Delicious spot, great vibes, and wonderful service! It was bustling and full, so make sure you get a reservation. My brother/gf were celebrating an anniversary, and they gave us a handwritten card alongside free wine. The food highlights were the beef tartare and the OG burger! read more

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The vibes were like a lively neighborhood bar with dim lighting. It was super loud, but still a fun atmosphere. 6.5/10. Service was good. Nothing standout, but I appreciated that our server removed the drink I didn't like from the bill. 8/10. The Peach-stacio (8.7/10) was my favorite drink. Sweet with nice pistachio foam, and strong without tasting overly boozy. The Vander Mill Totally Toasted Cider (8.5/10) was also easy to drink. Something Not Too Sweet (4/10) had way too much alcohol flavor, and Peat in Paradise (0/10) was honestly undrinkable. It tasted medicinal and spicy, but thankfully they took it off the bill. The French Onion Soup (7/10) had rich onion flavor, lots of cheese, and a fun pâte à choux topping. Comforting. The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger (8/10) was a really solid classic burger. The homemade pickles and grilled onions were great, and the patty was juicy. The sauce wasn't overpowering and lighter in flavor. I can see why it's one of Chicago's most popular burgers. The Corn Carbonara (7.5/10) was creamy with great crunch from the corn and hazelnuts, though I wish the pasta had a little more chewiness. The Dry Aged Duck Breast (6/10) was tender, but the skin wasn't crispy. The sweet corn and orange sauce were the best parts of the dish. The Pavlova (5/10) wasn't for me. The pineapple sauce was too sweet, and i didn't like the vegetable flavor. Overall, a little disappointed in the cocktail program but maybe I just ordered wrong. It's worth coming for the burger though. read more

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I read the reviews and they were spot on. The food is good (not amazing) but the service is not ideal and it's definitely overpriced. We split the two burgers. They were both good but nothing to write home about. Same with the mussels. I really liked my cocktail, the peachstachio, which was a fun fruity sour situation. Thankfully another server noticed that ours hadn't stopped by in a long time and recommended the peachstachio and took our drink order. If you end up here, I'd opt for the cocktails over the food any day. read more

The Loyalist completely lived up to the hype and exceeded our expectations. Exactly what we expected! We did not have a reservation and were hoping to grab seats at the bar. While we waited, the host invited us to relax and enjoy a cocktail in an area right next to bar area. It was a great touch that set the tone for us the rest of the night. Why not have a cocktail while waiting?! Jacob (?) took great care of us from the start of our experience. All cocktails were balances and creative and their wine list is good as well. The food was just as memorable! Their menu items give a 10/10, 100%. The genre of food is a gastropub vibe that is thoughtfully executed and prepared. Every dish was amazing. The vibe of the atmosphere is very approachable and elegant with a mix of cozy. There is not an uppity, upscale vibe to it, just genuine. The Loyalist can be for any occasion, such as date night, girls night out, casual dinner with coworkers or friends. We left extremely happy and our tummies were full of happiness! The Loyalist is the place to go if you are looking for an amazing cocktail, great service and exceptional food in Chicago. Worth it! read more

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Came here mainly for the burger and it definitely delivered. Service was friendly and efficient; we were seated right away, but reservations are available if needed. Nice bonus that it wasn't too crowded during the middle of the week. The vibe was fun too. Loved the throwback movies playing in the background which added a nostalgic touch without being distracting. Ordered the French and the Loyalist OG burger. Both were great, but my favorite part was the cheese. I loved the concept of dipping the burger into the cheese;such a simple twist but made the burger feel extra indulgent. Rich, flavorful, and worth the hype. Would absolutely come back when the burger craving hits. read more

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Came here with a friend and we had a very pleasant experience! We came here to celebrate getting a huge bonus at work and they gave us a card and complimentary champagne to congratulate us. It was such a thoughtful touch to our dinner, it made our night. The food was also exceptional, we've been here before and we have always enjoyed their burgers, particularly the Loyalist OG Cheeseburger, it was cooked perfectly and the pickled and charred onion gave it so much flavor and I always love the aioli that comes with it. It was the perfect atmosphere too, I always really enjoy the vibe when we come here, it made celebrating our bonus a great time! read more

