Spawned from a pair of McDonald's veteran C-level executives, Tom & Eddie's takes burgers to the next level. Part of the premium fast casual trend in restaurants, they offer higher end gourmet burgers made to order. The ingredients are high quality, the specialty burgers are also very inventive. You can go in and order at the register where they will give you a card which tells the expediters where you're sitting in the restaurant to deliver your order, or you can pre order online with complete customization and pick up your burger in store.
It's not just excellent beef burgers they offer, which I admit are so good you can practically inhale them, but also an edamame burger, turkey and ahi tuna burger they include. Coupled with chicken sandwiches, pork tenderloin sandwiches as well as petite flet medallion burgers, and your choice of fries, sweet potato fries, housemade chips or side salads, there's something for everyone. Â
Prices are a bit high, but the quality is there.
Great burgers. Lots of choices. I had The Hotgarian burger which is made with Fresh hungarian pepper, house-made habanero-pineapple salsa, Tom & Eddie's signature spicy mayonnaise, topped with melted Wisconsin Pepper Jack served on a gourmet sesame seed roll. Added a side of sweet potato fries. Really good. Definitely will be back.
Review Source:The only thing saving this review from a three-star rating tonight was the tasty burger and fries and the $4.99 value meal. What happened to you tonight Tom & Eddie's? I waited 20 minutes with hungry hyper kids to get our dinner!
Tonight was my second visit to this place... ever. I don't eat red meat very often, but when I do, it better be tasty, and it was. Instead of opting for a larger fancier gourmet burger, I opted for a kids meal along with my sons. Choose from a cheeseburger, chicken strips, grilled cheese, or a hot dog. Select a side from apples, to chips, handcut fries, or sweet potato fries and organic chocolate milk for the kiddos.
With the weather being absolutely magnificent, we sat outside on the patio under one of their umbrella tables. The outdoor tables filled up rather quickly.
Still great burgers and fries, and if you want to save a little $$$, order the kids size burger but plan to come back for something a little more gourmet.
Tip: Don't come here during a busy rush time or there's a good chance you'll be waiting for your food.
I've been ordering the wrong thing here.
In the past I have mentioned that their beef burgers just don't add up to the sum of their parts. After going all the way out to Deerfield (don't ask) to end up at a Tom & Eddie's, I've found that stepping away from the beef may the better choice if you want something delicious.
I had the Islander. I'm not Catholic anymore, and besides I don't even think it was Friday, but I felt like fish anyway. The burger was excellent, primarily because the ahi tuna was mixed with a very good teriyaki sauce and black sesame seeds. With the sweet potato fries, the meal was great.
I still love the quirky bottles of random stuff on the shelves, and the random drinks in the drink machine. I think next time, if I end up back in Lombard, I'll go ahead and give something a try from the pork side of the menu.
Great concept to fit the North Shore, great location, solid food. Nothing that blew me away though, and for the price it should have.
My wife and I went here b/c my mom had a gift certificate. I had the Hot-garian burger and my wife had Turkey Bg. Both were good, served on a toasted bun and the sweet potato fries were a nice option that you don't see at many places like this. I eat the spiciest of the spicy, so therefor my burger could have been a little more heated up with peppers/hot sauce. Â
I guess my only issue is that it's a bit pretentious for me. They go above and beyond with the beer and wine selections, the endless amount of sides & fountain drink options, plus the amount of condiments they offer.
Let's face it, I am a pretty plain and simple guy. If you compare Tom & Eddie's to say, Charlie Beinlichs, it's insane how many options there are at Tom & Eddies. SO, for me, when it comes down to it, I would rather have a couple options of items to order that are all amazing (i.e. Beinlichs) than to have an overwhelming amount of things to choose from that may take me 3-4 visits before I find my go-to burger.
Tom & Eddie's has been in the Northern Suburbs for awhile now in Deerfield and Vernon Hills, so I figured it's about time I reviewed it. Their cafe approach to the burger experience is different and definitely the right vibe for the people who live these areas.
I don't have any problems with Tom & Eddie's. Love that they get creative with their burgers and sandwiches, use fresh ingredients and offer different options like ahi tuna and edamame burgers (I've heard the tuna is good, never had it personally though). You can find something for any taste you crave that day. At the same time, I'm so consistently underwhelmed by the quality of their food.
Everything on the menu sounds good, but there's nothing I've ever eaten that's been among the best I've had or would prompt me to return instead of going somewhere to get a burger I know I really love. The lone exception is their haystack onions. Love those, but obviously you don't go back to a restaurant just because they make great spicy onion strings.
The burgers are Angus beef, so nothing unusual there if you're a burger fan. Definitely get the larger size (1/2 pound) as the 1/3 pound comes out overcooked usually. Considering it's a dollar more, they shouldn't even offer the 1/3 pound, and it's not enough food. In general, their sandwich portion sizes are small, which is good if you don't care to be stuffed, bad if you like a great value on your burgers. Lots of toppings to choose from, however, if you like to build your own burger. Definitely lots of variety.
