Atlantic Bar & Grill - Great Pub Burger, Better Price

Could've sworn I've seen this place mentioned on LTH before but couldn't find the link.

General Overview:

This is a wonderful little gem a few blocks north and about a block west of Lincoln Square proper - just north of the intersection of Winnemac and Lincoln and south of Foster by a hair over a block.

The owner is Irish and although it might technically be labeled "an Irish pub" it is not your stereotypical Irish pub of which we have so (too?) many throughout Chicago.

I believe they took the place over from a sea-themed bar and opened their doors last November (2006). Being a patron of numerous bars in the area, how this place escaped my radar - when being probably the closest bar to my home - for two months is beyond comprehension. But, I first made a stop earlier this year in January on a Friday night.

I've probably been there about 15 times over the last 6 months amd have to say that it's a wonderful neighborhood bar. Not quite as hectic and trendy as the downtown Lincoln Square haunts nor as dreary and dingy as the hole-in-the-wall taverns that pop up along Western and Lawrence avenues in the area. Both types of which I like to frequent now and again.

They repainted the rather unbecoming (and unwelcoming for that matter) front facade and took down the soccer schedule posters on the front windows that obstructed any peek inside the place.

The inside of the bar is about two notches nicer than one might assume from taking in just the front of the buildng. Also, the place is much bigger than you'd expect in a kinda long and narrow sorta way. The place is populated with various flat-screen TVs primarily for soccer-watching types I suppose. Not being of that ilk, I have never found the TVs or soccer games an imposition on my enjoyment of the place. You can catch a Cubs or Bulls, etc. game in their without feeling required to do so - if you know what I mean.

In the 10 or 11 times that I've imbibed at least a few drinks or more here I can never remember once getting past my third drink without the fourth one being on the house - this seems a lost art in this town and I found it very enticing. The pour one-hell of a nice pint of guiness there and keep their tap lines clean.

The food is surprisingly good and mostly cooked to order which can create a little bit of a wait during peak times for your food. Everything I've had on the menu has been at least pretty good to great: salads, salmon, burger, Irish breakfast and standards. Plus, there is one drink and dining specal everyday of the week. Which brings me to Tuesdays...

Burger Review:

On Tuesdays is the Pub Burger Special. Half-a-pounder for $4, regularly $6.50. Cheese is 50 cents and the burger comes wth fries. I have to say, I had the burger today with grilled onions (also 50 cents) and cheddar cheese with a side salad substitute for the fries (another 50 cents). Burger cooked medium rare. It was outstanding, perfectly cooked. Probably the 5th or 6th time I've had the burger here and it's quality is consistent. Good quality ground beef (chuck?), perfect cheddar, succulent grilled onions and very complimentary non-sesame seed white bun - probably a couple of notches above a regular burger bun and a notch below the Turano buns. There is a nice rub that the cook must put on the beef, doesn't taste like a marinade but I'm not sure. It is not overpowering and allows you to taste the good-quality burger meat as well. You have to try one. One word to the wise - I once ordered the burger medium instead of medium rare and it wasn't the same - still pretty good but not great.

The side salad was huge - mixed greens, fresh tomatoes, nice lite ranch. Also, topped off by a really good-quality pickle on the side.

Pub Burger Special with Cheese and Grilled Onions plus side salad and diet coke with tax and tip = $9. The coke was $2 and the cheese and grilled onions and upgrade from fries to a big side salad combined to a $1.50 total.

What a really nice lunch from a great neighborhood bar.


Bster

Atlantic Bar & Grill
5062 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-506-7090

www.atlanticbar.homestead.com

I wonder if it's related to the old Atlantic Pub that used to be on Grand just east of Harlem. I used to score some decent fish & chips there. But they tanked a couple years ago.

Bster wrote:What a really nice lunch from a great neighborhood bar.

Bster,

Atlantic Bar, I don't think Ive noticed that either. Sounds like a good place for a burger, thanks for the heads up.

