Chicago trip questions

1. Revolution for the reasons mentioned. HA is right there though, and I haven't had their food.

2. West Lakeview Liquors - the place is a bit unique. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Binny's is great but impersonal if that matters.

2, second part - Hopleaf. Definitely. The beer selection is awesome, especially if you like Belgians, but they have a lot of great hoppy and local options too. They have great food too, especially the mussels and frites. They have a bib gourmand for a reason. They also have a nice little beer garden.

3. Longman & Eagle is probably my favorite restaurant in the city. It's very casual and they don't take reservations, but it's not crazy expensive even though they have a well earned Michelin star. They do have a solid tap list as well, and tons of bourbons. It's also in Logan Square, just the next Blue Line El stop up from the Revolution Brew pub.

Other food options - you can never go wrong with a Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Xoco) or Paul Kahan joint (Avec - Mediterranean style small plate wine bar, The Publican - great Belgian style beer hall that's an ode to beer, pork and oysters).

 

For wings, I suggest Jake Melnick's. Beer selection is only decent and it is downtown, but if you just want wings, their's are fantastic.

 

Go to Revolution. Especially if the focus isn't beer. I've taken many people to Rev who didn't give a shit about the beer and they were never disappointed. Yeah, and its a good call on the burger places. Try Kuma's Too or Small Cheval for some world class burgers.

 

Kuma's over Au Cheval? Alright, that's it! *throws down gauntlet*



I suppose it depends on the style burger you like, though. Kuma's is thicker, more of a pub-style burger (which I don't like).

 

I was just talking with friends about this on Sunday...if I need to get a double patty, then I can't really put a burger in the running for best burger. Au Cheval was good (I mean, it was a tasty burger), but I would never consider it a top burger. The ability of Kuma's to make such a thick burger and still maintain its juiciness and cook it correctly is awesome. I REALLY need to get there again!

 

See, I see it completely the opposite. The best part of the patty (to me) is the outside (where the scorching comes in), so double patty = twice the scorch. Totally agree that Kuma's is great for what it is (although all the weird combos are sometimes not what I'm looking for). If I recall, Bad Apple is also pretty great for a thicker burger.

The real thing that puts Au Cheval over Kuma's, for me, is the bacon, which is honestly so far above and beyond what bacon is at any other burger place, that it's not even worth calling it that.

For what it's worth, my favorite burger in the city is probably from the Butcher and the Burger (in Lincoln Park), but it's BYOB and your experience with it will relate directly to the spices you put in the meat (you choose) and the toppings you place on it.

 

Small Cheval is waaaay easier to get into and it's the same burger as Au Cheval. Something to keep in mind.

 

Small Cheval doesn't do the egg. They have couple decent taps there as well. I think Au/Small Cheval is top tier followed by Kuma's, Lockdown, Bad Apple...all are great though.

 

Bad Apple does have a very good burger. I ate there for the first time in January and remember saying to my buddies that it might be the best burger I've had outside of Kuma's.

Interesting on you liking the bacon so much...I remember thinking it wasn't that great (I think it's thick? I remember it just being all part of the mess of that burger...it was just falling apart everywhere). I guess we're just on different ends of the "burger spectrum"!

Butcher and the Burger is good, too. It's been awhile since I've been there.

 

The "bacon" at Au Cheval is actually pork belly with pepper and...maple on it, I think? Yeah, it's definitely more prone to falling apart.

 

I would add another Logan Square/near Logan Square joint" Owen & Engine. I haven't been there for a couple years, but they have the best burger I've had in the city. Better than both Kuma's and Kuma's Too, better than David Burke's, and better than Bad Apple. The beer selection is pretty solid, with two hand pumps. Great fish and chips as well.

 

4 hand pumps these days

 

Owen & Engine is another good choice, forgot about that one. I think I like it better than Kuma's, as well. And yes, they've got a good taplist generally speaking, and other good food choices should you be a heretic and forego the burger.

 

Owen & Engine does a burger, fries, beer and shot special for $16 on Tuesday's.

 

The bacon and the egg are what puts the burger over-the-top in my opinion. It takes it from good to F*ck Yeah! Pair it with a Ninja v Unicorn like I did after DLD last year and I'm sure I was making noises that made other diners at the bar uncomfortable.