I add my strong endorsement for a GNR to Edzo's.
Elie

I support this nomination as well. Not only for the burgers, but for possibly the best milk shake I've ever had.

Edzo's is most certainly deserving as a GNR. Go man go.

TC

This one's a no-brainer. Edzo's could be the poster child of the GNRs.

geno55 wrote:Edzo's was a GNR from the first day it opened.

Well said. Edzo's is a slam dunk GNR. I love the food, the shakes, the atmosphere. I've heard Edzo's described as "the Hot Doug's of burgers." Well, look out Doug, soon you may be referred to as "the Edzo's of sausages"!

What amazes me about Edzo's is the perfection in every element of the burger - gently formed patty, well seasoned and flavorful beef, high quality toppings, a great bun and the ultimate proof - burger juice running down your arm. At a lot of burger places, people talk about the toppings, the buns, the size of the burger - at Edzo's, it's appropriately about the beef but the accompaniments are hardly ignored.

And then the fries. Most burger/dog places would be content to offer regular and cheese fries. But at Edzo's, you can make every visit an adventure because of the many tasty versions. But again, the focus is on perfectly fried, skin-on potatoes.

There are some very good burger places in the Chicago area, but Edzo's is the best. If this kind of praise of a burger and fries place sounds a bit over the top to you, then you obviously haven't been to Edzo's.

I just want to voice some opposition to Edzo's. I'm a grad student up in Evanston and I've been there a fair bit (~10 times). I've found their flat 4oz patties, upgraded/not upgraded, to be devoid of the kind of satisfying, meaty, mineral-y flavor that I'm looking for in a burger. Their taste is as dull as their pallor is gray. Their char burger, which you can specify doneness, is much improved, but still unremarkable given this city's wide burger offerings. The space itself would seem ideal for a GNR. It has that Hot Doug's family feel. But, unfortunately, none of the artisanal quality that Hot Doug's offers. To be fair, I might be a pretty picky burger guy. My favorite burger is the death wish available at Owen & Engine, served medium rare, which stands a good chance of killing me one day with its earthly, bloody, visceral delivery of cow that is the burger equivalent of good fatty otoro.

whocanitbenow wrote:I just want to voice some opposition to Edzo's. I'm a grad student up in Evanston and I've been there a fair bit (~10 times). I've found their flat 4oz patties, upgraded/not upgraded, to be devoid of the kind of satisfying, meaty, mineral-y flavor that I'm looking for in a burger. Their taste is as dull as their pallor is gray. Their char burger, which you can specify doneness, is much improved, but still unremarkable given this city's wide burger offerings. The space itself would seem ideal for a GNR. It has that Hot Doug's family feel. But, unfortunately, none of the artisanal quality that Hot Doug's offers. To be fair, I might be a pretty picky burger guy. My favorite burger is the death wish available at Owen & Engine, served medium rare, which stands a good chance of killing me one day with its earthly, bloody, visceral delivery of cow that is the burger equivalent of good fatty otoro.

I've only been once, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. We tried both burgers and the old fries, and they stack up with a lot of what Chicago has to offer. I never noticed a "gray pallor" to the griddled burgers that they serve, nor do any of the pictures on this site show that- and as far as a mineral flavor to a burger- I guess my burger palate is just not attuned to such things, nor have I ever heard of that in regards to the flavor of a burger.

Given all of the better offerings, why would you have gone to Edzo's for unremarkable and gray burgers so many times?

saps wrote:
Given all of the better offerings, why would you have gone to Edzo's for unremarkable and gray burgers so many times?

Because I'm in Evanston every day and the place isn't bad. I wasn't trying to say that the burgers were gross or something, just unremarkable. I can see the appeal of a place like Edzo's style and atmosphere and ownership, I just wish the burger matched the appeal of those attributes. But, hey, maybe I'll go for lunch today.

whocanitbenow wrote:I just want to voice some opposition to Edzo's. I'm a grad student up in Evanston and I've been there a fair bit (~10 times). I've found their flat 4oz patties, upgraded/not upgraded, to be devoid of the kind of satisfying, meaty, mineral-y flavor that I'm looking for in a burger. Their taste is as dull as their pallor is gray. Their char burger, which you can specify doneness, is much improved, but still unremarkable given this city's wide burger offerings. The space itself would seem ideal for a GNR. It has that Hot Doug's family feel. But, unfortunately, none of the artisanal quality that Hot Doug's offers. To be fair, I might be a pretty picky burger guy. My favorite burger is the death wish available at Owen & Engine, served medium rare, which stands a good chance of killing me one day with its earthly, bloody, visceral delivery of cow that is the burger equivalent of good fatty otoro.

