Boston Blackies

(312) 938-8700

164 E Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60611 41.8918 -87.6235

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Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central

bostonblackies.com/

Price:

$

Last updated 8.08.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Carte Blanche, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Business Dining, Dine At The Bar

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, Traditional American

Smoking Permitted:

At the bar

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Boston Blackies

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Customized 1950s B-movie-esque posters line the walls at this dark, classy hamburger restaurant just off Michigan Avenue. Suits and in-the-know visitors make tracks here for the half-pound burger, topped only with basics like onions, cheese and bacon. Service is efficient and brisk, with an emphasis on getting hurried customers in and out quickly.

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Make for the booths along the wall--they have their own sconces, and you won't have people bumping into you in Blackie's narrow space.
ambiance
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. “The service at the Deerfield location was good but the food wasn't.”
  2. “The best hamburger i have ever had in chicago ~ comfortable atmosphere ~ frequented the one on grand an St. Clair ~ pretty sure thats the address”
  3. “Overpriced burgers in a bar atmosphere.”
  4. “Great food, drinks, and atmosphere at a very reasonable price.”
  5. “Friendly staff and good ambience.”
  6. “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-”
  7. “The atmosphere is nice, with a retro movie-themed lounge feel.”
  8. “The waitress was very rude, the atmosphere was horrible.”
  9. “Fast and delicious food for casual atmosphere.”
  10. “The location is perfect because you are only two blocks from the movie theater on illinois and a block away from the shops on michigan ave. The burger was delicious, cooked exactly the way wanted it.”
  11. “The atmosphere is great and the service is more than adequate.”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “Overpriced burgers in a bar atmosphere.”
  2. “This neighborhood styled bar and restaurant is unique in that most of the sounding establishments are significantly more upscaled and trendy.”
  3. “The place seems like a nice, friendly bar (I don't drink), not too dark, not too loud.”
  4. “An excellent place to drink, dine, or meet.”
  5. “Great food, drinks, and atmosphere at a very reasonable price.”
  6. “The service is fast and efficient and the food portions and bar portions are more than adequate.”
food quality
88.78999710083008% positive
  1. “french fries ARE GREAT!”
  2. “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.”
  3. “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-”
  4. “This HAS TO BE the most incredible burger that has ever touched my mouth.”
  5. “Get great burgers and fast service.”
  6. “profess that a Blackie's Burger is the most delectable and delicious burger that will ever enter your mouth.”
  7. “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.”
  8. “Fast and delicious food for casual atmosphere.”
  9. “Great food, drinks, and atmosphere at a very reasonable price.”
  10. “chef friend in Chicago suggested I go to Boston Blackies for a good burger.”
  11. “Blackie's is the best for burgers!”
  12. “opted to get a side salad instead of the fries and the salad dressing was wonderful.”
  13. “The burgers here are outstanding - and who would've thought that we could order it from the hotel (we were staying at the Conrad Hilton, around the corner), walk down and pick it up immediately after hanging up the phone - it was ready when we arrived.”
  14. “Hands down the best burger I've had in all my years (and I was with someone who's been in upscale food & beverage for almost all of his life - he recommended it).”
  15. “think the food here is really good, especially if you just want a good, solid burger for lunch.”
  16. “the food is THAT good.”
  17. “The buffalo wings were great.”
  18. “Go to Corcorans on Lincoln for a damn good burger.”
  19. “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.”
  20. “But they do not serve the best burger in Chicago.”
  21. “Anyone who visits Chicago should definitely stop and have the best burger in the nation!”
  22. “best burgers in town”
  23. “Yes, you can go to TRU or wherever, but if you are really in the mood for a burger, try this place, especially if you think you've already had the best burger in the world.”
  24. “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.”
  25. “Another house favorite are the potato skins.”
  26. “added a little mustard and ketchup for my perfect burger.”
  27. “GREAT burgers, just off Michigan Avenue”
  28. “There is an eruption of flavorful juices as your teeth freely sink through the fresh bun and into the most majestic piece of beef that has ever been consumed.”
  29. “Damn, that's a good burger!”
  30. “From the Cole Slaw that is only rivaled by Grandmother's to the phenomenal french fries you'll enjoy every morsel of food that is served.”
  31. “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.”
  32. “Fantastic onion rings!”
  33. “outrageously delicious Carson's cole slaw," which is indeed a great complement to the burger.”
  34. “Eh - I wasn't amazed by the food, it's not the best but it hits the spot for a random burger craving.”
  35. “food came quickly and was the best meal i had in the USA, juicy, favourful, and the coleslaw was to die for!”
  36. “The service is fast and efficient and the food portions and bar portions are more than adequate.”
  37. “Back when this restaurant first open it was the best burger in town.”
