I went to Kuma's last night and I have to say that my experience with the "new" Kuma's was less satisfactory than the "old". As has been mentioned before, the bacon wrapped scallops, a Kuma's signature dish, are no longer on the menu, replaced with a slightly more fussy scallop appetizer which I did not order. Also, they have really upped the biker/heavy metal quotient with both the new burger menu (all of which, except for the Kuma Burger and one other, are named after heavy metal bands) and the addition of the above mentioned boxing machine and one or two other coin operated annoyances. They also had non-stop heavy metal blaring at a somewhat uncomfortable level during our visit, which was early (approx 7:15 P.M.). All that, in addition to the lack of selection on the previously diverse menu, was a very negative factor for The Chow Poodle, who has declared Kuma's no longer on the list of Chow Poodle approved establishments, which makes me quite sad. My Kuma burger, although slightly overcooked, was still very good and I'll return, but sadly I'll be solo.

P.S. The short rib special was again on the menu last night. That is something I would normally be prone to order, but thanks to Mike G's comments in this thread, I resisted the temptation.

I didn't mean to suggest it was bad, it was okay, an hour and a half later it might have been better yet. It just wasn't the burger I wanted.

stevez wrote:I went to Kuma's last night and I have to say that my experience with the "new" Kuma's was less satisfactory than the "old". As has been mentioned before, the bacon wrapped scallops, a Kuma's signature dish, are no longer on the menu, replaced with a slightly more fussy scallop appetizer which I did not order. Also, they have really upped the biker/heavy metal quotient with both the new burger menu (all of which, except for the Kuma Burger and one other, are named after heavy metal bands) and the addition of the above mentioned boxing machine and one or two other coin operated annoyances. They also had non-stop heavy metal blaring at a somewhat uncomfortable level during our visit, which was early (approx 7:15 P.M.). All that, in addition to the lack of selection on the previously diverse menu, was a very negative factor for The Chow Poodle, who has declared Kuma's no longer on the list of Chow Poodle approved establishments, which makes me quite sad. My Kuma burger, although slightly overcooked, was still very good and I'll return, but sadly I'll be solo.

I think Kuma's may be getting more realistic about the number of $20+ entrees they're going to sell in what is essentially a bar. That said, my wife and I love Kuma's for its burgers, andouille mac, great beer selectiong (Three Floyd's is back!), and yes, the metal. To me, Kuma's is like a more rocking/carnivorous version of Handlebar.

JohnnyConatus

JohnnyConatus wrote:I think Kuma's may be getting more realistic about the number of $20+ entrees they're going to sell in what is essentially a bar. That said, my wife and I love Kuma's for its burgers, andouille mac, great beer selectiong (Three Floyd's is back!), and yes, the metal. To me, Kuma's is like a more rocking/carnivorous version of Handlebar.

JohnnyConatus

I also think that I am perhaps not their target demographic, but I like the food.

Kuma's is now open on Sundays with a small brunch menu that starts at 10am and runs until 3pm.

Sorry, JiLS, no biscuits and gravy on the brunch menu.

Though, I swear, the old chef, possibly Scott, was back in the kitchen tonite when I was there.

Didn't eat as my pocket is empty at the moment, but I did enjoy a Belgian wheat on tap for a mere $3.

The video game additions and their associated lights and flashes were a bit annoying (is that a Jukebox on the bar?), but at least only one TV was on. The music was at a tolerable level, however.

Went to Kumas last wekend to try the new menu (about the third itteration since fall, really) and....hmm.
I enjoy Kumas for the great beer selection and the food was always above average but this time I tried the "Basil" burger and while it had a solid flavor profile the hamburger, actually all of my tables burgers were overcooked to the point of inedibility. We all requested Medium/Medium Rare and they all came well beyond well done.
The service has always been good and again, the beer, but if you are going to concentrate on one item as your "signature" it better be legible.
This combined with the boxing machine, the video trivia mind melt contraption taking up prescious bar space and the (albeit always) headbanging declarations to Satan's glorious riffage, this is no longer our defacto Sat. night place.
The Laguitas "Hairy Eyeball" beer was good though, and one should end any message with a salute to the good old hairy eyeball.

I was a bit skeptical about the recent menu change, but we went last Saturday night. Two of us at the table had burgers, both ordered medium-rare, and both cooked perfectly to medium-rare. Which was great for us, but it sounds like their kitchen may be lacking in consistency. Which is kind of a problem. So I have never yet had a bad Kuma's experience. Your mileage may vary, as they say.

