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    Small Cheval- Riverside

    4.2 (300 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Small Cheval- Riverside Photos

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    SMALL CHEVAL- RIVERSIDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Small Cheval- Riverside

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    Glen N.

    Everything is awesome.- Sir Emmet Brickowski Basically, it's everything you love about the fast foodie side of the spectacular Au Cheval without the long wait.

    Nick G.

    Tried Small Chaval Riverside and went with the deluxe double cheeseburger minus the cheese, fries, and a strawberry shake. The burger was cooked well, juicy with a good char on the patties, and the toppings kept it balanced. Even without cheese it was flavorful and satisfying. The fries came out hot and crispy, a nice portion to go along with the burger. The strawberry shake was thick, creamy, and had a real fruit taste rather than just syrup, which made it stand out. The spot itself has a casual, easy vibe and it's nice being right by the water. Service was quick and friendly. Prices were fair for the quality. Highly recommend.

    Tynae T.

    Good service, cozy inside with limited seating. I ordered the signature double cheeseburger, it was ok. I felt like it was missing something, perhaps I should've added more toppings. It also came a little undercooked for my liking. The fries and garlic aioli stole the spotlight. Crispy, flavorful, and satisfying. Overall, a decent spot, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

    Riverview
    Nate L.

    We stopped by this location on a recommendation to try their sandwiches. The place had a line waiting to order, but it wasn't a long wait. My wife ordered the Double Cheeseburger and I opted for a Fried Chicken sandwich. Both sandwiches had a soft bun and the Chicken was moist and flavorful. There is limited seating here, but during warm weather, there is seating outside with a great view of the Chicago River. All in all, a very pleasant visit and we will stop in again when we're in the area.

    Cheeseburger with Golden Fries
    Tiffany H.

    Honestly one of the yummiest burgers I've had aside from in n out. The patty was flavorful and the bun was soft. I ordered the cheeseburger with tomatoes and lettuce, along with well done golden fries. The golden fries were very crispy! Service was decent, but the food took a bit to come out. Would definitely come back!

    Yummy chocolate shake
    John M.

    We took the Metra down to the OTC and stopped by this Small Cheval for a quick lunch. The place was hopping with a hungry work lunch crowd and the counter employee literally handed out about 50 orders before our order came up. We woofed down a very decent double cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake. Yum! (In a world of $20 burgers I'd say Small Cheval and their $10 burgers is a relative bargain.)

    Key lime pie shake
    Anna T.

    Came in on a Sunday around 6:30 to try a shake! This location is so cute! Staff was very friendly and my shake was ready within a few minutes! The shake of the month is key lime pie so I had to try! This was amazing. The ice cream is sooo good, it's custard like and it had graham crackers. The key lime flavor was not overpowering, it was perfect! I need to come back to try a burger and truffle fries!

    Crystal C.

    Tried this spot after hearing a lot of hype, and while the burgers were good, I think they might be a bit overhyped--they were definitely a little too bun-heavy for my taste. That said, the truffle sauce was delicious, and I'd definitely recommend getting it to dip or fries in or even dip your burger in for some extra flavor. Parking can be a bit tricky since it's all street parking, but the location by the lake is a nice bonus. Overall, a solid burger spot, but there was just way too much bun.

    karina k.

    It is such a beautiful place. So if you don't like the food, you can enjoy the view and the area and walking around and taking beautiful pictures and selfies. But I will say that the hamburgers and french fries are very good so I have no complaints. It is a small in and out location, but there is also seating and free water with cups.

    Chicken sandwich, Cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and Golden Fries
    Brittany M.

    Loved small chavel!! The best burger I've had in Chicago. We ordered a burger, chicken sandwich, tenders, and fries (had to try it all). The burger was my favorite but everything was delicious. We probably didn't need the chicken sandwich and the tenders but lesson learned for next time. There's some standing seating where you order but if you go towards the back then there's more tables. I can see this place getting busy during lunch since it seems to be near a lot of commercial buildings. Not too crowded on a Saturday afternoon but definitely other people there too. Can't wait to come back!

    Cheeseburger
    Arkadiusz S.