  38. “The location is perfect because you are only two blocks from the movie theater on illinois and a block away from the shops on michigan ave. The burger was delicious, cooked exactly the way wanted it.”
  39. “it doesn't look fresh, looks like a scarey frozen burger that's just tasteless and has an awful consistency.”
  40. “The service at the Deerfield location was good but the food wasn't.”
  41. “Perfect "huge " and very good side dishes.”
  42. “If you are a light weight you can split one and get a big order of onion rings to top off the meal.”
  43. “Great food at a reasonable price.”
  44. “decent food not worth incredibly rude service”
  45. “So let's talk burgers: Boston Blackies had great burgers.”
  46. “The bun was tasty and the meat seemed quality, but the tast was average and the toppings were bland.”
  47. “Too many nicer restaurants in Chicago to waste your time at this depressing burger joint.”
  48. “believe this is the best burger in town.”
  49. “I've tried all the "recommended" burger places and this is by far the best!”
  50. “Just an overpriced burger joint.”
  51. “Overpriced burgers in a bar atmosphere.”
  52. “They have the best burgers in town in my opinion and their onion rings, well, they are just awesome!”
  53. “Last note: the fries weren't very good (tasted like something you'd buy & bake from a frozen section at your local grocery store)”
  54. “best burgers in town!”
  55. “was served after 11 pm and the food was great.”
  56. “They are a great value and are nicely complimented with the house BBQ sauce and side of their wonderful coleslaw.”
  57. “The fries were great as well.”
menu variety
75.0% positive
  1. “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.”
  2. “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.”
  3. “great menu with killer sid.”
  4. “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”
overall
66.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Last note: the fries weren't very good (tasted like something you'd buy & bake from a frozen section at your local grocery store)”
  2. “have always heard great things about Boston Blackies, but I didn't realize how great this place was until last Friday.”
  3. “If you disagree that this is the best place for a hamburger then you have no idea what a good hamburger is!”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “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-”
service
78.13000202178955% positive
  1. “decent food not worth incredibly rude service”
  2. “Get great burgers and fast service.”
  3. “the second time we went, we were greated by a friendly WAVE, from our last waiter, and it was nice to be actually recognised even tho we were in another country.”
  4. “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.”
  5. “The hostess is a little haggard, but probably because there's such fast turnover!”
  6. “The service is fast and efficient and the food portions and bar portions are more than adequate.”
  7. “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.”
  8. “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”
  9. “The service at the Deerfield location was good but the food wasn't.”
  10. “The waitress was very rude, the atmosphere was horrible.”
  11. “The place seems like a nice, friendly bar (I don't drink), not too dark, not too loud.”
  12. “Friendly staff and good ambience.”
  13. “Very friendly staff, VERY VERY good hamburger.”
  14. “The atmosphere is great and the service is more than adequate.”
  15. “Rude service”
value
80.0% positive
  1. “the prices are very very affordable!”
  2. “Perfect "huge " and very good side dishes.”
  3. “wish we'd eaten it in-house because the place is so inviting - dark woods, almost appears as if it'd be an expensive steakhouse.”
  4. “decent food not worth incredibly rude service”
  5. “Just an overpriced burger joint.”
  6. “Great food at a reasonable price.”
  7. “The service is fast and efficient and the food portions and bar portions are more than adequate.”
  8. “Great food, drinks, and atmosphere at a very reasonable price.”
  9. “They are a great value and are nicely complimented with the house BBQ sauce and side of their wonderful coleslaw.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “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”
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/10/09

Burger?

by pasw at Citysearch

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.

3 Star Rating: Average

01/17/09

A Bit of a Let-Down

by brucehanderson at Citysearch

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.

  • Pros: Ambience
  • Cons: Service, buns
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/21/08

decent food not worth incredibly rude service

by suburbgal at Citysearch

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.

  • Pros: food comes quickly
  • Cons: you'd better be able to order off the menu, no questions asked
4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/22/08

Good Burgers, Not Great, but Good Enough

by nolachitown at Citysearch

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.

  • Pros: movie theater around the corner, easy to walk to from hotels in the Gold Coast area
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/14/08

GREAT burgers, just off Michigan Avenue

by BurgerDaddy at Citysearch

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

The Details on Boston Blackies

Place Categories:

  • best solid burger
  • great food
  • fast service
  • best place
  • great atmosphere
  • affordable boston blackie
  • very affordable price
  • overpriced frozen burger
  • full bun
  • best meal
  • nice friendly bar
  • not great good burgers
  • overpriced burger joint
  • fantastic onion
  • great french fries
  • favorite garbage salad
  • best basic burgers
  • great value
  • best buger
  • best eh
  • not very good fries
  • tasteless limp
  • friendly staff
  • big order
  • good hamburger
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