Kristin S.
Yelp
My boyfriend and I are visiting Chicago and ate at Weber Grill last night (Sunday, October 15). As it is connected to our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn), it seemed like a good choice: we were sight-seeing all day and did not feel like venturing far for dinner.
At approximately 4:30PM, I made the reservation for 7:00PM as we were finishing up a movie in our hotel room. The process for reservations was easy as I used OpenTable.
Upon entering the restaurant from our hotel lobby, we walked to the hostess stand and let her know we had reservations. The hostess walked us to a table that was basically in the kitchen. The noise coming from the cooks preparing the food was extremely loud, and we had to basically shout at one another in order to have a decent conversation. Not blaming the cooks at all - I've worked in restaurants and a kitchen needs to do what it needs to do to run. I just felt that the layout of the restaurant was extremely odd. I get the concept: they wanted an open kitchen to show that the food is being prepared on Weber Grills, and even the heat lamps were fashioned with grill tops. I guess it's just a matter of aesthetic preference.
After being seated, our waiter (never got his name) comes over and takes our drink order. After about 10 minutes, he goes to an incorrect table with our drinks at first, then comes to our table and drops them off. No harm, no foul. I ordered a club soda with lime, but my drink had a lemon with it. I requested a side of lime and he apologized and gladly brought me a cup of three slices of lime.
Being a restaurant that prides itself on cooking on the famous Weber Grills, we felt it appropriate to order burgers and/or steaks. From the website:
Appetizer: HILL COUNTRY EGG ROLLS - Smoked Brisket, Corn, Cheddar, Black Beans, Jalapeno, BBQ Mayo - $14
My order: THE BIG G - Dedicated to our restaurant's founder George Stephen - 10oz. Dry Aged Beef, Gruyere Cheese, Smoked Caramelized Onions, Bone Marrow Bordelaise Sauce, Dijonaisse, Sesame Brioche Bun - $21
My boyfriend's order: CLASSIC BURGER Signature Blend of Slagel Farms Dry-Aged Beef, LTO, American Cheese, Brioche Bun - $17
Our waiter thanked us for our order, collected the menus, and returned a few minutes later with a bread basket with three dinner rolls. I'm sorry to be so negative, but these dinner rolls were awful. They tasted stale and were crumbly (see photo). I'd rather have no bread than bad bread. I think the restaurant should rethink having dinner rolls period, unless they want to invest in better bread.
After about 15 minutes, another waiter brought our appetizer to the wrong table. After the table guests shook their head, he then dropped it off at our table. No harm, no foul... again.
The egg rolls themselves were very good. The brisket inside was so flavorful and cooked perfectly. I didn't get much jalapeno in either piece that I had, but maybe that is a matter of personal preference. The bbq mayo tasted exactly like bbq sauce with some mayo in it. It wasn't bad, but I think I would've almost preferred regular barbeque sauce.
We finished our app and the bread was being left untouched, but all of the dishes remained on our table (see photo).
After another 15/20 minutes, our burgers were brought out. The fries accompanying the burgers were cold and underseasoned. We requested salt, which the waiter brought quickly.
Now, the ONLY reason this restaurant received 3 stars from me is because of the burgers. HOLY COW. My burger was cooked a PERFECT medium rare, and my boyfriend's burger was cooked to his liking (medium well). The quality of the meat was unmatched, and the cooking on the Weber grills absolutely contributed to this being one of the best burgers I've had in a long time. I've never had bone marrow bordelaise sauce, but now I want to bathe in it. When I tell you eating this burger was a spiritual experience, I'm not lying.
My boyfriend finished up his food, and I wanted a to go box for mine, but our waiter was nowhere to be found. Eventually, the shift manager came over and cleared my boyfriend's plate and I asked for a to go box. He never came back, so when our waiter finally returned, I requested a to go box again.
He brought the box and the check, and my bf paid. They added an 18% gratuity, which I hate when restaurants do (and honestly, sucks to be our waiter because my bf usually tips 25% or higher). He signed and didn't leave additional tip, as our service was kind, but absent for the most part.
IN SHORT: It's a step above an Applebee's. Weber Grill knows how to cook meat, but nothing else. Don't bother with sides and make sure you get a meat-based app as well. Come here if you don't mind eating next to a busy expedite line, but be prepared to have to shout at your table mates. Ask for things "in bulk" as service is slow. Despite all this, the burgers are damn good and definitely worth a try if you're in the area. I'll be getting them to go next time.