Owen & Engine is one of those places that I can hang out in repeatedly. Â Just a good feeling. Â The staff are friendly and very helpful. Â Great service all around. Â It is supposed to be like an old style english pub and I enjoy what they have done with the place. Â Notable offerings are the burger which must be of course accompanied by a runny egg and two big thick slabs of bacon which overall combination is yummy harmonious. Â Also, being in an old english style pub, one must try the Scotch Egg which is delicious.
Love this place.
Really good dishes. Scotch egg tastes like the grandfather of all Egg Mcmuffins. It's what egg mcmuffins aspire to be like.
Bangers and mash is stellar, delicious, flavorful, plentiful. Great cocktails and atmosphere. This is a classy joint where classy people sip on classy drinks.
Service was excellent, even during a busy Saturday night. Escargot and Bone Marrow was exquisitely different and refreshing. Seriously great food here. The prices are on point, too.
Kitchen is open until 1am, just so you know.
Hanging with a friend on a Saturday night we had no plans and an appetite for something new, at least to us. We seen the positive reviews for Owen & Engine and decided to give them a shot. And let me say was it a pleasant experience all around.
Walking in to the exquisitely decorated old english style pub. Heavy dark woods luxurious fabrics and wallpaper that just begged for petting, even our server asked if we "felt the wall". The decor and design was consistent all the way down to the menu's. This displayed a level of detail before we even opened the menu that impressed. While very well appointed, the atmosphere was pleasantly casual, warm, inviting, and unpretentious.
Starting with drinks, my friend ordered the "Sage Advice" a refreshing Gin cocktail with hints of lemon, ginger & sage. I took a taste and was delighted at how refreshing it was. I ordered up the "Flores Blanco" Mezcal, St. Germain, lemon, egg white, and black pepper, and was equally pleased. During dinner we switched up to the Pimms cup, she trying the "O&E" and I the "Victorian". The drinks were exceptional, great tasting and they delivered a happy buzz!
For dinner we wanted to try a few different things, so we started with the "Scotch Egg", for the uninformed which i was before this dinner, it's an egg wrapped in sausage meat, battered and fried. My friend hit the Nail on the head when she said "This is what a sausage McMuffin aspires to". Why would you want an appetizer that tastes like a sausage McMuffin? Just eat it and then you'll understand. Absolutely worth the try. Then onto the "Escargot in Bone Marrow", Escargot in buttery Bone Marrow that  delivered as well. Some restaurants use this as an impressive novelty on their menu, here it had a purpose, and was well executed. We finished off with the "Bangers and Mash", looking like a well presented version of the british gastro-pub classic. The Taste far exceeded any version of the dish I've tried before. The Sausages were tender, and the meat melt in your mouth. The mash was freaking awesome, we ended up taking home a side for a friend. An aged cheddar cheese mashed potato that was out of this world . The side we took home was actually from the late night menu, it was toped with a sunny side egg.
This was an exceptional experience, Our server Ryan was extremely personable and friendly, explained the dishes well and offered some great suggestions. He was clearly invested in this place, as an employer myself , that is rare and speaks volumes. When your staff is passionate and excited about the place then everything else seems to fall in line.
Owen & Engine more than met expectations, it delivered on all fronts. Be it a date or casual dinner, this is a great place.
In my review of Fat Willy's Rib Shack I mentioned that really it's a 4, but when viewed as one half of the awesome combo of dinner and a flick at the Western Ave movie theater, it's a 5. Â The fact that I forgot about Owen & Engine when valuing that combo is a shame that I will have to live with for the rest of my life.
Owen & Engine offers a wide array of English cuisine, for which I have a soft spot ever since studying there in high school. Â Please refrain from discounting my subsequent reviews after reading that statement. Â I had the Shepard's Pie, which was a special, and it was excellent. Â Innit right guv'na?
We ate here in late December and I'm just finally getting around to writing my review. We really loved this place and would definitely go back. It's small, so definitely make a reservation. Fantastic service - our waiter did a great job helping us select dishes and pair them with beer. He even brought us beer samples when we couldn't decide.