I've had their Fruit and Nut salad before and it's decent, as was the Chicken Capri. They just added sloppy joes to their menu (called a "mess") and I had the Philly Cheese Mess, which was not at all like a philly and more like chopped ground beef with BBQ sauce. Again, okay. I'm definitely satisfied with my food every time, just never impressed with it.
The amenities in this place are great with the soda machines that offer every soda imaginable and additional Boyle's flavored soda fountain. They have a wall of hot sauce, so there's definitely a commitment to choices. It definitely feels cutting edge, which would make it great if the food were also cutting edge.
There are lots of places to eat better burgers and sandwiches, but as someone in Deerfield a lot, it's close and is good in a pinch.
We went for the first time today. Â The experience was great!
Many choices for burgers. Â We especially liked that you could customize your burger with many, many creative options. Â They not only have beef burgers, but also turkey, tuna, pork and veggie varieties. Â I love that they offer a whole grain bun. Â These were some of the best burgers we ever had - the french fries are excellent, too! Â
Very clean and pleasant surroundings - a high end feeling for a burger place. Â The pricing is fair for what you get - no tipping required. Â I love the high tech order delivery system and the soft drink machine.
Friendly and helpful staff. Â We will definitely be back!!!
Went here for take-out today for the very first time.The food is good. I would have given it three stars but the fourth star was for the excellent service by the cashier who explained everything to me and answered my questions (wish I had her name) and the guy (assistant manager? kitchen manager?) who packed up my food and asked me if I needed anything. The food was better than average but not amazing by any standards. It's a quasi-fast food place. You order at the counter, they give you a number, you sit down with your number and they bring your food out to you. You get your own drink, napkins, silverware. Â
I thought that for ordering at a counter and getting all your stuff yourself, $13 for a burger and fries was a little too high.
I got the Islander which is an ahi tuna burger. It was cooked to a scary shade of gray which I know is how tuna looks and I knew it was okay to eat. I just didn't look at it while I ate it. The sweet potato fries were great! Definitely loved those. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside - perfectly salted which was just slightly.
I will probably return again (on payday though) and next time maybe eat in and actually have a beef burger since that's what they're known for. Their menu does look like they have some really tasty items to try!
One "issue" I did have was since I was getting take-out, I was directed to wait at a butcher block "chef's table" that faced the kitchen. The manager seemed to be using this table as a desk and not just for the moment - seemed like a regular thing. He was standing there, doing paperwork/schedules/who knows what. He never said a word to me - not hello, how are you, NOTHING. There were paper clips and pens and a small bottle of hand sanitizer sitting there too. It was kind of weird and uncomfortable.
See Mike's review....he pretty much summed it up.
I will say that this is a nice alternative to fast food. Â The burgers were really good, and the deal we got with the groupon was well worth it. Â The chocolate milk shake here was amazing!!!! Â I don't know that I would go back without a groupon, it's a little on the expensive side for a place that you walk up to a counter to place your order.
The food is a wow, the price not so much, there is a large selection of delicious burgers and believe it or not, drinks. It's like a nicer five guys and a lot more expensive. Be sure to get the sweet potato fries whether you're in the mood or not. I am here constantly and I recommend to anyone from anywhere.
Review Source:Didn't have a great first impression.
First and foremost their meat was essentially a larger fast food patty, however T&E's was underseasoned and undercooked. I couldn't finish the burger and what I did left me feeling a little sick. The meal left an unpleasant chemical aftertaste in my mouth.
The fries were also very unmemorable.
A few other notes: The place was pretty unkept, the soap in the bathroom smelled terrible. Also why are the employees wearing PJ's?
Anyways, I guess for the price it get it right. It's in between that $4 and $10 burger mark. But for what they're asking I'd expect something more than a glorified quarter-pounder.
While driving and texting/web surfing/Grouponing/taking pictures of myself, I noticed a Groupon for Tom & Eddie's. Â I told Ashley to take the wheel so I could get a better look. Â My old man had told me about the fabled T & E's Groupon before, but I had never laid eyes on it.
It was glorious. Â $12 for two burger meals (burger up to $7.99, 2 orders of fries, and 2 drinks). Â The Lincolnshire/Vernon Hills is the most convenient for me, but they were sold out, so I purchased the Deerfield location.
Ashley and I went there for lunch the day the Packers beat up the Bears. Â The friendly cashier told us we could order whatever we wanted, and that the Groupon was good for $24 of food. Â So, we only ordered one order of french fries (more than enough for two people and very tasty), two burgers, one drink, and one chocolate milk shake. Â It was awesome. Â Everything was great. Â There is a wall of condiments for customers to drape their burgers with. Â Being the All-American guy that I am, I stuck with ketchup and mustard. Â But you hippies can use your Cholula or Tabasco sauce or whatever if you'd like.
To top it all off, they gave me a coupon for a free mini milkshake the next time I come in. Â Is the whole world trying to make me fat!!! Â I WON'T LET IT!!!
What a cool place!! Â After raving to my mom about The Counter in the Bay area, she said this place would be right up my alley. Â And it was!
