Jamieson22 wrote:Anyone know a place I could find a post-formed burger?

I'm sure they could accommodate that. By the way, nice to see this.

Darren72 wrote:

Jamieson22 wrote:Anyone know a place I could find a post-formed burger?

I'm sure they could accommodate that. By the way, nice to see this.

I have had something similar to a Kuma's burger patty at quite a few other places (Goose Island Clybourn for starters). That doesn't mean those other places are using frozen, pre-formed pattys, just that there is only so much that can be done with ground beef to make a burger.

If you start with good quality beef and keep it simple, it is everything you do after that that makes a good burger.

I now realize that the question of whether they use frozen, preformed patties has been discussed several times in this thread. It isn't any more interesting this time around. Although I periodically read this thread, I didn't remember this aspect of the discussion when I posted above that I think their patties are preformed.

The main point I was trying to make is that their toppings are what I like best about their burgers, not the quality of the meat. I linked to your post, Jaimeson22, because you made the exact same point a while back. My speculation that the burgers arrived at Kuma's preformed and frozen was because I saw a large stack of preformed burgers there. I wasn't simply assuming that since the meat didn't do much for me on its own, then it must be frozen and preformed. Perhaps they are preformed, perhaps not. The only thing that really matters is the taste.

KSeecs wrote:There's typically no wait at McDonalds if you're in a hurry!

There is a slight middle ground between two minutes and two hours. I wouldn't even wait two hours for m henry and it's one of my favorite places in the city

Chitown B wrote:

KSeecs wrote:There's typically no wait at McDonalds if you're in a hurry!

There is a slight middle ground between two minutes and two hours. I wouldn't even wait two hours for m henry and it's one of my favorite places in the city

Yeh, I don't get the waiting two hours for a hamburger no matter how good the toppings. Sure you can drink and talk with friends while waiting but you can do that at thousands of other places in the city. Maybe because I'm more of a simple burger guy, without toppings obscuring the taste of good charred beef. My wife is the exact opposite and loves to load down a burger with toppings.

I do enjoy good loud Metal music though... maybe I will try this place out... rock on.

They pre-form the patties themselves from fresh not frozen beef.

Chitown B wrote:

KSeecs wrote:There's typically no wait at McDonalds if you're in a hurry!

There is a slight middle ground between two minutes and two hours. I wouldn't even wait two hours for m henry and it's one of my favorite places in the city

Good point and I agree wholeheartedly. I've gotten Kuma's to go and never sat down to eat in the bar and have enjoyed the burger but always wondered if it's better right off the grill. Today, I finally tried it out. Went for lunch and showed up at 11:15am - 15 minutes before opening, ensuring that I nabbed a seat (met a friend so there was two of us). We sat in the patio since it was so nice out.

Being the purist I am, I went for the Kuma's burger, medium well (I don't like my hamburger rare unless I'm the one that's grinding the meat - steak on the other hand...). My friend ordered the Led Zepplin (burger, pulled pork, cheddar, pickles) and subbed out mozzarella for the cheddar. We each had a beer (Metropolitan Copper Lager and Allagash White respectively).

Although I enjoyed it, the egg white was a bit runny and the burger came medium rare. Instead of nitpicking, I just let it sit there for a little while to "firm up" and it eventually got to an acceptable (but not preferred) medium. My friend's came with cheddar and he had to send his back (doesn't like cheddar) but it wasn't a problem - the service was great and we both understand that we're eating a burger in a bar and not dropping $100 for a steak dinner.

It was my friend's first time there and he loved it. We both realized that it's a good quality beef burger in hefty proportions but what really makes Kuma's unique are the toppings and the cleverness of the whole thing. For me, the pretzel roll does wonders but I know not everyone loves it. Overall, well worth getting there early and sitting in a food coma this afternoon. I still wouldn't wait more than 30 minutes for it though. We were courteous and left as soon as the bill came and was paid - as everyone should do when there's a 40 minute wait for your precious table (psa over, thanks).

Anyone know what the August burger of the month is?

Kumas on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzp_0snR2FE

I apologize if this has already been posted. They go into detail how they make the chili and a few burgers.

The August Burger is the Devourment. It's a cheddar burger in a bowl, no bun, with house made baked beans, a salsa verde with poblano, serrano and another green pepper which I can't remember and tortilla chips on the side. I may be missing an ingredient but that's the jist. Just got back from a 4 1/2 excursion to Kuma's in which almost 3 were waiting. We did have 6 people though, which was the problem. But co-workers wanted to go.

Today, a Sunday - we arrived around 4:30, wait was 1.5 hours. We got a seat at the bar sooner, but that's not guaranteed. Beautiful day, and the patio was open.

Grandma Bobbi & I took two of our kids and their kids to Kuma's last Friday at 11:30 and had no wait for a table. Sat on the patio, lovely day. When we left at 1 pm., they were lined up on the street.
Great lunch, but ya gotta get there early.
Grandpa Bob

Do we know what the September burger of the month is?

cccpr wrote:Do we know what the September burger of the month is?

siderunner: 'wagyu' sloppy joe with fried pickles.

Is this the last weekend for the patio? Or is it open until the weather starts to suck?

Anyone know what the deal is with Kuma's no longer quoting estimated wait times over the phone? What the hell kind of policy is that? I apologize if this has been discussed already.

