Who doesn't love a farm to table restaurant? We have been meaning to come try this newer restaurant for weeks and am so glad to finally make our way over. Tucked away from the main street but packs a mean punch. It is street parking mostly, but there is also a parking lot not to far away that's paid parking. When you walk in it's a clean and modern decorated restaurant. It is bright and cozy all at the same time. We had the best service who was extra attentive esp since we had a little who was making a mess but she interacted with our little with a smile and offered extra things to make sure that all of us had everything we needed to enjoy our experience. The menu is broken down in to four sections and we were recommend 4-5 plates as they are share plates for 2 people. The plates came out in the order of the menu and as they were prepared. To start under the for the table we got the ricotta, honey and hazelnut plate and it came with their warm baked breads which were a ficoccia and a pita both were delicious. The presentation was also simple and stunning! They came by and offer us more bread even before we finished our first plate's worth which we were super grateful for. Under vegetable, we tried the peach salad and the broccoli. I didn't get to the broccoli because I was enjoying the peach salad far too much but my husband was raving about the char and flavors on broccoli. Now on to the peach salad, so simple, yet what a beautiful and refreshing plate! It wasn't too citrusy or cheesy, and the breadcrumbs on the peach slices were incredible! Under water and land, we tried the pappardelle bolognese, and the striploin. The pappardelle was delish, the pasta was cooked just right and there was just the right amount of bolognse that you could scoop and enjoy some with every bite without overpowering the freshness of the noodles. The striploin was the one dish that I was a bit disappointed and that doesn't mean it wasn't flavorful or delcious by any means. I think for a $95 plate, I was expecting some coheisiveness. We got two plates, one with the striploin itself with came with squad blossoms on top that were prepared 2 different ways, both were delciious. I was shocked they didn't ask us what temp we wanted our steak, some parts of it came out a bit too rare but at this point we were starting to get pretty full so we ate the parts that were just right, and took the rest home to cook up just a bit more so it worked out. Then the second part of the plate was the pommes dauphine, usually when I read this, I expect a piped potato of some kind and we did get that, in a more whimsicle way in the form that was a play on a funnel cake. Super creative, it had great texture but it was rather sweet. And a bit hard to eat. It didn't feel like it belonged with the steak and we felt it could've use a sauce or soemthing to tie the two together? Not sure what exactly it needed but it needed something to tie the plates together. Nonetheless, we had a great time, the food was delciious and with a rotating menu we are excited to come back and try out other dishes soon. read more

Came here for a special occasion and made reservations in advance. We got a great seat on the inside that actually was right by the windows are open French doors to the patio area so it was great to be able to see outside but sit inside and enjoy the air conditioning. The food here is absolutely innovative and creative and delicious. I have heard so many good things about this place and I'm so glad that we chose to come here, especially for a good special occasion. Everything is family style for the most part which is great and the place got totally packed and full early, including the patio. While I would come back definitely for the food, I do have to know that for this particular location at this price point I definitely expected better service. Especially because the table right next to us had the same server, but she had a lot more enthusiasm for the other table. I do not want to go into details about all of the oversight and mishaps that happened during this meal, however really to highlight the strength of this restaurant and I hope they become a true neighborhood staple. read more

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If you live or are traveling to Chicago, travel north to Evanston. @burlevanston is worth the drive. The the whole experience is wonderful. The decor is refined, comfortable and warm. The service is excellent. You will not need for anything and then you have the food!! The food is clean, bright flavors highlighting the quality of the farm fresh ingredients. We had a group of 6 and we had basically ate the whole menu. Come in ready to share so you can try more things. I would get everything we had again! My don't misses if they are on the menu in some version are the white bean hummus, chicken liver pate, all the vegetables, the bolognese and the lamb. The white bean hummus is silk, enough said. Then they added garlic scapes, everyday yes. The chicken liver pate was some of the best I have had. It tasted like liver in the best way. Sometimes chef add too much butter and cream to hide the liver taste. The quality of the liver they use can be tasted. Vegetables - we had turnips, cabbage, and carrots. They are all humble vegetables that are cooked and presented to make them superstars. The bolognese is what all Bologneses should taste like. The lamb is from a farm outside of Pontiac IL. This is a shareable piece of meat because it is rich and fatty. Thank you @tomccarlin and staff for a wonderful meal and evening. read more

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All of the dishes are satisfying and memorable. Service it top rate. Ambiance is pleasant. Save room for desert. read more