Sorry, whocanitbenow, but yours is really an apples to oranges comparison.

Edzo's makes absolutely no pretense at being a sit down, finer dining restaurant like Owen & Engine. A side by side comparison is almost ludicrous, as the one is a quick serve dining establishment that offers take out and has no liquor license, while the other, well I'll let it speak for itself:

Owen & Engine is based on a simple idea of offering rustic British-inspired comfort food with real ales and a carefully crafted beverage program. Trends are unimportant; quality is key. Our meats come from animals humanely raised and without growth hormones or antibiotics. We purchase from the best farms and artisans, and the Haddock, for the fish and chips, is flown in daily from Georges Bank in the North Atlantic.

Chef de Cuisine Charles Burkhardt believes, “A simple menu has to have the best ingredients because you have nothing to hide behind.” When you eat at Owen and Engine, know that the kitchen makes everything—from the house-cured sausages to the mayonnaise. The back of the house has worked in some of the best kitchens in Chicago and New York City. Expect the menu to change with the seasons to utilize the freshest ingredients and explore British cuisine. They, along with our beverage director and in house Cicerone TM, develop special “family dinners” where cuisine is paired with wines, beers, and liquors.

A quick perusal of O&E's menu also reveals that it charges double what Edzo's does for it's char burger, even if you get that order upgraded with Dietzler Farm's beef.

I would be far more inclined to give your criticism some credence if you were to perhaps compare Edzo's to Weiner & Still Champion or Paradise Pup, which are also both quick serve, casual dining restaurants with no beer or wine sommeiler in action and without the enhanced ambiance or upcharges of a place like O&E. I have dined numerous times at Edzo's and truly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere for what it is. Just to be clear, I'm not jumping on you for criticizing a board fave, I'm merely pointing out a significant fault in your post.

I also heartily support Edzo's nomination as a GNR. Eddie takes a great deal of time and care to insure that the food he serves at Edzo's is consistently high in quality, that his burgers and fries are fresh and hot and made to order, and that the milkshakes are tasty and often creatively inspired. It's not always easy to find a place that serves good food that is also kid friendly, but Edzo's also manages to easily deliver on that account.

And now I'm craving a char burger medium rare and a hot fudge shake.

SMT wrote:Just to be clear, I'm not jumping on you for criticizing a board fave, I'm merely pointing out a significant fault in your post.

I happen to love Edzo's, have written so above, and support it as a GNR. But, SMT, you are a bit off here. whocanitbenow has been to Edzo's often and wrote three sentences about what he/she didn't like about the burgers. Whether his/her favorite burger is from Owen and Engine, or from some other place, doesn't change the fact that he/she found Edzo's burger less satisfying. Not everyone has to love every board favorite. And not everyone has to make arguments that might stand up in court. Let's not take this so seriously and worry about "faults" in someone's expression of their opinion.

I've eaten at Edzo's every time I've been in Evanston (exactly once since they opened). I thought the fries were great and I liked the whole place despite the poor ketchup service. While I would get behind the GNR nomination based on my one visit and all of the love expressed in this thread, I do appreciate the well-articulated dissent from whocanitbenow.

SMT wrote:Sorry, whocanitbenow, but yours is really an apples to oranges comparison.

Edzo's makes absolutely no pretense at being a sit down, finer dining restaurant like Owen & Engine. A side by side comparison is almost ludicrous,

You should note that my mentioning of Owen & Engine was not meant to compare the two, but to qualify my criticism of Edzo's. I was saying, hey, I don't think these burgers are all that great, but perhaps the style is just one I'm less likely to appreciate. Closer comparison: I was recently at Epic Burger in Lincoln Park and thought that, while not a superlative burger, it was far better (and comparably priced) than what I've had at Edzo's. Epic was much juicer with a stronger beef flavor. I think my problem with Edzo's is that when I get the regular burgers, the patties are just too flat and/or cooked too long for me to appreciate the in-house ground meat.

