From the Q&A section on Labriola's website:

I have heard your pretzel hamburger buns are out of this world. Do you sell them at any of your retail outlets? I live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and would need to order over the phone - do you have any plans of selling off your website? Thanks - Lee

Lee,
At this point in time we do not sell our pretzel hamburger buns retail. But now that you mention it, it might not be a bad idea. I am going to forward this to my retail and sales manager and see what we can come up with. Also, at this time we do not have any plans on selling from our web site. We do still anticipate opening a retail location in Oakbrook in the summer. Thanks for your interest.

Finally going to make a much anticipated trip down to Kuma's this Saturday afternoon before the Widespread Panic concert Saturday night. I have read this entire amusing thread, and am really looking forward to my burger.

I have looked at their menu, and I am torn between:

1) The Kuma Burger - I have a hard time not ordering a burger with a fired egg on top

2) The Iron Maiden

3) The Slayer - andouille sausage & cherry peppers.. mmm

4) The Goblin Cock.

5) The High on Fire.

Anyone have any thoughts on the above choices, and a personal preference?

Also, has the Check Please effect on Kuma's worn off yet?

I think Kuma's has only recieved more good press since they were on Check Please. I posted on the last page, it was a saturday afternoon when we went in and we waited almost an hour for a table.

The Kuma burger isn't that original, there is at least one place here in Madison where you can get a burger with an egg on top, and it's easily done at home. I'd go with something more spectacular.

brandon_w wrote:I think Kuma's has only recieved more good press since they were on Check Please. I posted on the last page, it was a saturday afternoon when we went in and we waited almost an hour for a table.

The Kuma burger isn't that original, there is at least one place here in Madison where you can get a burger with an egg on top, and it's easily done at home. I'd go with something more spectacular.

thats what I was thinking, the egg on top burger is offered at a lot of places, and that how I eat them at home. But I do have a hard time turning one of them down.

It will probably be the Slayer or Iron Maiden, unless they hae a special for the day that inspires me.

jimswside wrote:It will probably be the Slayer or Iron Maiden, unless they hae a special for the day that inspires me.

One other thing, is that with the Slayer, you don't get one of the awesome buns. It did look good though, I saw it served to someone else who was there.

Sorry, in my stupor I forgot that I'd also asked about this: the very friendly waitress said they get them from a new source, but that you can get the ones they used to use at Trader Joe's (though I've only seen the mini-pretzel-baguettes there) She mentioned they now source them from a different bakery...in Oak Park maybe?

Mhays wrote:Sorry, in my stupor I forgot that I'd also asked about this: the very friendly waitress said they get them from a new source, but that you can get the ones they used to use at Trader Joe's (though I've only seen the mini-pretzel-baguettes there) She mentioned they now source them from a different bakery...in Oak Park maybe?

Hmm, the only place out that way that makes a pretzel product is Reuter's Bakery on Grand Avenue, in the city north of Oak Park and just east of Harlem.

http://www.reutersbakery.com/breads.html

jimswside wrote:Also, has the Check Please effect on Kuma's worn off yet?

Unfortunately, it's just as packed as ever. If I go anytime after 6:00 PM, I normally plan on trying to find a spot at the bar since the wait will likely exceed an hour.

The Kuma burger isn't that original, there is at least one place here in Madison where you can get a burger with an egg on top, and it's easily done at home. I'd go with something more spectacular.

If you want to get something more exotic than the Kuma burger, you can still get an egg on top. The Dark Throne works particularly well this way IMHO.

I arrived at 2pm on Saturday and was quoted a 1-1.5 hour wait for 3. It ended up taking... 1.5 hours. I really thought that the rain would cut down on the crowds, but no dice. On the other hand, there was an unusual number of large groups in front of us, so there you go. On the plus side, while crowded, the bar area wasn't so packed that we weren't able to comfortably enjoy our beer. By the time we were sat, it seemed that those sitting after us only waited for about 30 minutes, lending credence to the 'unusually large numbers' idea.

Regardless, the Electric Wizard (which I nearly called the Electric Mayhem, thanks to this thread) was excellent -- the heaping helping of strong stilton was perfect. A friend got the Led Zepplin and the included portion of pulled pork seemed less than when I got it -- still plenty, and a good decision, really, since a little pulled pork can go a long way. The staff, too, and as always, was wonderfully friendly, and chatted with us as we waited. That went a long way in making us feel better.

