I found Co-op hot sauce at Grand Street Gardens for about $4.00 per small bottle. They had three different kinds.

Going back to the convo about pushing tables together...

I had my b-day dinner there last March, on a weekday at about 5 o'clock. We showed up and put in for a table and had a half a beer before we got three tables which they had no problem merging as was my idea. Seeing as they're actually cool with it, this is why to flip out about moving tables is absolutely stupid and frankly I would fire anyone who did that to a customer. Is it possibly a no-no to do that in any restaurant? Yes. Is it really a big offense? No. I'd say a minor faux pas at best from an amateur diner. I mean hey, it's a freakin' bar, let's be real here.

The food's great but I did get scolded for doing the wave-down like another guy posted way back in this thread. But it was a friendly, drunken wave and not an arrogant, patronizing wave. I was waiting far too long between beers and we were racking up a pretty big tab. Earn your damn tip. We'd all had some nice banter and bonded a little with her earlier, so I felt I could be a little forward without seeming like a dick. She still reprimanded me despite that, I assumed to make her point that she's like this heavy metal waitress who don't take no guff from nobody. At the time, I was hammered so I kind of laughed and apologized, forgetting I was a customer. But in hindsight it's a little irritating.

Yet I beat on, boats against the current etc.

Another thing: we also got rushed a little bit, in not a horrible way but still a less than gracious way, as my gf and I waited for the inevitably late guests to show up. It was as if the staff didn't believe they were coming. It wasn't particularly busy at the time. Nobody was waiting at the door or anything.

So overall, can we have one popular place on the north side where the staff doesn't think they're hot shit?

I'd still go back if I was in the neighborhood and it didn't look too busy. I'm a one-beer wait kind of guy. Maybe two. I do drink fast.

I've had the Zeppelin and the Sabbath. The former was excellent, but the latter was just okay. Chili, pepper jack or something to that effect (this was summer of 07 before the place exploded). They also held the chili for me without question (so I don't get the "no alterations" thing either). And finally I've had the pulled pork fries as well. Those were filthy.

Fin

From NBC...

Blago Burger Full of Bologna

The January Special at Kuma's.

(by the way, the burger shown on the website does not match what was shown on TV. A nice thick burger with a thick slice of bologna on top on 2 grilled cheese sandwiches. A dollar sign is sketched in mustard on the top sandwich.)

Ah, this should get Kuma's some much-needed foot traffic.

Schwa also has a history of inexplicably closing the day of your reservation.

I went to Kuma's with my brother and cousin visiting from Vancouver last summer. I liked it quite a bit. Our waiter was friendly although it seemed as if she was in the weeds all night. I had the pantera which was delicious, albeit a bit cold which could be nasty if it were left out longer as I'm a medium rare burger kind of guy. I thought the pulled pork fries were a non-event. more gimmicky than anything else. I think its as good as it gets for a bar burger, I'd go so far as saying the best bar burger in the city. It's not as good as the Custom House Burger in the South Loop or the Daniel Boulud Burger but those are different obviously.

Panther in the Den wrote:From NBC...

Blago Burger Full of Bologna

The January Special at Kuma's.

(by the way, the burger shown on the website does not match what was shown on TV. A nice thick burger with a thick slice of bologna on top on 2 grilled cheese sandwiches. A dollar sign is sketched in mustard on the top sandwich.)

As the month winds down it is your last chance to grab one of these.

I hear the burger special for February will feature a slice of im-PEACH-ment on the burger.

They are having way too much fun over there.

Update - Sunday, 5:30 pm - stated wait time.... 1 hr 40 mins (approx). Entry area full of people standing around, looking cranky, arms folded, no beers in their hands. We bailed and got Honey 1.

leek wrote:Update - Sunday, 5:30 pm - stated wait time.... 1 hr 40 mins (approx). Entry area full of people standing around, looking cranky, arms folded, no beers in their hands. We bailed and got Honey 1.

They would have felt less cranky with a beer in their hands, don't you think?

The GP wrote:

leek wrote:Update - Sunday, 5:30 pm - stated wait time.... 1 hr 40 mins (approx). Entry area full of people standing around, looking cranky, arms folded, no beers in their hands. We bailed and got Honey 1.

They would have felt less cranky with a beer in their hands, don't you think?

100% certain. But I think some people don't want to drink if they aren't at a table, maybe a bit intimidated by having to go to the bar? I do see a lot of people there just eating burgers and not drinking beer.

After yet another amazing dinner at Kuma's tonight I noticed a sign on the door...."Closed on Sunday for the Superbowl". Be warned.

Can anyone recommend a day and time that is NOT packed? I have yet to try them out for dine in, because the wait is always too long... I came in last sunday at 2pm and the wait was an hour and a half! That didn't seem to stop many from crowding in, obviously sundays early afternoon look impossible so if anyone can recommend a less busy evening for me to take some co workers after work hours (after 6pm) it would be greatly appreciated!

leek wrote:Update - Sunday, 5:30 pm - stated wait time.... 1 hr 40 mins (approx). Entry area full of people standing around, looking cranky, arms folded, no beers in their hands. We bailed and got Honey 1.

That was our exit strategy last time there was a long wait. Did you hit up Danny's Liquors across the street from Honey 1 for the widest, most affordable, cash-only craft beer selection in Chicago?


