First time here. I came with a couple of friends for lunch after hearing that the smash burgers…read morewere amazing. They were!
Food:
The menu is fairly small, focusing mainly on burgers with a handful of other items. Since we came specifically for the burgers, that was exactly what we were looking for.
Two of us ordered the Draft Smash Burger, and I went with the Fancy Smash, featuring two patties, along with an order of fries. The fries come with their Draft Sauce, which is similar to Thousand Island dressing. The person taking our order also suggested trying the Honey Mustard, saying it was her favorite, so I added that as well.
The food came out quickly, and everything was excellent. The patties were smashed perfectly, with lacy, crispy edges and lots of caramelized flavor. The combination of caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and truffle mayo made the Fancy Smash rich, juicy, and almost decadent.
The fries were plentiful, hot, and crispy. They were delicious, although I thought they were seasoned just a little too heavily. Dialing the seasoning back a notch would have made them even better.
Service:
You order at the bar, receive a table number, and the food is brought out to you. The person taking our order was friendly and helpful, and her recommendation to try the Honey Mustard was spot on. Everyone working there seemed upbeat and genuinely happy to be there.
Atmosphere:
This is a newer location, directly across from the Baird Center. I can imagine it getting pretty busy during the lunch rush, but we arrived closer to 1:00 p.m., so we may have missed the crowd.
The space feels less like a traditional restaurant and more like a modern burger shack or patio bar that happens to serve outstanding food. There is indoor seating, but with the large overhead doors open, it feels like you're dining outdoors. On a beautiful day like ours, it was the perfect setup, shaded from the sun while still enjoying the fresh air.
Outside, there are picnic tables on an open patio. The entire place is well designed, casual, clean, and well maintained.
I'd definitely come back for another amazing burger.