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When my parents saw The Loyalist mentioned on Food Network, they really wanted to try this place. I have been here before for drinks, but never to take on the famous cheeseburger. Let me say up front that all of the food is outstanding. The missing star had to do with service and price! This is a relatively small place with not a lot of seating, especially for those in wheelchairs. In other words, high tops and booths. Still, there are some areas with chairs and closer to the ground, but thank goodness they take reservations. Probably the biggest fail was that our server came to our table to say "hi" and then disappeared for 20 minutes. You got that right. 20. We did go to the front to find him and what it appears happened was that whomever was in charge gave him half of the tables in the restaurant. He was apologetic and gave us a free cookie in turn, but for a place that is connected to the top restaurant in Chicago, this service cannot stand. Still, I am still sore about the bad service I got at Smyth four years ago so maybe they don't value the guest experience as much as others in the city. With all that negativity out of the way, the food here is spectacular which is why its so popular. I started with the Tomato Tomahto cocktail which was really good and really weird. I tried the French Onion Soup which was one of the best I have ever had. Of course, I got the famous cheeseburger which came with a HEALTHY portion of fries. All of it juicy and delicious. I kind of wished for more sauce because when I cut my burger, it appears that most of the sauce was on one side so the burger went from ok to outstanding. For dessert, we went with the tart and the (free) cookie. Both solid choices and the end of a perfect meal. As for the price, this place is very overpriced, but its also giving a little luxury. If you have some money, but don't want to blow it all on Smyth, this is the place to be! I will be back because the food is outstanding, but don't expect the ultimate customer service for the money you are paying. read more

Came here for the burger and everything else was also great! We started with the beef tartare and potato gnudi and both were delicious. Then I had the OG Loyalist cheeseburger and it was a solid dish with perfectly cooked fries to accompany it. Service was amazing and I loved our server's energy! Ambiance inside was also nice and I'd recommend anybody give this spot a try when they're in Chicago. read more

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Service was excellent!! We saw the top 10 cheeseburgers on the Food Network and this was one of the top and they were so right!!!! It was excellent and I cannot wait to come back again. We ate at the bar and it was just excellent service! read more

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You can't come and NOT try their signature burger with the sesame bun. I really enjoyed the meal and the house made sauces. The servers are so friendly and responsive. The chocolate chip cookie was also a great way to end the meal. They made sure to always come check on us. The vibes of the gastropub are lovely and it's a great place to take people from out of town. read more

The Loyalist - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We started with a couple of their drinks which were unique and well made. Definitely try their drinks. We went to the clams. Small but wonderfully flavorful. Then ended with the loyalist burger. Very rich and wonderful taste. The place has the richness of French food with the choices of American. Worth a visit. read more

I'm surprised I haven't written a review for the Loyalist yet!! I've been here twice, first for my birthday last year, and again with friends a couple months ago. Each time I leave so impressed! Some other items I've had here include the Simple Salad, Anchovy Toast, Deviled Egg, the French Smash, and the Chocolate Chip Cookie. The burger: non-negotiable. There is a reason it is on almost every list of best burgers in Chicago. The flavors are incredible, the patty super tender and juicy, just an all around great burger. More recently I tried the French Smash burger, and OMG. I didn't think anything could compete with the OG burger, but this one clearly held it's own. The smash patty gives a little texture/crunch to the burger that the OG doesn't have, and also the mornay sauce makes it soo delectable! If you can, I recommend getting both burgers to split with someone. I've tried the chocolate chip cookie now and it is super disappointing! Hard as a rock, so I need to try a different dessert next time :). But overall don't come for the cookies.. come for the burger!! read more

The Loyalist - OG The Loyalist Original Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The tete de cochon was great. The French smash was very flavorful. The service was attentive. I highly recommend making a reservation far in advance. read more

The Loyalist - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Loyalist has a laid back ambiance, though the entrance can be a little tricky to find at first. Once I made my way in, I was set on trying the burger. It delivered and ended up being one of my favorite bites in Chicago. The service was quick, friendly, and welcoming from the start. I stopped by during brunch hours and left impressed. I would absolutely return the next time I am in Chicago. read more

