PrimeTime Bar & Grill

Just had the best Smashburger that I have had in a while. I got the single with bacon and it was perfection. The Cajun fries were really seasoned well and went with the chipotle mayo in the best way! Staff was really friendly. It’s a clean place, too! Good spot to watch the Bears.

This is a solid and fresh smashburger and fry situation in Albany Park. Every time I’ve been here, service was very friendly. Today, even the chef came out to see how we liked our food!it’s a sports bar for sure, but they have great food, a good list of beers and the place is clean as a whistle.

Currently on holiday from the UK and decided to visit PrimeTime Bar & Grill after reading the rave reviews on Google and Reddit. I ordered the double smashed burger with Cajun fries and it absolutely did not disappoint - easily a 10/10. The flavor was incredible. I’d highly recommend stopping by and I’d return in a heartbeat!

The food here is always incredible and never misses! Their menu recently changed so if you haven’t been here in a while, you need to come back! Their daily specials are perfect especially for local college students looking to dine on a budget. The drinks are great and I love the variety of the bottles. Their beers are local from the Chicago area and their menu items are named after top Chicago athletes which is perfect for a Chicago sports bar. My favorite menu item currently is a Bearclaw Crunchwrap but you can never go wrong with any of their Smashburgers. I love this place so much!

This place is very good. Loved my spicy double smash burger, my gf loved her regular double smash. Fries are real good and the spicy ranch is actually spicy. Good beer selection; fair priced. The interior has tons of potential, could use a little something though. Will definitely be back

Look man, at some point a burger is a burger, I get it, but why have I come here three times in the last three weeks and crowned this as one of the best smash burgers I’ve had in this city? Everything is fresh. And seasoned so well. It’s also very reasonably priced compared to the more mainstream Chicago smashburger places. Huge fan. Whoever is in the kitchen should either be proud of themselves and/or proud of whoever they trained.

Service was immaculate. Went to grab a bite to eat and watch the football game. Food was really good and fresh. Never had a chicken smash burger before- I’d go back and get it again for sure.

This is a great local spot! Vanessa is great! She always greets you with a smile and kind words! Joel is also pretty cool! Definitely check it out and get the smashburger fries! They have great daily specials!

Got some smash burgers and fries for delivery and it was on point! A true smash burger is hard to find. One that delivers is even harder. This is the real deal, it's got the crispy "meat lace" around the edges of the smashed patty. All melted in with the cheese, grilled onions and special sauce on a soft sesame seed bun. Fries compliment well, it's the double fried kind. Everything was packaged and travels well. Check it out!

Service, food and easy to find parking since I came today on a Sunday and didn't have to pay the meters. I was greeted right away and order taken quickly. Once my amazing smash burger arrived the owner Joel came to greet me and asked me if it was my first time , very friendly and polite and he wanted to make sure every was just as ordered. The spicy smash burger is phenomenal I loved the crispy lattice beef edge and the fried jalapeño slices omg. I text my friend as I went alone and told her "you have try this place"!! She's a foodie like me. Im definitely coming back for the food and the exceptional service

I consider myself a burger snob and lover of all things smashburger. I am not above seeking out burgers that have made lists in Chicago, or come highly recommended by friends. Primetime had both really high ratings, and I had a friend tell me it was worth trying. We ordered it for delivery and I was sadly so disappointed. First off all, the burger was sloppily put together. The cheese barely covered half the burger, throwing the ratio of meat to cheese completely off. Second, the burger patty was almost too salty. It didn't make the experience enjoyable. Maybe going in person is better, but I won't be ordering delivery from here.

PrimeTime's smashburger was surprisingly good. The patty had that wonderfully crispy exterior you expect from a smash-style burger, giving it a satisfying texture and a good amount of savory flavor. While maybe not as gourmet as a dedicated burger joint, the toppings - a slice of melted cheese, some fresh-tasting pickles, and a tangy sauce - were a surprisingly tasty combination. The bun was also decent, holding everything together well. This smashburger exceeded my expectations and definitely hits the spot. I will say they are stingy with the fries and the bacon is kinda flimsy. 3.89 stars

4.5/5 very good experience. Food is a good price and good quality. Service was pretty fast but waited about 15 minutes for our appetizer. We ordered buffalo chicken fries and the spicy smash burger. The best thing is how crispy the fries are! Feels like a local bar, clean and well decorated not upscale. We plan to return for the daily deals.