Enjoy,
Gary

I wish I had read this earlier today -- $4 is a heck of a deal for a good pub burger and this would have been a good dinner (despite having enjoyed a bacon-cheddar burger at Paradise Pup for lunch today). I live just a couple of blocks from this place and never noticed it so I am excited to give it a try.

Typically, I've walked to Grafton or Jury's (both of which make excellent burgers) but I'm always excited to try someplace new . . . especially a good Irish pub so thanks for the info. I'm also looking forward to trying some fish and chips and curry chips . . . yum!

Bster wrote:What a really nice lunch from a great neighborhood bar.

Bster,

Terrific recommendation!

Met Steve Z at Atlantic Bar for lunch Monday and quite liked the place, nicer interior and, as you said, larger than it appears from the street, friendly owner, good food, well poured Guinness, and an overall genial comfortable feel that seems to be missing in so many places these days.



Burger consisted of good quality beef, grilled (gas grill) to the requested med-rare, bacon, cheddar, a well made bar burger.

Atlantic Bar Burger



Fish, for fish and chips, were battered to order, we saw the bartender/owner draw the beer for the batter, three nice size planks of moist cod encased in a very light coating, little sprinkle of vinegar, quite pleasing.

Atlantic Bar Fish and Chips


Fries could have used a some crisp, but that is easily rectified with a simple request next time around.

Cathal, the owner, is a friendly sincere sort, I could easily see going to the Atlantic for a lunch time beer and burger and not leaving until well after sunset.

Cathal, owner Atlantic Bar


There's a large party room in back, full bar, flat screen tv, access to pass through to the kitchen, I'll keep it in mind next time someone inquires as to a place to watch soccer matches or have a casual get together.

See you there some Tuesday soon for $4 Pub Burgers.


Enjoy,
Gary

Atlantic Bar & Grill
5062 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
773-506-7090

Gary,

Glad you enjoyed Atlantic Bar!

I was actually there on Tuesday late afternoon for my almost weekly Pub Burger special. I have to say, this week's burger was the best yet - perfectly cooked! I never get a menu anymore the bartendar recognizes me and knows what I want.

Happy this place is in my 'hood.

Bster

Those burgers look great. This is just down the street from us - I know where we'll be strolling on an upcoming Tuesday!

I'm going to have to try the chicken curry. There's lots of curry in Chicago but I haven't found an Irish style curry anywhere, hard to describe but tasty and not too spicy.

Cogito wrote:I wonder if it's related to the old Atlantic Pub that used to be on Grand just east of Harlem. I used to score some decent fish & chips there. But they tanked a couple years ago.

Missed this post first time around...Yes, I was reminded of this place, too. I remember they had knockout fish and chips. Must have closed, what, eight, nine years ago?

David Hammond wrote:

Cogito wrote:I wonder if it's related to the old Atlantic Pub that used to be on Grand just east of Harlem. I used to score some decent fish & chips there. But they tanked a couple years ago.

Missed this post first time around...Yes, I was reminded of this place, too. I remember they had knockout fish and chips. Must have closed, what, eight, nine years ago?

That sounds about right.

Cathal, the owner, is a friendly sincere sort, I could easily see going to the Atlantic for a lunch time beer and burger and not leaving until well after sunset.

Did go for late lunch last Friday, had a Guinness, another, etc. Was in there with a few other customers and Cathal, hmself, was tending bar...couldn't bring myself to leave...but finally did and before sunset - barely... .

Had the Mixed Greens Salad with added Chicken...very good alternative to the always good Pub Burger.

Bster

Jimthebeerguy and I came here last night for dinner. With our six month old in tow. We told each other that we'd better have a backup plan in case kids weren't welcome (and what that backup plan was, I don't know, because the discussion never made it that far, but I had Shelly's in mind (other side of Lincoln, up the street)). To our relief, not only was our baby welcome, but over the course of the early evening, I counted at least 8 other children.

