nr706 wrote:Eddie really knows and cares about what he's doing. Best burger/shake combo around. Definite GNR. Fan me a count.

Agreed. He doesn't forget about the vegetarians either with a nice "mushroom" burger.

pairs4life wrote:He doesn't forget about the vegetarians either with a nice "mushroom" burger.

Not to mention his excellent "inside out" grilled cheese.

nr706 wrote:Eddie really knows and cares about what he's doing. Best burger/shake combo around. Definite GNR. Fan me a count.

Thats quite a statement, given how many good burger-shake combinations there are out there! (To me personally, the Top-Notch burger/shake combination is better than Edzo's.. actually Top-Notch's burger/fry/shake combo is quite awesome, really. But it isnt in *my* neighborhood, sadly

Edzo's will (and should) be a GNR, of course.. but as ManatWork pointed out upthread, with burgers there is plenty of competition. Iam in Evanston a fair bit, and eat burgers more than the average bear, but end up at Edzo's far less than would be expected, simply *because* of that competition-level. In Evanston itself there is WASC and Bopngrill - both of which could potentially lay claim to a better burger IMHO (Bopngrill with a couple of very unique flavor-profiles). WASC also has terrific fries - IMHO the best in the area.

This isnt to oppose Edzo's GNR nomination BTW.. just to express (mild) disagreement with some of the "best-in-class" views expressed above.

c8w

c8w wrote:actually Top-Notch's burger/fry/shake combo is quite awesome, really.

The only problem I can see with the burger/fry/shake combo at Top Notch is that it might not leave me room for some of their awesome onion rings

Made my first trip to Edzo's yesterday and again I am grateful for another really good LTH rec. After introducig myself to Ed and having a brief chat I ordered a char burger medium, and the truffle fries. The burger was cooked perfect and was really juicy. To be able to turn that volume of burgers with the consistencey and quality I've read here and now have seen is a feat in itself (line was almost to the door by 11:45). The fries were also cooked really well but I did wish I tried the angry fries instead. All in all a great meal and experience-I look forward to the next time I am in the area.

Jeff

Finally made my way to Edzo's. Can't believe I've had this place so close-by, but never bothered to stop in before.

A friend wanted to try it, so I did some recommended LTH research and then got a char burger w/ cheddar cheese and old fries with giardanara. Man, I love a good med. rare burger, but next time I'll probably try the griddle burgers. Not just because of LTH recommendations, but also because my friend couldn't stop talking about it.

Old fries were for the most part great. The real old, senior citizen fries were delicious, but I was surprised to see quite a few young, whippersnapper fries that sneaked into the basket. They weren't bad fries by any means, I'm not a fry ageist if that's what you're thinking, but I would've preferred a bit more uniformity. Also, the deeper I got in the basket, the more likely I found quite a few over-salted fries. All in all, a delicious experience, but far from perfect.

David Lebowitz is smitten with Edzo's. I suggested that he take Metra up here next time, so as to not waste valuable eating time!

PS Good job, Ms. Chu. . .

Continued fan of Edzo's burgers and love old fries with giardiniera, aka the Steve Z, in fact I've liked pretty much everything I've tried at Edzo's. That is until my recent corn dog, hand dipped in-house coating comes out grainy and skinless Vienna overly intense cure flavor.

Edzo's griddle burgers, Old Fries with Giardiniera and Corn Dog



One look at the old fries with giardiniera and I'm wondering how early Edzo's opens on a Saturday.

Had my first Edzo's experience and my only add is to profess my adoration for the "cola shake"--took me back to my high school days when I used to get a smally Wendy's frosty and a medium diet coke and an extra cup--mix thoroughly--lunch! The Edzo's version was MUCH better--creamier, better ingredients--but the memory recall was wonderful Perfect burger, giardiniera fries and cola shake--whatta lunch!!

I had a great time at the GNR Dinner last night at Sun Wah--first time there for my wife and I, and we'll be back for sure.

I just wanted to say thanks, again, to everyone, for the support and the honor of being included among the Great Neighborhood Restaurants. It's truly an honor. Certificate's hung, window sticker stuck, and we're proud to be among such a select group of restaurants. Thanks, again.

Eddie

Eddie is this true?

Free lunch today

Well, it's on Eddie's twitter account: https://twitter.com/#!/edlakin

It was true; lunch was extra-delicious today despite the line wrapping outside the building in the cold...and the patrons were extra-nice and we made some new friends chatting as we waited in line. I don't think the corporate sponsor got anything out of it other than some promotional photos, but that's their issue...

Consarn it, cripes, and dagnabbit! WHY did I not check LTH until 4:30 today?! My sad lunch of grilled chicken and broccoli seems even sadder now that I know what I missed.