We started with the charcuterie and cheese plate. It had a really nice selection of meats and cheeses that differed from other places in the city. People at our table ordered the fish and chips, bangers and mash, and the burger. They were all great. The atmosphere was warm and inviting too.
I go to Owen & Engine for their Tuesday deal where you get a burger, fries and a shot of whiskey all for $15. Â
Owen & Engine is an upscale hipster bar with an all wood interior with dark lighting and relaxed atmosphere. Â They are known for their burgers as one of the best in the city. Â It is a hearty burger served on a buttered bun. Â They serve this with a side of fries that can be dipped in aioli sauce. Â
My friends and I participated in this deal and watched a movie right after a few times and it was a ball. Â After a while and a few other visits for dinner I began to dislike the taste of the food from this place. Â Everything seems to be over butter and over salted. Â Perhaps I am being extremely picky but the food no longer agrees with me.
But if you like this British like style of food than Owen & Engine will not disappoint. Â This is a foodie place with a menu that changes with the fresh ingredients they are able to get within the season.
So my review is really a 1.5 start rating however I had to underrate it because I have never been to a meal where my fiance looks like he is going to cry over his failed entree. Â Usually that is my role since I am the foodie in our relationship. Â He even said he would have opened up a Yelp account just to rate this place a one..so being his fiance, I'll take one for the team and rate it.
In short, this place is really overrated and I fail to understand why it is in such high demand. Â
There are a few things that went well.
Scotch Egg is terrific. Â A little overpriced for a scotch egg..but it's still really delicious.
Their cheese sauce that comes with the pretzel, well it's sinfully divine.
Their cocktail James Reily (I think I have the name wrong but it is the cocktail that is whiskey with ginger beer..I prefer to call it a twist on the Moscow Mule)
Bangers and Mash are awesome, they make their own sausage and it is out of this world.
However, our experience was overshadowed by the huge mistakes they made.
Even though the pretzel sauce was amazing, the pretzel itself was flat and nothing special.
It took FOREVER to get our main entrees. Â We got our appetizers right away, but that just made the wait for our main entrees all the more longer.
My fiance order a filet and he requested it to be medium rare. Â When he finally got his filet, it was the height of what a skirt steak usually is (really thin) and his steak was rare. Â I ordered the Bangers and Mash and let's be honest, it doesn't take long to prepare sausages that have already been made and cook up a medium rare filet. Â The fact that it took so long and both meals were semi cold...that just speaks to poor culinary service and bad timing on the kitchen's part.
Our waiter was really cool and I think he felt bad about the filet mess up and he gave us a free dessert which was a brownie with bacon fluff...which in spite of how nice it was, the bacon fluff did not tasted like salt goo and just ruined the brownie.
I would suggest coming here for a drink and appetizers if you have time to kill before a movie..but for a nice date dinner...there are way better places elsewhere that actually have food that is worth waiting for.
Came here yesterday and loved absolutely everything. Scotch egg, that my husband convinced me to eat, was superb! Burger medium rare was really medium rare and was absolutely amazing. Very simple, great flavors, not overwhelmed by toppings. Great choice.
I liked the service, i liked the food and cocktails and really felt like I was in a pub in London once again!
The ambiance tries very hard to mimic an iconic pub experience, with some success, though, given the price point- one would expect a setting more Buckingham than back-alley Brighton. Â
The scotch egg was a highlight, lovely golden crust, the yolk just soft and creamy. Â A pretzel served with a delicious (though very unappetizing grey) gravy with chunks of cheese (Rarebit--not nearly as exciting as the name would imply). Â The bone marrow & escargot was over breaded- the escargot were so flavorless and amorphous I was sure they had forgotten to add them to plate. We also sampled the Amish Chicken Wings--which were good, drenched in a rich, spicy mole--but I couldn't help but feel that they were completely out of place.
The all-important cocktail menu had interest to spare- clever sounding combinations that either came on too strong, or one in particular that completely eschewed herbal and landed in Pinesol territory.
