The Rail Grill — Home of the Derailer — Blue Island

A while back philw showed me a picture of a burger from The Rail and that image stuck with me. The other day we were on the far southwest side and decided a visit to The Rail was in order.







How are you going to eat at the Home of the Derailer and not try one?





As you can see this burger is large, almost comically so. It's so big it's somewhat tricky to eat. A big chunk broke off just after the picture was taken. Not a bad burger but far from perfect. I think they'd be better off making The Derailer thicker and cooking it a bit less (or maybe I should've simply ordered a smaller burger). The Derailer comes perched on a pile of very good fresh-cut fries but they get a little soggy under there. Despite some quibbles, this one-pound burger with fries for $5.50 (the outside sign is incorrect) is a heck of a deal.

The Rail Grill
2239 Vermont St (about 13100 S, 2300 W)
Blue Island IL
708-597-4343

I spied the Rail Grill on a past trip to Steffanelli & Son's and the derailer sign lured me in a few days later.

Rene G wrote:The Derailer comes perched on a pile of very good fresh-cut fries but they get a little soggy under there. Despite some quibbles, this one-pound burger with fries for $5.50 (the outside sign is incorrect) is a heck of a deal.

That's what I thought, it looks like your burger was even bigger than mine, reminded me a little of Illinois Bar & Grill on 47th but I think IB&G has a better burger but maybe I'm biased. I'll get back to the Rail one day for some broasted chicken and I also saw they had a Freddy on the menu although they did not call the sandwich that.


bacon cheeseburger derailer from Rail Grill

HI,

From reading between the lines, I'm guessing Rene G's hamburger was cooked to medium rather than medium rare? Da Beef, how was your's cooked?

Regards,

Nice find. That's a lot of meat for $5.50.

Rene G wrote:

I'm sorry, but that looks really unappetizing. I don't think burgers are supposed to "hang" like that. Is this a popular thing to order, or is it really just a gimmick?

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

From reading between the lines, I'm guessing Rene G's hamburger was cooked to medium rather than medium rare? Da Beef, how was your's cooked?

Regards,

I'd say medium well...


The insides

jesteinf wrote:I'm sorry, but that looks really unappetizing. I don't think burgers are supposed to "hang" like that. Is this a popular thing to order, or is it really just a gimmick?

Nah it's popular. When I was there they had a group of six regulars all on lunch break age ranging from college to adult and they were happy to be there eating the burgers. When one of theirs came out they showed it to me as he held it in hand and said "look at that, amazing aint it" or something like that. Life (and food preferences) are a little different in Blue Island than say somewhere in the Northshore. To each his own I guess? but I agree Rene G's burger doesn't look as good as mine, not that mine was great, it was good though, for what it was.

I have a contract in the area and as usual I checked the local LTH recommendations.

Drove by here at lunch and it was closed with a For Sale sign in the window.

Dang!

Drove by the Maple Tree Inn and they are not open for lunch.

Dang!

Maple Tree Inn
13301 Olde Western Ave, Blue Island
(708) 388-3461