Charlie Beinlich's Food & Tap

I stop in at Beinlich's about once a year for a little nostalgia and a great burger. Dad told me my grandfather knew Charlie from someplace or other.. that generation was pretty interesting and it seems like everyone knew each other from all the stuff they used to do together. They were used to it because they grew up before TV was a thing and even radio was still pretty new. So people joined all these social clubs, went out dancing and drank and stuff.Anyway, Beinlich's has been here forever and really stands out in contrast to the surrounding area now, which it strip malls, car dealerships and corporate offices. They have a very small menu but what they have they do really well. And don't expect a burger with a bunch of fancy stuff on it. A truly great burger doesn't need all that and Beinlich's has a great pub burger. Fresh beef delivered daily, no Sysco frozen patties here.Service has always been friendly and prompt, but they are busy at dinnertime on weekends so be aware.Ambiance is like my grandparents basement bar/party room or Resi's Bierstube in Chicago. Lots of vintage beer signs, fish on the walls, wood paneling. Really cozy and there's a lot to look at while you have lunch. Cash only, so stop at the ATM before you come.I love Charlie Beinlich's and please never change.

Back to Beinlich's after 25 years living out of state. Nothing has changed. Same woodsy charm with fish on the walls. Maybe the food hasn't changed but I have. Limited menu burger, grilled cheese, cole slaw. Fries only fair. And it's just not that good. Maybe in the 70's or 80s it was but not now. Unremarkable.

Came to this long standing icon. It's a great quaint bar with sports games on and what looks like a crowd of regulars. I can see why it's homey and the staff incredibly "on it". Service outstanding. Not a huge selection of wines mainly a beer and spirits place.Had a Gin and Tonic which was perfect. Had a burger w fries. The slaw was outstanding. The feature of the entree. The burger was really good sized probably a1/3 pound or more. cooked perfectly as I asked. Flavor was okay. Fries were just okay. Not crispy on the outside like I like them. Small menu. 8 items. No more.

My husband grew up going here. He was excited to take me there. It was nice to share his memories. At the end of the day it is crowded. Tables very close to each other. It is just a good burger. Yes, I will go back with him.

This place is the kind of place I would open, if I was to open a bar/restaurant. Simple menu, done right. Service done professionally and with a touch of class. It's like the north woods of Wisconsin meets suburban Chicago. Shrimp cocktail was clean, fresh and with zippy cocktail sauce. Burgers are melt in your mouth. Quality ingredients. Everything fresh and on point. Obviously this place has a lil special place in my heart and I'd hope others can see how that is. This place is a well oiled machine, and with that dedication to excellence, it deserves my 5 stars. Keep up the great work and stay a great institution of the past.

This is a cool old school multigenerational family Tavern. The menu has eight items on it; they have been serving them for years. Their beer list is good. If You don't like this place; I don't like You. Have a Nice Day.

The more things change the more they stay the same. This is true for Charlie Beinlich's Food & Tap. Nothing has changed about the interior decor. I have been visiting Beinlich's (as known to the locals) since the mid-80s and I can honestly say that nothing has changed. From the menu to the wood-paneled covered walls to the fish hanging dead center above the bar; nothing has changed. I visited last night with my Burger Club (we visit local places that are known for their burgers. Recommendations come from locals, social media posts about local burger joints, and reputable articles in local print media. We do not do this for free food. It's our opinions. And we rate the burgers on a 0 to 5 scale. Beinlich's received a 3.25. We first started with their well-known shrimp cocktails. We had two for the table. They were medium sized shrimp doused in cocktail sauce. I could do with a lot less sauce and a little lemon. There was a lemon wedge that added a little zest to the shrimp, but the sauce overpowered the taste of the shrimp. The burgers were pretty good. The bottom bun barely held up to the juiciness of the burger...which one would think was then bursting with flavor. Not so much. If the burger recipe has held true since the place opened in the 1950s, one would think the burgers had good flavor. The opposite is true here. There was little flavor, but it was overly juicy which left you with the flavor of whatever you added to your burger. In my case, the cheddar, pickles and mustard. I could taste all three, including the bun, which left little room for the meaty profile of their fresh burgers that are delivered daily from Lakeside Farms in Winnetka, IL. The fries were made perfectly and were quite tasty. The burgers also come with cole slaw. I'm not a slaw guy, but I traded pickles for slaw with one of the guys in my group as long as he rated the slaw. He said it was very good and on the creamy side (not vinegar). For a Tuesday night, the place was packed consistently until they closed at 9pm. Make no mistake, this is a local pub and the locals come out for the decent food, drinks (which are quite inexpensive for a pub), and ambience of their local watering hole. It's cash only, so be prepared.

This place is another local staple. Menu is small and to the point. The burger and fries are amazing and if you wanna watch a college football game we love to come in and sit at the bar. It's been around for ages and it's just a great spot all around. There's a bar also so if you want a beer or cocktail you're set!

First time. Intimidating not to have a menu with prices. I understand it is a schtick, but not welcome. I had a delicious shrimp cocktail. Fresh, great cocktail sauce with real horseradish. Maybe if I get a membership card, I will feel more at home.

The chicken Cesar wrap is incredible!!! It's a sleeper on the menu for sure, the Cesar dressing is so good!