Local 22 - River North burgers & sports bar [The Local]

Apres-concert (Jackson Browne w/ Sara Watkins), we were looking for a quick bite between our usual cheap parking (Rush & Illinois - $12 evening rate) and the Chicago Theater, and decided to try "Local 22" or as it says on their website, "Blue Frog's Local 22" (although I didn't notice "Blue Frog" anywhere in the resto itself).

Burgers aren't outrageous in price ($10-13 without sides, which are $1-$3 extra from fries to onion rings, I had $2 tots which were nothing special, but generous), but many are outrageous in contents, with many of them stuffed with another meat (polish sausage, corned beef or this month's special, bratwurst). I went with the basic "Local 22 Burger" with gruyere and Local sauce (which the waitress said was "kind of a marmalade sauce." "Maybe Remoulade?" "Yeah, that's it" ) Medium-rare came as ordered, and the burger is very juicy and flavorful. I pulled out the tomato -- it was reasonably red for late October, but the fridge-coldness just overwhelmed the rest of the burger. Nicely crusted, good beefiness, squishy but hearty bun.

Sue had a "Michigan Avenue Grilled Cheese" (Brie, Sage Derby and Abergele), which was very tasty, with the soup of the day, which was shrimp and sausage gumbo. I thought the gumbo was kind of weak, no depth of flavor, just veggie soup with sausage.

Ambience is loud sports bar. Don't expect a conversation. The waitress was difficult to hear. I'd go back for a similar quick bite, but it's not destination eating.

Blue Frog's Local 22
22 E Hubbard St
Chicago IL, 60611
P: 312.527.1200
F: 312.527.1242
http://WWW.LOCAL22CHICAGO.COM

JoelF wrote:Local sauce (which the waitress said was "kind of a marmalade sauce." "Maybe Remoulade?" "Yeah, that's it" )

Banner quotation!

I saw the TV show Bar Rescue (Spike's equivalent of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares) when it featured this bar/restaurant. Based upon what I saw on the show there would be no reason to go to this place unless like the OP you were looking for something quick and cheap (although that still isn't enough reason to get me into this place).