Hit Kuma's for a few drinks and a burger last night. Music was evident, but not an impediment to conversation, boxing machine sat lonely the entire time I was there, bartender Alex friendly and efficient, burger was dead-on. Pile of fries, liquid gold yolk, topknot of crisp fried onions all gracing a med-rare blue cheese burger.

True, the menu has become more burger centric, and I felt more than a little out of touch as I had not heard of many of the bands for which the burgers were named, but they had Kung Fu Hustle playing, without sound, on the wall mounted flat screen and conversation flowed freely at the convivial bar.

Speaking of new burgers at Kuma's I really have to try the Slayer, piles of fries topped with a 1/2-lb black angus burger, chili, cherry peppers, andouille, onions and jack cheese Reminds me of The Slinger. at Diner Grill

Enjoy,
Gary

Diner Grill
1635 W Irving
Chicago, IL
773-248-2030

Anyone catch this, from Kuma's website? They're having a "Create Our Next Burger" contest here:

http://www.kumas-corner.com/burger.html

I'll be hitting up Kuma's for the first time this evening - and I don't see any way around ordering the Slayer burger. But the Wife is a huge fan of scallops, and I really hope the app. is as good as you've all said it is.

With the recent reworking of the menu, can I look forward to the glory of the pan-seared Scallop or has it been changed up as well?

whiskeybent wrote:I'll be hitting up Kuma's for the first time this evening - and I don't see any way around ordering the Slayer burger. But the Wife is a huge fan of scallops, and I really hope the app. is as good as you've all said it is.

With the recent reworking of the menu, can I look forward to the glory of the pan-seared Scallop or has it been changed up as well?

The fantastic bacon wrapped scallop is no longer offered. There is another preparation, which I have not yet tried, on the menu but it doesn't sound nearly as good.

Yeah, the new machines are annoying but I like the new menu, quite a bit.

Last night's choice was the Motörhead burger: essentially a burger with Greek-style fixins' (tzatziki, kalamata olives, goat cheese, oregano, raw onion, lettuce, tomato), a delicious combination. Paired with a few Lagunitas beers, and their much-improved fries, last night's burger dinner at Kuma's was totally the ace of spades.

Best,
Michael

Anyone catch this, from Kuma's website? They're having a "Create Our Next Burger" contest here:

A winner has been crowned: the new south-of-the-border inspired "Sepultura Burger" (named after the Brazilian thrash-metal band) features pico de gallo, avocado, roasted poblano peppers and jack cheese.

Not bad, but the poblanos made it a little too smoky for my taste coupled with the fact that it was a bit past my requested medium-rare. Still love the place, tho. Plus, any place that bucks the St. Patty's day trend (last night they decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with carne asada specials amongst others) is cool with me. Nary a shamrock to be seen.

The fact that this is essentially a completely different place from the last time it was nominated for a GNR (2 years ago, yes?) makes me eager to resubmit it.

whiskeybent wrote:

Plus, any place that bucks the St. Patty's day trend (last night they decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with carne asada specials amongst others) is cool with me. Nary a shamrock to be seen.

Any place that celebrates Cinco de Mayo on March 17th is truly "bucking the trend."

Maybe "bucking the trend" wasn't the best choice of terminology - obviously St. Pat's is a bar institution (as well as hand-over-fist moneymaker) but I liked the fact that Kuma's wasn't catering to the amateur-night green beer swillers.

They could have sucked up to the holiday with a corned-beef burger with green frizzled onions or colcannon mac n' cheese, but I get the feeling that they'd rather be out the bar tab than deal with the plastic-hatted legions of dumbasses.

I was just having a tough time with celebrating May 5th on March 17th.

YoYoPedro wrote:I was just having a tough time with celebrating May 5th on March 17th.

Then you clearly had not consumed enough green beer.

I found myself at Kuma's yesterday for a burger, fries, and beer. Although I would not class myself as a burger connoisseur, I found the Kuma Burger fully admirable, excellently cooked medium rare beef and enjoyed the fried egg, moist but not too runny. The fries didn't do much for me - not sufficiently crispy, but adequate certainly. And the draft beer - Cane and Able Rye Ale was dense with flavor and slightly sweet.

Kuma Corner, while not a gastropub (at least not any longer) is seductive for a beer and burger.

stevez wrote: The fantastic bacon wrapped scallop is no longer offered. There is another preparation, which I have not yet tried, on the menu but it doesn't sound nearly as good.

