a variety of savoury toppings (cheddar, sautéed onions, bacon, pineapple and fried egg are just a few of the options) and are served alongside house-made sides such as creamy coleslaw, macaroni salad and corn niblets.