Quoting wait times over the phone is generally pretty much like not quoting it at all. If you're there in person you can get a better sense of whether they're close or not. If you're calling in, whether you intend to be there in 10 minutes or half an hour, the situation will undoubtedly change. 20 people can show up in a few minutes and double the estimated wait before you get there. I'm pretty sure they got tired of "2 hours?? But when I called it was only 40 minutes!"

There was a suggestion on the Schwa thread to develop a new thread just to deal with phone complaints about Schwa. Perhaps we could do the same and start a new thread just for complaints and comments relating to the wait time at Kuma's.
I would, on occasion, like to read about the burgers at Kuma's and just to beat everyone else to the punch...What's the October burger at Kuma's?

Would getting the "Hate Beak" be a stupid decision?

NAV MAN wrote:Would getting the "Hate Beak" be a stupid decision?

Never. It's a great sandwich.

And for me, Kuma's is all toppings anyway, the burger beef itself isn't as portion-balanced, juicy, or savory as a few other places I enjoy.

hoppy2468 wrote:There was a suggestion on the Schwa thread to develop a new thread just to deal with phone complaints about Schwa. Perhaps we could do the same and start a new thread just for complaints and comments relating to the wait time at Kuma's.

It won't change anything, they're already at max capacity.

Santander wrote:And for me, Kuma's is all toppings anyway, the burger beef itself isn't as portion-balanced, juicy, or savory as a few other places I enjoy.

Oh, there's no need to hide, Santander: you and I can't be the only people who feel this way.

NAV MAN dominated a Mayhem, two Lagunitas IPA, and god knows how many PBRs last night. The Mac and Cheese was rock solid. The Mayhem, antonymic to its name, was tender, well formed, with a spattering meats, cheese, peppers, and giardinera mayo; the pretzel bun bringing order from chaos. Good Times!

We were a table of 6 that got seated in the back patio within 10 minutes.

8:10 arrival/8:20 seated.

One guy, this Zuologist guy, ate maybe (and the NAV MAN is being charitable here) 25% of a Slayer. It was pathetic. When the server asked "You still working on that?" and this clown said "No", I was mortified. Pathetic.

NAV MAN wrote:One guy, this Zuologist guy, ate maybe (and the NAV MAN is being charitable here) 25% of a Slayer. It was pathetic. When the server asked "You still working on that?" and this clown said "No", I was mortified. Pathetic.

While I definitely know what you're saying here, Nav Man, it IS quite possible that the person was either ill, or maybe just trying to stave off a heart attack. I just can't help but notice the irony here. Funny? Maybe. But on the real, come on, that Slayer has a burger, fries, chili, cheese, sausage, and other things as well. In all reality, it's just pure gluttony to power one of those things down. Don't get me wrong, I'd be one to finish it for sure, but if I had to guess who would be dead first between me and that, um "zuologist" as you called him? Well, after I just ate three eggs for breakfast, had a burrito and a taco from Las Asadas at lunch yesterday, a hostess pie for dessert yesterday...well, I'm in the ol gym 3 days / week, but dunno who I'd wager on after knowing what I toss down my gullet day in and day out. Calling someone who eats a HUMAN amt of food pathetic? Might wanna slow your roll. I'd bet that a lotta ppl with advanced degrees in human physiology would say that eating that whole thing would be beyond pathetic. Now, I'm no stranger to eatin well, and livin it up with wine and food, so really, don't get me wrong here, I'm not casting a stone. Too much excess of anything is bad, all I'm sayin. I don't practice what I preach all the time, trust me, but something struck a chord with me with what you wrote. Or should I say, "with what The Nav Man wrote?" Probably because I went and bought a new suit last week and I was extremely disappointed in the um, "new" measurements that I needed. It's about time to go on that diet I've been threatening to go on all summer long.

haha seebee join the club man; i just bought a new suit and chances are i've already out grown it though in a tongue in cheek way i think if you're going to order something called "the slayer" you should "man up" as they call it and try to knock at least half the thing down

Seebee, I took your thoughts into consideration, and while they are not without merit, my thoughts on Zuologist remain unchanged. NAV MAN prides himself on knowing his limitations and often exceeding them. In the face of a big eating performance NAV MAN makes like Cool Hand Luke with the preparations. Endevouring to acheive. Mastering the relationship between mind and stomach. In this way NAV MAN is able to apply the concepts of Dianetics to eating large quantities of food.

Per Zuologist, it simply wasnt enough for him to leave a massive heap of glorious burger, fries, chili, cheese, sausage, and other things as well on his plate. No. This putrid excuse for a diner kept waxing on about throwing it in a cast iron pan, throwing a few eggs in, and making it for dinner the next night. I could hardly hide my contempt.

if the guy failed to finish his beer Id have a problem with that, finishing the burger, not so much.

One guy, this Zuologist guy, ate maybe (and the NAV MAN is being charitable here) 25% of a Slayer.

This Zuologist sounds like a sorry excuse for a human/embodiment of a certain part of the female reproductive system. If you're ordering the SLAYER you better come prepared to devour that dish. I remember being shamed, and on one ocassion locked in the closet for an undetermined amount of time, when I ordered more than I could consume. Dark days those were.........Maybe next time, this Zuologist, can order the House Salad.

I'm going to Kumas next week, ordering a Slayer, and then throwing it in the garbage. After that its chocolate soymilk, a banana, 1 hour of cardio, and 2 of lifting.

I think it'd be funny to see a small side salad show up on the menu in the next few months called:

"The Zuologist"