Tried the Deerfield store today for lunch and was not impressed. I got there early so there was no line, though I sat for ten minutes after ordering waiting for my food, as did everyone else. Not sure I understand the concept of 1/2 fast food place (stand in line to order) and half sit down, though it is getting a lot more common. for my $12, I got a 1/3 pound "ampersand" burger and haystack onions and a fountain drink. The onions were room temp and very greasy, even for haystack onions....when I mentioned the temperature, they brought me some fresh ones, which were hot, but still very greasy. Although the toppings were good, the burger itself left a lot to be desired. it is basically a Culvers burger with less flavor. It was very dry. While the sign implies that you dont have a choice, when I asked (at the end of my meal, unfortunately) if it can be ordered less well done, I was told yes. IF I go back, I will try a 1/2 pounder med-rare and see if that helps. I also perceive a problem with the space age coke dispenser, since everyone likes to play with it, and there was a line for it today when the place was pretty empty. I think that I will stick with Potbellys when in the area, particularly since it is half the price.

-Will

Ram4 wrote:

LikestoEatout wrote:

Ram4 wrote: My friend got the Ahi Tuna burger and thought it was decent, but he was expecting a piece of fish, not ground up like a burger.

Tom and Eddie's
740 Waukegan Rd
Deerfield Square next to Whole Foods
Deerfield IL 60015
847-948-5117

Wow, that's a surprise. My partner had the ahi tuna at the Geneva location a few months ago and as I noted in a post above from that time, the fish was a solid grilled piece.

I asked him again, and you may be right. What he was not happy about was his Tuna was cooked all the way through, and he didn't really see it being a solid piece of fish.

I checked with the restaurant about this. The ahi tuna burger is ground tuna, it is not a soild piece of fish. If it was before, it isn't now.

Kind of sad that they are willing to reduce quality.

Went to the Deerfield location today, with my mom, at her suggestion. We went in shortly after 1, there were a few people in there but definitely not crowded. Ordered our burgers, hers the "ampersand (bacon/gouda/fried onions)without the fried egg" and I had a blue something or other (blue cheese, garlic aioli, tomato and avocado) medium. To their credit, that burger was indeed medium!

Unfortunately, the avocado was not ripe. It was pretty, but pretty hard, something anyone with experience in the kitchen should have known. No one walking around to tell about it and I didn't feel like going up to the line so I figured I'd suck it up. Ultimately the manager walked past and we flagged him down. I told him we I really liked the garlic aioli, but that the avocado was not ripe. He said something like, "oh sorry" and I suggested that maybe they shouldn't SERVE them when they aren't ready. "Good point." Then he asked if we had tried the sweet potato fries, they're great with the aioli, so my mom (being of a certain age) said "we'd like to try that, the sweet potatoes with the aioli, to make up for her (me) not getting avocado on her burger." The manager said "oh, I see" and did come back with a small plate of the fries and dipping sauce. My mom thought it was appalling that he didn't think of that himself.

Didn't care for that space-age soda machine, guess I'm just a low-tech pop drinker, and my mom thought the diet coke tasted funny.

I liked being served on real plates vs paper wrap, the silverware was pretty solid and the glasses were real (plastic but again, not disposable). I still think that Townhouse, where Red Star used to be, had a much better burger. That was probably a couple bucks more, plus tipping, but $10 for a burger still just feels high. Still, and I think my husband would like this so we'll probably give it one more try.

sujormik wrote:No one walking around to tell about it and I didn't feel like going up to the line so I figured I'd suck it up.

All you had to do was press the service button on the table. They will come to you for anything you need.

sujormik wrote:Didn't care for that space-age soda machine, guess I'm just a low-tech pop drinker, and my mom thought the diet coke tasted funny.

I HATE that machine everywhere I've seen it. Even plain water tastes terrible from some of the flavors bleeding through. Go Roma has one, and I first had it at Fatburger in LA. I mentioned this to one of the managers. They knew what I was talking about.

The manager I spoke to said the Deerfield store was doing double the business of their first two locations.

I went there with a friend, who enjoyed his burger and beers. He also tried one of the hot dogs and was not thrilled with it. I like Tom and Eddie's, the 1/2lb burger is very good to excellent when cooked right, and the chicken fingers are even great. I like DC Sarnies nearby more, but I am pleased with both of them coming to the area. I do feel they are a little skimpy on the sides you get with the food, but at the same time it's kind of an old school portion control thing vs. gluttony at other places like Five Guys. Townhouse... your burger is next!

