Chicago
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Boston Blackies
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“Friendly staff and good ambience.”
“An excellent place to drink, dine, or meet.”
“Perfect "huge " and very good side dishes.”
“great menu with killer sid.”
“Last note: the fries weren't very good (tasted like something you'd buy & bake from a frozen section at your local grocery store)”
“Gus,the affable host demonstrates the mood of his place--as a michigan resident ,Blackies is always on my list to visit--which is often---food is terrific and the casual atmosphere is first class-drop bye-you are sure to return-”
“The hostess is a little haggard, but probably because there's such fast turnover!”
“The service is fast and efficient and the food portions and bar portions are more than adequate.”
“The menu at Boston Blackies says, "The main ingredient in cooking is love," and while I can't speak for the cook, I can say that I love places where the waitress calls me "hon." I got great service, although the waitress was so quick I wasn't ever able to”View Less
Burger?. Back when this restaurant first open it was the best burger in town. Now not so much. The quality of the burger has changed in a not so good way. It does not taste fresh anymore. The last several visit it was inedible in a really bad way.…
A Bit of a Let-Down. A chef friend in Chicago suggested I go to Boston Blackies for a good burger. On one visit in the past I was out-voted and had to go elsewhere, but this last visit I was on my own. The place seems like a nice, friendly bar (I don't drink), not too dark, not too loud. I was really looking forward to a burger. The let-down was in the bun. What I got was a store-bought, run-of-the-mill, light, tasteless, limp. I once worked in a restaurant where we baked our own buns, and they really make a difference in the burger experience. Maybe I should have asked for the Kaiser roll, but the wait staff was not good about offering options, and weren't that attentive anyway. The atmosphere was pleasant enough, but as for the food, there are national chains that offer a better experience.…
decent food not worth incredibly rude service.
I will admit, I used to love Boston Blackie's. A few years ago, I might have posted one of those great reviews you'll see here. That all changed for me this past weekend.
Since my last visit to BBs, I have developed a severe food allergy (but a very manageable one with slight recipe alterations). So when I eat out, I always have to ask about the ingredients, just to make sure I can eat an item as-is. Everyone has always been accommodating, except the waitress at Boston Blackie's. She refused to check for me, and after I pressed her about it, she walked away, completely annoyed that I had asked her to do any work. When she returned, she told me there was "no way to tell, and the chef doesn't know" and that I should "just order a salad."
My party and I decided to leave, but I felt incredibly embarrassed that we had to go because of me. I have never, ever, ever had a waitress refuse to even ASK about the ingredients in the food. From fast food to fancy, everyone has always been nice about it, except Boston Blackie's.
So I guess bottom line, Boston Blackie's will cook you a decent burger and bring it to you fast, but you'd better not ask any questions about the menu, because even the chefs don't know what is in their food.
I have a note in to their management and will let you all know if they respond.…
Good Burgers, Not Great, but Good Enough. Eh - I wasn't amazed by the food, it's not the best but it hits the spot for a random burger craving. The service is friendly, but you really have to ask for your food to be out fast otherwise they'll take their time with it. I'd go back, just not on the night that a movie opens at the AMC around the corner - it's way too crowded.…
GREAT burgers, just off Michigan Avenue.
Ah, Boston Blackies. I haven't been there in years, but it all came back to me in a flood of memories of some of the best basic burgers I've had.
Except for the smoke. Chicago bars and restaurants are no -- thank goodness -- smokefree, meaning you can enjoy the flavors even more without ending the evening with the smell of ashtray on your clothes.
So let's talk burgers: Boston Blackies had great burgers. They come in a half-pound patty ("over half pound" according to the menu, and I'm not going to quibble) and for an unadorned burger they're hard to beat. The well-formed patties came hot off the grill with melted cheddar (American, Swiss and blue also available) on top, with just the right amount of salt and a touch of ground pepper to make them tasty and absolutely mouthwatering.
The menu at Boston Blackies says, "The main ingredient in cooking is love," and while I can't speak for the cook, I can say that I love places where the waitress calls me "hon." I got great service, although the waitress was so quick I wasn't ever able to catch her name. She was a sweetheart, though.
What else do you need to know. The burgers come open faced on either sesame bun or kaiser roll, and are severed with the obligatory (flavorless) tomato slice, (uninteresting) lettuce leaf and (slightly better than average) dill pickle spear. And, of course, they're always served with a scoop of
outrageously delicious Carson's cole slaw," which is indeed a great complement to the burger.
But the burger really sells it. If you're in Chicago take a one-block walk off of Michigan Avenue, just east of Nordstrom's (you'll have to walk down the stairs off the street to lower Grand) and enjoy one of the best basic burgers you'll find in Chicago.
Burger Daddy
burgerdaddyblog…