Finally had a chance to come by and check out this new burger-based sports bar in our neighborhood. The restaurant smells very clean when entering and it's quite bright and spacious. The football game was on all the TVs and the sound was playing too. The waitress was very attentive and remembered all our names for our tabs. As for the food, I got a veggie quesadilla which was really good and a Malibu's Most Wanted to drink, which tasted like a lemony piña colada. Others in our group got burgers, and they looked pretty amazing. I'll definitely be back if I'm craving a smash burger and have some sports to watch.

I'm excited to see this new business thriving in the neighborhood! Joel and Maria both introduced themselves, were exceptionally friendly, and provided great customer service. This is a nice spot to visit if you want a burger, a beer, and a spot to watch some games. I had a single smashburger which had a great lacy patty. The Prime Time sauce is really good! They come by to provide menus and say hello, but know that you'll need to go up to the bar to order food. But then sometimes they come by and will let you order another drink through them. Something I think they'll work out in time. Excited to see how they grow with time and provide specials, special events and overall find their flow. We'll be back!

Excellent Smashburgers. I had the spicy with medium sauce. Very flavorful, especially when paired with Cajun fries. My son had the chorizo smashburger. It was messy, but he definitely enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

I was excited to finally try this new place in the neighborhood. With the nearby businesses making the block look more like a used car lot than a neighborhood, it's hard to attract good businesses. I'm hopeful they succeed, so I'm giving them a 4 when they are really a 3. First, the service was great. 5-star. Very friendly and welcoming. The ambience, however, is a 2 at best. This place doesn't have any personality at all. It's a sports bar (in that there are several TVs showing sports), with a couple gambling machines at the back... and not a stitch of decor. I mean that - not a photo or sports banner or neon sign or mural. It feels empty and unfinished, like they haven't figured themselves out yet. I hope they do. They are also fully "bar," meaning all high top tables, so definitely not a place for families, older folks, or anyone unable to sit on a barstool. The food is a 4 for meat-eaters (my friend really liked the spicy burger) but a 2 for vegetarians. They don't have veggie burgers! I was actually very surprised by this. So many places have veggie burgers on the menu I thought surely a place that ONLY does burgers would. You don't even need to store fresh ingredients since they're frozen. Maybe better for me? I spent a lot of money on veggie burgers at Rockwells when i lived a little further east. The quesadilla was the only option. It was good, different. It's made with American cheese and served with ranch. They didn't have salsa or hot sauce (they offered the spicy ranch which, while very spicy, was not really what I was going for). I liked it, but it's disappointing that it was the only option. All in all, it's OK. If they get veggie burgers, I'll probably order regularly. 6-10% of Americans are veg (likely closer to 10 in Chicago) so they are missing a market. Hopefully, they will make that add and give the place a little more personality. I live a block away and wild love to have a regular neighborhood place to grab a bite.

SPECTACULAR SMASHBURGERS! Wonderful bar for Sunday football, great selection of beer and liquor, and on top of that a damn decent selection of smashburgers. We got the #50 and #51 along with Cajun fries (with primetime sauce). I would drown all my food in this damn sauce. Loved everything we ate and beyond excited this is in the neighborhood. Highly recommend checking this place out, especially if you have a burger craving.

Came here on a whim with a buddy to grab a drink and some food, not knowing what to expect. Was more than satisfied by the service and quality of food. Our waitress checked on us often and did a good job breaking down the menu for us. It was St.Paddy's Day so they had a drink special and we got Guinness beers for $4. We ordered 2 spicy smashburgers with cajun fries. Burgers were the perfect amount of spicy where I could feel the heat but appreciate the flavor. Had me sweating a bit fries were seasoned very nicely as well. The owner Joel came up to chat with us which we appreciated! From the price to the taste and overall environment, I would definitely come back again!

Love this place! Cannot wait to have another burger. Good place to watch sports too.