A wonderful dining experience and the service was 10/10. The food was delicious (had the roast chicken and cobbler dessert) and enjoyed everything. Burl has artisanal style and farm-to-table cuisine -- so well done. One of the best restaurants in Chicago. We'll be back. read more

Burl - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Excellent addition to Evanston's restaurant scene! We were so impressed all around. It's a beautiful space with great service, solid drinks, and delicious food. We came in for brunch and immediately knew we had to come back for dinner. Even my husband, a former executive chef, was blown away by the quality of the ingredients and spot on execution. And the welcoming casual vibe was exactly what we were looking for. Can't wait to go back read more

I've eaten at a lot of amazing restaurants including farm to table and Burl does not disappoint. We had by far one of the best meals we've had in a long time. Every single dish was delicious! Our sever was great and the restaurant itself is beautiful! And I can tell you that on a Friday night it wasn't loud at all. read more

What a busy, crowded, noisy place! Clearly popular, but over-crowded, with tables that are too close together. For a restaurant at this price point, I left a bit disappointed, sadly. Cuisine: 3 stars - My meal was okay, but did not wow me. You know that moment when a dish arrives and is a feast for the eyes and when it hits your palate, you melt and think "wow." That didn't happen. Service: 3 stars - The service was just okay. Don't expect your server to swing by to top off your glass of wine. Indeed, good luck catching your server's eye to remind him that you have waited 15 minutes for your wine to be brought to the table. Ambiance: 3 stars - The design is very nice; modern. But no table cloths here; crowded, and remarkably noisy. There is nothing appealing in a roomful of people shouting at one another. Price: Pricey, for what it is. read more

Ended a beautiful afternoon on the Central street corridor of Evanston by having an early dinner at Burl. We were not disappointed. The warm, modern ambiance was as embracing as the friendly staff. Nate, the waiter, was superb in explaining the process at Burl. Service was excellent. Our water glasses were never empty and they subtly switched my wife's glass to fluted for her complimentary sparkling water. The Lamborghini Tractor cocktail (tequila/mezcal) was well-balanced. My wife found the gin drink too sweet so they effortlessly changed it to a perfect gin martini. The fresh baked bread was delicious as was the baked cabbage. The half chicken lived up to the hype and the summer crumble skillet with a generous scoop of ice cream was incredible. Our early dinner had positive energy and we always could carry a conversation as the restaurant reached full capacity. We will definitely be back and will bring friends next time. read more

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Tried Burl last night and now hope to become a regular as it's in our neighborhood. We felt kind of like we were at "The Bear." Service was so excellent and special. The chicken liver mousse was the best I've ever had. My husband said it was the best roast chicken dish he's ever had. The crispy salad was the bees knees. That buttermilk dressing was to die for. My trout and the white bean hummus also very good! The only thing I would change is adding in a burger to the menu and adding a side of fries or the crunchy potatoes that were on the chicken dish- but that's just bc I'm me and I love those things. Can't wait to go back and sit at the beautiful little bar! read more

Food was good, came out quickly and was tasty; our server was pleasant, efficient and attentive. However, all of that was overshadowed by the noise level in the dining room. We went to Burl to have a pleasant, relaxing meal. My dining partner and I were literally shouting at each other to have a conversation. We skipped dessert so that we could escape the din! Write ups going back to early spring on several review sites mention the restaurant's deafening noise level. Since the problem is known, why don't the owners do something to fix it? read more

Excellent cuisine! Wonderful service! A great dining experience! Everything was perfect and lovely. Very attentive wait staff! read more

Loud and too close to other patrons..My friend and I did enjoy our meal....was a bit concerned initially about the very few choices..but pleasantly surprised read more

Burl - New American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The food is impressive. Flavors are vibrant and the ingredients are super high quality. However, until they figure out the noise situation, it will hinder the experience almost entirely. Our service also left a bit to be desired. read more

This is a nice restaurant, though I wouldn't say the food is amazing. The service was nice enough, but we were hoping to be wowed by the food and it never quite reached that point. I thought the reviews about it being loud were just being dramatic, but it actually IS incredibly loud in the restaurant. I was at a two person table with my partner and we could barely hear each other. read more

Amazing food and lovely service. Beautiful way to celebrate an anniversary. :) I see the other comments about it being loud. Yes, it was- but not overwhelming so. My kids make fun of me all the time for not being able to hear things, but my wife and I were AOK. I can imagine with a large group it would be hard to talk across a larger table. read more