The Loyalist - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Back at Loyalist with some old coworkers and everybody had to get the OG cheeseburger, but then I saw this London smash they have or something. Of course we ate that too. Pretty good, with the muscles and rice pilaf. Crushed some fries and cocktails. I think my favorite thing was this cucumber, pepper, gin cocktail. You'll see it on the menu, but it was awesome! Loyalist always comes through. Good spot in West loop. Thanks read more

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This was just an ok experience. The restaurant is nice, the server was decent, food was more expensive than what I think it's worth. I ordered a burger, but would have preferred a burger from Portillo's. The vibe is really nice with great energy. I probably won't return, but it's worth trying out. read more

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Best burgers in the city according to my friends. They do not have any vegetarian burgers and overall just 2 items for vegetarian. The service was excellent. The loyalist is by same chef as the Smyth - the 3 Michelin restaurant and located directly below it. The rustic-chic gastropub has a sense of calmness and is beautiful. Street parking is available and but hard to find over the weekends. So I would uber/lyft next time. read more

The Loyalist - Cocktail - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Unfortunately, we pitted The Loyalist and Au Cheval against each other as our two burger meals during our weekend in Chicago and it was disappointing to realize that The Loyalist wasn't even in the same stratosphere as Au Cheval. Or even Small Cheval. Bummer. Would've just went to Au Cheval twice. read more

The Loyalist - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food and drinks were all so good! This restaurant is tucked downstairs and is a casual spot. I really loved the deviled eggs, especially how they topped it with fish roe. And the burger was absolutely amazing - it was no ordinary one, perfectly executed and top with some amazing sauce. I will be dreaming of this burger. read more

In a word: decadent. I felt like I took a trip to flavortown, because my goodness, every bite was packed with nuance and flavor. The service was incredible. The outdoor patio was great (a little train noise) inside its a bit dark and moody. Overall great spot, highly recommend going for a visit to maybe not flavortown, but delciousvile. read more

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I haven't been back since precovid, but loyalist was my favorite burger at the time and the idea of it stuck with me for a while. I was able to do a last minute patio reservation day before, but even when we ate no one else was sat there. The inside was packed though. Service was still great even though we were the only table outside. We even had a friend pop by to just say hi and talk and they pulled a chair for him and did not mind him not ordering. Oysters: not the biggest fan of raw oyster but the table wanted it. tasted like oysters - nothing fishy about them. 7.5/10 Pate: bread was good! I don't know why i expected the pate to be soft but the consistency was like butter . Taste wise it was a little salty for my taste. 6.7/10 Asparagus: just asparagus. Didn't really taste the seasoning so was a bit disappointing since I had a friend hyping it up. 5/10 OG burger: the reason I came back. burger came out kinda cold so that killed the whole experience for me. it still tasted fine, but for $30 I can't see myself coming back here. Aioli wasn't as good as I remember as well. 6.2/10 read more

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This place is known for their burgers and I can see why. That was a fabulous burger. The bun was losing its integrity by the end, but who even cares? I love the fries. They were crispy and the best size. I loved my mocktail (Velvet something). The space had great ambiance and the staff were friendly, especially letting us in a bit before opening since it was cold. read more

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I finally made it to The Loyalist after hearing rave reviews about their burger, and it absolutely lived up to the hype and then some. We arrived right on time for our reservation but had to wait about 30 minutes for our table. Thankfully, it wasn't too crowded, and we grabbed seats at the bar while we waited. I ordered an espresso martini to start, and it was perfectly crafted, smooth, rich, and balanced. Once seated, we ordered a few appetizers. I went for the deviled eggs (delicious) and split the beef tartare with a friend. Let me say this clearly: it was the best tartare I've ever had, and I've had it in France. The quality, the flavor, the texture, it was all spot on. And the garlic bread served alongside? Genius. Then came the burger and wow, it didn't just meet expectations, it demolished them. Juicy, flavorful, perfectly cooked, and accompanied by a little container of pickle brine you pour on top for that extra kick. I devoured it in under five minutes. It's officially at the top of my Chicago burger rankings. No question. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the vibe of the place is just right for a fun night out whether it's date night or dinner with friends. If you're in Chicago, The Loyalist is a must. Go for the tartare. Go for the burger. Just go. You won't regret it. read more