I asked about the back patio, and they have been waiting for some consistent weather in our fair city before opening it. Maybe this weekend, they said. I'm not sure it will help that much, since the fairer weather will no doubt only bring more people to Kuma's, thus taking up any additional tables afforded by their patio. Still, one can be hopeful.

HI

The patio is open, but the wait is still really really long. We got there Sunday (a week ago) around 5:30 and didn't get out until around 8:30. We got a seat at the bar right away (much luck involved there!) but the food didn't come for a long time. We saw a lot of burgers being done for take home. Not sure if that was because people didn't want to stay longer, or if they are doing a big takeout business now.

The burgers do seem bigger, so I only ate 1/2 of mine. They also seem to be using some sort of spice blend dusted on the fries. I liked it - tasted a bit spicy and of black pepper.

Staff were friendly and nice, usual good selection of beer, music and food were great - got my fries right out of the oil and they were superb - but that wait....

The chalkboard above the bar makes a great point about the patio opening. Something to the extent of "Although we're adding 42 seats outdoors when our patio opens, our kitchen is still only 6x16. Please be patient."

That being said though, 3 hours is a bit more of a delay than I would have anticipated. (Although it's still completely worth it )

Hit Kuma's on Friday with an out of town guest. Had the best Slayer I have had yet, everything about it was just perfect!

Spoke to the owner for a bit and I guess they are opening a few more Kuma's, starting in Las Vegas.

Jamie

danimalarkey wrote:Regardless, the Electric Wizard (which I nearly called the Electric Mayhem, thanks to this thread) was excellent -- the heaping helping of strong stilton was perfect.

I had that last time I went too & loved the bite of the mustard & black pepper!

Jamieson22 wrote:Spoke to the owner for a bit and I guess they are opening a few more Kuma's, starting in Las Vegas.

I read this post yesterday and thought, surely there will be some kind kerfuffle over the announcement that Kuma's is going to ... Vegas? C'mon. Why not keep the expansion more local? Say, Pilsen? (Purely selfish reasoning, I'll admit.)

Don't get me wrong...I'm happy for the Kuma's folks. Life doesn't suck when your restaurant heads to Sin City, along with other small frys like Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon. (Although I'd hate to see such an authentic and scrubby place get all cheesed up, Vegas-style.)

Thanks for posting the interesting news, Jamieson...

....along with other small frys like Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon.

...and Hubert Keller....who, besides his place in San Francisco, runs a place at Mandalay Bay which specializes in burgers. Mon dieu!

...and Hubert Keller....who, besides his place in San Francisco, runs a place at Mandalay Bay which specializes in burgers. Mon dieu!

To mis-paraphrase Lloyd Benson: I've been to Keller's Burger Bar, I've eaten at Keller's Burger Bar, and you sir, are no Kuma's!

Maybe they're going the Mike Mills route and will cater to LV residents? Would inspire can-I-survive-breakfast-at-Hash-House-A-Go-Go-and-lunch-at-Kuma's contests, surely.

As an extension of Chicago, LV is a natural choice for Kuma's. Knowing what we know about Kuma's, I don't think the owners will permit it to falter toward Disneyfication. There's plenty of reality and surreality in LV to go with the Potemkin Worlds.

Not to get too many people excited - but we went to Kuma's today - and had no wait.

We got there at 6 - and until 7, they had no problem seating people immediately - even though it was consistently full. We had fast, excellent service - and got out of there in a reasonable time...

We had the calamari (excellent as always), a Neurosis and a Merlin's burger. Both medium rare - both perfectly on temp. With a Great Lakes Brewing Porter and a an Aventinus to match. Mmmmm.... so good - so full!

One last thing to call out - their June burger: "Chicago City Council" - topped as you might imagine - with foie gras, sauternes sauce, and something else... but alas, I'm in a food coma and can no longer remember.....

RomanticCynic wrote:- their June burger: "Chicago City Council" - topped as you might imagine - with foie gras, sauternes sauce, and something else... but alas, I'm in a food coma and can no longer remember.....

Started to relay this information, got as far as the name and "topped with" and the 'spouse said "Bologna?"

