ucjames wrote:Had a burger at The Depot American Diner last week that, while very basic, was prepared perfectly medium rare and tasted much better than I honestly thought such a simple burger could (tomato, onions, mustard - no cheese, bacon, fried egg, or any other toppings I've gotten increasingly used to). Definitely added to the rotation for my frequent DAD stops.

Have a visit to Labriola in Oakbrook Terrace planned tomorrow to try the burger that's tempted me ever since the first picture showed up on this forum. Going with the parents though, and if it's too crowded in the evening we may have to audible, so fingers crossed.

A funny thing while I was at Capital. I was eating at the bar and chatting cheeseburgers with the barmaid she brought up Labriola which is right down the street.

That place is also on my short list ever since being featured (about 4 minutes in) on The Cheeseburger Show.


Episode 7: The Suburbs Show

There are many burgers in this thread I haven't tried, but I will eventually.

Anyways, my (limited) input is that I've always had stellar burgers from both Byrons on Lawrence and the Billy Goat downtown. My only complaint with both is a little too much bun and not really a fan of the kaiser at BG. Kuma's is Kumas but I gotta say for me (I like cheese and ketchup), Kuma's isn't all-world. Overrated burgers for me are Jury's and Moody's (only been to Moody's once thoug).

Panther in the Den wrote:Have a visit to Labriola in Oakbrook Terrace planned tomorrow to try the burger that's tempted me ever since the first picture showed up on this forum. Going with the parents though, and if it's too crowded in the evening we may have to audible, so fingers crossed.

A funny thing while I was at Capital. I was eating at the bar and chatting cheeseburgers with the barmaid she brought up Labriola which is right down the street.

That place is also on my short list ever since being featured (about 4 minutes in) on The Cheeseburger Show.


Episode 7: The Suburbs Show[/quote]


That Labriola burger looks…odd and unwieldy. I’ve never eaten one, and I appreciate that taste is the ultimate criterion, but having bacon strips hanging 6 inches off the side seems crazy. Should be cut in half or thirds, seems to me, as Virant does with the beef belly bacon he puts on his burgers.

I hold off on watching these CB Shows until just before lunch.

ucjames wrote:Have a visit to Labriola in Oakbrook Terrace planned tomorrow to try the burger that's tempted me ever since the first picture showed up on this forum. Going with the parents though, and if it's too crowded in the evening we may have to audible, so fingers crossed.

The Labriola burger is okay and not worthy of the hype . . . too much grease for me (caused by basting in butter). I prefer a beefier taste with a little more texture. I think there were caramelized onions on it, which for me are a big no-no (too sweet).

Labriola is a quality burger, but that doesn't make it a great tasting burger. I found it decent, but nothing special. Portillo's or Culvers is much tastier, to be honest.

It tasted like good quality meat, but there was no sear or crust (or obviously char effect) to enhance the flavor and the experience.

7/10.

David Hammond wrote:That Labriola burger looks…odd and unwieldy. I’ve never eaten one, and I appreciate that taste is the ultimate criterion, but having bacon strips hanging 6 inches off the side seems crazy. Should be cut in half or thirds, seems to me, as Virant does with the beef belly bacon he puts on his burgers.

So, had dinner at Labriola with my wife and parents this evening. We ended up with 4 burgers, 3 of them with bacon. None had bacon dangling out the sides in the manner worrying you. The bacon was quite good, but definitely did not extend out any more or less than any other typical burger.

The pretzel bun, while quite tasty, is a wee bit unwieldy thanks to its height. I thought the bun and bacon were the two best parts of this whole though, and that the beef almost could not be tasted at all beneath the two. My medium-rare order was actually served medium to medium-well. My mother's burger came out entirely incorrectly - as the current burger special with blue cheese and caramelized onions, and bacon, all of which she had not ordered. Management was quick to take that one off our hands and got the correct order out surprisingly fast though, and hers was a perfect medium-rare.

