Burger News: Burger Bar Menu and Burger Wars

Rain or shine, cold weather or hot, cravings for burgers in Chicago endure. Unlike braised meats or pumpkin pie or fresh blueberries, burgers are a source of comfort all year round, and we can never get enough. Feeding our insatiable lust for ground beef are a couple new burger incentives around Chicagoland, from a new burger bar menu to a burger war smack down in the 'burbs. 

 

deca
Jimmy's Burger at deca RESTAURANT + BAR



You love deca RESTAURANT + BAR for its unique, eclectic cuisine at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago. Now there's more to love with the restaurant's new burger bar menu, a temporary fixture running now through March 31. Think of it as one last comfort food hurrah before you have to think about bathing suits again. For the special new menu, the restaurant is offering five gourmet burger options, which span the spectrum from vegetarian to chicken & waffles (no joke). The cool thing about the burger menu is the fact that it was a kitchen team effort in constructing it, with several of the kitchen staff adding their own whimsical contributions to the mix. With so many offbeat options to opt for, there's definitely something for every palate. The burgers include the Chef M's Tasmanian Ocean Trout Burger with ginger, sesame, spinach, endive and arugula salad on a potato bun; Jimmy's Burger with a prime beef patty, roasted wild mushrooms, Gruyere, red wine sauce, and fried egg on a housemade English muffin, with optional seared foie gras supplements; the Double deca consists of two four-ounce patties bedecked with American cheese, bacon, "deca sauce," lettuce, pickle, and shaved onion on a potato bun; the Chicken & Waffles burger is a brunch-inspired behemoth of buttermilk fried chicken, bacon-scallion-cheddar waffle, apricot slaw, and sriracha honey; and the curried lentil veggie burger features lentils, quinoa, bulgur wheat, mirepoix, yellow curry, mint yogurt, and whole-wheat bun. All burgers come with a side of fries or a small garden salad for $15.

 

Tokio Pub
Burgers at Tokio Pub



If you prefer your burgers with a side of bloodthirsty competition, then head to Tokio Pub on March 23 for their first annual Burger Wars. Schaumburg's most innovative eatery is embracing its competitive side by welcoming chefs from local restaurants to throw down on the grill to vie for the title of "Best Burger." Competing chefs hail from the likes of Morton's, Lucky Monk, Wildfire, and Wicket's, who will go up against each other and chefs from Tokio Pub. Awards will be doled out by a panel of local judges, and attending guests get to sample each of the mini burgers, along with sides and beer pairings. Reservations are required and the event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person. 

- Matt Kirouac

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