When we sat down, the waitress immediately informed us there was only order of Fish & Chips remaining- which seems odd, given that it was fairly early on a Saturday evening and it's meant to be their signature- frankly, they could have kept it in the kitchen. For $17, the two lonely pieces of haddock where crisp, but under seasoned and bland.  Meanwhile, the Ribeye steak was a seared salt lick.  The "filet" featured huge globulous  lumps of fat, circled in untrimed gristle. It was tender, and the flavor good if you could ignore the way your mouth seemed to be curing itself with every bite. The chewy, overly large Yorkshire pudding- think a popover with no butter- only highlighted how unbalanced the whole mess was.  The pinesol did act as a pallet cleanser...
That brings me to the bill: I'll grant you- we ordered 4 apps, 4 entrees, and drinks- but the bill came to a whooping $300 for 4.
My money would have been better spent on a flight to London.
Have you ever wanted to walk into a someone manor, sit at their bar and get a great dinner but at a price that is friendly? Then this is the place to go. I had heard about this place from co-workers but never made it. Just happen to go in on Tuesday night with the boyfriend for thier $15 dinner special and WOW!!
Walking into Owen & Engine, you really do feel like you have walked into someones home. I also likes the bathroom. Normally I don't mention this, but it is a great bathroom. it was not only cleaned, but it smelled liked fresh flowers and CLEAN!!
Back to the food . . .
The burger was amazing, the fries were so good I had to order an extra side of them. The shot of whiskey was amazing as well. Paired up with the beer you can not go wrong with this dinner in Chicago. I'm looking forward to coming back with my girls for our girlsnight out that we have.
Plus, if you sit at the bar past 9pm, you just might get a little something extra. Can't wait to come back with friends and sit in my manor of a house.
My wife and I came here for Sunday Brunch with a friend. We were seated upstairs, on a positive note , it looked like an authentic British Pub, but it was cold, this set the tone for the meal.
We ordered a couple of "fry ups" and some sides, now a full English breakfast requires little to no culinary expertise to get right, it's basic.
So for a $15 price tag, you expect two things, good ingredients and good execution, unfortunately there were neither.
Some ingredients were cold, while some were hot, my companions kept asking, "is this meant to be cold?"
The baked beans, the part that's meant to marry everything else together were cold, we sent them back to be reheated, not only that but they were hard, suggesting they hadn't even been cooked correctly in the first place.
C'mon you can get 'Heinz' baked beans at the local supermarket for $2 a tin, all you have to do is heat them up and they would be infinitely better than what was on offer.
Bacon, in Britain we eat a different cut of bacon, back bacon, I know you can get it in Chicago, so serving up a rock solid , cold slice of generic supermarket bacon is unforgivable for a $15 price tag.
Tomato, cold, toast, cold, sausage and black pudding were ok and an egg, Â an egg right?, cold.
The sides were good, all warm and tasty, especially the chips and scotch egg.
Service was bad, there was one guy on his own up there, we waited 20mins for a coffee and the food arrived about 1 hour after we entered, 30 mins after we ordered.
I imagine that Owen and Engine put some good food out, but I'll never know as I won't return, if you can't get the basics right then you don't deserve a second chance in my book.
Yes! After 3 great visits it's time to write a review. An excellent selection of beer - excellent. They have a great menu and the food has always been prepared perfectly. I strongly recommend starting with the charcuterie! If it's available the sweet-potato pie is amazing. Service has been fantastic each time as well.
In the words of Homer I give this place "7 Thumbs Up!"
Please hold my wake at O&E. This pub/restaurant has the perfect combination of great food, a great bar, and the comfort of a place that feels like home.
Start with the Shrubbery cocktail, a scotch and bitters combo that is perfect. Â Have a scotch egg or the house pretzel with it.
With all the great classic pub dishes like Fish and Chips or Bangers and Mash, it's easy to overlook some of their other entrees, but don't. The Amish Chicken with beets and Brussels Sprouts may be the best item on the menu. Â The Bubble and Squeak side dish is huge and delicious, and can be shared.
