In Re Radio

Our interview with Outside the Loop Radio is now available. Click here for a listen. Our interview starts at around 13:15.

Should we change our tagline?

We just did an interview with Outside the Loop radio, Chicago's Almost Above Ground Audio Magazine (http://www.outsidetheloopradio.com/about-us/), and it occurred to us, perhaps we should change our mission.

Chicago Lawyers (the bench now includes a non-attorney. Thank God.) Judging Chicago Burgers (We have never ordered a burger. They ALWAYS have cheese.)

What do you think, would you order a Burger without cheese? Let's be serious here, assume for those of you who cannot eat cheese, that you could. Would you ever order a plain burger?

A Brief Diversion

What do we talk about over burgers, when we're not rating them? Important things. Very important things.

Burger Bar -- The Verdict

Wowee! "Can't talk. Eating." Everyone absolutely loved this place. "It was like eating a burger for the first time." Wonderful flavor; perfectly sized; cooked to perfection; and served on a tasty, well-sized, absorbent roll. "I can't remember ever being so happy after finishing a burger." "Every last morsel was superb." All other burger bars -- you're on notice! Low of 87 (the highest low!); high of 98 (the highest high!). Average of 94.4, and worth every decimal.

Exhibit 14 -- Burger Bar Chicago

Harry Caray's -- The Verdict

Well, the reviews didn't contain the kindest adjectives. Over-cooked. Under-flavored. Forgettable. One order went wrong in at least four different ways (wrong temperature, wrong preparation, wrong cheese, unrequested mushrooms). While the pretzel bun was of right size and of excellent absorption quality, it was a bit on the dry side. Maybe a day too old? Similarly, the beef, while serviceable, lacked -- wait for it -- flavor. The service seemed both too slow and yet the whole lunch was over surprisingly fast. Did time stop? Or did we just lose the will to tell time? We may never know. We all liked the bacon, though. Verdict range between a low of 50 (two of 'em) and a high of 70. Average: 61.

P.S. We appreciate the attentive after-the-fact inquiry from HC management. Maybe we'll give you another try.

Exhibit 13 -- Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse & Bar

With summer over and just a hint of Fall in the air, a young man's fancy turns to thoughts of meat. It was good to get the band back together, and return to a rich, fatty, bovine experience.

Summer Vacation

The Burger Blog is on summer vacation. New reviews in the Fall.

Marc Burger -- The Verdict

Few dollars and many napkins are required for this celebrity chef's quick-service location on the seventh floor of Marshall Field's, er, Macy's. Everyone loved the friendly counter service, yummy fries, and delicious shakes. Two ketchup options was a nice touch. We also agreed that the $8.50 price point, including fries, is good value for the money. Lastly, regardless of burger variation, we all found the burger fairly sloppy in terms of handling. There was a fair amount of variation in the burger flavor evaluation, however: from delicious to "not terribly memorable," depending on the reviewer. Expect a good sized patty, served medium well, and a fairly complicated taste palate on top. Our buffalo burger taster preferred the bovine basic. Low of 66; High of 85; Average of 77.

Exhibit 12 -- Marc Burger

M Burger -- The Verdict

M Burger's mere existence is a study in chutzpah. Allow us to submit some evidence: (a) it's a burger joint running out of the same kitchen as TRU, one of Chicago's ritziest culinary destinations; (b) it's a lunch hotspot a stone's throw from Louis Vuitton and Burberry where you can pay with a tenspot and get change back; (c) they provide outdoor seating where you can scarf down your burger, fries and milkshake literally in the shadow of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (b.y.o. Lipitor); and (d) there are several delicious creations that are intentionally left off the menu, which you can only discover through word of mouth. The nerve! The good news is that they back it up with a heck of a burger. We went for doubles all around, and both the M Burger and the Hurt Burger (not on the menu, your choice of spice level: bbq sauce, sliced jalapenos, green chilies or all three) scored very well. Our reviewers universally praised the fresh flavor of the beef and toppings as well as the top notch fries and shakes (the butterscotch shake, also unlisted, is a must). Some were disappointed with the "thin, fluffy bun," but overall the scores were still high enough to just beat out recent favorite Epic. Low of 78, high of 90 (twice!), average score: 84.

Exhibit 11 -- M Burger

Epic Burger -- The Verdict

Question: Can a mid-price-range, quick-service burger compete with the tres cher big boys? Answer: Yes, if the burger is built with quality ingredients; delivered to your table with fast, accurate, and unobtrusive service; and offered in a comfortable, clean environment. While you won't be able to request rare, medium, or well done, there are ample choices of topping and combo options, carefully explained as part of the order-at-the-counter-bring-to-the-table regime. Some found the loaded burgers hard to handle and a little sloppy, but it was hard to come up with other criticisms. Nice details, like table-ready organic ketchup and quality mustard, biodegradable tableware, and a twitter-friendly flat screen, reflect effort to stand out from the crowd. Great fries and rich, yummy shakes too. Well done, Epic. Low of 79; high of 86; average of 82.

All Natural Epic Burger -- $5.99

Exhibit 10 - Epic Burger

The Capital Grille -- The Verdict

Wrote one reviewer: "The burger was a knockout. The only big deductions were on ancillary points --> ambiance (GOP convention, anyone?) and value (duh). The beef was fantastic, loved the broiled cheese and the presentation, and the server was a treat." We pretty much all agreed, and at least one of our members is anxiously awaiting the next GOP convention. We very much liked the salty, smokey, bacon-y flavor. Great onion roll bun. The broiled cheese led another reviewer to compare it to a meaty pizza. Was there chicken stock in the burger? -- 'cause it was very juicy. Again, the service was terrific. If there's an expense account available and a carnivore to impress, this would be a great place to exercise it. With an average 87, we have a new leader.

The Grille's Signature Cheeseburger with Truffle Fries -- $16