It's a customizable burger place, with some suggested concoctions, but you can also make your own. Â I had the edamame burger with brie cheese, lettuce, tomato, wilted spinach, and caramelized onions. Â It was so, SO tasty! Â I have had better veggie burgers, with more vegetables in them and stuff, but all the toppings made up for it and then some!
Another highlight was the soda machine(s). Â They have the futuristic Coke machine, but also a Boylan's dispenser, with diet root beer that tastes just like a root beer float! Â One more really cool thing is the way they bring you your order-- your number goes into a transponder that wirelessly tells them exactly where you are!
We came here with a groupon, but I would happily come and pay full price! (Which is about $10 for a burger).
One request for the future-- allow people to put their burger son a bed of lettuce, as a salad, instead of a bun! That's my favorite thing to do at The Counter across the country!
Yep, "I'm a fan!" All the burgers really are gourmet, and not just the toppings, but the meat is clearly a higher quality that most. I just had 'ISLANDER (Ahi Tuna)' and is was awesome and this would normally not be the place where I would order rare Sushi-grade ground Ahi tuna, but I did and now found a new favorite. Keep up the good work and great food!!
Review Source:Good (not great) burger, but inexcusably inept folks working there.
I'm a person who LOVES food. Â Most times, the taste and quality of the food is all that is important to me when deciding where to pick up from or eat at. Â Good service, interesting decor, ambiance, etc., while all nice add-ons, do not usually sway me one way or another. Â If the food is good, I generally go back over and over and over. Â Whereas, if the food is average to bad, I don't go back.
Tom & Eddies is one of only a handful of exceptions to my general rule that the food is all that's truly important. Â Here's why:
Soon after the Deerfield location opened, I tried the ampersand burger, which is described on the menu as "Applewood smoked bacon, Wisconsin Smoked Gouda cheese, Smokey BBQ sauce and Tom & Eddie's handmade haystack onions, topped with a fried egg on a gourmet roll".
I love burgers, and I enjoyed the ampersand, so I went back to Tom & Eddies Deerfield location several times for this burger.
The last time I had the ampersand was a poor service experience. Â While I was paying, I told the cashier that I'd be back in about 20 minutes, and that I wanted to just grab my burger and go because I had to be somewhere within a short period of time thereafter. Â When I came back 20 minutes later to pick it up, it wasn't ready, and I was informed that the kitchen had not even started working on it. Â That was irritating, but the food was good, so I overlooked it.
The next time I wanted the ampersand, I called to order it, but the person who took my call indicated that she couldn't take my order because their computer system was down. Â In response, I asked if she could just take my order with a pen and paper, to which she answered "no, please call back in 30 minutes." Â So, I asked to speak to the manager, and the person I was talking to said she was the manager.
Keep in mind that it was approximately 2:00 PM on a weekday at the time I called, so I can't imagine that they were that swamped. Â I used to manage a quick service restaurant, and I understand that things don't always go as planned, but give me a break. Â Why in the world would they stop taking orders because their computer system went down!?
I was so irritated by the stupidity of the computer system nonsense, that I contacted Tom & Eddie's corporate office via their website, and they never bothered to respond to my feedback, despite the fact that I left my name, address and telephone number, and I indicated that I wanted to be contacted regarding my comments.
So, even though they make a decent burger, and even though I'm usually all about the food, there are plenty of good burger places around, and I'm not going back to Tom & Eddies until I hear that they've re-staffed with folks that have brains and their corporate office cares about feedback from their customers.
Juiciest burgers with brilliant flavors paired together to compliment each other. I'm pretty impressed. What a diamond in the rough.
- BUSHEL & A PECK BURGER
Granny Smith apple slices, Tom & Eddie's handmade walnut butter, melted Brie cheese & caramelized onions on a gourmet roll
- THE AMPERSAND BURGER
Applewood Smoked Bacon, Wisconsin Smoked Gouda cheese, Smokey BBQ sauce and Tom & Eddie's handmade haystack onions, topped with a fried egg on a gourmet roll
- DESSERT
And make sure to order one of their Hand-dipped, made-to-order Shakes. I always get the Reeses Peanut Butter Shake. #YUMMS
Gosh, the burger joints sure are fancy up yonder in Deerfield. Â Even though I work in Glenview, this place is so far north that it qualifies as a lunch expedition. Â In other words, only once in a blue moon when I have time to burn and feel like a drive. Â Which is a good thing, because the prices also qualify it as a lunch splurge.
The burgers start at $6.99, so by the time you add a drink and side, and perhaps even a "premium" ingredient, you've eaten up close to two days' of lunch money.
The beef burgers are not nearly seven-dollar quality, but thank St Brigid that they cook them closer to medium rather than grilling out all the pink like most places. Â The turkey burger, however, is excellent, excellent, excellent.
Oh yeah, and apparently there's a wild Coca-Cola machine that dispenses eleventy billion different flavors, but that doesn't really trip my trigger. Â I just like Coke Zero, although I do appreciate the options of Sprite Zero (very rare in fountain machines) and diet root beer (absolutely unheard of). Â Diet root beer is a good dessert drink with which to finish off the meal, so that you are not tempted to buy one of their exceptional milkshakes (of course I had to try one for the sake of research).