The curry fries were pretty good. I asked Jim if he would ever order them again, and he said that it's "drinking food."

We both had the burger special, and ordered two beers apiece. Since this place is only a couple of blocks away, we're considering making this a weekly event. As well as Friday during Lent. And if they show (American) football on Sundays, then Sundays, too.

We went here for dinner tonight. My boyfriend and I both got the Atlantic Bacon & Cheddar burger and had them substitute Irish bacon for the American bacon. It wasn't as tasty as we hoped- I think the smoky flavor is really what makes bacon on a burger good, so that was lacking. But other than that, the burger was really good- good meat, nice seasoning, tasty bun.

Our friend who came with got the Friday special- $5.95 fish & chips. He liked it, but thought there wasn't enough cole slaw given to even warrant mentioning it in the menu description.

The food was really good, the bar's pretty nice (as long as you get out before the soccer hooligans around you get blasted on Jager bombs) and it's a good location. We'll definitely go back!

abe_froeman wrote:We went here for dinner tonight. My boyfriend and I both got the Atlantic Bacon & Cheddar burger and had them substitute Irish bacon for the American bacon. It wasn't as tasty as we hoped- I think the smoky flavor is really what makes bacon on a burger good, so that was lacking. But other than that, the burger was really good- good meat, nice seasoning, tasty bun.

I was reading in ccrush's Mere Mortal's Guide to Fine Dining that it's not advisable to ask a chef to substitute ingredients (unless you have a food allergy and can't eat certain things). Her point is that chefs consider how tastes go together, and to ask them to modify that balance is usually not a good idea. I had never thought of it that way, though your experience suggests there's some validity to it.

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have asked for the variation the first time I tried it, but I'd also heard how good the burger was at The Celtic Knot in Evanston that has Irish bacon on it, so I figured I'd try it that way at The Atlantic.

Maybe it's better at The Celtic Knot, but I'll know better for next time at The Atlantic.

The Celtic Knot bacon burger also comes with stilton which I think makes up for the lack of smokiness of the bacon. I had a pint at the Atlantic on the way home from Delilah's the other night and I am looking forward to going there again. It made me feel like I was back at Gunther's in the old days before it turned yuppie.

Just returned from another Pub Burger lunch at Atlantic Bar and good news:

The ridiculously tasty and cheap $4 Pub Burger is no more!

It is now the ridiculously tasty and cheap $3 Pub Burger (with fries)! This now has moved into serious contention for the most absurly low-priced, quality lunch in Chicagoland!

The bar tender informed me that there is a new special on Thursdays:

$5.95 for a Half-Rack of Ribs and Fries. This sounds way too good to be true.

Bster

I drove by the Atlantic on the way home from running an errand and noticed that there is a huge banner up on the outside of the building offering up their party room for free. It sounds like things might be a bit slow at the Atlantic, what with lowered prices and free party rooms and all. I think LTHers should get over there ASAP to support this place. They deserve it and the food is great.

Duly noted, Stevez. I took my three kids there for dinner tonight. The french fries were superb (the barometer for good fast food, right?).

But when I saw my burger, I realized my mistake - the waitress hadn't asked me how I wanted it cooked, and I forgot to tell her. Seems the status quo is charred, but it was still pretty darn good. Next time I'll ask for rare.

Has anyone checked out those ribs yet? Take one for the team!

Always on the lookout for the best burger in my neighborhood, I stopped by Atlantic Grill last Tuesday. The place was pretty quiet, but that was kinda nice for me, actually. It looks like they might do a big business for Monday Night Football, because they run a lot of cheap specials. I am unlikely to show up for that, but the atmosphere was on the order of the sort of place I feel comfortable, a neighborhood pub catering to families and couples rather than random dudes. The burger I had ($8.95) was quite good: hand-formed, deliciously charred on the outside, and medium-rare on the inside with a crisp piece of bacon and grilled onions. I like having malt vinegar for my fries, partly because it makes me feel sophisticated to know what the hell the vinegar is for and partly because it reminds me of the Greek fries in vinaigrette at my other favorite burger place, Cross Rhodes in Evanston. I like Atlantic's burger well enough to go back, and the bartender was especially nice. Then again, I'm a sucker for an Irish accent.

