Next time I head down to Chicago (soon) I plan on eating here. Possibly at 7:00 or so on a Friday night. Is the crowd as big at 7:00 as it is at 9:00?

It'll be pretty crowded at 7 on a Friday. Plan on waiting 45 minutes or longer. If you're comfortable sitting at the bar, you can always hope seats open up sooner than that.

YoYoPedro wrote:

teatpuller wrote:Maybe the music is a way to ration demand.

Maybe the music is just the way they like it.

The place names every single one of it's burgers after an extreme metal band. I can see why one would be dismayed to walk in and hear heavy metal being played the way it's supposed to be played.

It's much more diverse than that -- unless you consider Zeppelin "extreme metal," in which case you should steer clear of the metal venues in places such as the Scandanavian nations and, of course, my hometown.

Jeff"Morbid Angel"B

Zeppelin? really?

Certainly not disputing it, but in my ten or so trips to Kumas, I've never heard anything other than metal. On rare occasion, some of which might even be considered "extreme" since it'd fall into the "death metal" genre.

That being said, the music has never once bothered me. It's nothing I'd ever listen to on my own, but there's something that feels right about it when you're in Kuma's. It obviously suits the staff, but it also suits the space and the tempo of the place. Although it's a bit louder on weekend nights, I've never found it too loud or prohibitive of conversation. On most occasions, I even find myself tapping my foot along to the growls

My wife and I, plus one daughter, had a kinda lupper there last Thursday, walking in mid-afternoon. The good news is that's a time to find open tables. The bad news, well, you hear the music a lot more when the place is less crowded.

The music is the main reason I want to go to this place. I can't think of any other place that names their food after my favorite bands. What burger I choose to eat might be based more on the band name than what's on it.

I'm pretty excited to check this place out. Maybe Saturday lunch will be a better time to go than Friday night, well for a less crowded place anyhow.

FWIW, I've been to Kuma's for dinner 3 times and I haven't even noticed the music. Maybe I've just been when the music's turned down, or maybe I'm horribly unobservant. I'm pretty sure it's the latter. Regardless, thought I'd chime in with an under-30 viewpoint.

Love,
John

Ralph Wiggum wrote:Zeppelin? really?

Certainly not disputing it, but in my ten or so trips to Kumas, I've never heard anything other than metal. On rare occasion, some of which might even be considered "extreme" since it'd fall into the "death metal" genre.

That being said, the music has never once bothered me. It's nothing I'd ever listen to on my own, but there's something that feels right about it when you're in Kuma's. It obviously suits the staff, but it also suits the space and the tempo of the place. Although it's a bit louder on weekend nights, I've never found it too loud or prohibitive of conversation. On most occasions, I even find myself tapping my foot along to the growls

Never heard any Zeppelin there, although I wouldn't consider that an improvement, so take it for what it's worth. All I know is that it's a relief for me when every now and then the playlist is lightened by the tuneful professionalism of the Sex Pistols.

Anyway, I just wanted to address the "it's a bit louder on weekend nights" part. It's not a bit louder -- on Fridays and Saturdays after 10 (maybe 9?) it's deafening. Last summer, we went there for dinner after a concert at just such a time. I've never eaten dinner wearing ear plugs before, but I was sure glad to have them.

Has any one else noticed the volume has been turned down a bit lately? I was there Saturday night and I could just barely hear the bartender. On previous visits it's been lip reading.

Even if you don't love the music -- and I admit, my personal taste leans a lot more towards Country than Metal -- the burgers are more than worth it. Now that I think about it, I think it's time to go back... YUM!

Ladies and gentlemen, context. I was referring to the statement that Kuma's names all of its burgers after "extreme" metal bands. To the contrary, my favorite sandwich at Kuma's is named after a band that is not extreme metal, but is extremely dazed, confused, addled and, possibly, senile. Now, JP Jones retains extreme blues funk, as experienced by your loyal servant, to wit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ax5avxc ... re=related

To be honest I'm pretty suprised reading so many comments about the volume of the music at Kuma's.