Have come here twice and have left happy twice. It's just a good burger place. Quality meat, lots of toppings. I've made my own and also went with the ampersand which had bacon, smoked gouda, fried onions and a an egg. Really good.
Another perk of this place are the soda machines. Boylens on tap. Yes please. I probably sample every flavor when I come here. It's at the very top of my list for the five guys, meatheads, smashburger, type of burger joints. I should mention that it's a tad on the pricey side.
I came (again).
T&E was OPEN!
I conquered.
In my attempt to eat as much of the menu as possible, the N's ordered 3 burgers with 3 different sides (we like to chow down, don't hate). The "Tried & True" is delicious and classic. The edamame is great for vegetarians, or people who really like the taste of edamame. And of course, for those who want to bite into a meaty burger without all the cholesterol of cows, the turkey burger will please. I need to come back and eat my way through the rest of the menu. That ahi tuna burger has been making eyes at me, and I like what I see.
I appreciate the variety of sides. Usually, when you get a quick-serve burger, you're stuck with fries. Here, they come in the sweet potato variety (yay!) but you can also have soup, or fried onions, or even a side salad.
It's all about options, baby. If you don't find anything on their menu that appeals to you (you may need to see a professional)... but shrink visits aside, you can build your own burger/sandwich/hot dog, with SO many breads/cheeses/toppings/condiments to choose from. AND THE SODAS! A Coke Freestyle machine AND another intriguing soda fountain with black cherry soda.
My #1 suggestion though? DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT HAVING A MILKSHAKE! These things are divine. Sometimes, after having dinner elsewhere, I bat my eyes at J and ask if we can stop in and pick up a milkshake. Chocolate for me, always. You should listen to me and do the same.
I continue to be impressed by Tom & Eddie's particularly this location.
There's just something about the manager's keen way of hospitality. No matter when I come in, weekend or week night, he is always there ready to serve. I have never in my life, met a business so willing and eager to please the customer and the management was certainly taught this principle.
The food is always fresh and amazing here. Â The atmosphere cozy. Â I happen to like this location over all the others because of it's friendly management.
I have been to this burger joint 3 times and I really prefer this over Meatheads, Epic Burger & Five Guys. I think they all use premium cuts of beef and fresh bread and fresh cut fries every day, but Tom & Eddie's also offer a fabulous tuna burger and edamame burger that is so yummy.
They also offer over 20 different choices so you can come up with over 100 combinations to your burger. I like having choices. At Epic burger, they only carry Dijon mustard, they have no plain mustard. There are also about 7-10 different choices of cheese that is offered and your can even top the burger with fruit as well. The burgers come with your choice of fries or salad so they really price out like the other hamburger joints.
I spoke to the manager and they do not advertise catering, but are very willing to work with you to arrange a delivery so I Â will definitely give that a try in the near future since my office is just down the street.
Delicious burger but the cost was a bit too high. I scarfed down the Bushel & Peck. The burger has the distinction of having APPLE on it. If you can believe, it actually tastes great! I was also a big fan of the seemingly endless options of condiments.
With that said, I doubt I will be making a repeat appearance. The prices were a bit too steep for this twenty-something consumer. Then again Deerfield does not have that many people in my age group, does it?
I'm really torn on how to rank this place for several reasons. First the good things about the place, then the "not-so-good."
Good: This place has a comfortable atmosphere with pleasant staff and prompt service. The burgers taste good. The manager stopped by and welcomed me. The touch screen soda machine, additional "premium" condiments and craft type sodas are great perks.
Not-so-good: I ordered a soda, and a 1/2 lb bleu cheese burger with a side of fries and it was $14.28. I'm sorry, but that's too much for a fast-food burger; premium or not. Sure, I could have saved about $2,50 by ordering "normal" cheese instead of bleu, and their usual 1/3 lb burger instead of a 1/2, but that still would have been almost $12 for that. Fries that came with the burger were could, but the portion was skimpy. Another item they skimped on was the red onion I ordered that was part of the options that came with the burger. Usually one would receive a slice - this came with 3 average sized ring slices. Really? And I paid how much for this burger?
I love the hospitality at the place and the actual burger itself tastes good. But I have a hard time getting past the price and the stinginess of their offerings. As fast food burgers go, Steak & Shake remains my top pick for overall value and taste.
Okay we loaded up the car and brought the family here from Downtown Chicago! Â This is our second visit to a Tom & Eddies but our first visit at this location.
Our GPS told us "You have Arrived!" but we didn't see the restaurant. Â We called and I spoke with Alexander and he told me they were located next to the Whole Foods. Â That was a huge help because Deerfield doesn't allow colorful signs. Â Every business looks the same...dear Deerfield I am not a fan of this socialist sign policy you have...some color and flair never hurt anyone!!!