As a burger-loving neighborhood resident, I was quite excited to discover this thread. Sadly, after two visits to Atlantic, I can only report that I experienced what has to be the worst "pub" burger I have ever had (or at least it would fall in the bottom five).
In fairness, the first time we went there on a Tuesday night we were told that they were out of their "normal" patties, and that they were serving a lesser substitute. Fine, for three bucks there is little justification to complain.
Having enjoyed the atmosphere, fries and beer selection, we decided to give it another shot this past Tuesday. The burgers served were borderline inedible; meager, completely charred, way overcooked and unbelievably dry. To top it off (literally and figuratively) their attempt at adding a nice touch by putting the buns on the grill resulted in a solid black charcoal circle on the surface. These burgers bore absolutely no resemblance to the ones so beautifully depicted in earlier posts.
Imagine going to a friend's house a day or two after they had a barbecue, and having them tell you they had some leftovers. Then assume that they took a couple of these already overcooked burgers and placed them over a hot flame for about ten minutes. The result would be pretty close to the burgers we had (but couldn't finish). I understand that this was a special, but there is a difference between price and value--honestly, if you had offered to pay me three bucks to eat one, it probably wouldn't be worth going there to get it (alright I might take the offer, but I can be cheap).
My intention is not to trash the establishment--on the contrary, I sincerely want this place to succeed, and I will undoubtedly return to try other menu items. Also, the staff were extremely friendly and, as I mentioned, the atmosphere and location make Atlantic a potentially perfect local spot. But I felt an obligation to report our experiences related specifically to the Tuesday $3 Burger special, to prevent the disappointment of others. Perhaps they have resorted to permanently offering a different product for the special, and I need to go on another day of the week?
In any case, the place was about dead the second time we went, so I hope that through improved product and customer support the pub will be able to thrive. Does anyone know if they do a good business on the weekend? I would certainly like to be able to enjoy watching a match there and to try other items.

Go back on a Tuesday and ask for them rare or medium-rare (join us for dinner on the 23rd if you're up for it!! ) .... yeah, the status quo is for the burgers to be charred to a crisp. Utterly disgusting. But we've learned that if you ask for them rare or medium-rare, and you get them with everything on it, it's decent. Gourmet it is not, but what do you expect for $3?

I'd like to try their Thursday night ribs...will report on them after that.

Yeah, you gotta be careful to get the burger medium rare or rare or else the status quo is burnt to a crisp and its disgusting - got one of those once - ick! Try it medium rare or less cooked and you'll join the legion of fans.

Bster

Bster wrote:Yeah, you gotta be careful to get the burger medium rare or rare or else the status quo is burnt to a crisp and its disgusting - got one of those once - ick! Try it medium rare or less cooked and you'll join the legion of fans.

Bster

I've been meaning to go as it's in my neighborhood but the last few posts prompt me to ask . . . don't they ASK how you want your burger done? I can't imagine anyone actually volunteering when asked about doneness that they want it "burnt to a crisp".

Headed over to Atlantic last night for the $3 Pub Burger Special - I have come to believe this is the best deal in all Chicagoland in the $5 and under category - it really just is.

Had a medium-rare gem last night with grilled onions and cheddar cheese - enchanting. Spectacular. I was struggling with whether Jury's or Atlantic offered a better "regular, non-gourmet" burger in the area but not any more after recent visits to both places. Atlantic's burger wins hands down. The only oter burger of any kind in the same 'hood worthy of more praise is the gourmet offering at Bistro Campagne which is fabulous but priced over $10 and really a different dish all together. You might as well compare lobster and steak if you were to do a side-by-side of AB's and BC's burgers.

