My favorite burger at the moment is from Brandts tavern in Palatine. It is an awesome burger, the only drawback is the price, otherwise I would put up against any of the other places mentioned here...... I think we need a summer burger off.

"Bourban?"

Is that new?

Sometimes I want an over the top greasy, juicy burger from Paradise Pup, where I have been going for fifteen years (I do admit to ordering quiet a few bacon cheddar chicken sandwiches as well - very good)...however, a little closer to my present digs is Five Star - the burgers are quite different from the Pup, but just as satisfying, though in a different way. Five Star burgers are leaner and more dense, however they are always cooked perfectly, making this type of burger very tasty. Also I love the fries at this place - fresh cut, not greasy, piping hot and seasoned with sea salt which adds an extra bit of crunch that I love. In the event that I need that extra fatty or greasy component to my burger at Five Star, I order one of the specialty burgers with toppings such as a fried egg, sauteed mushrooms and onions, or bacon. Five Star is good looking on the inside with a bit of an L.A. rock and roll feel to it, and they serve a good variety of spirits (good selection of bourbons) as well...We usually end up there on a Staurday afternoon when they are not busy, but I would bet it turns into a rowdy bar scene on a weekend night.

Five Star sounds good. I was ready to head over there for lunch, but it looks like they are open for dinner only during the week.

Five Star Bar & Grill
1424 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
312-850-2555

BTW, Five Star isn't a very kid friendly place - there are lots of racy photos in the bathrooms and there is a stripper pole in the back lounge area...

rober wrote:BTW, Five Star isn't a very kid friendly place - there are lots of racy photos in the bathrooms and there is a stripper pole in the back lounge area...

It's sounding better and better to me every moment!

One of my favorite bar burgers is the $3.50 cooked to order cheeseburger at Side Street Saloon in West Lakeview.

Side Street is a real neighborhood joint with an awesome jukebox, pool table and Golden Tee right in the heart of Fratboyland. Side Street is more Rosecoe Village (five years ago) than Lakeview in it's style. It has a nice beer selection for a corner pub. The bartenders are also the owners and have been there for my entire six year run here in Chicago.

The burger is by my guesstimate, a 1/3 pounder with cheese (your choice), cooked to order on a gas grill and served with some "pretty good for food service fries" fries dusted with cajun seasoning.

Side Street Saloon
Greenview and George
Chicago, IL

My favorite local place in Edgewater is Huey's on Balmoral between Ashland and Clark. Right across Balmoral from that sinkhole of wretchedness, Hamburger Mary's. Huey's is a quintessential neighborhood hot dog joint, with superb grilled burgers and even a decent beef. Not only has Hamburger Mary's not dented their business, I have heard that HM employees actually go to Huey's for burgers.

I've always liked Muskies on Lincoln too. SRO's burger is decent, nothing to write home about but good if you're in the area. One burger I really enjoy is the Buffalo burger at the Printer's Row Hackney's. And of course Billy Goat's greasy cheeseburgers are in a world of their own.

As been stated before, Schoop's Hamburgers are really good. They are not thick and juicy but that is what makes them so delicious. My wife likes her burgers med-rare and now craves Schoop's, especially if we went out late the night before. Try a Mickey with a Green River shake--YUM!

I had a great burger at one of my all time favorite spots, Half-Shell. Having never been able to order one over the smelt, frog legs or other fresh fried seafood despite coming here my whole life this would be the first time I tried one. Its served on black rye* and cooked to perfection, I asked for it medium rare and for $6.95 its served with a generous amount of shoestring potato's, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle spear on the side.The burger was really satisfying and I found it to be better than the well known burger at the Select Cut down the street. Half shell gets packed during summer and it can be hard to get a spot since its so cozy, but its pleasant during lunch and a great option.

Half Shell
676 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-1773
Cash Only
*-They also offer it on a regular fresh bun

Just got back from Moody's pub up on Broadway. I had a burger with cheddar. I thought it was pretty good, but not up to the previously-mentioned SideStreet Saloon. Especially true given the $4 price differential.

There is also a good service related story:
I gave up beer for lent (my mistake but a true sacrifice). I ordered a martini (only $5.00 which should raise some questions). Our waitress was very nice and just attentive enough. So, I say, "I'd like a martini." The waitress smartly replies, "how would you like it? On the rocks? Dry?"

I replied, "I would like a dry martini, up, with olives, made with vodka."

I received: A glass of gin with olives on the rocks.