I'd say that first Kuma's is a Metal bar and it happens to serve serious burgers.

If you go for the burger you have to understand that the music is gonna be fast and loud, just the way metal is supposed to be.

I like my burgers medium rare, my fries salty and my metal LOUD!

And thats coming from a 40 something reformed punk.

JLenart wrote:To be honest I'm pretty suprised reading so many comments about the volume of the music at Kuma's.

What's not to understand? On a heavy metal forum, people would probably be complaining, "Yeah, but they expect you to eat burgers there."

JeffB wrote:Ladies and gentlemen, context. I was referring to the statement that Kuma's names all of its burgers after "extreme" metal bands. To the contrary, my favorite sandwich at Kuma's is named after a band that is not extreme metal, but is extremely dazed, confused, addled and, possibly, senile. Now, JP Jones retains extreme blues funk, as experienced by your loyal servant, to wit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ax5avxc ... re=related

In fact, I'd say quite a few of the burgers are named after bands I would not put in an "extreme metal" category: Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Metallica, Fu Manchu, Iron Maiden, Clutch.

That being said, who they are named after bears no weight in my desire to eat them or not.

JeffB wrote:Ladies and gentlemen, context.

Ahhh....I missed that their comment was in regards to naming conventions and not necessarily the tunes. Reading things completely probably would have helped.

JeffB wrote:Now, JP Jones retains extreme blues funk, as experienced by your loyal servant, to wit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ax5avxc ... re=related

My preferences lean to this, which tells you why I have some Kuma issues:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GD6jApqf18

seeing this conversation go down is hilarious to me because - while i do not really listen to it much (although i don't dislike it) i have a couple of friends that are huge metal nerds - and let me tell you something - there are about 500 sub-genres of metal that every single metal fan will all argue about for the rest of eternity.

There is a sticker in Kumas that condemns "fake metal" and i think that a sticker like that explains it all. What is fake metal? what is metal? whats death metal? whats thrash metal?

....arguments always ensue.

here's a lengthy (and from my experience with fans of this genre probably incredibly controversial) article on metal

here

The Script to 'Bad News' wrote:Vim: Look! Look, we are not just another stupid heavy metal band!

Colin: What about "futuristic heavy metal"?

Vim: But we're more modern than futuristic, aren't we?

Spider: I know! What about "heavy metal glitterbillyomantic"?

...

Den: Right, that's it. (Opens door) I'm getting out here if we're anything to do with the New Romantics. (He gets out of the van.)

Cut to Den standing on the grass verge at the side of the road, smoking a cigarette. The others get out of the van and walk over to him.

Vim: (voice-over) One of the things about being a leader, right, is that you've got to sort out arguments that come up between people in the group. You've got to be fair, and you've got to make sure your own ego doesn't get in the way.

Colin: Come on Den, it was... it was only a joke.

Den: I don't care! I don't care if it was a joke or not.

Colin: (to Spider) Tell him.

Spider: It was a joke!

Den: I'm not going any further until I hear Alan say that... that we're heavy metal.

Colin and Spider look expectantly at Vim.

Spider: Go on, tell him, then.

Vim: Okay, okay, we're heavy metal, okay? Heavy metal, heavy metal, heavy metal! Have I said it enough? (shouting) We're heavy metal, okay? Just like your f***ing brain!

Bad News

The sticker, I'm pretty sure, is about death to "false metal" (meaning Korn and such other metal derivative bullsh*t.

It's something the band Manowar is dedicated to fighting. Witness this classic song, "Brothers of Metal":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5SL2b4B664

Which contains the line which years later continues to confuse me:

"If we were all not brothers of metal, would we fall?

NO!"

In the video I linked, you can watch Manowar (who are a powerful spectacle) and a gigantic stadium of fellow brothers sing along.