I'd agree with aschie30 that there was too much grease, and that overall the burger was not worthy of the hype (though I should note that caramelized onions are only a feature of their burger special(s), and not the basic Richie burger). I'd rather go get a much less hyped burger at The Depot than return here, and would most definitely endure the more tedious drive into the city for a burger from Hot Chocolate anytime. I wouldn't go so far as to declare Culvers better, but I've only tried them a few times, with unfortunately little satisfaction thus far.

ucjames wrote:

David Hammond wrote:That Labriola burger looks…odd and unwieldy. I’ve never eaten one, and I appreciate that taste is the ultimate criterion, but having bacon strips hanging 6 inches off the side seems crazy. Should be cut in half or thirds, seems to me, as Virant does with the beef belly bacon he puts on his burgers.

So, had dinner at Labriola with my wife and parents this evening. We ended up with 4 burgers, 3 of them with bacon. None had bacon dangling out the sides in the manner worrying you.

Thank god. Now I can sleep.

David Hammond wrote:

ucjames wrote:

David Hammond wrote:That Labriola burger looks…odd and unwieldy. I’ve never eaten one, and I appreciate that taste is the ultimate criterion, but having bacon strips hanging 6 inches off the side seems crazy. Should be cut in half or thirds, seems to me, as Virant does with the beef belly bacon he puts on his burgers.

So, had dinner at Labriola with my wife and parents this evening. We ended up with 4 burgers, 3 of them with bacon. None had bacon dangling out the sides in the manner worrying you.

Thank god. Now I can sleep.

Lord knows, dangling bacon can only lead to finger-licking!

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Lord knows, dangling bacon can only lead to finger-licking!

=R=

Actually, I did notice that the most recent episode of the CB Show did involve some knuckle licking, which did make me mildly uncomfortable. I'm just that sensitive.

Fox & Obel Steakburger:

Not bad, but not great. The burger was cooked nicely to the requested medium rare, and was relatively loosely packed. The brioche bun was fresh, airy, nicely toasted and sturdy enough to hold up, but the heavy flour dusting annoyed me and caused an unpleasant coughing reflex. The burger seemed completely unseasoned, which was a bummer, and despite some perfect grill marks, it had none of the char I usually like on my burgers. A 6.7/10 on the taste scale for those keeping score. At 11 bucks, it was more like a 3.4/10 on the value scale

Kennyz wrote:Fox & Obel Steakburger:

I've had the Fox & Obel burger a few times, usually a result of late hypoglycemic grocery shopping. I regret it every time. They always get the medium rare part. Other than that, it's a substantial yet flavorless mass.

David Hammond wrote:That Labriola burger looks…odd and unwieldy. I’ve never eaten one, and I appreciate that taste is the ultimate criterion, but having bacon strips hanging 6 inches off the side seems crazy. Should be cut in half or thirds, seems to me, as Virant does with the beef belly bacon he puts on his burgers.

ucjames wrote:So, had dinner at Labriola with my wife and parents this evening. We ended up with 4 burgers, 3 of them with bacon. None had bacon dangling out the sides in the manner worrying you.

Overabundance of bacon, sushi too large, whats next, too much laughter, too many smiling happy babies.................................

happy_stomach wrote:I've had the Fox & Obel burger a few times, usually a result of late hypoglycemic grocery shopping. I regret it every time. They always get the medium rare part. Other than that, it's a substantial yet flavorless mass.

I can't really say I regretted it, but I've been making a concerted effort these days to enjoy mediocre food more. It goes against years of training, but life is too hard otherwise. This was, after all, chopped medium rare beef and fresh bread. How bad can that really be? Before turning over my new leaf, I'd probably have scored it a 3.1 instead of a 6.7, and written some scathing account of why Fox & Obel should be embarrassed to serve such amateurish crap. Life really is better now.

I've only had it once, but I really enjoyed the burger at Rootstock. (Thread moves you to posts by REB & yours truly discussing the burger.)

Rootstock
954 N. California
Chicago IL
(773) 292-1616
http://rootstockbar.com/

G Wiv wrote:Overabundance of bacon, sushi too large, whats next, too much laughter, too many smiling happy babies.................................

