I first heard about this place when I caught word of a ‘meat raffle’. Yes, cuts of meat on a pool table raffled to any patron: no more than a dollar for a tongue depressor with a three digit number at the top. I was left only to hope that number 148 was called so I could claim my prize. I took no bacon home but the owner saw that I received a consolation… one free VIP Drink. I ordered my Canadian Club with soda water and was on my way, knowing that I had to come back. The burgers were excellent and came with tater tots. If you’ve lived in Chicago, you’ll understand the greatness of receiving tater tots with your sandwich.
We arrived for lunch on Monday to an empty bar with no background noise except for soccer and ‘The Shining’ playing on VH1. This was a day of firsts for many reasons but two stuck with me….
- We only drank water.
- These were the best curds in town.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Presentation: 4 – Simple and to the point. White plate with appropriate sides. The curds were in a dish lined with parchment paper to soak up excessive grease.
- Breading/Batter: 3.5 – It was clear that the curds had been fried for a few minutes. Yet, it wasn’t undercooked or overdone. Not too salty either.
- Flavor: 4 – The flavor was remarkable. The taste wasn’t excessive and the balance of cheese to breading was ideal.
- Curd: 3.5 – While the curd was primarily white, the variance in size led us to believe that it was not from a bag nor a bowling alley.
- Cost: 3.5 – At $6.00, you can’t go wrong.
- Sauce: 4 – Baldwin Street Grille scored major points here. We had a legitimate ranch and a curry ranch, which was something I wanted to bottle and take home. Additionally, they had at least a dozen other sauces available including a sriracha ranch…need I say more?
Overall Rating: 3.75
So far, the best around…
Top right corner…Kate Jorgensen’s arm.
Whey In On The Curds 