So, it's a with us/against us battle. I'm with manowar (and Kumas), personally.

Strike while the iron is hot,

ljm.

As interesting as this current discussion of metal may be, let's get back to the food...
No waiting for a table last night at midnight.
The Lair Of The Minotaur was really, really good. I think this has become my new favorite burger (yes, I may be biased since this is Mrs. Johnny's creation). I washed it down with my usual Laguanita's Censored Ale.
Of course, the music was loud.

Been going to Kuma's since they opened. Beyond the amazing food, which I didn't even try the first few times, they have great staff and a well stocked bar. Not to mention the robot shots!!!! All of the burgers are great, especially since they are truly cooked to order. Another standout is the mussels, which are served in a delicious beer, garlic, butter sauce and served with toasted baguette. If you can't stand the music, then go somewhere else. They make no pretense about who they are, and what they do.

My girlfriend and I went to Kuma's recently and had a decent time. I had known about this place for over a year or two, but never got around to going there for the food.

It was very packed on a Tuesday evening which makes sense after the Check Please effect. The people that work there are what make this place cool, too bad the same can't be said for the patrons. Not trying to bag on some of the people that go here, since it was a mix of different types, but after seeing some nerdy looking guy in thick glasses and an argyle sweater, at a heavy metal bar, I was a little taken aback.

ANYWAY, the food was solid if not a little underwhelming given all the hype, but hey, I'm pretty good on the grill and I make a mean burger, so I guess I may be hard to please. The thing I thought was kinda disappointing about the place, the prices. I like how they have a "schtick" with this Burger menu, ala Hot Doug's lineage with his sausages.

But at $10-12 for a burger and chips, well, it's just a tad too high I think. Now, not to sound cheap, but when a burger is that much, I'm expecting really good meat and ingredients and I think that Kuma's is just slightly above average in that respect. I'd say go here for the atmosphere of the staff, not the patrons or the food, although it is solid, it isn't going to change your life.

Wiseguy wrote:The people that work there are what make this place cool, too bad the same can't be said for the patrons. Not trying to bag on some of the people that go here, since it was a mix of different types, but after seeing some nerdy looking guy in thick glasses and an argyle sweater, at a heavy metal bar, I was a little taken aback.

As a glasses-wearing, argyle sweater-loving nerd, I'm a little taken aback at the idea that I am less worthy of burgers with fried eggs on top than the next person. Also, I'm glad the staff at Kuma's is a little more tolerant than some of their patrons.

GardenofEatin wrote:

Wiseguy wrote:The people that work there are what make this place cool, too bad the same can't be said for the patrons. Not trying to bag on some of the people that go here, since it was a mix of different types, but after seeing some nerdy looking guy in thick glasses and an argyle sweater, at a heavy metal bar, I was a little taken aback.

As a glasses-wearing, argyle sweater-loving nerd, I'm a little taken aback at the idea that I am less worthy of burgers with fried eggs on top than the next person. Also, I'm glad the staff at Kuma's is a little more tolerant than some of their patrons.

You shouldn't take what I've said as a personal affront, I was just using that example to point out that a bar whose image is heavy metal, had some rather average folks there.

Nothing wrong with nerds in argyle sweaters, but you have to wonder what the attraction is for them at a place like Kuma's? And I shouldn't have said that it was just their clothes that were a little obnoxious, but also their attitudes, very self centered. Constantly looking around the place and snickering at everyone else and what they ordered. I know, I was sitting right next to them.

Oh, and I'm sure that the fine folks at Kuma's are more than accommodating and friendly to everyone, it is a business after all and they make a good buck, even from the nerds.

Lots of nerds in argyle sweaters love heavy metal.

Before the term meant something like "whiny and annoying", the term "emo" was short for "emotional hardcore" and argyle sweater wearing nerds played heavy guitars and screamed at the top of their lungs. Still happens.

So, count me among the sweater-wearing metal heads.

And burger lovers.