This being our second visit we knew what to expect. Â We ordered our food and headed to our table. Â Swiped our number at our table and waited. If you never been to a Tom & Eddies they have the coolest monitor at the table. Â You swipe your number and that tells the server where to deliver your food. Â Plus if you need service you hit the call button and someone comes to your table. Â They can even order more food for you or another beer. You do not have to go back in line. Â This is the coolest concept ever. Â
Our food showed up and it was really good. Â The kids meals here are really good. My little one loves the Chicken Fingers. Â We also get the organic milk and Apple slices. Â Love the healthy options. Â
I ordered the Blue Chip Burger Medium Rare and it was cooked perfectly. Â The burger has amazing taste and all of the toppings work so well together. Â The blue cheese and garlic aioli sauce with avocado blend so well together on the burger. Â You can also get one side with the burger. Â We have tried them all but really love the onion straws and went with those on this visit. Â Everything was so good. Â My wife likes to add some onion straws to the burger too but I am find eating them by themselves.
The interior and decor is well thought out here. Â The seats are very comfortable. Â I could sit her all day and relax or eat!!!
They also have the coolest soda machine too...it serves up over a 100 combinations of soda. Â I've never seen anything like it ever. Â
The additional condiments are so cool too. Â I discovered organic ketchup, salt free ketchup and spicy ketchup. Â Of course I had to do a taste test and I tried all three. The spicy ketchup was the best...I liked the kick it served up.
The burgers here are all organic local meat. Â There is a change going on as consumers become more educated about what we put in our bodies. Â I believe Tom & Eddies are on the forefront of a food revolution. Â They may be the first chain to deliver a higher quality of cooked to order fast food. Â Congrats to them and I wish them all the success in the world.
We also met the General Manager Thomas Dekant and he stopped by several times to see how we were doing. Â This restaurant cares about what there customers think. Â I really love customer service and they get it here. Â I had to make a joke as Thomas went by our table using a Quiet Dirt Devil Vacuum. I said, " General Managers aren't suppose to be doing that!". He laughed and disagreed with me. Â It shows the integrity of the employees here when the General Manager doesn't mind doing a dirty job. Â It shows true character and someone that cares. Â
Thomas also brought our daughter out a cookie. Â Honestly can I make this a 6 star review!!! Â I should be able to add extra credit somewhere.
Another great visit for us and it made the drive out from downtown worth it. Â But please Tom & Eddie find that location in downtown Chicago and build it because we want to save some gas!!!
Bottom line: not worth the price.
Quality of ingredients might be good, the taste too, but we're not going back when the cost-to-portion size ratio is so off. The fries literally seemed more like a garnish than a side. Maybe we just got gypped cause a group of teenage boys next to us had easily twice as many fries on their plate... did they order a double portion??
I had the veggie burger and my husband had the tuna burger. Neither were satisfying. Both of us were still hungry after we were done eating, but we aren't ordering another burger at $10 each. And the menu doesn't say it, but their "sushi grade tuna" is ground up to make the burger patty, not like the tuna steak you get at Claim Company down the street... and for the same price.
We do appreciate the quality ingredients, the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the fact that there even is a veggie burger option. We just wish that either the portion sizes were a little larger or the prices a little lower or both.
Best way to describe this place? Â Like a really upscale Mcdonalds or Fuddruckers, with WAY better quality food! Â It's an awesome little treat!
First, how it works! Â You stand in line, place your order, and they give you a number punch card. Â You put the card into a little device on any table you wish to sit, and it tells the staff exactly where you are located. Â So you can sit down and chat while you wait for your food to be brought to you. Â Food service is pretty quick and very friendly! Â They will bring you extra napkins and silverware if you need it.
It's a really cozy restaurant, they have an outdoor seating area and the decor is modern. Â They even have toys for kids to play with. Â It's also really clean, especially for a family hamburger place, I have yet to see a Cheerio or broken crayon on the floor, lol!
They have an awesome drink selection! Â There are beers and wines you can buy when you order your meal, but they also have 2 different drink fountain machines! Â One has pretty much any soda you want, and the other has Boylan Brand root beer, cream soda, etc. Â Also 2 different ice teas! Â Next to all that is a whole wall of unique condiments! Â My boyfriend really liked the Jack Daniels BBQ sauce.
Now the food! Â The beef quality is so good, super juicy! Â The fries are amazing! Â I love the sweet potato fries, they have to be the best I have ever had! Â I have always loved the idea of sweet potato fries but have constantly been disappointed, but not here! Â In addition to the burgers, I had the Islander tuna burger, which was awesome! Anyone I have brought here has really liked it.
The shakes are super creamy, made with Haagen Dazs ice cream. Â They had a seasonal caramel apple shake.....wow. Â I can't wait to see what the next seasonal flavor will be!
I have heard other folks haven't cared for the prices or the portions. Â I feel the quality of the food and the ambiance is worth the price. Â Like Fuddruckers may be cheaper, but I don't like how everything feels grimy there. Â Nice to avoid teenagers throwing fries at each other or little kids screaming for quarters for the video games. Â When I had my first dinner there, I felt maybe they could have made the portions bigger, but I couldn't finish it. Â Everything was really filling. Â I think what they give you is just the right portion! Â They also promote that they are a "no tipping" restaurant, so you can deduct that from your total meal cost.
Please move closer to where I work, I need to try your whole menu!!