I love this place...
This review is for Owen and Engine's Tuesday burger night. Â My friend says the chef packs the burger full of 40% chuck, 30% shortrib and 30% brisket, with a target ratio of 65% lean to 35% fat. Â However the chef is also known to hold up raw burger and admit with a smile, "That's about fifty fifty." Â I know for sure the hamburger I got was packed with the intensity of a Wisconsin butter burger and I loved it.
Review Source:This is my second time here. First time in the summer- vibes good, food great, awesome service. Second time was today-food great- especially fish and chips and burger. Unfortunately the waitress was not. Service was unfriendly. She rolled her eyes a few times, brought us one small ketchup container for FOUR people each with fries. Really? When we asked for more she, she questioned why.
Will come back but hopefully not have the same waitress.
My top 3 best burger in Chicago thus far (with Davanti Enoteca & Longman, all in no order). I was completely blown away by this burger. I am currently drooling as a I recall last Saturday. My best friend and I needed a hangover meal without a wait. I suggested O & E without any expectations because I had not been and had not heard much on the radar about it. We got there around 12 on a Saturday. No Wait. Hell yea! Bonus points. Although we were ironically skeptical that there wasn't a wait...yet we stayed because we were starving.
The place is cozy, a little outdated, but still gives off a cool pub vibe. Maybe it's more trendy at night, but it was pretty dorky during the day. There were some dorky midwest families around us so it caters to more than the 20 somethings. The waitress was solid vanilla. She was very unmemorable and blah. But she was just the salad of the meal.
In comes the meat....this juicy, fresh, pretty large, kind of greasy burger from heaven. The bun was fantastic..the egg..the cheese..it was all so perfect. The fries were SO good too. I cannot vouch for the rest of the menu, but my friend and I were really really happy with the burger. FYI, I will be working this meal off until summer.
Anyways, just go here. Actually don't because then there will be a wait. But if you do decide to go, don't expect personality to serve you. Luckily for this place the burger was so damn good that I really could care less about who served it.
I will be back to test the consistency...so please continue to deliver excellent food!
My good friend Charlie and I are still reeling from a completely random trip to this adorable pub on Saturday. Elliott showed us how to make their delicious Malort cocktail step-by-step (along with an amazing history lesson to accompany all of the ingredients), and a taste test of a new Filipino liquor he'd picked up. We had an intense discussion on anklet socks, drank delicious drinks, and all was right in the world.
Descriptive quote of the night, "... Did we just stumble upon the greatest bar in Chicago?"
'Ello Gobna. Â Spot'a tea for ya then? Bloody 'ell, ya' got some on me britches! Â S'all right, no need to throw a wobbly ya bloomin' twat!
After getting all of my English slang out the of they way (this took a while mind you,) I was able to finally sit back and enjoy myself at classic English brew-pub, Owen & Engine.
I'd actually been here a couple of times, so I've had the opportunity to sample the beer list (I use the term "sample" here loosely as it was really more of a binge) and try out multiple food options. Â
Of course, when I'm drinking a traditional English beer, sitting in what appears to be a traditional English pub, using up all of my traditional English slang, I want some traditional English food. Â So what better way to test out the bar fare than by ordering up some traditional fish & chips.
The verdict? I can honestly say that this plate ranks up there with the best fish & chips I've ever had. Â The fish was amazingly textured, the pea sauce is just the right amount of flavor, and the tartar sauce is perfectly complimentary. Â I had also heard rumblings that their burger was the dog's bollocks, so I thought I'd give that a whirl on another occasion. Â Again, I was completely satisfied.
The quality of meat at this place is quite amazing, coming straight from local meat provider Slagel Farms. They'll even tout this to all of their customers, oftentimes encouraging you to try your meals without a lot of extra flair and condiments. Â After all, quality meat doesn't really need much more than just being in your stomach.