While it is true that the uber scallop app is NLA, I did get a glimpse of the new creation, the "Seared Scallop with Tomato & Sweet Corn" at the table next to us last week. The folks who ordered the app were kind enough to answer a few basic questions on the dish. I have to say, it looked pretty impressive. The serving is 3, perfectly cooked by the looks of things scallops, each the size of a half of a Coke can (or bigger!), with a large amount of diced tomatoes and fresh sweet corn. There appeared to be a loose butter or oil emulsion that draws on the liquid given off the tomatoes while cooking to act as the acid. Though I didn't go so far as to request a bite, the folks seemed to really enjoy the dish and I will certainly give it a shot next time out.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Then you clearly had not consumed enough green beer.

It's not Saint Paddy's day without Green Bagels.



Kaufman's
4905 Dempster St
Skokie, IL 60077
847-677-6190

G Wiv wrote:It's not Saint Paddy's day without Green Bagels.

Wow, those almost look radioactive. Good picture.

G Wiv wrote:
Speaking of new burgers at Kuma's I really have to try the Slayer, piles of fries topped with a 1/2-lb black angus burger, chili, cherry peppers, andouille, onions and jack cheese Reminds me of The Slinger. at Diner Grill

Ah, The Slinger. I was quite proud of the "certificate" that I was awarded for finishing a Slinger at about 2am after a night of drinking and bowling at Timberlanes. Sadly, the certificate was lost when the basement apartment I lived in got flooded during some huge T-storms 5 years ago.
I remember that I had finished all but a few forkfulls of homefries and set my fork down, at which point the "Mel incarnate" who was smoking while cooking came over, leered at me, and said "What's wrong with it?". I promptly cleaned my plate.

Stagger wrote:While it is true that the uber scallop app is NLA, I did get a glimpse of the new creation, the "Seared Scallop with Tomato & Sweet Corn"

Said scallops are also wrapped in bacon. the sweet corn is in a vinegary reduction.

i'm not a big fan of the bagel bun myself. S&S's brioche bun really wins for me.

TonyC wrote:Said scallops are also wrapped in bacon. the sweet corn is in a vinegary reduction.

i'm not a big fan of the bagel bun myself. S&S's brioche bun really wins for me.

Pretzel bun you mean. Also, if you recall, the waitress said that the bacon was back by popular demand. I remember commenting that the presentation of the entire dish was different from the one I saw a week ago. The plate was different and the scallops were smaller. Still I did enjoy the one bite I had. The YOB burger was much better tham I would have thought but the Kuma's still remains the winner IMHO.

Stagger wrote: Also, if you recall, the waitress said that the bacon was back by popular demand.

This is very good news. Power to the people!

stevez wrote:

Stagger wrote: Also, if you recall, the waitress said that the bacon was back by popular demand.

This is very good news. Power to the people!

I should clarify. It is still the new style app, they just put bacon on the scallops too.

I had an excellent Yob burger Saturday afternoon, while Mrs. Fujisan enjoyed her Mastodon burger, both cooked to medium as requested. It was a bit breezy so we wanted to sit inside, but people were playing that infernal boxing machine. Therefore we went to the patio to eat.

Afterwards I e-mailed Kuma's about the boxing machine and how annoying it is. Here is the response -

The game is supposed to be shut off until 10 pm.. sorry if it bothers you.. i am having it removed in the next couple weeks..

Hooray!

The game is supposed to be shut off until 10 pm.. sorry if it bothers you.. i am having it removed in the next couple weeks..

Hallelujah!

I myself had the YOB burger the other day, wife had the Motorhead, friend of ours had the Kuma. All were excellent, and I might be ready to put Kuma's burger offerings a step above of Rosebud.

Kuma's is just more fun.

Fujisan wrote:Afterwards I e-mailed Kuma's about the boxing machine and how annoying it is. Here is the response -

The game is supposed to be shut off until 10 pm.. sorry if it bothers you.. i am having it removed in the next couple weeks..

Boxing machine is gone.

Went to Kuma's for lunch, was in the mood for a rare burger loaded with heat. The friendly waitress said they didn't mind if I rolled my own so I came up with the Donny & Marie*

Rare w/pepper jack cheese, fresh jalapeno, pickled jalapeno, cherry pepper, chipotle pepper, raw onion, fried onion topped with a mound of 'frizzled onions' Burger was terrific, a spicy, steamy hot burger that just cried out to be named after the brother/sister steamy hot duo of all time, Donny & Marie.

Enjoy,
Gary

*Kuma's names the burgers after Metal bands, Donny & Marie Osmond are not a Metal band.

Can this be far behind?