Went for brunch and was very underwhelmed. The monkey bread was very good. We ordered the avocado toast which was a huge portion and tasty. My son ordered the pancakes and were burnt. The waiter said he would bring out another pancake which came out after our meal was done. My other son ordered the Dutch baby - which was so small. For $16 dollars you can get a plate size Dutch baby at walker brothers. This was the size of a small, small skillet. We thought it was a joke at first. My husband ordered the sourdough French toast which they were out of French toast so they brought him multi grain. We also ordered the herb roasted potatoes, which were just French fries. Just a mediocre brunch experience. read more

Very aesthetically attractive - varied menu! We had the eggplant dip was outstanding. Charred carrots and corn appetizer- I had the trout was so yummy. They have a wood fire oven. Open kitchen. Take reservations and honor them! We will be back. High quality food with interesting flavorful combinations read more

The decor is nice, but it gets too loud for conversation when it gets busy. The cabbage had sauces with no flavor, the pork belly was pretty good, the bolognese was ok. The fish and chips item was regular fried fish hunks and actual french fries (with fancy labels) at a price of $31! It was a total rip off for what was listed on the menu. I felt cheated and likely will not go back because of the high prices, mediocre food items and too loud. read more

Excellent meal - as good as I've had anywhere. Farm to table California vibe. Good wine list. Good service. Impressive that this is in Evanston. Only negative space is a bit tight, but meal really impressed me. Great job all! read more

The farm to table felt like a scene out of Portlandia. The name of the kind chicken farmer who drives three hours to bring them the chickens....this would have been fine and amusing, but the food was truly tepid and unremarkable, if not bad (the cabbage was a weird gray lump with no flavor), and it was all overpriced for what it was. And lastly, this is the loudest restaurant I can remember being in. The acoustics at truly awful. My ears were literally ringing from the sheer volume inside. read more

Pretty much deserves the hype, but I was pretty disappointed. With the negroni sbagliato. First, it still had gin which should be substituted for by the sbaglito-izing prosecco or other bubbly. Then, it didn't have sweet vermouth which it's supposed to. But the really egregious issue was its bubbly, cava in this case (if they even used it) had absolutely no carbonation to it. Flat as a pancake. It was not sbagliato-ed in the least. Do better Burl! And if noise is an issue for you, ask to be seated in the side room which a relief from the loud main room. read more

This is a fabulous restaurant. The food is excellent, the ambience is great and the drinks are wonderful.

Tonight we had dinner for the first time, after a previous visit for brunch. On both visits the food was delicious and had a farm to table vibe with fresh ingredients. The restaurant is cute inside, but I absolutely despise how loud it is inside with tables very close together. read more

Loved the space, the vibe - all great! Our server and other staff were attentive, knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Beware, the place is loud. The beet, eggplant starters were terrific, as was the grilled asparagus the chef delivered personally. I think he was giving it a trial run, it was terrific. I had a bite of my wife's chicken, just excellent - seemed to be the winner on our table. The pasta with the 36 hour Bolognese was a SALT bomb. I took three bites, and left it - inedible. I wanted to leave it, but we did bring it home, but tossed it. Very surprised the kitchen hasn't figured this out. At $35, what a waste. Burl is another option for those looking for a "city" experience. We will try it again and will definitely skip the Bolognese. read more

Food was really good, but the noise level made it truly impossible to enjoy our meal. Reading the prior reviews it seems they've tried to address the problem, but they need to do more. The noise level was overwhelming as soon as we walked in, so loud we had trouble hearing each other across our table for two! Could spruce up service a bit, we had to ask for clean plates between courses of our shared dishes. Once prompted, service got better. Our waitress was great, gave good menu suggestions. The sirloin was exceptional. In perfect weather an outdoor table would be more pleasant than the noise inside. read more

I wish I could be writing a better review but our second time at Burl left us disappointed with the food. One of our four entrees was the trout and the piece they served was so ridiculously thin that it was literally hard to fork up any fish from the half filet. It was heavily charred on top, I guess by design, but the $39 entree was not good. One of us ordered the "fish fry" and it was several small fish nuggets that reminded us of fish fingers or fish sticks on a kids menu. For $31, if you're going to serve fish and chips, it should consist of large, flaky, crispy pieces of fish, not little bites. One of our party had the bolognese and enjoyed it but the strong thyme flavors were a bit odd in a bolognese and the portion was quite small for $35. We did enjoy the half chicken, chicken liver mousse, and carrots. They were out of the only pasta on their mid-sized vegetable section the night we dined. The peach salad was ok but overdressed. All in all, based on our two times at Burl, we think it needs to offer more elevated seafood/fish dishes if charging entrees in the mid to high $30s. Fried fish pieces and charred trout isn't elevated seafood or even showcasing the type of cooking I trust Burl can pull off. We'll try them again in a few months but hope to see better menu options, more experimentation, and better value for the product. read more