I will start make a list b/c I know I'll be back for more lunches!
Visit #1: Bushel and a Peck w/a side of chili pepper and corn chowder: YUUMMM!!!!!!
Also tried my friend's Blue Chip, which was also good and great sweet potato fries (they put salt on them!)
Love the unsweetened peach/mango iced tea and soda fountain of the future.
Love the free sides.
Now - as much as I was both thrilled and anxious about the wall of sauces - the burgers were so perfect they didn't need any extra sauces. I will have to get something simpler next time just to experiment with sauces.
The good,the bad and the delicious.
The GOOD:
Good location, lots of parking, very friendly staff. Â Emma (Emily?) the cashier was super friendly and very patient with me while I rattled off and decided on different toppings. Â They also have a VERY cool touch screen coke freestyle machine. Â You can have grape sprite and orange diet coke. Â Awesome. Need I say more? Â
The BAD:
The sides need to be a bit bigger, seriously. Â I could have done with more fries! Â Also, they forgot the onions on my burger. Â It's also a little expensive, I should have to pay extra for one slice of cheddar cheese. Â
The DELICIOUS:
The burgers are amazing!! Â I have tried the turkey burger and hamburger and they are both great. Â My friend tried the chicken pesto sandwich and loved it also. Â Yum!
I am considered a picky hamburger eater and tonight for the first time I ate a Tom and Eddie's burger and it was LOVE AT FIRST BITE!! First off, we ordered carry out and to my surprise the food came in a cardboard container instead of those toxic Styrofoam containers. WTG T&E, thanks for caring about your customers health!
I had a Me, Myself and I burger (basically a make it your own way burger) and for my side, I had sweet potato fries....DELISH! I finished all my food and that's saying a lot considering I usually eat 1/2 of what is on my plate and save the rest for later. It was too good to stop!
OK, so you pay a few dollars more for a burger that isn't poisoned with hormones and antibiotics. Understand how expensive health care is and in comparison, it's worth spending a few more dollars on a healthier meal.
Thank you Tom & Eddie, I will be a repeat customer!
So, after becoming the Duke of Tom & Eddie's (which I will soon be passed) I wrote the following letter to Tammi Ciciora, Chief Hospitality Officer, who replied the next morning she would forward this email and someone would get back to me. That was a week ago, so I guess no one cares about my concerns. Here was the email I sent her:
"So, my sixth visit to Tom & Eddie's in Deerfield appears it may be my final visit.
I love the food, I love the concept. I love the flavor of the burgers, but after my Wednesday night experience, I don't know how I can return.
I ordered my burger and under-cooked homemade potato chips (love them raw in the center) to go and stood and watched as my food was prepared. Two people handled the chips with their bare hands and when my  1/2 pound burger was placed on the bun, it was placed with 3-4 naked fingers pushing the burger off the spatula onto the bun.
I did not care to hear the manager's theory that everyone washes their hands before entering the kitchen. With germs a major concern in society, a washed bare hand touching the prepared food I'm about to eat, in front of my face is not appetizing. I see at restaurants such as McDonald's everyone in the kitchen wearing gloves when handling food. Washing hands doesn't keep from when a food preparer scratches their nose in the kitchen. It is not sanitary and not professional.
I was very excited to see the new location opening in Lincolnshire/Vernon Hills this week, but after what I witnessed last night, I can't imagine how anyone could return to your restaurants after what I saw.
Please email me when your kitchen gets with the times in current society and I'll be prepared to return. I love the food, but can't eat it anymore if I see bare hands touching prepared food.
I await your response."
You would think after a week they would have replied. Oh well, maybe the naked hands touching my food made it taste so great. It is 2011, time to get with the times and be more sanitary.
--------------------------------------------------
9-14-11 UPDATE
I received the following reply posted below. Needless to say, doctors wear gloves. I will not support a business that when I order a burger and homemade chips to go I see two people touch my chips and one person touch my hamburger with bare hands. I find this reply insulting and unprofessional. Too bad, I loved this place but they have a bad mentality and I don't ever want to see my cooked food ever touched by anyone's naked hands but mine - Good riddance to a customer who was satisfied but will never, ever return! No one needs to touch cooked food with their bare hands to serve it. I'm not an idiot. I saw three people touch my food before they tried to give it to me. duh.
Reply received 9-10-11:
Dear Joel,
I would like to apologize for the tardiness of this email. My  dilemma was that what the manager told you at the Deerfield location was correct and I know you did want to hear that so I wanted some solid proof for you. This is what I have been told by our top level management.
The decision to not wear gloves in the kitchen was not made lightly. Wearing gloves while working in the kitchen gives you a false sense of cleanliness or being sanitary. The truth is that germs attach themselves to  gloves just the same as they do on bare skin. I would much rather have our cooks aware that they need to wash their hands than wear the same pair of gloves all day long. I realize the gloves are perceived as sanitary. Trust me, they are not. The cooks in our kitchens are aware of when they need to wash their hands and do so on a frequent and regular basis. Every City we are located in has a very strict health department rules and we have passed with flying colors.  We have incredible food prepared in a sanitary environment. You as one of guests deserve nothing less.
