Stephen C.
Yelp
So let's get down to brass tacks here. There are a lot of burger joints. or joints that like to serve what they call burgers. Some are decent burger joints with good, sometimes exceptional burgers. But it's difficult to find a great burger in a joint filled with character and characters that fill it daily.
I have been in this city my entire life and I am intimately familiar with its offerings particularly the street food scene, i.e. burgers, dogs, tacos, beefs, ethnic street foods etc. That said I had never heard of Goldyburger's until a friend of mine who grew up near and worked there it dragged me there.
I had driven by this nondescript bar too many times to count and never even noticed it. But it's no surprise as its been there literally 100 years so it fit right into the neighborhood landscape. I mean, even though it's technically in a suburb, Forest Park, the L train goes there and the bus goes there and you can easily drive as it's right off of the Eisenhower and Harlem ave. I am ashamed to say I had never been.
So we pulled up and there it is this old bar storefront a relic from Chicago's past when politicians were called 'Hinky Dink and Bathhouse John'. When you enter it's like stepping into a timeworn or a museum. You can hear the old voices whispering in the booths. The furniture and decor is clean and well taken care of but attractively aged. I think it's all the original stuff from way back when the brothers Goldstein open a bar in the spot in 1926. I tell ya, being in there immediately made me feel like I was transported back into the past. The dining area is large and with excellent family style seating. The bar is old school Chicago, reminiscent of those I grew up in and the taverns in the neighborhood that the folks would take us to, every barstool filled with a different unique character. The kind of people that all had nicknames they earned for one reason or another. Not like today were people give themselves nicknames. The decor all original. Out back, the patio, is an immense, tree filled courtyard fun to hang out eat in and drink in. I mean, it's hard to put into words the character this spot has, as long as it's survived it deserves more than any words I can offer up to describe it.
These days and for the past 4 decades plus it's owned Mike Sullivan and family who i had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with.
The menu is straight forward on laminated double sided sheets. That's all you need because the proof is in the pudding so to speak. It's in the food offerings. We started with the breaded and deep fried Cheddar Cheese Balls. Really good with really excellent flavorful breading. But hardcore bar style grub for the hardcore. Yes they are deep fried, yes they are filling and no I won't even go into how heart healthy they may be. But man they're good. They are kind of like last meal electric chair food. That kind of good.
They have some great offerings, ham n cheese on rye and homemade potato pancakes and quality Chicago style bar food (not enough props is given to real Chicago bar food, it's a very real food group) to a Friday night fish fry.
I went with the original Goldy Burger with cheese. You get your choice of cheese and pickles, lettuce, tomato and a healthy side of house cut steak fries on the side.
The burger is excellent, a good old school diner burger. Believe me they're not that easy to come by. A burger and a side of character even harder to find. The cheese is nicely melted and covers the patty. The LTP is fresh and crisp and just enough so as not to disguise the beef. The beef patty is what stands out, thick, juicy, cooked correctly. Now this isn't a smash burger, no, this is old school diner or picnic burger. The kind that brings you back to being a kid, the kind a lot of love goes into. Goldyburger's is that kind of burger. You can tastes the love they put into it. You feel like you're on a picnic in your own back yard on their large, airy patio. The fries are really good and stand up to any fry I can think of. If you could see my belly you would know I'm not afraid of a fry or two.
I washed this excellent lunch down with my go to an unsweetened Iced Tea. My friend washed hers down with a couple Vodka Tonics which are available as it is a bar. That's an added benefit for many folks. A few folks on the patio were enjoying beers with their burgers.
I think what does it for Goldyburgers beside the fact that they have great burgers and enough really good offerings to keep everyone happy is the love put into it. This place is obviously labor intensive and Mike the owner holds old school service and neighborhood in high regard. It's about the generational business they do here. I noticed he knew most everyone who walked in.
As a side note, it's no surprise his daughter Bailey Sullivan is a huge hit on America's Top Chef. Growing up at Goldyburger I am sure didn't hurt.
You gotta try it!