    Did you know that @smallcheval lactated in Chicagos's Loop is now open on weekends?!? This is one of our favorite burger spots in the Loop and are stoked about the extended hours. Here is what we got: Single Deluxe Cheeseburger X2 Golden Fries X1 Mexican Coke X1 All for under $30

    Double Cheeseburger
    Gregory B.

    Double Cheeseburger, added lettuce and tomato. Much better than a typical fast food burger (BK, McDonalds, etc), reminded me a little bit of Shake Shack. Tasted great.

    Margarita,  Cheeseburger w/ single patty and bacon, fries, and old fashion
    Katie G.

    This place was great! Like many others, I came here after Au Cheval had a 2+ Hour wait. I was a tourist in Chicago for the day and ran into this place after walking away sad (lol) and was pleasantly surprised! (Note: the dude at the front of Au Cheval didn't tell us there were smaller locations so this is me telling you that in case the same thing happens to you!) the burger was a great smash style burger, I actually recommend getting 2 patties bc my one patty kinda got lost among the bun. The margarita was a little watery but my husband's old fashioned was STRONG (lmao strong enough that he coughed after the first sip) the fries were amazing and the aioli they come with was sooooooo good, garlicky and I really think they could bottle it if they don't already. Overall I'd recommend to anyone looking for a quick relative cheap bite in the area.

    Burger presentation.

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    Small Cheval- Riverside Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Small Cheval- Riverside

    Are there seating?

    Yes! Indoor and outdoor.

    Do they offer veg burger also?

    According to Small Cheval, their fries are not vegetarian either. They cook in beef fat. https://www.yelp.com/questions/small-cheval-are-these-burgers-also-cooked-in-pork-as-they-are-a-au-cheval-or-is-there-an-option/oTUcDvZfTrjA2ABdAednbg

    View All 7 Questions

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    King of Cups - Old Fashion

    King of Cups

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    What a nice, moody, intimate bar. I came here for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised at how…read moreit's an actual discounted happy hour menu! You know it is these days - most places just knock a dollar off and call it a day. This one is legit! I'd say you should make a reservation for prime time to ensure you'll have a seat. However when it's early no big deal to just pop by. I enjoyed the plum Moscow mule (not too sweet!) and the espresso martini. Both are on draft which made me nervous from past experiences at other places. However, these were great and I LOVED their espresso martini. The bartender was kind and the vibes were off the charts. Check this place out next time you're in Lincoln Park!

    Geja's Cafe

    Geja's Cafe

    (1.7k reviews)

    $$$

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    We came to Geja's to celebrate our anniversary and it certainly lived up to the hype. We were…read morelucky enough to have a table off the side by the window so it maintained the intimate feel without feeling cramped by other tables. Food-wise, it was very fun to cook everything ourselves. I do think the appetizers were my favorite part because I do just love fruits and cheeses, but everything was great. They were also very accommodating of celiac. Overall, we had a wonderful anniversary celebrating at Geja's.

    Gemini - Avocado Toast + Lincoln Park Turkey Club

    Gemini

    (760 reviews)

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    I've eaten at Gemini over the years and have been able to sample a lot of what's on offer. I've had…read moremost of the specials but will usually get either the swordfish or the steak frites. Those are typically very good which is why I come back. The burger though. Why is it such a consistent disappointment? It's small, has the pancetta (a nice rubbery disc of salt) and just seems like kind of an afterthought to the otherwise well-considered menu. I've been eating it on occasion for 10+ years here always with the hope that it has improved. I would love to see a do-over on the burger. It would be great to have a place in the neighborhood that consistently delivered. As it stands, it's a distant second to RJ Grunt's, Small Cheval and not even in the same realm as Armitage Alehouse's burger. Really hoping I get to come back and revise this review to rave about how much better it got. The staff is always very nice and attentive as well. From host stand to bartenders, waitstaff and everyone clearing and setting, always a very nice group that seems like they take pride in their work, which is much appreciated.