Burl is excellent in every way--food, service, ambiance, but especially food! It's a fine dining restaurant that rivals many of the best in the city, and while it's not cheap, we thought it was a very good value given the quality of the ingredients and the skill with which they are prepared, as well as the quality of the service. My boyfriend and I ordered the hummus appetizer, which was fresh, creamy and house made, and the chicken liver pate, which we both thought was a "wow" in terms of quality and deliciousness. For the mains, he had the delightful roast chicken, which came with some yummy roasted potatoes, and I had the trout, which was perfect-- tender, fresh, no bones and served with crispy skin. It also came with a salad that had tomatoes that were bursting with flavor. It's August, so tomatoes are in season, but these were standouts. There was also a crunchy fried vegetable in the salad that added a nice touch. For wines, I enjoyed my Gruner Veltliner and he his Barbera. Our server Shannon was down to earth and very professional, as were the hostess and another person who welcomed us initially. We will be back! They have half-price wine bottles on Wednesdays. Our total bill came to $143 before tax and tip, and most restaurants of this quality and caliber would charge far more. Excellent all around. read more

The food was amazing and the service was excellent. However, it was incredibly loud and you had to yell for the person across from you to hear you. The buzz on the Facebook Evanston Restaurants page is the same. Food is great but the acoustics make it a less pleasant experience. I hope it's an issue they are able to fix. read more

We had dinner at the Burl bar last evening. What a great addition to Evanston and the Central Street scene! From the beautiful updated space to the service and locally sourced food we couldn't have enjoyed it more. read more

The food was very tasty. The service was attentive but on a busy Saturday night during every course servers asked to take out still with food plates. Twice a server pulled a plate from our table while we were eating. Never felt rushed like that ever before. Finally, the portions are small for the price. Very hard to walk out for under $75 a person. read more

The service was excellent. Our dishes were well prepared and unique. The appetizers were all creative and terrific. The portions were not terribly big and the prices were on the high side for Evanston, but I would go again. read more

Just had a great night at Burl. It was my first time and I'm blown away. First of all, the restaurant is gorgeous, I loved the lighting, green theme, and how the white subway tile made the kitchen very visible. The service was great. Our waitress was personable and the water service was exceptional (which if you've had bad water service, you know how important this is). The best part of the service is that their entire team was always smiling. We ordered the ham and butter, crispy salad, fish fry, and chicken and it was all fantastic. I have no doubt that every single item on the menu is amazing. I'm excited to go back and know that brunch will be awesome too. Great job, Burl! read more

Had an amazing dinner at Burl, the best restaurant I have tried in the suburbs in recent history. Great vibe , excellent service, and I loved the food. Bread, lamb chops, and the ricotta appetizer were standouts. Cocktails were excellent too! Look forward to trying brunch soon. read more

We had dinner at Burl last night and it did not disappoint. The servers are very attentive without being intrusive. They are knowledgeable about the food and beverages and made some excellent recommendations. The food is absolutely delicious! We started with chicken liver pate that was so good that had we been home we would have licked the plate! The chicken and fish and chips were equally delicious. Our only complaint is the noise level. Restaurants do tend to be loud but Burl was extremely loud. That said we will go back again for bother wonderful Mel. read more

We are so excited Burl is open! We've been walking by this place for months watching the progress and happy to say the wait was worth it!! The atmosphere is awesome and the food is AMAZING. We ordered a few things to share and loved everything. We started with the eggplant. The bread it is served with was delicious and the eggplant was bright and flavorful. For dinner, we shared the salad, fish and chips and the sweet potato cavatelli. Each dish was perfect and the brown butter sauce on the cavatelli was outstanding. We ended with the apple crisp and ate every bite. Please go check out this fabulous addition to the Central Street neighborhood in Evanston. read more

Burl is such a welcome addition to Evanston. There's no longer a reason to go to the city for an exceptional meal. Burl has raised the bar on service and cuisine. The staff has obviously had experience with some of the best restaurant groups in Chicago. They know how to get it done seemlessly especially for a restaurant that just opened. Not a single lapse in service or food quality. We had the focaccia with ricotta, crispy salad with sunflower dressing, cabbage with mole negro, vanilla ice cream with burnt honey and it was plenty for 2 people. Generous portions; one was better than the next. It is a bit loud, but when it ticks the other boxes, who cares? You'll love it! read more