You should note that my mentioning of Owen & Engine was not meant to compare the two, but to qualify my criticism of Edzo's.

Thank you for clarifying, but your initial post did in fact make it sound as though you were comparing the Edzo's burger to the one offered at O&E. I stand by my position that the two aren't a fair or reasonable comparison.

I was saying, hey, I don't think these burgers are all that great, but perhaps the style is just one I'm less likely to appreciate. Closer comparison: I was recently at Epic Burger in Lincoln Park and thought that, while not a superlative burger, it was far better (and comparably priced) than what I've had at Edzo's. Epic was much juicer with a stronger beef flavor. I think my problem with Edzo's is that when I get the regular burgers, the patties are just too flat and/or cooked too long for me to appreciate the in-house ground meat.

I actually prefer Edzo's char burger, meduim rare of course, to the griddled version, specifically because I think the char version better showcases the quality of the freshly ground beef. So I may offer some assent on your point about the smaller 4oz burger. I haven't yet been to Epic so I can't comment on any of it's offerings.

Btw, Darren, I specifically qualified in my initial post that I wasn't taking issue with whocanitbenow for criticizing a board fave, so I think your throwing something of a strawman into the the discussion. Of course posters here can take issue with food for whatever reason they have in their heads, but it doesn't automatically follow that nobody can in turn take issue with their methodology. I apologize if it sounded as though I was cross-examining, although it is hard to step out of that mode when it is what one does for a living.

SMT wrote:

You should note that my mentioning of Owen & Engine was not meant to compare the two, but to qualify my criticism of Edzo's.

Thank you for clarifying, but your initial post did in fact make it sound as though you were comparing the Edzo's burger to the one offered at O&E. I stand by my position that the two aren't a fair or reasonable comparison.

I was saying, hey, I don't think these burgers are all that great, but perhaps the style is just one I'm less likely to appreciate. Closer comparison: I was recently at Epic Burger in Lincoln Park and thought that, while not a superlative burger, it was far better (and comparably priced) than what I've had at Edzo's. Epic was much juicer with a stronger beef flavor. I think my problem with Edzo's is that when I get the regular burgers, the patties are just too flat and/or cooked too long for me to appreciate the in-house ground meat.

I actually prefer Edzo's char burger, meduim rare of course, to the griddled version, specifically because I think the char version better showcases the quality of the freshly ground beef. So I may offer some assent on your point about the smaller 4oz burger. I haven't yet been to Epic so I can't comment on any of it's offerings.

Btw, Darren, I specifically qualified in my initial post that I wasn't taking issue with whocanitbenow for criticizing a board fave, so I think your throwing something of a strawman into the the discussion. Of course posters here can take issue with food for whatever reason they have in their heads, but it doesn't automatically follow that nobody can in turn take issue with their methodology. I apologize if it sounded as though I was cross-examining, although it is hard to step out of that mode when it is what one does for a living.

Why can't you just let it go? When you call a poster's opinions "almost ludicrous" and containing a "significant fault," I worry that you dissuade LTHers with few posts, like whocanitbenow, from expressing their opinions.

There really is no reason to refute the opinions of another poster. Just offer your own take on the restaurant at issue and move on please.

Maybe take a deep breath and read your posts twice before hitting "submit" and give yourself a chance to "step out of that mode"?

Ronna

Kennyz wrote:. . . I do appreciate the well-articulated dissent from whocanitbenow.

Agreed.

=R=

REB wrote:Why can't you just let it go? When you call a poster's opinions "almost ludicrous" and containing a "significant fault," I worry that you dissuade LTHers with few posts, like whocanitbenow, from expressing their opinions.

Hey Ronna, thanks for expressing this, but no need to worry about me specifically. I was trained as a lawyer as well, and in law hyperbole is usually met with a particular reaction, and not a positive one!

Anyway, it's Edzo's for me today if I can resist the siren song of City Provisions on my drive up.

Classic LTH memes:

The Ringer -- "I'm from _______, so I know ________."