It seems I am almost on a Tom and Eddie's island. Since I won a free meal for a year, I go there every week. But there really isn't anyone I know who has tried this place that wants to come with me to eat there! Every one of them prefers DC Sarnies (the other new place in Deerfield) and all felt Tom and Eddie's was way too expensive. I kind of have to agree. I got a 1/2lb burger, chips and a bottle of water that would have cost $14.00!!! That is at least about $5.00 too much for what they serve there. Tonight, I ordered my burger medium rare just to see what would happen. It was borderline medium well. Last week I tried the chicken caesar salad with fried chicken strips. The chicken was excellent - lightly breaded, very tasty. The salad was a nice size as well ($10 - still a little pricey), but the dressing wasn't that good, and they forgot my parmesian crisp. They should have left it off. It was stale and hard. Not getting that salad again.

New Tom & Eddie's just opened in Vernon Hills at 1260 S. Milwaukee Ave.

I've been in contact with the Chief Hospitality Officer of Tom and Eddie's who I got to know when I won the free meals for a year in July. I've been giving her my weekly review of how things were for my meals and overall they've been pretty average at best. I've been ordering my burger medium rare everytime (even though I probably prefer medium but I'm not picky about it) just to see if they can nail it. They can't. Every time the burger is medium well. I've told them their fries are average and they are pretty skimpy on the portion of fries for the money. I also told them they really should consider doing something different with the meat, it's good, but nothing special. Even more importantly I told her that no one will go there with me. My family, friends, co-workers all tried it and don't care much for it. I said if I owned a restaurant and heard that I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!

They had a major push for customer feedback a couple months ago which was interesting, maybe they were willing to change? Then I got an email last week telling me that they are changing the beef and are switiching to fresh cut, double fried, french fries! I don't know if it's going to be a game changer, but I hope this helps turn the corner for them. I love the location in Deerfield halfway between my office and home, so it would be nice if they became a go-to destination.

Gotta agree with the above comments. C'mon, really- two hamburgers, two drinks, two chips and you're looking at just under $30?

Ridiculously overpriced. Time and the market will determine how well this business model works in this economy.

The Monday after New Years Day we went to T & E's in Geneva for the first time in several months. The new hand cut doubled fried fries were free with a drink. We didn't buy a drink but the manager insisted I have the free fries anyway. I wasn't impressed and thought they were bland. The burger was fine, even a little rare. About an hour after we ate, I started have some stomach issues, the whole meal left me with a taste of too much grease.

Tried the Vernon Hills location and had a Bushel & A Peck burger. The Walnut spread was phenomenal, but I oddly think the taste would go better with a Medium or Medium Well burger, than the correctly cooked Medium Rare I ordered. Was surprised at the good amount of horseradish flavor in the Sweet Baby Rays Dipping Sauce I grabbed to go with my Sweet Potato Fries. Concur with the cost being higher than the value of the burger.

I've been to the Vernon Hills location a couple of times with family (my sister and her husband use the lure of eating out afterwards to get their children to go to Mass, and I find it's working for me too!). I can't comment on the burgers, but I very much enjoyed the good-sized beef hot dog, which I prefer over a burger anyway. A large communal plate of fries went over well with the teens until their sandwiches were ready (not that the wait was noticeable). The desserts--shakes, floats, sundae--were very popular with the teens as well.

One of our visits was on a weeknight (holy day of obligation), and it was quite pleasant to sit outside on the patio on a warm summer evening and enjoy a beer (some of us) or glass of wine (some of us) with an enjoyable, casual hamburger-sandwich-hot dog meal at a family-friendly location. Can't think of too many other places in the north burbs that offer that. I'll go back. I plan on trying the chicken cordon bleu sandwich and the mushroom swiss burger.

I have been to the Deerfield location and Vernon Hills in the past couple of months and had a good experience. Nice decor, atmosphere, serving pieces, etc.

Enjoyed the loosely formed burgers (great options for the burgers) and the fries were great. The prices are great compared to a recent dinner at Grange Hall, although the burgers may have been a bit better at GH (but a at a much higher price).

Just got back from the Lombard (Yorktown mall) location. 3 burgers, fries, and drinks for $24 out the door, so while not dirt cheap not as expensive as noted unthread and easily the best and friendliest service I've ever gotten at a burger place.

I got one of the specials with chipotle mayo, cheese, and fresh jalapenos - that was a mistake. The condiments were fine but the one or two bites of more or less plain burger I got told me I should have gone minimalist. The beef was rich and tasty with just a slight mineraly hint; It was a shame to cover it up. On first glance the burgers seemed small and I was feeling ripped off but they were actually pretty substantial and I left satisfied so no complaint there.

The fries unfortunately are at best a C, possibly a C- and that's a real shame.

I'd go back but I'd get a plain cheeseburger and try the house made chips.