Wishing you well,
Tammi Ciciora
"Wanna grab lunch?"
"Sure! Where do you want to go?"
"Uh... burgers?"
"How about Tom and Eddie's?"
"Never been."
"It's good."
And off we went. My dining companion went on to explain that two former McDonald's suits got a little bored in retirement and decided to open a small, fast-casual gourmet burger chain. At the mention of the Golden Arches I was skeptical... but the decor and food totally sold me on the concept.
Walking in to the space, you note the warm wood fixtures, beautiful, plush green and orange seating, creative configurations of seating (from 2-tops to conference tables), and homey details decorating all the nooks and crannies of the restaurant.
Parking, of course, is ample (hey, it's a strip mall!) and the menu is incredibly diverse with options ranging from the Ampersand, seemingly their signature burger with gouda, barbecue sauce, and fried onion straws to a customizable cheese burger, which my dining partner devoured. Also available are salads, soups, and more creative options like tuna and edamame burgers.
I ordered the Blue Chip burger and could not be more pleased. Meat is high quality, flavorful Angus topped with a fresh, juicy slice of tomato, bleu cheese crumbles, creamy slices of avocado, a few of their homemade potato chips, and a generous helping of their garlic aioli. The patty was clearly hand-formed and well-charred on the outside with a medium, juicy center. All of the vegetable toppings were fresh, the bleu cheese was sharp and tangy, and the garlic aioli-- well, I could eat an entire container of that on its own. Really, the only reason why I ate any of my side of sweet potato fries (diet, you see), was to deliver more of that amazing, garlicky, creamy sauce into my face.
Tom and Eddie's is clearly owned by restaurant mavens with lots of cool touches like a Coca Cola machine that will custom-blend any sort of soda you can imagine-- it rivals Sonic!-- and a neat locator device that will allow servers to easily deliver food to your table. They have an astounding array of condiments ranging from Cholula hot sauce to local barbecue sauce and Thai peanut sauce.
Service is quick, friendly, and accommodating of special requests. I wish this homegrown chain the best of luck. And, uh, hey, if y'all higher ups read this and need to hire some marketing staff-- call me. I think you have an amazing concept and totally need to support my burger habit.
Tom & Eddies is located in the Deerfield Square Shopping Center on Waukegan Rd. at Deerfield Rd. Parking is available in the private lot of the shopping center.
Tom & Eddies is an upscale hamburger joint. The decor is extra nice and the Deerfield location doesn't hurt. However, there are MANY restaurants with better burgers at more reasonable prices (e.g. Paradise Pup, Celli's, Poochie's).
The average price of a 1/3 lb. burger with one side is $10.00. I've spent $10 on a burger elsewhere, like Champs in Old Orchard, and Tom & Eddies doesn't come close. Give me a char-grilled burger over this flat grilled (fried) burger any day.
I ordered my "Tried & True" burger with the default condiments. It came dripping in ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. The fries were VERY salty and mushy. McDonald's fries are better.
Our table neighbors compared notes and we agreed the prices were outrageous. There was an upscale female hospitality person walking around seeking feedback. She provided our table with calculator-like electronic survey machines. Most of the questions touched on subjects unrelated to the food served. Quite telling.
The 40ish, blondish, upscale hospitality clerk was flirty to the men at our table, while ignoring the women. It was very odd. She bought the table small shakes, which were more like chocolate milk than real milk shakes.
Don't be fooled by a pretty decor and high prices--this is not a good burger or a good value.
It's everything you'd want in a burger..definitely yummy in my tummy! :)
If you don't mind spending an extra couple dollars, these burgers + extras are worth it! You could either order a signature burger or make up your own with a ton of different toppings. I loved mine with lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, haystack fried onions, and garlic alioli sauce. DELICIOUS!! One mouth full and I was sold. :)
Some new and interesting toppings I haven't seen much of were granny smith apple slices, basil pesto, wasabi mayo, hot giardiniera, of even fresh made potato chips. Pretty neato! :)
They cook their burgers medium well and they all come with a side order. It'll cost you $9 though... if it were just a couple dollars less this would be my go-to burger place all the time.
I would give everything the star rating of:
Burger - 5 stars  Juicy and perfect!
Fries - Â 2 stars Definitely skip them. They do have sweet potato fries though
Milkshake - 5 stars Who could resist haagen-dazs ice cream??
If you're not a huge burger fan they also have an edamame, turkey, or ahi tuna burger :) Or you could do a chicken sandwich or hot dog which look pretty tasty.
Overall..a place to check out and have yourself a time of burger yummyness!
Happy Eating!
Much thanks to their appearance at the Chevy Chase Yelp event recently, I was sold the moment I sipped their chocolate milk shakes that they seemed to have an endless supply of! To my delight the burgers lived up to the tastiness that their shakes somehow eluded to...
Contrary to many of the reviews so far, I found that the amount of food was appropriate to their price. You have to take into consideration that this is not exactly a Burger King  nor its it really a sit down. Its perfectly in between and the plus side is you get spectacular service!
