Miller's Bar

We made our way out to Dearborn on a humid, rainy weeknight on a mission for a burger, and it did not disappoint. The burger, the bar, the ambiance...were all better than I could have expected, and well worth the hype I've been hearing from my friend. Shortly after our meal he sent me some of his impressions which really summed things up perfectly; so with little help from me, here's our experience at Miller's:

No Way to Miss it.

Oversized signage beckons 60mph burger seekers. All it tells you is what you need to know - you've arrived at "Miller's Bar." And make no mistake about it - it's a bar. No menus.

Sit at the end of the bar, if it's available. Left End - grab the corner and watch baseball on the old TV. Right End - watch the ladies make Miller's heralded hamburgers, "This is where all the magic happens," one burger-lady quipped.

Or there's always the middle, where the bartenders serve ice cold Miller on tap (what else?). The bartenders came with the place. I can't imagine them being anywhere else. "I haven't had the burger in 6 years," our bartender volunteered, "Work in a burger place, don't eat the burger. Work in an ice cream shop, don't eat the ice cream. Work in a brothel..."

No Windows.

The Bar is a sanctuary from high-speed Michigan Avenue and it's Roadside Attractions. It's intimate, yet spartan with a 'dated-yet-timeless' feel. The limited decor is big, just like Michigan Avenue, as we take in the Tigers on the old TV.

The place is lively, with regulars downing pitchers and glancing at the game on a single flat screen. The focus is clearly not on sports, entertainment or interior design. It's all about the burgers.

No Silverware.

The Burger is what it is. Simple, hearty and cooked to perfection. Served the same way for 72 years (with or without cheese and onion) and presented - without presentation - on wax paper.

Fries and onion rings also arrive on wax paper in a basket. Makes sense. A tray with salt, pepper, mustard, ketchup, pickles and paper napkins completes the picture at the corner of the bar, where our focus remained for the duration of our stay at Miller's.

Solid burger. Medium rare, plenty of beef and topped with Swiss. And it's big enough to handle a healthy portion of the sliced raw onion, served on its own piece of (you guessed it) wax paper.

Onion ring batter tilts toward the south, a distant cousin to bayou diner-style hush puppies. Fries are thin, straight-cut and play second fiddle to the burgers and rings.

No Credit Cards.

The utilitarian 'ATM' sign painted on the side door is a subtle nod to Miller's 'credit-free-environment.'  Sifting through the wallet for some cash is yet another ritual that makes Miller's what it is. A perfectly fine place to pull out of the rat race for a while to trade a few dollars for some burgers and beer. Just let the Bartender show you the way.

This bar is not a jack of all trades, it's a master of one. If you're in the mood for an amazing, well-cooked burger and a cold beer this place is definitely for you. If not then this place is not for you. Nothing fancy, just amazing burgers.

The front of this place is quite deceiving. It looks like a dive bar and not the type of place you'd go for food, but surprisingly enough on the inside, its actually quite quaint!
The beer selection on tap is pretty rubbish, but they do have a number of good beers in bottles. The burgers are delicious though, even though they come with just onion and some condiments. I'd have given this place only 3 stars (given the terrible beer selection) but the honour system they have for paying and the friendliness of the staff completely won me over!