Salt of the Earth -- "I'm simple folks. Don't care what it's called or what's in it if it tastes good. Prissy eggheads."

The Hardbody a/k/a Exercise Impertinence -- "I maxed out/ran wind sprints today. And I ate a pizza."

The Litigator -- "I'm a lawyer, so _____."

The Cosmopolitan -- "I wish Chicago had pristine king crab legs like I tasted in Park Slope" and variations on the "only in NY"/ "only in CA"/ "only in Europe"/ "only by the ocean" meme.

Mind you, I stand accused of many and profess my guilt.

Oh, and a good cross requires brevity; quit when you are ahead. I know this because I watch Matlock on my elliptical machine.

PS: +1 for Edzo's. I really like the effort to address fans of both great burger styles. The smashed-on-the griddle, crisp edged, Okie/Arkie depression burger (or whatever it is) represents a stylistic choice. I for one usually prefer a stack of smashed and griddled patties to a fat grilled burger, but both can be damn good. Edzo's does a nice job with both.

JeffB wrote:Oh, and a good cross requires brevity; quit when you are ahead. I know this because I watch Matlock on my elliptical machine.

. . . while eating pizza, no doubt.

JeffB wrote:I know this because I watch Matlock on my elliptical machine.

And how Matlock got on my elliptical machine, I'll never know!

Thank you. I'd worried I teed that one up too high.

If LTH members respond to any critism of their favourite spots in such a negative way, then they must accept that LTH is a private club and not a public forum, which I am sure was not the original purpose of LTH forum.

foodmex wrote:If LTH members respond to any critism of their favourite spots in such a negative way, then they must accept that LTH is a private club and not a public forum, which I am sure was not the original purpose of LTH forum.

With 9,000+ members, it's bit a of a stretch to say that any single post or even series of posts defines what our place is all about. Nor does any single member of our forum define who or what we are. The fact that someone feels passionately about a place -- positive or negative -- really just reflects that single point of view and not a whole lot else. In the end, we all speak for ourselves and only ourselves.

Now, back to Edzo's!

=R=

Some time back on a visit to Edzo's I ordered a coffee/oreo milkshake, which has long been my standard Potbelly's shake order. Eddie was quite taken back by this combination, as it had apparently never occurred to him. He did a great job making one for me that day. So I was thrilled earlier this week to see a "mudslide" milkshake on the specials menu, which I ordered, and as best I could tell was a delicious coffee/oreo shake (with maybe some hot fudge too?). Edzo's can call it the mudslide...I'll call it the KoffeeGuy.

The Picky Eater had some uncontrollable burger cravings today, so we drove up to Edzo's for a great late lunch. It was pretty busy at 2:30 on a Friday afternoon, but no wait for tables & Ed had a minute to chat with just about every customer who came through the door.

Everything was fantastic, we particularly enjoyed the double griddle burger with swiss and mushrooms:


The edges on the griddle burgers are my favorite part.

The Angry Fries were also wonderful today, very crisp, lots of onion, terrific chili. Next time I will remember to ask for jalapeño on my fries.


This is a GNR nomination I can really get behind.

I finally made it to Edzo's today and I really enjoyed it. I had a double griddle burger with bacon and swiss, an order of garlic fries, and a nutella shake. The burger was fantastic, with well season and juicy meat. The garlic fries were good, and didn't overpower me like many garlic fries can. I can't really add anything to what has already been said about the nutella shake...it's truly a thing of beauty.

At about 1:30 today Edzo's was doing a brisk business with customers of all ages. This is clearly a GNR if there ever was one.

I wish Edzo's all the business it desires, especially like this afternoon. My order was coolly handled in the packed room and I particularly liked the chunky giardiniera on my burger, if the patties themselves weren't quite as lacy-crisp as a previous visit perhaps due to the rush. A good place.

Old Fries with giardinara, pair of lacy edged griddled singles is about as perfect a lunch as one can get, would go now if it wasn't Monday. I've expressed my appreciation for Edzo's up thread, but wanted to voice support for its GNR nomination.

Edzo's, count me a fan!

Eddie really knows and cares about what he's doing. Best burger/shake combo around. Definite GNR. Fan me a count.