Don't forget check writers

Had an extremely good burger at Steak'n'Shake last night. Their quality varies, but this was a good'n.

This was a case where Bad Decision Dinosaur often rears his ugly head: I ordered the Guacamole burger. The menu said something about "prepared fresh daily, our guacamole burger has..." which made me worry that perhaps the burger is prepared each day, but the guac could be coming out of a giant spigot.

But it was reasonably tasty guac, just creamy enough to complement the crispy-edged burger, with enough onions to avoid being unctuous. Served with a leaf of lettuce and an insispid slice of tomato (the latter removed) with a toasted bun, it all came together very nicely.

Glad to see the big chains can pull something off every once in a while.

Steak'n'Shake and Culvers both can be quite good when a decent grillman is working but both of them must be eaten in the restaurant to get the full effect. The burgers and especially the shoestring fries at Steak'n'Shake deteriorate quite rapidly from a texture/temperature perspective in a carry out situation. Plus the hot pepper vinegar on the table at S'n'S is a nice complement to both the burger and fries.

electric mullet wrote:Steak'n'Shake and Culvers both can be quite good when a decent grillman is working but both of them must be eaten in the restaurant to get the full effect. The burgers and especially the shoestring fries at Steak'n'Shake deteriorate quite rapidly from a texture/temperature perspective in a carry out situation. Plus the hot pepper vinegar on the table at S'n'S is a nice complement to both the burger and fries.

+1

Love both (prefer Steak n Shake burger but prefer Culver's fries and shakes) when eaten there.

Pretty decent burger at Black Duck Tavern. 8 oz., served Hackneyesquely on dark rye, with melted American cheese and just enough grilled onions and mushrooms to complement the good beef flavor of the burger without taking attention away from it. Ordered medium rare, and, impressively, served medium rare. $10.

Black Duck Tavern
1800 N. Halsted
312 664 1801

Any dinner recommendations for a place we can get a burger in the vicinity of the River East 21 movie theater? I know about P.J. Clarke's next door. Decent enough? Or can we do better by walking a block or three? Capital Grille only has burgers at lunch. (A requirement for us is that the place must have a full bar.)

Thanks.

AMC River East 21
322 E Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60611

People in streeterville seem to like the D4 burger. I prefer the fish and chips, if only because it comes with fresh cut fries as opposed to the food-service variety that comes with the burger. Maybe you can convince them to give you the good stuff with your burger?

Beer selection is pretty good, my favorite being the Trumer Pils on tap served in a tall narrow glass.

D4
345 E. Ohio (enter on Grand)
http://www.d4pub.com/index_files/home.htm

Stop the presses, I've recommended an "Irish" bar in Chicago.

riddlemay wrote:Any dinner recommendations for a place we can get a burger in the vicinity of the River East 21 movie theater? I know about P.J. Clarke's next door. Decent enough? Or can we do better by walking a block or three? Capital Grille only has burgers at lunch. (A requirement for us is that the place must have a full bar.)

Thanks.

AMC River East 21
322 E Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60611

You're walking distance from Bandera's on Michigan/Ohio. Very solid burger there, housemade. The veggie burger is also housemade and is stellar - it's been voted best in city several times (and I hate veggie burgers normally). I personally order the beef ribs every time i'm there and the peanut cole slaw is my favorite side dish ever.

Also, there's a Boston Blackies one block north and west, across the street from Volare.

If you don't mind walking a few more blocks you can hit David Burke's, too, on Ontario and Rush.

riddlemay wrote:Any dinner recommendations for a place we can get a burger in the vicinity of the River East 21 movie theater? I know about P.J. Clarke's next door. Decent enough? Or can we do better by walking a block or three? Capital Grille only has burgers at lunch. (A requirement for us is that the place must have a full bar.)

Thanks.

AMC River East 21
322 E Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60611

Vital Information wrote:PJ Clarkes: Have I mentioned this? really one of the best in the city

In this post earlier in this thread.