My wife and I laughed and I drank it. The waitress came back and asked if I'd like another. I told her to give me the same. My wife grabbed my arm and asked if I was sure. I said, "Just wait to see what they bring back."

The waitress walked over with a dry vodka martini up. I said, "Oh, so you changed it up." She replied, "That's how I roll."

It was good for a laugh. No idea if it was on purpose that I got the opposite drink that I ordered, but it was entertaining.

Pros (for me):
Dimly lit
Fireplaces
Reasonably priced drinks
Bowls of peanuts
Burger actually Medium and not Well done

Con (for me):
On a Friday or Saturday, the SideStreet Saloon makes a much better burger at half the price

I had a great burger today at Duke of Perth. I don't think I'd ever had a burger there but it was pretty damn good, actually medium, not overdone, nice grilled flavor, mushrooms and onions on an eggy bun. Good hand cut fries to accompany, washed down with a McEwan's scotch ale. Nice afternoon.

Check out "Paradise Pup" in Des Plaines. Doesn't look like much but their burgers are awesome. http://hungryz.com/paradisepup[/url]

HungryZ wrote:Check out "Paradise Pup" in Des Plaines. Doesn't look like much but their burgers are awesome. http://hungryz.com/paradisepup[/url]

Lets be Nice!

Hopefully just an off night, or they are just selling too much booze to be concerned with food anymore (pretty crowded at 6 pm on a Tuesday with not many folks eating)...but my burger at Five Star last night was cooked well done (not as specified twice - medium), rock hard (like it had been kept warming in juice), and served with some luke warm limp fries. Even more to my chagrin, our meal was served only after our orange mohawked server finished watering the dead plants in the front of the bar. Nice.

Da Beef wrote:I had a great burger at one of my all time favorite spots, Half-Shell.

I've been going there over 20 years and never had one of their burgers. Guess I should try it. I always get the Alaskan king crab legs or the giant shrimp.

On a time schedule over the weekend I made a stop at Paradise Pup and the line was out the door and to the end of the building.

I figured I would give the line the 20 minutes that I had and I never made it to the door.

Not disappointed but I am glad to know the wait time on the weekends. Sometimes you have to wait for something awesome. I once waited 40 minutes at Gene and Jude's.

----------------------------------------------------

Tonight I made my first stop for a burger at Gibson's in Rosemont.

Very good! Cooked perfectly with a juicy, beefy, flame grilled taste. The fries were awesome. Thin with a nice crust and big potato flavor. The grilled onions were cooked just right with a sweet flavor.

The very big side order of mushrooms was very tasty with a lot of tiny, baby mushrooms included.

The 3 different breads were great too.

The bad... We were seated in the main room which was crowded and very noisy. The tables were packed in so close that the servers sometimes would have to navigate around to the other end of the room just to serve. The bottom half of the bun never stood a chance with the beef juice and almost disappeared.

Service (must of been 20 servers and waiters) was very good and the food was served quickly. We wanted to be seated in the bar but the bar was packed as well.

I godda go back for the Gold Coast Sliders and some more of the fries.

Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse: Rosemont
5464 N River Rd
Rosemont
(847) 928-9900

"Double Undisputed Cheeseburger" from Wiener and Still Champion. Two lbs. meat. I'll let the photo (courtesy namram) speak for itself.

Is there even a point to the lettuce on that thing?

It's one of its "good health" features.

i think i got a heart attack just looking at that thing.

I wouldn't know how to even eat that, looks great!

Eat one burger with the works; give the other 5 to 5 friends on Atkins....

Shaggywillis wrote:I wouldn't know how to even eat that, looks great!

i gave him a fork and a knife.

He didn't finish it though.

gp60004 wrote:He didn't finish it though.

ah..the agony of defeat

Can anyone confirm whether That's A Burger has reopened? I've called them numerous times, always getting a busy signal, which seems odd.

Can anyone confirm whether That's A Burger has reopened? I've called them numerous times, always getting a busy signal, which seems odd.

This is the status quo, in my experience. Everybody knows those burgers take 15-20 minutes each, so they try to call their orders in; not getting through is one of the reasons I don't get TAB as often as I would like (it's only 10 minutes from my office). I'm not saying that they're definitely back open, but busy signal sounds promising to me rather than discouraging.

nr706 wrote:"Double Undisputed Cheeseburger" from Wiener and Still Champion. Two lbs. meat. I'll let the photo (courtesy namram) speak for itself.

F

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ExhibitA wrote:F

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FFS says: ...Yes? All kidding aside, that's impressive work, Gus.