Do they play the orchestral version of Metallica there?

Pie Lady wrote:Do they play the orchestral version of Metallica there?

Kidz Bop version

Pie Lady wrote:Do they play the orchestral version of Metallica there?

I'm somewhat local and have been here several times - it's lots of mainstream metal and I've heard people complain about the music being too loud just about every time I have been there. In my opinion, it is not loud at all - I have been able to hold a conversation a table of six without yelling.

On a recent lunch visit, the only music played the entire time was Locrian - not really metal, ambient drone if anything....and I still heard someone complain. They seem to do good business but I'm curious how long the "loud" metal thing is going to last in Schaumburg.

chrisch wrote:They seem to do good business but I'm curious how long the "loud" metal thing is going to last in Schaumburg.

It will be an interesting test of Kuma's "ethos." Their thing has always been, "We do things the way we do them, and f*ck you if you can't take a joke." It works for them, but only because they have a clientele that digs that particular ethos. If faced with a clientele who doesn't dig it, to the point that it's bad for business, will they compromise their loud metal integrity?

I had lunch at the new location a few weeks ago. We sat outside. I don't believe there is any music played on the patio at the original location (but I could be wrong). The burgers were exactly the same as the original, so don't worry about the food. The atmosphere is like Joel said - could be a sports bar anywhere. It was slightly annoying seeing families with kids here though, kind of ruins the mood (I prefer a kid free environment at most places I eat). I've never seen any kids at the original. The music was a little "light" as they played a bunch of Led Zeppelin, which would never ever get played at Kuma's. I think that alone shows they are softening things for the suburbanites and their kids. Personally, I don't care for the music they play, I just want the burgers.

I think they dumped grown-ups with a gaggle of kidlets this evening when I landed at the original on Belmont. It was about 5pm.

There is now a huge new luxury apartment rental due east of Kuma’s. It felt weird seeing the changes to the area.

I had the Converge. It has vegan garlic mayo, tomato jam, a vegan pretzel bun (I thought the standard was they were vegan, but I guess a lot of folks add an egg/milk/butter wash to brown bread) with the Impossible Burger for an upcharge.

That makes it more expensive with a lower weight of protein versus any of their animal burgers. Still it was more than enough food.

As described on the menu:

6oz Impossible Burger, Cherry Tomato Jam, Avocado Mash, Cheddar (v), Roasted Garlic Mayo (v), Baby Arugula, Red Onion

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf65W5fBObv ... pairs4life

pairs4life wrote:I think they dumped grown-ups with a gaggle of kidlets this evening when I landed. It was about 5pm.

Not sure what this means. (Might be restaurant slang I'm unfamiliar with.) Who is the "they" in the sentence? The restaurant? Or someone who drove up and dropped off the grownups and kidlets at the door? If it was the restaurant, does "dumping" mean the restaurant sat the party, or turned them away? Or does the sentence mean that some unknown force was responsible for an ungodly number of grownups with kids showing up at the same time?

(Not complaining about the lack of clarity, since I may be the only one who's confused. Just seeking clarity. Thanks.)

riddlemay wrote:

pairs4life wrote:I think they dumped grown-ups with a gaggle of kidlets this evening when I landed. It was about 5pm.

Not sure what this means. (Might be restaurant slang I'm unfamiliar with.) Who is the "they" in the sentence? The restaurant? Or someone who drove up and dropped off the grownups and kidlets at the door? If it was the restaurant, does "dumping" mean the restaurant sat the party, or turned them away? Or does the sentence mean that some unknown force was responsible for an ungodly number of grownups with kids showing up at the same time?

(Not complaining about the lack of clarity, since I may be the only one who's confused. Just seeking clarity. Thanks.)

Adults w/ kids were turned away. I apparently sat next to their grown-up friends who remained.

pairs4life wrote:Adults w/ kids were turned away.

Good to hear.

Ram4 wrote:

pairs4life wrote:Adults w/ kids were turned away.

Good to hear.

LOL, I guess those kids could really disrupt the deafening music.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Ram4 wrote:

pairs4life wrote:Adults w/ kids were turned away.

Good to hear.

LOL, I guess those kids could really disrupt the deafening music.

=R=

The music was low enough that I could hear the convo of the folks next to me at the bar. I am confident it was lower than I recall from my last visit.

pairs4life wrote:The music was low enough that I could hear the convo of the folks next to me at the bar. I am confident it was lower than I recall from my last visit.

=R=

it's been lower for a while now.

Chitown B wrote:it's been lower for a while now.

Thanks for confirming. I don’t go frequently because getting a group in is hard and the sound level. I am confident it has been more than a year since my last visit. I will go more frequently now.

Last summer the west loop outpost seemed to be one of the more kid-friendly places in the area. Loud enough to not bother people, family friendly fare....maybe the videos were a bit much, but it was a nice option for lunch or an early dinner. Probably (definitely?) not what they had in mind, but that location seemed more sanitized/cookie cutter than the original.

Cheers,

Chico

Wow, this is so un-metal it hurts.

I exclusively refer to the West Loop Kuma's as the Black Album Kuma's.

does that make schaumburg the reload kumas?

And Kuma's Indy is goddamn Lulu

AlekH wrote:does that make schaumburg the reload kumas?

I would say St. Anger but the food was great when I've had it. But as far as the location - yes - Reload or St. Anger for sure.
Kuma's being kid friendly?

AlekH wrote:does that make schaumburg the reload kumas?

LOL. That's my Kuma's now as I moved to Des Plaines.

Kuma’s Is Closing Its Lincoln Park/Lakeview Burger Bar

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/6/14/174 ... restaurant

Dave148 wrote:

Kuma’s Is Closing Its Lincoln Park/Lakeview Burger Bar

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/6/14/174 ... restaurant

I was there a few months ago for lunch (admittedly during the week) and it was nearly empty.

Dave148 wrote:

Kuma’s Is Closing Its Lincoln Park/Lakeview Burger Bar

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/6/14/174 ... restaurant

it was never super busy - we always used to order from there for takeout because it was easier to park and faster. still, surprising.

I went to the new Kuma's in Vernon Hills a couple of times. I think the pretzel bun burger thing is over for me. Burgers were very good but I just don't have any desire to go there anymore with the loud music (and I'm a guitar player). However I won a $50 gift card to Kuma's so I guess I'm going back again!

Chitown B wrote:Would like the waffle fries back though

Bland frozen waffle fries over fresh cut fries? I love fries, I can eat them all day. Even frozen food service fries can be great with the right oil. But my least favorite kind of fries are waffle fries. There is nothing I have done to make them any better. I don't mind the ones that have that curly fries coating; at least those have some flavor and crispiness. I was happy to see years ago when Kuma's said waffle fries will never return to their menu. What is the appeal to you?

I like the shape/texture. How do you know they were frozen? I assumed they were never coming back because they were a pain in the ass to make by hand. Their regular fries are usually pretty soggy but waffle fries are almost always crisp. Frozen fries are always better because of how water works. You par-fry them at a lower temp, then you freeze them, then you fry them for a shorter time at a higher temp. That's how I make them by hand at home. Just ask Alton Brown.