Last time I was at Kuma's was in honor of Dr. King's birthday. My dining companion had the bbq pork fries, so I figured I could eat some of them and thus ordered my neurosis burger with a side salad. The salad was actually really nice, and made me feel a little more capable of removing my rump from the bar stool.

I had a beer, some delicious overhopped (in a good way) potion from the tap.

The people that work there are what make this place cool, too bad the same can't be said for the patrons. Not trying to bag on some of the people that go here, since it was a mix of different types, but after seeing some nerdy looking guy in thick glasses and an argyle sweater, at a heavy metal bar, I was a little taken aback.

Nothing wrong with nerds in argyle sweaters, but you have to wonder what the attraction is for them at a place like Kuma's?

Well, possibly the quality food and a very good beer list, for one. Just because a place plays Slayer doesn't mean they're trying to be exclusionary.

I probably look like a square nowadays, but I can still name 7 out of 10 songs Kuma's plays. Does this mean that I can't eat there? I fail to understand the argument.

By the way, if you want a Double Whopper or another huge burger of the like from any of the fast food joints, you're probably getting close to $6 there with fries and so on. Wouldn't you rather spend an extra $4 for a real quality burger cooked directly to order with a superior bun and excellent ingredients? I find no problem with Kuma's price points, food or beer.

- - - - - - - -

Stopped by tonight, wait was said to be 45-60 min, turned out to be closer to 20. Wife had the Mastadon, I enjoyed the Plague Bringer which was excellent. Tortilla strips, pepperjack cheese, hot sauce, garlic, and I believe garlic mayo. Wow.

Great Lakes Conway's Irish on tap was top notch - I find more and more to like about that brewery. Burger was cooked perfectly, just as the crowds really started to pile in. Can't believe how busy the place continues to be, even on a sloppy, crappy Sunday evening in the city. Good for them.

Nothing wrong with nerds in argyle sweaters, but you have to wonder what the attraction is for them at a place like Kuma's?

Well, you've got twelve pages of posts and pictures here to answer your question!

And really, if the people sitting near you were snickering and rude, that doesn't have anything to do with what they were wearing or their taste in music. That's just bad manners. If ONLY sweater-wearing nerds were the only ones with bad manners.

Wiseguy wrote:But at $10-12 for a burger and chips, well, it's just a tad too high I think. Now, not to sound cheap, but when a burger is that much, I'm expecting really good meat and ingredients and I think that Kuma's is just slightly above average in that respect.

Geez, the place just INCREASED the size of their burgers without (as of yet) raising the price. Some folks are hard to please, I guess.
As far as the nerd in an argyle sweater comment, perhaps Kuma's could begin enforcing an "anti-dress code" that requires all patrons to sport stereotypical, cliched attire (tattoos, death metal t-shirt, long hair, etc.)

As the OP in this thread, may I chime in? Good. Just over two and a half years ago, I visited Kuma's and reported on a very pleasant breakfast in a beautiful building, with a friendly family management, and some tattoo stuff in the restrooms and on my coaster. It was good, but apparently not the vision of the owners. In between then and now, Kuma's tried on any number of outfits, including the original "diner" phase (and hell, I wish they'd at least go back there with respect to the biscuits), "ritzy" or bohemian phase, with the scallops and the other sophisticated preps in the low-rent digs, and finally falling into step with the fancy burgers, served, with heavy metal music, at high volume (pun intended). Good for Kuma's; they've finally found their niche, and they are clearly packing them in. My problem is, I'm more a fan of the Mike G-approved 1930s burger than those victims of hyperthyroidism known as "bar burgers," which (God bless 'em), Kuma's has extrapolated to their hyper-real extreme. But let's all hail this Chicago original, whether we like the music or the burgers or not. I think we can all agree that there is no place else, anywhere, quite like Kuma's (or am I wrong? Is there an antipodal Kuma's serving death burgers and death metal in Buenos Aires?)