Naturally, they'd be flat out liars if they didn't have beers on the engine as the name implies and luckily, they pull through. Â They generally have three beers on the engine, being local brewers all of the times I've gone, making the experience even more interesting. Â Their draft beer list changes often, and you can almost always find something interesting and new to test out with your food.
So Bob's your uncle, Owen & Engine is a pretty solid place to go. Â Just remember to cool it with the English-isms after you've left (unless you're English of course.) Â But in the meantime, cheerio!
My quest for the best burger in Chicago came to a screeching halt at this place. Â Don't expect creative or fancy toppings. Â There's just something about the meat and the bun that they use that makes this the best I've ever had, and by a very wide margin. Â It's perfect. Â The rest of their menu looks amazing too but I'll never be able to speak to it. Â You couldn't pay me to go there and not get their burger. Â Beer and cocktail snobs (like me) will love it also. Â Ask to be seated upstairs; better atmosphere IMO.
Review Source:After a night of Christmas shopping, two friends decided to replenish their bodies with a meal from Owen & Engine. The ladies opted for burgers made from Slagel Farms beef served with carmelized onion, aged stilton, potato bap and chips. The burgers were cooked to perfection. The bap stood up to the meatiness of the burger, yet retained its lightness. The fries were some of the best to be had, accompanied by a wonderul malt vinegar aioli.
The girls finished their meals, let out a collective sigh of satisfaction and vanished into the cold night air with full, happy bellies. Yet, there was still a longing for doughnuts and pot de creme... Will these hungry mystery ladies return to satisfy their craving for more of Owen & Engine's elevated British pub fare? The saga contintues...
Came back with some friends and tried some other dishes. Â This place is solid in all aspects. Â Accomodated our group of 8 and the service was excellent! Â We tried a variety of their dishes and was happy with them all. Â They even brought out the steak to show the table before the cut it up for us in the kitchen! Â Presentation and attitude towards their food was very respectable. Â
And again, the bone marrow.... Â my God so good.
Owen & Engine is a legit space, draped in lavish wood and subtle lighting, Â that looks exactly like a firehouse, assuming you've never been to one.
There are two floors to this fun, British spot, and lots to love. Â On my visit, the food was very disappointing, but everything else was really great.
On a busy Saturday night we sat down upstairs with a group of three. Â We drank some good beers, and enjoyed the hell out of some vinegary boiled peanuts. Â We moved on to the wings and a burger, because they had ran out of the fish n' chips everyone raves about. Â Here's the lowdown:
Wings - Â While the outside of the wings were golden and crispy, the sauce was insanely overpowering. Â There was so much vinegar that it choked me up as I brought the wing to my mouth. Â I couldn't really taste much besides vinegar for the rest of the meal, a major bust.
Cheeseburger - Overcooked! Â We asked for it Medium, and it came out well done. Â At this point in the meal the service slowed down a lot, and we were just ready to go. Â The waiter apologized, comped our burger, and bought us a dessert.
The service and space here is fantastic, which is why I would like to return soon. Â I've heard great things about the food, but my visit didn't yield that same experience.
Came here Friday night for my fiancé's birthday with our friends who love this place. We did have a reservation, so I'm not sure how hard it is to be seated without on.
We sat upstairs which was super cozy with a fireplace. Â Our server was incredibly helpful throughout the whole meal. Â
We started with the pickles, which were really good. They didn't taste too much of vinegar and there were tons of different veggies to choose from. Â Plenty for 4 people, maybe even for 5 or 6.
Also had the stuffed calamari, which was tender and tasty with a lamb stuffing and an awesome romesco sauce.
The highlight of our starters was the bone marrow, which featured 6 breaded escargot. Â This dish came with 2 large slices of toasted buttered bread. Â I never had bone marrow, but wow was this good. Â
For entrees, we ordered the fish and chips and the bangers and mash.
I got the bangers and mash which was out of this world delicious. Â Two nice size, perfectly cooked and extremely flavorful sausages. Â You can tell these guys are house made. Â The mash was awesome, creamy with a ton of flavor and smothered in a delicious onion gravy to tie everything together. I could barely finish half this dish, but it was amazing the next day as leftovers.