    Le Mistral - Inside the building - Le mistral is all the way down on the right side

    Le Mistral

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    The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

    We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

    Esme

    Esme

    (152 reviews)

    $$$$

    Lincoln Park

    My rating of a 3 is specifically for the Restaurant Week menu though I'll say it definitely didn't…read moreinspire me to come back. I really wanted to like it; this was a nine-year anniversary dinner. Service was really attentive and friendly and I did appreciate that they brought out specific utensils for me as a left-handed person, never saw that before! The restaurant felt a bit bare and sterile, I think I was maybe expecting a little more decor on the table for a Michelin star restaurant. To echo several of the reviews below, the salad was awkward to share and scanty, the soup was good but the bread served with it felt like an afterthought, the sturgeon wasn't anything special though the sauce was quite good, and we are pretty sure the cut of beef was not wagyu or if it was it was not cooked the right way. The beef was the most disappointing part, I couldn't even chew through all of it. The add-ons were the best part - pasta was great and our dessert was delicious. But the rest of the meal was unfortunately mediocre. Hoping that others have a different experience with the regular menu!

    Esme was the only restaurant I made it to for Chicago Restaurant Week this year. It was a nice,…read moreupscale experience, and I appreciate that we were able to try this Michelin-starred restaurant at a reduced cost. There was no problem with a vegetarian accommodation, but the menu we were handed does not include the details for the vegetarian courses - disappointing that I couldn't reference this to see the details of each course. All of the food was presented tastefully with meticulous attention to detail. The salad is brought out as a shared dish, which is potentially a bit awkward. Not a problem since I was dining with my husband, but I would have preferred my own salad if I was with a less familiar party. The silverware and dishes were works of art in and of themselves, but our table was scratched up considerably. My dessert was presented very creatively - although my husband's was much more straightforward. Dessert was an optional add-in, so a separate bill was brought out for this at the end. My husband carelessly left a tip on top of the hefty service charge they apply by default, but I didn't realize until after the fact since I'd gone to the restroom.

    Willow Room - Arugula salad over avocado toast with poached eggs.

    Willow Room

    (428 reviews)

    $$

    Lincoln Park, DePaul

    Great dinner here tonight - had the mussels, burger, and octopus. All were exceptional. The drinks…read morewere also very good, and the service was awesome. Great meal overall.

    Chicago Restaurant week. I reviewed various dining options in search of a good place for dinner…read more Reddit gave me some ideas. I'd never been to Willow Room and liked that they had a four course dinner menu, with items I liked. I was able to make a reservation for a Saturday night at 8:15pm. PARKING Parking on Halsted on a Saturday night can be a nightmare, and it did take a minute to find street parking. North of the 1800 block is busier because there are several restaurants within a two block radius. Side streets are permit parking after 6pm. Meters on Halsted are $2.50/hr. ATMOSPHERE Willow Room was pretty packed. We had a reservation for 8:15pm and my party of two was seated right away. The restaurant features a full bar, dim lighting and is nice and roomy. They have banquette seating around the perimeter, in addition to tables in the middle. SERVICE Our server, who was very nice and accommodating during our dining experience, came by and gave us our menu's. I had already decided on the RW menu and after review, my friend was interested in the Beef Wellington (not on RW menu). Our server informed us that normally the whole table had to order off of the RW menu if one person does, but said she would check with the kitchen since this was the last day of RW. Luckily, we were able to proceed with ordering from different menu's. FOOD I ordered a raspberry Cosmopolitan. I'm a Riesling/Moscato girlie, but I tasted the Riesling and didn't like it. RW dinner was priced at $60. I ordered: First Course: Caesar Salad (Typical salad, was good) Second Course: Mussels (Tasted fine, came with a baguette) Third Course: Short Rib (Could've been slightly more tender and better seasoned. I've definitely had better. Wouldn't order again.) Fourth Course: Orange Ricotta Donuts (Donuts were very good. Three were served, a few more would have been more filling.) My friend ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and: Truffle Fries (Fries were very tasty. I would order again if I went back.) Beef Wellington (The breading was buttery and very good. The beef could've been more seasoned. I wouldn't order.) Key Lime Pie (Was not sweet and had no taste. When our server came back and saw it was uneaten, she offered to take it off the bill. It should be removed from the menu altogether.) The busboys and server were very attentive. Our water glasses were always filled. OVERALL The atmosphere was nice, our server was great. Of all the food we ordered, I would order the truffle fries and Cosmopolitan again. I did leave full and did take my leftover Short Rib to go. Main dishes needed more seasoning. I would dine here again and try a different menu (brunch/lunch), or Happy Hour if they offer it.

    Small Cheval- Riverside - burgers - Updated May 2026

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