Mhays wrote:

RomanticCynic wrote:- their June burger: "Chicago City Council" - topped as you might imagine - with foie gras, sauternes sauce, and something else... but alas, I'm in a food coma and can no longer remember.....

Started to relay this information, got as far as the name and "topped with" and the 'spouse said "Bologna?"

I suppose that's better than the alternative substance some might say the City Council is full of...

Well, it can be hard to find fault with the food at Kuma's but my last two trips have been quite frustrating on the beer side. Well, guess my wife was frustrated that they were out of veggie burgers the last time we went, but that is her fault for being a vegetarian.

Now, I have previously gotten frustrated that half the beer list is not in stock, but it can be understandable for a small bar and more an issue of bad timing I hope. But the last two times I went: the first no draft beer was available, and the most recent, only 1 draft was available and it was served way too warm (Two Brothers Oh Brother Tripel). So warm in fact that it shouldn't really have been served. I am not sure what the issues were with the draft lines but it is odd that 2 trips about a month and a half apart both find issues.

One issue that can be easily solved which I have noticed the last few trips is the waitstaff swirling all bottled beers like a hefeweizen and dumping the yeast into the glass. Most bottle conditioned beers should be decanted off the yeast, leaving it behind in the bottle, but this is not what I noticed happening. Guess this is something I'd expect the waitstaff of a bar serving the beers Kuma's does to be trained in. Not a huge deal and won't kill me but I always try to get my bottle to pour myself.

Jamie

For all you Kuma's fans, apparently they'll be featured on an upcoming episode of the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.

As if the wait there wasn't long enough as it is.......

Does anyone know the outcome of their recent burger submission contest? I see no mention on their website.

Went several weeks ago on a Saturday night. Got there about 7p and waited 15-20 minutes for a table. They were out of ALL draft beer and also the first bottle that I tried to order. Other than that, had the mac-n-cheese with roasted red peppers and proscuitto. Awesome. We had to stop eating it or would have no room for the burgers we ordered. My wife still wound up taking half her burger home. Hope they can resolve the beer issue. Other than that I recommend that no one goes so that I can get a burger whenever I want.

Jamieson22 wrote:
One issue that can be easily solved which I have noticed the last few trips is the waitstaff swirling all bottled beers like a hefeweizen and dumping the yeast into the glass. Most bottle conditioned beers should be decanted off the yeast, leaving it behind in the bottle, but this is not what I noticed happening. Guess this is something I'd expect the waitstaff of a bar serving the beers Kuma's does to be trained in. Not a huge deal and won't kill me but I always try to get my bottle to pour myself.

Jamie

I actually have seen hefeweizen poured this way in many places including German restaurants. It's common to see the bottle inverted completely and then swirled to lift the sediment and then poured on top. I don't really think this is incorect for the style

ejquin1 wrote:
I actually have seen hefeweizen poured this way in many places including German restaurants. It's common to see the bottle inverted completely and then swirled to lift the sediment and then poured on top. I don't really think this is incorect for the style

Actually that is the way Hefe should be poured. My comment was that they are pouring all beers in the same manner, and the majority of those should not be done that way.
Jamie

Well, it can be hard to find fault with the food at Kuma's but my last two trips have been quite frustrating on the beer side. Well, guess my wife was frustrated that they were out of veggie burgers the last time we went, but that is her fault for being a vegetarian.

There seems to be a shortage of veggie burgers on the north side of the city. I was at 2 restaurants within the past week in Lakeview and Roscoe Village and both had noted that they were out of veggie burgers. I asked noticing a possible trend and was told by the waiter, the supplier just won't send any for some reason. This is now the 3rd place I have heard of this...

Good thing that a burger with beef is such a better option.

butter674 wrote:There seems to be a shortage of veggie burgers on the north side of the city. I was at 2 restaurants within the past week in Lakeview and Roscoe Village and both had noted that they were out of veggie burgers. I asked noticing a possible trend and was told by the waiter, the supplier just won't send any for some reason. This is now the 3rd place I have heard of this...

Make it 4. R.J. Grunt's on Sunday evening was "out of" them.

(I wasn't the one who wanted one, FWIW.)

It's The Great Veggieburger Famine of '08!