This fish and chips was also really good. Â I only had a taste but it was fresh, crisp but not overly greasy. Â They fly their haddock in everyday so it's top quality fish. Â The chips were also really good. Â No one at our table could finish their meals. Â Although several amazing and giant pints is probably to blame.
Their beer selection is great, so definitely explore the menu but be careful not to over drink, these are traditional 20 oz pints so the alcohol will definitely sneak up on you. Â Something we were joking over with our server.
We had an awesome meal and I look forward to coming back the next time I'm in Chicago.
Great food, great beer & drink selection. Â I love that all the staff know the preparation and provenance of all the menu ingredients and craft beers. Â Food is delicious, space is very comfortable. Â But minus one star for the horrible disco music they play in there. Â It's too loud, and it sucks. Â We go to places like O & E to sit and drink in peace. Â Wish they would play something better, and turn it dowm. Â Or better yet turn it off altogether. Â But the burgers are fantastic....
Review Source:This place is worth a visit. Went here on Tuesday night for their burger special.
$16 dollars for: House burger, large amount of fries, pint of beer and a shot of bourbon. The bacon, fried egg, and  cheese add ons to the burger were extra dollars but were excellent additions to the meal. Very much recommended that you try out this burger if, like me, you are a burger enthusiast.
My friends had other dishes. One had the fish and chips and enjoyed it very much. I will be back to try out other dishes on the menu here.
Good value, good taste, fun ambience.
I have been here probably 10 times. Every time is usually the same because I go on weekend evenings around 8 or 9PM before seeing a movie with my boyfriend. Obviously I like the place! It's usually crowded and busy and they always tell you it will be a 1-2 hour wait (kind of like Kuma's Corner), but it usually ends up being 30 mins or less if you don't mind sitting at the bar. Many times we've been offered a table shortly after sitting at the bar so it's never a bad wait either way.
Atmosphere- Dark, romantic, cozy, yet elegant. Typically busy so I wouldn't recommend this place on a weekend to people who dislike crowds/close contact with others. For me, it makes it a better experience. Everyone is there for a reason, right?!
Food- some people are complaining about portions, but that's never been a complaint of mine. If you order scallops from a decend restaurant you're probably not going to get an enormous portion. Think before you order and you won't be disappointed. Also, their meats are humanely raised and from hormone free farms. That's important to me. The burger (as others state) is A+. Honestly one of my favorites in the city.
Beer- Good selection and very unique offering of "room temp" craft beers. I can't remember what they're called. *In the case of good craft beers, the low temperatures just dampen the flavor, causing you to miss all the things that would open up if a little warmer. This, so far, is the only place in Chicago I've been that offers beer in this fashion. Usually they only have about 3 or so at a time that are served this way. The rest are bottled or from a normal tap. Kudos to Owen & Engine for being different here!
Coffee- I will have to try it this evening and report back :)
Go here!
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My friend RAVED about this place (mostly their burgers), so we had to try it out. The atmosphere is like an English pub - something a little different! We came here for lunch, so we didn't really drink. However, I hear that they have some good drafts. I did get coffee, and I was really impressed that it came french-press style.
NICE. They have a nice menu selection, but we knew right when we came in that we were getting burgers. They are simple - they come with caramelized onions and a burger and bun. The end. You can substitute or add a very few things, like cheese. I don't like onions so I just got cheese. It was a tasty burger! It was cooked just right, juicy, and seasoned well. I wasn't a fan of the fact that the bun gets a little soggy (I hate soggy bread). It also came with fries, they were very good as well. It was a very filling meal!
Our server was very nice and attentive. She visited our table a number of times, refilled our waters frequently, and didn't even need to write our order down. I was impressed! i wouldn't definitely recommend this restaurant, and would come back!
Good beer menu.
Average food.
Not worth the hype.