Super solid smash burger. Bag fries, but killer sauce. Pretty spare ambience. Have visited both inside and taken out. Staff has generally been pretty nice.

Awesome Smashburgers!!! Yum! Just like grandma made!! Nice ambiance! Sports bar! Music not too loud ! Cozy! Super clean! Restrooms are A++Friendly staff. We are from out of town and staff treated us like they knew us!!! Well the burger was amazing ! Crispy, yet juicy and the bacon yummy!! I had a single my husband had the double! Great menu with at least 10-12 different smash burgers and quesadillas! Will for sure come back! Not super busy!!!

Really, really good burger and fries. We stopped in for a quick burger before going to play some pool and it really hit the spot. We will definitely come back to try the other smashburgers, but this time just got the #50 (cheeseburger) with everything. Good crispy, meaty flavor, paper thin lettuce/pickles. They came with this delicious "primetime" sauce. The fries have that crispy coating. It was all quite hot and very fresh tasting. The decor is no frills. They have beers on tap and a full bar. It feels like a good place to chill and watch sports on the weekend and a fun college type bar to party at weekend nights. The service was very friendly. You order at the bar and they bring your order to your table. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

Excellent food and beer selection. A great addition to the area that definitely needed a place to go for a great burger and a beer.

The owner Joel is great. Awesome local place and the smashburger fries make my dick hard. Amazing 10 out of 10.

This spot just opened in October and is absolutely worth a visit. I had a double smash burger with bacon with a side of Cajun fries. The burger was sooooo good! I liked the seasoning and crispness of the fries. Definitely recommend if you like smash burgers! 9.5/10.

I am coming out of Yelp retirement for this review. PrimeTime's jam is their smash burger. It's delicious! I highly recommend. But, they also have daily specials that are definitely worth your while. Moreover, the owner is a really great person and is part of a lot of local community/neighborhood events like Flavors of Albany Park and other fun outings. I highly encourage you to come to PrimeTime! Yum!

had no idea what to expect. great smashburger, fantastic service and a fantastic neighborhood gem! I think I have finally found "my" local! Excited to try the chorizo smashburger.

Can't say enough good things about this place. The burgers are amazing and the service is great. They are super friendly- I've definitely become a regular. The area has been in need of a great local bar like this and primetime fits the bill!

Awesome smashburgers!! Great local bar and grill in Albany Park. Super cool staff too!

Fantastic burger and fries. Not easy to do. There are so many OK places for a burger but this place excels. Smash burger is stellar -- well thought out not too big or small. Perfect. Owners/staff great too. We go here to get the burger fix. You should too.

Had a great time there watching the Bears. The food and buckets of beers make hanging with friends and watching football a solid option for anyone in Albany Park.

Omg ! These burgers are astonishing ! I was blown away. I was told how good they are then saw all the amazing reviews. Had the spicy smashburger and the smashburger fries. Will be back STAT to try the chorizo smashburger.

Great owners, great smash burger. Good beers with a few drafts. Good range of scotch and tequilas Great new spot in the neighborhood. .

If you're looking for a new favorite burger spot in Chicago, you just found it. First time trying PrimeTime Bar & Grill and it was amazing! I went in just wanting a good burger and was surprised by how amazing everything was. I ordered a smashburger with bacon and Cajun fries, with a side of habanero and PrimeTime sauce. Everything was top tier!! The fries were extra crispy, generously seasoned, and paired perfectly with their habanero sauce and PrimeTime sauce (which is a must try). Legit one of the best fries I've ever had in a long time. The burger was amazing and super generous in size. It was cooked perfectly, delicious, and literally no crumbs were left. Honestly, my only regret was that I ate it too fast. Best of all, everything was super affordable and the customer service was exceptional from the moment we walked in. The owner was super friendly and we even got to meet his adorable dog. Can't wait to come back!

Came here and got a single burger and fries. Both were super tasty (and affordable!). The people working here are really nice. I'll definitely be back.

Super cute bartender with a great personality and very talented at making cocktails!! The food was very tasty we will definitely be returning!!