Anyway, I digress...

GF had the burger too and is much more of a crtitic and picky eater than I when it comes to "mainstream" food. Her's was done medium and she aet every bite - this is uncommon. The fries tonight were particularly wonderful, prior visits had always produced a fry product somewhere between "serviceable" and "pretty good". But last night nicely crisp, fresh tasting, seasoned fries were on the mark. The side of curry to dip them in made all the difference. The curry was awesome. The GF ate her fries sans curry and loved them just the same.

Great $3 pints of Goose Island to boot.

3 beers; two Pub Burger Specials; curry fries; and a very good Pomengranate Martini with tax and tip for about $33. That's tough to beat.

Had been awhile since I'd been to AB in the evening. Their decor is really nice. This is a wonderful neighborhood bar with great food.

I was concerned at the sparse corwd around 7 or so last night but the server assured me AB is doing just fine.

Would encourage LTHers to give this place a try.

Bster

Bster, we ended up going there on Tuesday after all. Sounds like we missed each other (we left a little before 7pm, I think).

It was the best burger I've had there so far... I get mine medium-rare with Swiss cheese, and all toppings.

The downside is that we had a bit of a, um, situation with the waiter when we asked for medium-rare. He kept saying something about how there are federal regulations that say you can't have it too rare or whatever. Jimthebeerguy ended up feeling a little uncomfortable; he doesn't appreciate having to argue to get good service, especially over a piddlin' $3 burger, which I can understand. OTOH, I am happy to argue till the cows come home. The waiter can say whatever he wants about fed regs, blah blah blah, and as long as I get my burger done the way I want it, I'm happy.

SP,

I had the SAME thing happen to me? I said medium-rare, server - who totally recognized me BTW and how I get my burger - said that "It will be closer to MEDIUM". I said "medium-rare" again and it came out medium rare and was fabulous.

Strange.

Maybe management came down with a new edict.

As far as I know, there are no state or federal regulations governing the "doneness" of hamburger patties. I do know there are FDA and other GUIDELINES around what certain foods internal temps should be after cooking and such.

Bster

We stopped by the Atlantic for a burger fix on Saturday with both kids in tow. The owner seems a really nice guy. We both had the Atlantic burger, he did not bat an eye when we both ordered rare. Rare it came. Mooing.
They do season their meat, which isn't what I prefer, but it was good and the meat was fresh.

My daughter didn't want the Soup of the Day (Cream of Mushroom) but I asked for an off-menu item, a grilled cheese. They were happy to oblige and charged a very fair $3.50 for it with fries.

We'll be back. It was very quiet, only a handful of people and just the owner and the cook working at 1pm on a Saturday.

Stopped by the Atlantic for a 9pm nosh, Wednesday special was Shepard's pie, a little too heavy, plus, I'm not really a shepherd's pie kind of fellow. Had curry chicken wings, which were surprisingly tasty even though they were pretty much everything I don't like in a chicken wing, flour coated with a layer of finger sticking tongue coating sauce.

Breading was quite crisp, curry sauce, which in my experience with the breed was more UK than sub continent, and the cook amped it up, at my request, with a healthy dose of cayenne.

Served with a steaming hot side bowl of extra sauce, these crisp, messy hot beauties were the perfect accompaniment to Guinness with a side of Powers Irish whiskey.

Enjoy,
Gary

The Mrs. and I discovered the Atlantic quite by accident a couple months back when I wanted to watch a Bears game on a Sunday. We were thoroughly charmed by the place, as well as Rosie the bartender. As reported the burgers are quite good, the wings are better than average and there are specials every day. Oirish music from time to time, an attractive space always and good food, drink and atmosphere. We were just there Wednesday when we needed a decent lunch after running around shopping, and a couple of beers and burgers hit the spot. Agreed you have to ask for the burgers not to be burned to a crisp. Not sure if this is related to the other Atlantic asked about recently.