The Loyalist

As a burger aficionado, I had to try the Loyalist during my recent trip to Chicago. We arrived about 12 minutes before opening and were first in line, allowing us to grab two seats at the bar upon opening.The cocktail I ordered to start was delicious and even served with house-made corn ice cream. The ice cream was super creamy and flavorful, while the cocktail was well-balanced.We chose to split the anchovy toast appetizer and it was... honestly pretty life-changing hahaha. I'm not typically a fan of anchovies, but my partner is, and it appealed to both of us equally. The milk toast was fluffy and perfectly toasted, and the anchovy/butter pairing to top it was salty yet SO delicious. It really blew me away.Now, on to the burger. It was a really solid burger, pretty much right what I was expecting. Good quality meat cooked to perfection. Paired with crispy salty shoestring fries and aioli.All-in-all, really yummy meal. I see why it's been getting all the hype recently, and would encourage you to add it to your itinerary, even if just walking in at the bar!

Hello everyone,For my 500th review (hooray for me!), I give you the Loyalist, and its very famous burger.Located in the basement of an old West Loop building, the Loyalist is a dark, sexy affair. Both the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned are excellent, but the edge goes to the Manhattan for a seamless, sugar free mix. Wines are limited here, but there are a few by the glass options, including a French Cab Franc.Service is friendly and the upholstery is leather. For desserts, the profiteroles are OK - the chocolate sauce is excellent but I found the pastry somewhat lacking in crunch.Oh, yes, I almost forgot. The Burger. I'm sure you're dying to know - was it tasty, and was it worth it?The first question is the easiest, and so we will start there - it is very tasty. It is a structural marvel, perfectly coordinated bun and burger. Easy to hold and easy to devour, this burger maintains structural integrity throughout its existence. I love that they use a sesame seed bun and it is everything you would hope for.The burger patty mix is juicy without being greasy, and full of beefy flavor. The cheese is perfectly melted, and the onions and pickles round out the flavor nicely. I easily ate the entire burger.The burger also comes with fries - and impeccable reproduction of the McDonald's style. They were very good.It is undeniably a tasty burger.But at $27, is it worth it? Is it twice as good as the Small Cheval across Lake Street? Honestly probably not, that is pretty steep, even with fries.But it should be tried at least once, so that you may fully experience Chicago's ongoing culinary renaissance. But for non special occasions Small Cheval will more than satisfy.A note on access - The Loyalist is in the basement, and entree requires a journey down 14 steps, or a go down an extremely steep driveway ramp. Like, San Francisco street steep. Fortunately, whether you are using a wheelchair or walking, the Maitre'd is more than happy to help you navigate, so be sure to notify them ahead of time.

!! My 2000th Yelp review !!This was simply an incredible experience. With a romantic ambiance in an industrial underground bar, this is the perfect spot to check out while in West Loop. From burgers, to appetizers, and incredible cocktails... I was completely impressed.We started with the Beef Tartare, which was perfectly seasoned! A little tart and very savory. The beef was tender and almost melted with every bite. The egg yolk was the highlight as it coated each piece of beef. I love that they have free bread to pair with this. (don't be scared to ask for more!)A must try is the Loyalist OG Cheeseburger, which is all the rave! Known for being one of the best burgers in Chicago - I made it my goal to visit and order this specifically. Medium well patty, which was seasoned nicely. The cheese and pickled onions complimented one another. It was a classic cheeseburger! NO FRILLS, but very well executed! Best burger I've ever had for sure. The bread was great too. High quality stuff over here.For drinks, I highly highly highly recommend the House of 1000 Carrots. With a name like that, how could I not try it? This was light, sweet, and hit the spot. Imagine a clarified carrot cake perfectly crafted into a little cocktail. SOOOO GOOD. I would come back here for this drink alone!

The service was exceptional but the real markdown comes from the delay in getting the food out. We waited close to an hour on a table of 8. With the simplicity of the menu, and the majority of people ordering the French press or the OG, we expected a quicker delivery. The beef tartare option was wonderful. If there is one selection that is a must, it's that. The OG was quite good but didn't stand out from other gourmet burgers. The patio outside unfortunately took the city sounds in with the train passing by on a regular schedule. Will need to visit inside next time. Will reevaluate the score on service in future visits.

Absolutely disgusting and disappointing that their burgers use pig fat! Why isn't this written or a known fact when knowing there are a significant amount of customers can't consume pork!

My friends wanted to come here because of the burger. This place is very dark and gives speakeasy vibes. I personally didn't like how dark it was inside considering it was 6 pm outside and still so bright.We got the OG burger which was recommended by our server. There was a decent amount of fries that it came with. We were all hungry so it hit the spot, but it is not the best burger I have had (that's reserved for 7th street burger in NYC). This burger was not worth $27 in my opinion. We also got some cocktails that everyone enjoyed.

Move aside, Au Cheval--there's a new burger sheriff in town! This place undoubtedly serves the best burger in Chicago. We went for Sunday brunch and easily reserved a table. While most tourists endure a 3-4 hour wait at the other spot, this gem offers a more accessible dining experience. The charming, moody basement bar ambiance ensures we'll return every time we're in Chicago.

Went to the loyalist to see what this burger is all about. I Wasnt too impressed, and the chef seems to think k very highly of themselves. No substations, no changes. Does not appear they are here to feed customers, more like their own egos and deep pockets.The place is really dark and situated in a a basement with the smith being on the first floor. Typical restaurant ambiance, nothing to make them stand out. Paid street parking wasn't hard to find, but we went on Wednesday so might not be as easy on the weekend. The menu is very simple and I gather most people come here for the burger or to have a drink at the bar. We tried one of each burger.The French smash was not my favorite, the meat patty was super thin and the escargot (snail) sauce overpowered the flavor completely. I don't think escargot belongs on a burger.The OG burger was much better and the onions were very tasty. Was it the bet burger in Chicago? I think not, was it worth the price tag? I think not, but I did enjoy itThe fries were good, similar to McDonald's fries but more crispy. Unfortunately our fries were way way over salted.Our service was good, attentive and she tried to be welcoming, it does appear that this chef or whoever designed the menu is a bit stuck up. No substitutions. And if you order the cookie god forbid you ask for ice cream, the chef doesn't allow it. If the food was better, one of a kind, I'd be more open to all the restriction but in the end the food wasn't anything revolutionary.

It's been two days since I ate here and this place has still been on my mind. I realized that this was probably the worst dinner ever. The sweltering heat I endured is totally unacceptable. Also, those poor cooks must have been suffering!

Whether you order The French Smash or The Loyalist Og Cheeseburger you're going to have one of the best burgers you ever ate. The downstairs accompanying restaurant to Smyth is a casual counterpart that is a fairly easy walk in at the bar. Both burgers are cooked to perfection, the fries are golden & crispy, the Og is a classic done to perfection and the French smash is a decadent take with the smash patty smothered in escargot butter. The Heirloom tomato salad is also excellent.