It's clear the burgers are great here! But can we talk about the SAUCES. They have a spicy ketchup, ranch, habanero ranch (will make upon request), regular habanero sauce, and my personal favorite the primetime sauce!! All of them go fantastic with the Cajun fries which are a must. And I got the mango mago drink. So good. Sweet from the mango with a bit of a kick! The service is great! Staff recognize us from going a couple of times, so you know they care. Just great vibes!

Solid smash burger and great cajun fries! Straight forward menu, decently priced, and apparently they're working on a cocktail menu. Staff is very friendly and there are plenty of TVs for game days. Great new addition to the neighborhood!

Great smash burger Good cocktails Friendly service Great place to watch a game Good addition to the neighborhood

Casual place to watch sports, eat a burger, and sip a drink. Not a lot of other nearby options like it. Great beer selection. Very friendly staff.

We live in the neighborhood and drove by PrimeTime and the bright colors, lights and TVs caught our attention as a place to try. After seeing reviews in our local Facebook group, we decided to give it a go! All of the staff is friendly and take the time to chat with you. The menu is no nonsense and straight forward. Burgers and fries. But when you have a smaller menu, you know that those items have to be good. And we were not disappointed. Smashburgers were great we got the single with bacon and a double with bacon + an egg. Their fries aren't like normal fries. I don't know what they do, but they are AMAZING! Everything is fresh and made there in the establishment, even the sauces! If you are in or passing through Albany Park, this is a must try.

I heard word a couple weeks ago about a new smash burger spot in the Albany Park neighborhood, and I finally had the chance to try it this past Tuesday. I can honestly say that it's one of the best burgers I've had this year, and I've had a ton of burgers. It had the perfect maillard reaction that added a beautiful crunchy texture and it had the right amount of house-made seasoning. The PrimeTime sauce is fantastic! Had a great flavor and a nice touch of spice. The bun was perfectly toasted and the lettuce was cut razor thin - which I love. They're still working on the decorations and whatnot inside, but the bar is great and they have a ton of space. The owner, Joel, and the rest of his staff are extremely friendly and chatted with me for a while about how they got started and other things. I love this spot and I really hope everyone else in the neighborhood does too because there aren't a lot of places like that around there. Great stuff!

Love this place, I come here weekly. Great crispy sear on the burgers. Crispy fries. The smash burger quesadilla is a must try. Owner is super friendly. Place is always clean, food is always hot and fresh!

One of the best smashbugers in town! They recently just opened up but the food and service is amazing! Great location to watch sports games and the owners are super friendly. The staff recommended the chorizo smashburger but I decided to try out their original smashburger and it was one of the best that I have had in Chicago! I will definitely be back to check out their wide variety of smashburgers!

I just moved to the area and decided to check out Primetime across the street. Staff was friendly and the owner even walked around asking how folks were doing. Highly recommend the spicy smash burger with Cajun fries. All in all I plan on being a regular

Burger and fries were hot and fresh. Fries were fine but nothing special. Burger was a sloppy mess. Stringy onions and undercooked rubbery bacon that were both inedible. Burger tasted like they dropped the black pepper shaker on it. Worse than fast food for triple the price. Sad.

Picked up dinner from here tonight. I must say, these were the best smash burgers I have ever had. My husband and brother had the double and I had the spicy single burger. All 3 were delicious. We also got the cajun fries which were equally great and stayed crispy the entire ride home. The lady who answered the phone was really friendly. This will be our new go to spot for burgers. So happy we found this place!

Been here a couple times now, and I can't say enough good about the owner, employees, and food. I generally feel intimidated or like I can't relax if I go to a bar by myself. After being here with my boyfriend once and realizing how friendly and low-key this place was, I went back to watch a game by myself and felt very comfortable. The owner even recognizes you if you go a couple times. Just a nice place! Nice people.

This is an awesome addition to the neighborhood. One of the best things you can do with a bar is to keep it simple. The menu is small which I really appreciate. What they do, they do well. The burger is fantastic and the service is top notch. Great place to catch a game. Really excited to be back!

Great smash burgers and drinks - love the smash burger with jalapeños. Service is awesome!

very chill guys, 6 minute wait on my food,awsome burger and sauce only for 10$ you must come to this place 10/10 reccomend