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My daughter said The Loyalist was getting hyped as the best burger in the city, so of course we had to check it out. It's a beautiful restaurant, and our party of three had a lovely experience. We started with a bottle of Pinot noir. As starters, we shared a salad and the French onion soup. The soup got rave reviews. For dinner, we each chose the OG Burger. It was excellent, don't get me wrong, but not sure it met the hype we'd heard. We finished with the mini ice cream sandwich dessert, covered in chocolate syrup. Service was very good. Only complaint is that staff were trying to constantly remove plates from our table before we were done. It happened several times - with the soup, with salad, and then with our dessert when we were all still using the chocolate syrup. It became annoying by the end of our meal. read more

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Went to The Loyalist with a group of eight and had a really good time. The space is cozy but still works well for larger groups -- the ambiance is relaxed and stylish, and the service was steady throughout the night. Never felt rushed, and everything came out in good time. We started with a few appetizers to share: anchovy toast, two orders of mussels, and two escargot tarts. The escargot was my personal favorite -- rich, flavorful, and flaky. The mussels were a close second. Anchovy toast was solid bite, recommended if you like a salty treat. For mains, we went big on burgers -- five OG burgers (3 medium well, 2 medium rare) and three French smashes. The OG burger was the clear winner at the table -- juicy, flavorful, and lived up to the hype. The French smash was good too, just didn't hit the same high notes for most of us. Overall, a great spot for a casual-but-nice dinner with a group. Would definitely come back, the drinks were also a good deal as well for a beer and a shot combo. read more

Wow, wow, wow!!! This place literally knocked my socks off. The Loyalist is absolutely cute as you have to walk down a small flight of stairs and it's almost like stepping into a parlor. We decided to sit at the bar and the bartenders were so nice it provided us with great service. We ordered the tartar, 2 French burgers, and tried a few Mezcal cocktails. Let's start with the burger, it was delicious I mean actually it was something better than delicious and so full of flavor, the sauces were so freaking good! The tartare was hands down in the top 5 best I've ever had and that's saying a lot cause im tartare girlie! Whoever is the head mixologist is definitely doing their thing because baby those cocktails were so good! All in all, I look forward to going back and I would definitely recommend this place! read more

The Loyalist - French Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The ambiance is fantastic- dark, casual, but fancy at the same time? It's underground which gives it a very intimate vibe. The service was good, not amazing. We ordered the special, salmon tartare and they gave us one piece of bread, we asked for more and it never came out. However, what we are here for... the OG cheeseburger. I've heard countless reviews about how unreal this burger is and i was... a bit underwhelmed. It was mostly the pickles, holy vinegar! I love a pickle but this was crazy. The fries were magical though and came with malt vinegar and garlic aioli. Good overall though! And would come back read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Original Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I live in the neighborhood and everyone kept saying they were highly rated for the burger. I love a good burger and consider myself to have really great taste. Unfortunately I was dissatisfied. It didn't seem fresh and all the hype turned into a flimsy burger with little flavor. I have so many options and the loyalist won't be one of them. The server did ok and the ambiance is like a bar/restaurant loud vibe. read more

The service and ambiance here is solid, nice joint to hang out and get food. it is a good burger but for me the burger didn't meet the hype, not the best in town. I think they tried to be too fancy with all the cuts they use which is nice but the execution missed. Perhaps i had an off night and would try it again but my burger was missing the mark. not worth the wait or the price. but their other food was good. read more

