Burt's! - NEW DATE - Sat. 1/21 @ 5:30pm

I never ate at Burt's and there seems to be an interest in getting a group together.

PLEASE RESPOND BY SATURDAY, 1/14 so I can reserve a table. Anyone after that will be placed on a waiting list if anyone cancels.

Let me know what you're interested in eating. I'd like to cap at 10 including me & mine.

Participants:
Pie Lady
pairs4life (+1)
Cathy2
lemoneater (+1) - at least one all-veg option
izzy
mhl
JoelF and Sue F

Waiting List:
two more seats available!

Desired Chow:*
Mushroom & Sausage
Spinach, Mushroom & Garlic
Saveur Coverpie - spinach, mixed pepper, sliced tomato, and garlic
Pepperoni
Sharon's Surprise**

BIG salad with dressings on the side
Appetizer sampler with onion rings, cheese sticks, garlic bread and peppers (or poppers?).

*all pizzas are 14"
**it's a surprise because I can't remember what she said

I've been wanting to try this place since it graced the cover of Saveur - if I can get a ride with someone from Chicago, I'd be in!

Pie Lady wrote:I never ate at Burt's and there seems to be an interest in getting a group together.

I could use help in ordering and all that. Let me know what you're interested in eating. I'd like to cap at 10 including me.

Participants:
Pie Lady (+1?)

Desired Chow:
Mushroom & Sausage

Darn it all. Make your reservation now and order the pies you want and post them. They prefer it that way and the food will come out when you arrive. Kind of cool.

Take lots of pics. Hmmm, I still need to do Vito & Nick's.

I just called Burt's at Cathy2's behest, and the situation is trickier than I thought.

Sharon said that I have the table for 12/16, but I need to confirm in a few minutes. Since it's LauraC and me, so far, I didn't think I should hold the table for that many.

She said to give her as much time in advance as possible, and we can work together on a time/date. I don't know how other people planned their Burtscursions, but I think not knowing much about the place I'm out of my league. I could use some planning assistance.

Pie Lady wrote:I just called Burt's at Cathy2's behest, and the situation is trickier than I thought.

Sharon said that I have the table for 12/16, but I need to confirm in a few minutes. Since it's LauraC and me, so far, I didn't think I should hold the table for that many.

She said to give her as much time in advance as possible, and we can work together on a time/date. I don't know how other people planned their Burtscursions, but I think not knowing much about the place I'm out of my league. I could use some planning assistance.

Pick your date. And just do what you can. It's popular on the weekends and during the week is just hard.

friday's are hard for me. i'd go that saturday or sunday..... mushroom and sausage would be my choices, too. justjoan (and depending on where in the big city of chicago laura C lives, i'd be happy to pick her up)

I think that the challenge as far as planning a dinner at Burt's is concerned is that the most successful events are when the group "explores the menu," but at Burt's there are not hundreds of offerings. I order sausage pizza, and always will.

GAF wrote:I think that the challenge as far as planning a dinner at Burt's is concerned is that the most successful events are when the group "explores the menu," but at Burt's there are not hundreds of offerings. I order sausage pizza, and always will.

I think the challenge is calling enough in advance to get pizzas at the time -- and on the night -- that you want them, especially if you have a bigger group.

=R=

Let me give you some inside help so everyone involved (including Burt and Sharon) will have a happy experience.

1. Get firm commitments from your group. Don't try to make the reservation or order in piecemeal form. Get your number set and then don't change it.

2. Decide what your entire food order is going to be and write it down before you call. Pizza, apps, salad, garlic bread, etc. should all be ordered in advance. Don't worry about drinks; you'll order that when you get there. BTW, we have Great Lakes Brewery's Christmas Ale in right now and people love it!

3. Once you have completed the first two steps, then and only then, you should call the restaurant and place the order. And don't call back to change it. That's why you're doing the first two steps before you call. If you're unsure about any of the details in the first two steps, don't call until you have it nailed down.

4. Everyone in the group shows up on time. If you call in your order for 8:00pm, the pizza will be on the table, hot and ready to eat at 8:00pm. Period. So if you've ordered salads and whatnot, and you want time to eat them before the pizza hits the table, you should be there around 7:40-7:45pm.

And that's it. Some people over complicate the process; get all flustered and screw it up. All I can tell you is, keep it simple and you'll be fine. Pretend you're calling in a Chinese take-out order for ten people and apply the same thought process. The only difference is it's pizza and you're eating it there instead of taking it out.

To recap: Figure out how many people are coming and what you want to eat. Call it in and stick with whatever you tell them.

Unfortunately, I am not working the night of the 16th, so I won't be able to give you the special LTH treatment. But I'm sure Burt and Sharon will be able to take good care of you.

Have fun!

Buddy

In my mind, I picture Seinfeld and Jerry explaining to George the soup ordering process . . . not complaining, laughing. I'm a big fan of Burt's and have no complaints, and I just love all of the discussion about ordering, reserving, etc. (Please don't have me put on the "banned from Burt's pizza" list).

That's the problem; if I call and ask for a table for 10, then I don't get 10 people, I have to let them know at least three days in advance so they can make up those lost seats and dough. I guess I'll have to set the date, but state a cutoff date for signing up.

Pie Lady wrote:That's the problem; if I call and ask for a table for 10, then I don't get 10 people, I have to let them know at least three days in advance so they can make up those lost seats and dough. I guess I'll have to set the date, but state a cutoff date for signing up.

That sounds like the perfect plan. You can always fudge the number of people a little bit. It's the pizza order that is locked in stone.

Okay, since 12/16 is not enough time to finalize everything with Burt, especially if we do get 10, I'm taking the above advice and reorganizing. LauraC, I hope you can make this new date/time. If you can, please re-sign-up.

I also added a cutoff date to sign up, unless of course someone else backs out.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

it's a long way off, but i'm in- as long as no pepperoni is involved. justjoan

We'll make sure at least one is pepperoni-free.

Spinach, mushroom, garlic please. Myself +1.

I know Sharon will say there's enough garlic in the sauce, but I would like to try it.

Gotcha.

I am in, ready to give Burt's a second chance, I am a huge Pequod's fan.

Hi,

January 21st! I can make this. I have social engagements this month stacking up like planes waiting to land at O'hare. It will be so much quieter by then.

I suggest Burt make a pizza like the one gracing Saveur's cover.

Regards,

If there's room put me down +1.
So that's 2 - zoid +1

I'm in.

Count me in for 2!

CrazyC wrote:Count me in for 2!

Dave148 wrote:I'm in.

You guys are first on the waiting list.

My husband is having some medical issues, so I need to back out at this time. Spot open for another Burt's fan.

diane ck wrote:My husband is having some medical issues, so I need to back out at this time. Spot open for another Burt's fan.

So sorry. Hope your husband feels better soon!

i'm sorry to have to back out. i know Laura C is looking for a ride. i hope someone else can pick her up....justjoan

Sorry you have to miss it!

CrazyC +1, looks like youse are in.

Can you put an a additional + 1 on the wait list for me? All of a sudden Alistair is saying he may want to come. Also have a friend out of town now if he's not going who may want in.

I'd like to put myself +1 on the waiting list. The +1 would like all-veg pizza options; I'm open to anything. Thanks!

pairs4life wrote:Can you put an a additional + 1 on the wait list for me? All of a sudden Alistair is saying he may want to come. Also have a friend out of town now if he's not going who may want in.

Let me clarify: you want to be pairs+4 total? Or +3?

Right now we're at 11, so I can't add more, but I can put your additional add-ons on the waiting list, if that makes sense.