Shack à Patate opened in this rather unassuming spot earlier this year, and its menu is about as straightforward as a burger-and-fries spot is going to get. The milkshakes are generous and topped with whipped cream. Each of my kids rated the shakes a 10 out of 10, so take that to the bank.
Poutine is the Shack à Patate’s raison d’être. And, the offerings are on par with the best poutine spots in the city; what makes it pop is the gravy, which is very true to what you’d find in poutine shops in Quebec. There’s a heavy tang to the house-made gravy — it’s not overly beefy or thick. It doesn’t overpower the cheese curds.
And, while there are a couple of burgers on the menu, Shack à Patate has a burger named the “Shack Special” on offer. Of course I chose the Shack Special simply because of the name.
I mean, you’re not going to walk up to the till and say “I’d like a cheeseburger” when you can roar “I’d like Shack Special” with the confidence of an Asgardian god. It’s a messy exercise in excess; the homemade chili sauce turns this into at least a three-napkin adventure. It’s a lot of food fun.
ShackAPatate.ca |#122, 270 Baseline Rd., Sherwood Park | 587-269-4005
This article appears in the November 2020 issue of Edify