Don't get the BLT. Â They say how it is housemade bacon and they sell a BLT sandwich- so I expect a nice thick slab of bacon on my bread, but was disappointed with what looked like 3 strips of Oscar Mayer.
Many better gastropub options in Chicago.
I am pleased to report that all of the stars were in alignment for what proved to be a pleasant solo dining experience here. I may never be able to eat a hamburger anywhere else.Talk about scrumptious. With perfect ambiance and service, Â too.
I had only been to Owen & Engine for a private birthday celebration prior to this visit. That was in the upstairs bar-a place which feels more like a private parlor in an imaginary rich friend's house. The wood, the seating area with sofas, the fireplace. Well, the birthday bash was a big success . Staff were more than welcoming and helpful. The finger food was was excellent, and so were the drinks. I confess to be an unapologetic abuser of the open bar.
On my recent visit, I came specifically for their $15.00 Tuesday bar special which includes a house burger, fries, a black Scottish Ale and a shot of Bourbon. Â It was fairly early, maybe 6:30 PM. Â The downstairs bar was full, so I was sent upstairs. The bar there was empty, but not for long. There were a few parties seated at the windows and by the roaring fire. The bartender was all mine for awhile, so I asked as many questions as I could. Such as "Why is this freakin" burger so good?"
Their burger is nothing short of perfection, and probably because it is made with 40% ground chuck, and the remaining portion is a mix of short rib meat and brisket. It makes for a rich, juicy and fresh combination. My first bite elicited some noise not unlike Meg Ryan's in that diner scene of "When Harry Met Sally." I opted for English Cheddar ($2.00 more) and put only mustard on top of the carmelized onions. I have to admit I was just a bit intimidated by the lack of presence (or offer) of catsup, fearing some private cultural humiliation, I passed on that. But later I found it was available. But neither the burger nor the fries needed any enhancements. Â The fries, or "chips" were in fact some of the best I've had.
What I really like about the burger was the B to B or burger to bun ratio. I like my burger to hang over the side of the bun. No bedonka-donk buns with my burgers.. I want a burger with love handles- like the ones I get from eating them. The Owen and Engine buns are light and just the right size, and perfect companions to a half-pound medium rare burger.
The service with Upstairs Daniel was excellent. He made the entire evening feel as if it were a private party. He went way out of his way to accommodate a chap next to me at the bar who had an onion/garlic./leek intolerance or allergy. He worked with the chef to make sure this guy got something tasty but not harmful to his delicate condition. Daniel also gave us all great information on all of the food and drink here. Not just a bartender-he's also  a fan.
Menu items are always changing, and exciting things like duck with sag paneer and curry sauce simply jump off the page. Prices are reasonable and the burger/ale/shot deal is really a good value. Great place to hang out on your own to drink and eat, or come with a group for a birthday or an unbirthday. So I'll see you sometime this winter around the cozy fire, OK?.
Owen & Engine kind of blew my mind the weeknight a few weeks back when I decided on it for dinner. Â Didn't expect so many options, and seriously delicious food.
Had a few tremendous beers here, you can tell they pride themselves on the selection they offer. Â Chose the burger for dinner, and honestly it was one of the best burgers I can remember having in the longest time. Â
If you are deciding whether or not it's worth the trek to get to Owen & Engine; you can start heading that way now.
Owen & Engine makes the best fish and chips I've ever had, anywhere, in my entire life. No exaggeration. The best.
Anywhere.
And....
Their homemade pickles are perfect.
The scotch egg is top notch.
The cornish pasty is pleasing.
The duck meatballs with saag paneer is the stuff of dreams.
Their bangers are magnificently beefy, sage-y goodness.
Their draught beers are delectable and the whiskey list is wonderful.
But, really, the fish and chips are perfectly paired with a pea puree and sauce gribiche. And let's not forget the malt vinegar aioli. Brilliant!
Okay, so why no "Woo-hoo?"
I could have done without the cheese plate.
The bubble and squeak was neither bubbling nor squeaking by the time it arrived at our table. Not even so much as a whimper. It's bubbly, squeaky moment was long gone.