What makes this place stand apart is not just their great food- which by the way I totally loved and recommend the Ampersand!-  but all the little things that obviously took a lot of thought before opening up such an establishment! Little things such as the fact that they use a lot of eco friendly supplies like their drinking cups as one example. Then there's all that extra service that you get, all at the touch of a little button from  this neat little contraption that sits at each table. The service is seriously lightning quick because it took as little as 10-15 secs to get someone to come to our table.  Pretty sweet if you ask me!
Other things that I love - organic ketchup, cream soda and many others to choose from, Coke Freestlye machine (way cool futuristic soda machine), and awesome sides to choose from like soup or sweet potato fries! I can probably go on some more but honestly, go and see for yourself! Tom & Eddie knows what they are doing!
I think this place is average at best but you can't do half ratings on Yelp so I'll go for 3.
Before I get into what I really want to discuss (which is anything but the food) I should mention that the food itself was actually pretty good. Burgers were cooked well (not too dry like some had mentioned) and they weren't big enough that you felt sick when you finished. Fries were mediocre.
But now on to the important stuff- everything but the food. The hostess seemed very nice and told us they'd been slammed since they opened. When I suggested that was a good thing, she said "For us...sucks for you guys." Even though she was just implicating that there would be lines, this seems like an odd thing to acknowledge. Do you really ever want to tell a customer that an aspect of your restaurant sucks? Moving on.
Several on here have complained about the prices and....I'm going to too. $13 for a burger fries and a drink is fine if you're at a sit down restaurant. But Tom and Eddie's is the Panera of burger restaurants. Don't be fooled people- this is very much a fast food restaurant with inflated prices. It is more expensive than Five Guys or Meatheads.
I thought the thrill of the computerized Coke machine would last longer but it didn't. The first use is exciting. The second time you realize it's just kind of a pain.
This place seems like it's on the fast track to becoming a family spot, where kids are screaming at all times and there is constant commotion. They seemed to have even catered to such an atmosphere by having a rack of kids toys. I suppose this isn't a bad thing, but consider yourself warned.
This review is far longer than it needs to be for a place where the food was actually decent. Given that there is going to be a massive line there for the next4-5 months, I'm probably not hurrying back.
Also, this place is going to totally eliminate the thrill of getting a good parking spot behind Whole Foods. So thanks for that too.
The line is crazy. Â Correction: The line gets crazy. Â Arrive at odd hours and you'll find yourself a happy customer. Pricey? Yes. Everyone is going to complain how expensive it is, but I have to say, the ingredients speak for themselves. Â I think the prices are well justified and quantities are just right. Â A great burger and a decent selection of craft beer. Â I'm sold. Â I'm not easy to please, especially when it comes to expensive "fast food" but this is not fast food and I'm very happy with it despite the bitter mood I walked in with.
Ahi Tuna burger was OK. The wontons were a bit chewy and the tuna slightly dry. Â The sweet potato fries were cook to perfection. Â Any place that serves Boddington deserves an extra star. Â I'd give it five stars if they decided who their target demographic is. Â This place is filled with families/kids! Â It's noisy and not a great place to take a date, unless they love kids. They provide toys, which keeps the rugrats busy, but the family friendly nature really takes away a lot of great ambiance it looked like it was trying to create. I'm still confused as to who they want in the door, but the lines speak for itself, despite the overall ratings on Yelp. Â Heck, they still got me in the door and served a great meal.
Check it out.. It's definitely worth a try.
I'll start out by saying the service is outstanding. Â Lots of smiles, fast service, I was all about it.
But my $11 burger was lacking...toppings. Â I had the Bushel & a Peck, expecting a luscious burger with melty, goey Brie. Â What I got, was a small piece of brie, a pinch of grilled onions, and 3 apple slices. Â It was good, but if I'm dishing out the big bucks for some meat on a bun, I Â really want to feel like I got my money's worth, and I just didn't get that feeling. Â Couldn't even taste the brie.
I would give them another try in a few weeks, maybe I just got a stingy chef?
Too much service! Â I think they train all their employees to say something to every customer. Â On our way in, at least 3 people spoke to us before we even placed our order at the counter. Â Then while we were waiting, 3 more people checked up on how we were doing, and we were asked to fill out 2 things for the company. Â We came during their grand opening week, though, so hopefully they will ease off. Â Hence, the 3 star versus 4 star review.
Our 2 burgers and 1 drink came out to $25. Â I got the Blue Chip burger (avocado, blue cheese, garlic aioli), and my bf got the Ampersand (bacon, gouda cheese, bbq sauce, haystack onions, and fried egg). Â Both were really good and juicy! Â I liked the higher quality buns too. Â Their fries were good, but the haystack onions were too greasy for me. Â I tried their house made chips, and they were too crunchy and bland for me. Â They have a hardcore soda machine with a touchscreen that allows you to choose from several flavors of Diet Coke and other sodas. Â They also have chicken sandwiches, salads, kids meals, and milkshakes. Â There's outdoor seating too.
A unique touch is the service button at every table. Â You can push the button, and your waiter will assist you with everything, including refilling your sodas.
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