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From the street, Smyth and the Loyalist could be mistaken for an office-building or factory, perhaps one that has been converted into loft apartments. After confirming you are in the right location, the initial doorway to the pair of restaurants is a sterile vestibule with two choices -- up for Smyth, and down for the Loyalist. Heading downstairs, you'll arrive in a startlingly clean and upscale canteen. To your left will be the kitchen command pod where chefs dote away on their creations. Going forward and eventually wrapping around the kitchen are a variety of booths and table seating. The lighting is excellent, while the decorations are muted, bordering on missing. The waiter was kind, though perhaps a bit awkward. His command of the menu was clearly well-practiced but a bit tired as well. Eventually we started off with drinks and a couple of appetizers. The Banana Bread at Home was utterly remarkable. The pleasant warmth -- both physical heat and culinary sensation -- of the spiced rum combined with the dense cool and excellently-flavored foam on top, to call it simply Banana Bread is a disservice. It was at once an entirely new sensation and also something very familiar on the palate. Following up this excellent cocktail were the Deviled Eggs. The description on the menu, much like Banana Bread at Home, is deceptively unassuming. The Deviled Eggs were truly one of the most spectacular food items I have ever had the pleasure of indulging in. The combination of flavors was omnipotent without being overwhelming. They were sour, sweet, smoky, umami. It was everything and everywhere and all at the same time to the point where the sensation was no longer contained solely in my mouth. The escargot tart, our second appetizer, was a very expensive way to eat puff pastry. The burger was good, but nothing really deserving the sort of recognition that this burger has garnered. And the Baba au Rhum was enjoyable, although not enough to hold a candle to the Banana Bread at Home or the Deviled Eggs. read more

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Food and service was great! Servers were friendly, attentive, thoughtful, and personable. It was a bit loud and warm, but it makes sense given the good food and service and hip atmosphere. We got the following dishes and they were all tasty: - gougeres - mussels - simple salad - quiche - French smash burger - trout read more

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Didn't live up to the hype especially after people told me that they had the best burger here in the city of Chicago. Located in the same building as Ada and Smyth, it's downstairs. Our group of three ordered two French Smashes and a Lobster roll. My friend who ordered the Lobster roll said it wasn't seasoned at all, and was extremely underwhelming. The two of us who ordered the French Smash enjoyed the burger, however didn't think it was above and beyond. While the waiter who took our orders and brought us our drinks was awesome, patient, and willing to explain, there was another employee who grabbed my beer bottle before it was even empty. Then proceeded to pour the rest into my glass that was already about full, causing for it to overflow. read more

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The burger was insanely delicious. I wish I lived in Chicago so I could visit this spot more often. The aioli was a great touch on the burgers and the fries. No other notes, solid burger 10/10. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Original Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Since The Loyalist is frequently listed as one of the best burgers in Chicago, I've been wanting to come here for a while. I arrived right at 5pm, so it was quite easy to get a seat at the bar. I ordered the French smash burger and the Bright & Refreshing mocktail. The burger was truly a smash burger with all of its thin, crispy edges. The patty was cooked beautifully. The cornichon pickles were a fun twist on the usual ridged dill pickles. I enjoyed the hint of herb butter. The vinegar and mornay sauce for the fries were kind of just there. They were ok, but not much of a remarkable pairing. The fries were standard but good in a reliable way. The mocktail was pretty good too. It was slightly less sweet than most mocktails, which I really appreciated. It went well with the burger. I'm excited to try the rest of their menu one day, but I would come back just for the burger as well. I'm curious what the patty for the OG cheeseburger is like. I wouldn't rank the French Smash burger as one of my top burgers in Chicago, but there's no denying that it's a well-executed burger. The main caveat is the price to portion size here. This burger won't fill you up, but it's priced like it will. It's a great place to treat yourself when you're looking for American French food that's not fussy but in a nice ambiance. read more

The Loyalist - Bright & Refreshing mocktail - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was in town for a work conference and my birthday happened to be during the week. I decided on The Loyalist to celebrate solely based on their famed cheeseburger. I can easily say I that I am not remotely interested in coming back. First off, I wanted to order starters and then mains a bit later. Our server rejected that idea and forced me to order everything at the same time and they would time the order. This should have been red flag number 1. We ordered several things including the French onion soup, deviled egg, cheeseburger, and steak. The cheeseburger was so bland and smothered in mayo or aioli. The steak was also drowning in some brown liquid reminiscent to wine based BBQ sauce. After taking our order, our server came back to our table a whopping 1 time to refill our drinks or ask if we wanted new drinks. We were here for almost 90 minutes. Based on my experience here, I wouldn't even consider Smyth, which is really unfortunate. read more