Anyway, last time I actually ate at Kuma's, a vegetarian friend was this close (i'm holding my index finger and thumb about a half an inch apart) to taking a bite of my Lair of the Minotaur.

Monday-Thursday (non holiday) lunches are generally doable, in my experience.

We went tonight - Saturday. 5:30 pm, wait approx 1 hr 45 mins. Got a break and lucky seats at the bar within about 10 mins (!!). When we left around 7:15 wait time was approaching 2 hrs 30 mins. Lots of first timers there.

We had planned to go during the week, but it just didn't work out. So we figured what the hell, and it worked really well. We got lucky

leek wrote:We had planned to go during the week, but it just didn't work out. So we figured what the hell, and it worked really well. We got lucky

Sadly I am off of Kuma's, even for $2 shots of Powers Tuesday. Much as I like the place I get twitchy even thinking about being jammed in by throngs of, well, actually, throngs of just about anyone.

Yogi Berra
No one goes there any more; it's too crowded.

FoodSnob77 wrote:Can anyone recommend a day and time that is NOT packed?

Wednesdays around 3PM... in 2006.

cilantro wrote:

FoodSnob77 wrote:Can anyone recommend a day and time that is NOT packed?

Wednesdays around 3PM... in 2006.

Well put...I'm gonna point out two things.

1. I see a lack of seating...if it were just a burger joint alright but people are staying for a beer or seven.

2. The wait for food ( during my visits ) was pretty long for...a burger. But hey, it look like all the work is done on one small grill by one or two people.

I go there on Tuesdays right when they open and belly up to the bar. No real wait and the bartender on Tuesdays during the day is awesome. (not to say they others aren't, but thats when i go)

No wait. Great service. Great beer. Unreal burgers. I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed exploring that burger menu.

Having a night job, you really get to enjoy the finer things in life, i'm convinced. It's 6:22 and i'm about to head to bed

So, I finally covince my mom and dad to come with into the city to Kuma's last night. I had such a taste for one of their burgers! We arrive at 6:40 and are quoted AT LEAST a 2 1/2 - 3 hour wait. There was no way my dad would wait that long.....so we drove to Evanston and had a stellar meal at Weiner and Still Champion. Kuma's is supposed to be on Diners, Drive ins and Dives in a few weeks. What is the point? Will the wait time then be 5 hours???


PS....Leek, were you standing outside with a friend around 6:40 having a smoke? I feel like we might have talked!

Tammy76 wrote:There was no way my dad would wait that long

There's no way that anyone should wait that long -- at Kuma's or anywhere else, for that matter.

=R=

Tammy76 wrote:Leek, were you standing outside with a friend around 6:40 having a smoke? I feel like we might have talked!

Nope, not me

It's getting absurd. A friend will actually no longer go because he, like myself just doesn't want to wait. As much as it is worth the wait, it's still ridiculous to wait 2-3 hours to eat. Last 2 times I went, 1st: 2 1/2, 2nd: 2 to 2 1/2. I actually waited the 2nd time and drank beer for 2 hours, which was fine. By the time I sat down I was starving and a little bit drunk and the burger was as good as always. But in any case, won't be even trying to go there for quite awhile. Unfortunately.

I'm out too. I've been four times and eaten there twice. First time, before all the hub bub, got a table at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon. Second time, hour and a half wait on a Saturday afternoon and got lucky bar seats. Third and fourth times over an hour and a half wait, left. I have a strict no wait policy for eggs (breakfast), and now I'm going to have to add burgers to the list.

The last time I went (2-3 weeks ago) we waited about 15 minutes for a table for 3. Sat down around 6:30 on a Thursday.

Time before that we waited about an hour for a table of 4 (1.5 months ago or so). Got there at 6:15 or so on a weeknight if I remember.

I realize the place gets slammed so whenever I go I shoot for getting there at 6pm and never have a problem with the wait. In fact the hour wait is the longest I have ever waited for a table in the 15 or so time I have eaten at a table.

Jamie

Assuming they bother to answer the phone, is it possible to call ahead to get an idea of the wait time? That's my preferred method with Avec, and it's resulted in me eating there a couple of times when conventional wisdom would have you believe there would be a 2+ hour wait.

Other than that, I'm not really sure there's a good solution to this issue.

Having kids has gotten me in the habit of eating early, or at least at off-pea times. I've had OK luck at Kuma's both for early (pre-6pm) dinner and early (crack of noon) lunch. That was over the summer, though.

When I go, I just plan for a long wait. I stopped in on Saturday at about 4pm and was quote a 2 hour wait (for a party of 2), which is about what I expected -- I had planned on eating around 6ish. Fortunately, the bar area wasn't so packed I couldn't get a beer to tide me over. Even more fortunately, 2 seats opened up pretty quickly and I was eating by 5 or so.

The guy at the door said that there was a line of 50 people that morning waiting before they opened -- and they only seat 40.

FWIW, i'd suggest going with as few people as you can and aim for the bar.

Also, for anyone that's a fan of the High On Fire, the menu claims it's prosciutto but I say otherwise. Seems more like a slice of honey-baked ham. I would have asked at the time but the question didn't occur to me until later.

I know that the burger of the month for February might have something to do with peaches considering the "impeachment" of Rod Blagojevich. Does anyone have the specifics on this burger yet?

danimalarkey wrote:The guy at the door said that there was a line of 50 people that morning waiting before they opened -- and they only seat 40.
.

Wow.