PJ Clarkes
(312) 670-7500

From the department of burger gimmicks, I offer The Vincent Burger, which I sought in Minneapolis after reading an Ode to a Vincent Burger on some guy's blog.

Ode to a Vincent Burger wrote:At first glance, there is just your tender and lightly toasted egg-based bun. As I peer underneath, I notice your perfectly symmetrical grill marks. As I pick you up and squeeze down on your bun to fit you into my eagerly-awaiting mouth, you let loose a gentle ooze of delicious salty & fatty juice, redolent of beef. As it rolls down my arm and I lick it gently, I sense a hint of something else…a deep, soulful slow-cooked meatiness. My first bite reveals a hint of off-white smoky gouda cheese. But you are no mere jucy lucy, my dear. Another nibble and I notice a long strand of shredded beef short rib, tucked hard against the gouda. My primal urge to tear into you is allayed only by my desire to savor you to the very last unctuous drop. In mere moments, I am left with only a morsel of your tasty bun, and as I use it to sop up the delicious essential juices you’ve left behind, it serves a sweet and tangy reminder of the moment we’ve shared. I am left with only a fleeting memory of your deliciousness…and a side salad.

The Vincent Burger:




I guess I got caught up in the romance of the ode, because I went an hour out of my way to find this burger. Sadly, it didn't arouse me in nearly the same way it did the blog guy. It's a mix of ground beef and shredded, braised short rib, and that meat combo encases some melty cheese a la Pizza Hut stuffed crust. The first problem with this burger was that it should have come with a warning - that melted cheese inside the meat was scalding hot, and scorched the inside of my mouth. That might have deadened my taste buds a bit, because I had a hard time detecting much beef flavor - the smoky gouda had overhelmed the meat.

The Vincent Burger didn't do the trick, so at dinner time I'll head back out to the streets of downtown Minneapolis to find some thrills.


Vincent - A Restaurant
1100 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
612.630.1189

Thanks for the various replies on burgers near River East 21, guys. I'll drop a line tomorrow re where we ended up.

I just read about a new place called the DMK (or DKM) burger bar. I think it's on Sheffield.

Has anyone been there to give a review? It's owned by Morton's steakhouse owner and another prominent chef - it's a chef owned burger place, from what I read, it sounds great.

Rhythmdoctor wrote:I just read about a new place called the DMK (or DKM) burger bar. I think it's on Sheffield.

Has anyone been there to give a review? It's owned by Morton's steakhouse owner and another prominent chef - it's a chef owned burger place, from what I read, it sounds great.

DMK Burger Bar thread

Rhythmdoctor wrote:I just read about a new place called the DMK (or DKM) burger bar. I think it's on Sheffield.

Has anyone been there to give a review? It's owned by Morton's steakhouse owner and another prominent chef - it's a chef owned burger place, from what I read, it sounds great.

The 'search' feature is your friend . . .

DMK Burger Bar

=R=

Re burgers near River East 21: Buttressed by Vital Information's recommendation of P.J. Clarke's, passed along by Panther in the Den, we chose the path of least resistance and practically "fell out of bed" from the movie theater (where we saw 2012--awesome) and into Clarke's. It was a good choice.

My cheeseburger (American cheese, sauteed mushrooms) was very good. It arrived slightly more done than my order. I asked for medium rare, and this was medium at best. However, there was some pink in the color of the meat, so at least it wasn't all the way to medium well or well. More importantly, despite being overdone relative to my preference, the meat was juicy and flavorful. My eye told me "overdone," but my mouth said be happy.

I also liked the generous proportion of melted American cheese. And for some reason, this American cheese tasted better than average. I like American cheese (obviously, or I wouldn't have ordered it), but I have kind of thought of it as an undifferentiate-able commodity.

The bar was crowded, and the dining room was full (no wait for a table, but no empty tables either), so I was very impressed with our waiter's ability to produce our cocktail order quickly. I had a distant memory of the service at Clarke's falling through the cracks a bit, but either that memory was wrong or they fixed the problem.

P.J. Clarke's
302 E. Illinois
Chicago, IL
312 670 7500