Mhays wrote:It was true; lunch was extra-delicious today despite the line wrapping outside the building in the cold...and the patrons were extra-nice and we made some new friends chatting as we waited in line. I don't think the corporate sponsor got anything out of it other than some promotional photos, but that's their issue...

I don't think it takes that many new utility customers to pay for a few hundred burgers. Their marketing people have probably given this some thought.

Tried to go over on my lunch hour. One look at the line, and I knew I wouldn't make it back in time. For shame!

Drive-by photo. The line was much larger than this.

incite - your photo doesn't show up for me. Might be a problem on my end though.

I would've gone over but I was stuck taking midterms

Hurdler4eva wrote:incite - your photo doesn't show up for me. Might be a problem on my end though.

I would've gone over but I was stuck taking midterms

No, the photo doesn't show up for me either....

incite wrote:Tried to go over on my lunch hour. One look at the line, and I knew I wouldn't make it back in time. For shame!

Drive-by photo. The line was much larger than this.

For shame? I saw this and knew what it would look like without making the drive, no shame there on anyone's part.

Free awesome burgers causes long lines. In other news, water still wet.

I saw incite's photo yesterday, but cannot today.

Should mention, as a tribute to Ed and his crack staff - that line that was all the way outside the building (keep in mind there's an inside vestibule that held quite a few people before the line to the counter even started) took us about 45 minutes to navigate, and after ordering the food came up in it's usual amount of time, and nobody behind the counter seemed stressed or crabby. Tables were bussed and clean (we got in right when the big lunch crush started to leave) and the place was spotless as usual.

Good food aside (because it's a given,) Ed's well positioned to become the Evanston version of Dough Sohn in terms of customer service.

Picture fixed, sorry about that.

Octarine wrote:For shame? I saw this and knew what it would look like without making the drive, no shame there on anyone's part.

Free awesome burgers causes long lines. In other news, water still wet.

Ouch. Simply saying how it was a shame I had be back at work in an hour or else I would have partook in a delicious Edzo's burger.

For all of you who have been hard pressed to pass on the smashed 'til perfectly crispy 30's style griddled burgers Edzo's offers and or the char grilled to juicy perfection 8 oz tavern style burgers...


You wont regret going with a patty melt on your next visit because...


...Edzo's are as good as they get, I'm gonna have to go get another soon

Well deserving of their GNR.

Thank you Da Beef for recommending the patty melt. I tried it today and LOVED it! Perfect with my salted caramel milkshake and truffle fries!


Patty melt.




Truffle parmesan fries.

Salted caramel milkshake. I must get one for Mr. X. It sounds divine.

The GP wrote:Salted caramel milkshake. I must get one for Mr. X. It sounds divine.

It's good, but I prefer the toasted almond or nutella.

It's a darn good thing I don't live that close to Evanston. The nutella shake is one of the best things I have eaten all year and I would eat far too many if I lived close.

Went to Edzo's last Wednesday and, as always, it was delicious.


Decided to go with the Coffee shake this time around, and it did not disappoint. I normally go with a 4oz patty, but was told the Slagel upgrade I was getting would be useless...so I went with the 8oz instead.

Amazing. Best burger that I've had at Edzo's, and that's saying something.

Of course I went with my garlic fries


One small complaint. Fiancée and I have had the truffle salt fries many time, and it definitely is one of my favorites...but these were very heavily over salted.


No biggie. I'll go back again and again...and I'll continue to get the truffle fries.

You're killing me, incite. There's no drooling emoticon? What kind of foodie board is this?

Market Burger Menu / Edzo's by TrackBelle, on Flickr



Market Burger / Edzo's by TrackBelle, on Flickr

Had an amazing lunch at Edzo's today and I'm stuffed. I knew I had to stop in to try the first market burger of the season, since I will only be in Evanston for another week. Eddie was nice enough to let me sub Swiss for blue cheese on the market burger, and the burger was incredible in all its messy, juicy, egg yolk-y glory. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite, especially with alternating sips of Michigan Strawberry and Speculoos milkshake in between bites, and some garlic fries thrown in for good measure.

Eddie explained that he marinates the strawberries in balsamic vinegar before pureeing them, to bring out the flavor of the strawberries without adding a vinegar taste to the shake itself. This was so fresh, it really took me back to eating strawberries fresh off the vine last summer in Michigan.

I also had the pleasure of trying a new shake Eddie is working on - the Speculoos shake, based on the popular Belgian Christmas cookie. I ate way too many of these when I studied abroad in Germany, and the shake was incredibly thick, with a warm and hearty brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, ginger flavor. When it debuts, I think it will usurp the Nutella shake as the thickest on the menu.