613291 Sun Apr 19 17:25:28 -0700 2009 12 7 Chicago Area 0 4609800 any recommendations? Sun Apr 19 17:25:28 -0700 2009 69187 biga290 1 4610403 Give the Paramount Room at 415 N Milwaukee a shot. Sun Apr 19 22:12:15 -0700 2009 4609800 27553 gleam 1 4615946 Smith & Wollensky and Keefer's both have great burgers are are just across the river. Tue Apr 21 14:24:44 -0700 2009 4609800 57196 Original Kman 1 4622712 mortons on wacker place has one of the best in the city... Thu Apr 23 13:26:13 -0700 2009 4609800 59805 jmeitus 1 4622958 As you can tell from the two previous posts, many of our steakhouses are known for good (and relatively reasonably priced) burgers. State and Lake is the center of the biggest concentration of steakhouses in the city, with at least a dozen within a few blocks. Note that some steakhouses offer burgers only at lunchtime and/or only in the bar. To check menus, you can find links to the websites of all the major steakhouses in the steakhouse discussion at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/359377 Some of the other places known for good burgers are Boston Blackie's ( www.bostonblackies.com ), whose location on East Grand is a bit closer to State/Lake than the one in the financial district, and Park Grill ( www.parkgrillchicago.com ), which is at the entrance to Millennium Park at the east end of the Loop. Here is a link to a discussion on our best burgers, many of which are within that geographic area: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/382781 You can also read the story that the Tribune did a couple years ago about the best burgers in town, at http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/article/chicagos-best-burgers/182620/content Thu Apr 23 14:23:15 -0700 2009 4609800 55363 nsxtasy 1 4623105 Epic Burger! No doubt about it. All they do is burgers, chicken or beef. Cant beat the deal or the taste. Build your own by pickng the meat, bun and toppings. http://www.epicburger.com AND it is not a chain like most of the places mentioned. ENJOY! Thu Apr 23 15:12:08 -0700 2009 4609800 152470 renerich 2 4624621 Just don't expect to get your burger rare or medium rare at Epic. Good ffs, tho. Fri Apr 24 07:43:07 -0700 2009 4623105 10261 jbw 3 4624699 Epic does a smash technique. Places like Five Guys does it like that, too. I guess it doesn't lend itself to rare or medium rare. That said, Epic is really good at what it does. http://aht.seriouseats.com/tags/smash%20technique Fri Apr 24 08:03:35 -0700 2009 4624621 57415 rubinow 4 4627687 I'd go to SRO way before I'd ever go back to Epic. "Smash Technique" = overcooked. Try marc burger on Macy/Fields 7th floor instead. Sat Apr 25 09:03:26 -0700 2009 4624699 32885 delk 1 4624690 David Burke's 40-day dry aged burger was featured on the Trib yesterday. Has anyone had it before? Fri Apr 24 08:01:21 -0700 2009 4609800 276975 ms. chow 2 4625063 I haven't had it; hopefully, others have, and can report. In the meantime, here is additional information that may be useful to burger aficionados. Yesterday's Tribune article by Kevin Pang rated the burger at Burke's as well as at Capital Grille; you can find it on the Tribune's Metromix entertainment website at: http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/restaurant_review/burger-time-goose-island/1068763/content It appears to be part of an ongoing cheeseburger rating series, for which video versions of the reviews can be viewed on the CLTV cable network and are also being posted at: www.cheeseburgershow.com The Metromix site also is featuring burger reviews under the "Burger Time" heading by a columnist writing under the name, "the Great Burgerelli". This week, Goose Island is reviewed, and the web page also has links to other burger reviews in the series, at: http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/restaurant_review/burger-time-goose-island/1068763/content I guess the newfound emphasis on burgers is a sign of these recessionary times. Fri Apr 24 09:52:32 -0700 2009 4624690 55363 nsxtasy 1 4637201 One burger I like in the Loop is Poag Mahone's in the Insurance Exchange building ( at Wells and Jackson, just west of the Board of Trade building). The fries could use a lot of improvement, though. On Monday afternoons/evenings they are only $2.50. You don't get arrested after you leave, don't worry. Another one I tried and liked recently is at the Gage (owned by the same people who own the Grafton in Lincoln Square), which is across the street from Millennium Park. These fries are much better. The markups on the wine list are absolutely ridiculous, though. Tue Apr 28 16:23:34 -0700 2009 4609800 287007 bricap 2 4637600 Billy Lawless was one of the founding partners of the Grafton but sold his interest before starting the Gage, probably to help finance the later venture. Tue Apr 28 19:01:16 -0700 2009 4637201 11364 Eldon Kreider