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At long last, I finally got to cross the Loyalist off my list! I've had so many people put this as a top Chicago burger spot for a long time, and now that Chicago has become such a burger hub, it seems like this place is slept on. I thought the burger was fantastic! It's a nice change up from a smash burger, with a thicker patty that's cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was incredibly juicy but held together well, great sauce and cheese, I could've definitely eaten two of them. Highly recommend starting off with the Gougeres and the anchovy toast. They also have a great tartare, your burger will come with fries but the dauphine potatoes are great to share with the table. We split their secret menu cheeseburger and I thought it was just okay, they make a special ketchup and it wasn't for me. Will have to come back and try the French smashburger. This is an iconic Chicago spot in a great area in west loop, this is definitely worth a stop in! read more

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!! My 2000th Yelp review !! This was simply an incredible experience. With a romantic ambiance in an industrial underground bar, this is the perfect spot to check out while in West Loop. From burgers, to appetizers, and incredible cocktails... I was completely impressed. We started with the Beef Tartare, which was perfectly seasoned! A little tart and very savory. The beef was tender and almost melted with every bite. The egg yolk was the highlight as it coated each piece of beef. I love that they have free bread to pair with this. (don't be scared to ask for more!) A must try is the Loyalist OG Cheeseburger, which is all the rave! Known for being one of the best burgers in Chicago - I made it my goal to visit and order this specifically. Medium well patty, which was seasoned nicely. The cheese and pickled onions complimented one another. It was a classic cheeseburger! NO FRILLS, but very well executed! Best burger I've ever had for sure. The bread was great too. High quality stuff over here. For drinks, I highly highly highly recommend the House of 1000 Carrots. With a name like that, how could I not try it? This was light, sweet, and hit the spot. Imagine a clarified carrot cake perfectly crafted into a little cocktail. SOOOO GOOD. I would come back here for this drink alone! read more

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As a burger aficionado, I had to try the Loyalist during my recent trip to Chicago. We arrived about 12 minutes before opening and were first in line, allowing us to grab two seats at the bar upon opening. The cocktail I ordered to start was delicious and even served with house-made corn ice cream. The ice cream was super creamy and flavorful, while the cocktail was well-balanced. We chose to split the anchovy toast appetizer and it was... honestly pretty life-changing hahaha. I'm not typically a fan of anchovies, but my partner is, and it appealed to both of us equally. The milk toast was fluffy and perfectly toasted, and the anchovy/butter pairing to top it was salty yet SO delicious. It really blew me away. Now, on to the burger. It was a really solid burger, pretty much right what I was expecting. Good quality meat cooked to perfection. Paired with crispy salty shoestring fries and aioli. All-in-all, really yummy meal. I see why it's been getting all the hype recently, and would encourage you to add it to your itinerary, even if just walking in at the bar! read more

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Honestly disappointed that this place didn't live up to the hype! We were able to snag a reservation on a Saturday night, and the ambiance is cool and trendy. Not too dark or loud. Our service took a while to come get our drink orders, but after that was pretty prompt. The cocktail menu was way too weird for me, so I opted with an espresso martini (very good) and glass of cab. We started with the half dozen oysters - fresh but didn't come with any hot sauce or horseradish or anything besides a lemon. We also got the special lobster Parisian gnocchi, but while there were lots of chunky quality lobster in the dish the gnocchi was more like a bread. The dish overall was so small too. The burger was nothing special. Kind of cold to be honest, and I've had at least 10 better burgers in my life. Really nothing memorable sadly! Fries too- we had to ask for ketchup to give it something. I wish I liked the food here but really nothing special! read more

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Everything was absolutely amazing! The manager David and our server Randi made sure my group of 6 on a work trip had the most wonderful time. Before we knew it almost 4 hours had passed and we didnt even know it. The food was beyond excellent! Everything we had was extremely delicious and beautiful to boot. Next time I make it to Chicago I will be back! Thank you for the wonderful experience read more