And, not sure if it was the kitchen or the service, but none of our food was exactly piping hot by the time it arrived at our table.
Also, and this is just my personal preference, I hate it when they box your food for you unless the person boxing the food is thoughtful enough to include any sauces which may have accompanied the dishes. Our dude was not...thoughtful. And the chutney he did toss in with the cornish pasty was just that, tossed in. Thanks, guy.
All in all, though, Owen & Engine is full of delicious pub dishes, good whiskeys, beers and warmth and comfort during the all too abundant blustery Chicago evenings.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to places. Owen & Engine has everything right... starting with the food. All of their ingredients are fresh and come from artisans or small business farmers. Some of my favorites include the Scotch Egg and Cornish Pasty.
Now onto drink... the beer selection here is one for those who really appreciate beer. The selection is very carefully thought out. The bartenders are also very skilled mixologists and they have some very interesting house cocktails as well. I often find myself wanting to sit at the bar just to watch them. The bartenders are also very friendly and easy to strike up a conversation with.
Lastly, I love, love, love the decor and atmosphere here. The design on the coasters, menu, and wallpaper is all well thought... candle light, antiques... just fabulous.
Once upon a time, I would go to Owen & Engine for biweekly brunch with a friend. Then my friend became a vegan, and we don't go anymore.
What do I miss most? The blue and white china? The delicious Eggs Benedict? The yummy scones? The way the waitress would pop up just as my friend got to the most awkward part of her story? The great ambiance and decor? There's no way to choose.
After making and canceling reservations several times, I finally had the opportunity to get the burger at Owen and Engine. Â I'm sure we all know about the special by now. You get the $14 dollar burger on Tuesday with a shot of bourbon and a beer for an extra buck. Â I was half expecting a shot of swill and a PBR, but I was pleased to find out that they give you a quality brew and a respectable, albeit small, hit of bourbon. Â
Our server was awkward but pleasant.  I had trouble understanding him through his beard and fitted flannel shirt.  In fact all the guys had fitted flannel shirts.  Kind of gave the place a Euro Paul Bunyan meets the Old West vibe.  The décor and lighting accentuated the feel of Cowboys vs. Lumberjacks.
And now we talk about the burger. Â You want cheese; it'll cost you two bucks. Â You want some other shit; it'll probably cost you a couple bucks. Â They'll even put some pygmy lamb on it or whatever the hell our server was talking about. Â The meat patty itself was massive. Â I'm not a drug dealer, but I'd say it weighed at least as much as a half pound of good street coke. Â
This burger was probably the best I've ever had. Â All the ingredients complimented one another. In a stroke of genius, the lower bun was skillfully constructed larger than the top which helped soak up rivers of nourishment bursting out of the burger like a savory flavor volcano. Â Even the fries were served with a scrumptious dipping aioli. Â
I could see the objective observer saying, "$14 for a burger, I ate dinner at a gas station last night". Â Oh well, nerd. Sometimes you get dealt the Meat Mercedes in life and sometimes you get dealt the busted ass Chevy shit-burger. Â Eat it or starve, Mother Fucker.
I really enjoyed Owen & Engine. Â Good wine list, interesting cocktails, and a great atmosphere. Â I can see it being a tad busy for dinner, but we lucked out and scored a table for about 7 on a Friday night. Â
They had run out of the pretzel, which was disappointing, but the drinks were good, smoked olives were interesting, and it was an all around good stop in for a quick visit.
Atmosphere - 5
Food - (only apps, but 4)
Value - 3
Bathrooms - 5
Service - 4
I like it here.
I found the service delightful and helpful. $3 beer on mondays seems pretty legit to me, though I guess that would be subjective depending on if you like their choice or not.
Lets see we had...the salmon? i totally did not expect it to be a not warm dish but it was pretty tasty with the bread. I had the gnochi and a side of shishito peppers. Overall mixing everything was an interesting combo. Then we had the chocolate dessert, in which I enjoyed with my glass of whole milk =]
We will def go again!
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