« Hit me | Main | Gradumatation »
June 14, 2005
On meat
The big news about town today is that the Tribune named its five best hamburgers in Chicago. Unsurprisingly, I have never heard of most of these restaurants.
But I am apt to disagree with the rankings. I am not much of a hamburger connoiseur these days, but I do have my favorites. Those are Yak-Zies and Boston Blackie's.
I'm not going to lie, Blackie's has become sort of my unofficial "fuck it" restaurant. Because Blackie's is located just off the Mag Mile, it is a stretch for me to simply mosey down there - even though I can drive or bike there in about fifteen minutes - because the Mag Mile is basically a black hole of tourists and women from Schaumburg on shopping expeditions. But Blackie's is damned good, and I usually find myself there after a tough experience. Most recently that was after I took the LSAT and had my run-in with the Wilbonesque professor at John Marshall.
But let me tell you: that Blackie's hamburger is something extraordinary. It's tender and juicy with a powerful flavor. The toppings add to the experience. It is an excellent way to cap off a day, or for lunch. However, I do not recommend it with a hangover.
On the other hand, I have grown to love Yak-zies because it is so close to my house. I am a big fan overall of Yak-zies. Their chicken sandwich is a marvel, but the cheeseburger may well kick its ass. It possesses a lot of the same qualities that I like in Boston Blackies.
To be fair, the best hamburger I have ever had comes from Tank's, just a few blocks off the campus at dear old University of Dayton. While it is close to UD, it may as well a seperate world. The place is becoming popular with UD students, but it is just as popular with the regular Dayton folk. I used to go there to study. One glorious autumn in 2001, I engaged in a semester-long project to drink every beer on the Tanks menu, thus earning myself a shirt that says "I drank my way around the world at Tank's Bar and Grill." When I wear it, nobody has any fucking idea what it took to get it.
The titular owner of the restaurant looks exactly like a guy who calls himself Tank would look. There is also a cheeseburger which bears his name, and I almost always make it a point to stop there when I am in Dayton. It may be better than both the Blackie's and the Yak-Zies burger, but I cannot say for sure. My fondness for it must certainly be increased by Dayton nostalgia.
While those are my three personal favorites, I am certain that there are many good cheeseburgers that I have never heard about, nor will I ever. Sadly, my burger binging days are behind me. Even as I write this, I am not craving a burger. But I will surely attempt to see if I can expand my horizons one of these days.
All I can say for sure is that Chicago is a better burger town than Columbus. Do you know what finished second in Columbus' best burger poll? White Castle. White Castle!! One of my many complaints about Columbus has been that it seems to really lack any local flavor. Everything is a chain. White Castle's remarkable finish does not diminish my opinion of this.
Posted by oz115 at June 14, 2005 01:11 PM
Comments
If you want a Blackie's burger but can't stand the black hole of tourists on the Mag Mile, just travel a bit further to their outposts in the South Loop or at Canal and Monroe.
And if you happen to be coming to the Canal location for a weekday lunch, let me know and I'll meet you there. It's right by my office.
Posted by: Pete at June 15, 2005 07:07 AM
Ahhh, Tank's. What a place! What great memories of either drinking ourselves around the world or eating a delicious Tank's burger while studying for finals.
Posted by: Stat Boy at June 15, 2005 09:49 AM