Top Notch Beef Burgers

There is something to be said for the old school. If you've been do something right for over seventy years, and people still keep coming back, then why change?

Top Notch is a prime example of this. And thank God for it.

The entire establishment is a time capsule. You walk in, and you have a counter, tables, and booths straight out Classic Diner Weekly. It's as no frills and unpretentious as it gets.

And then there's the food. One bite of their burger, and you'll see why this place is still around. Fresh meat, seasoned modestly, and cooked one way (medium rare), with all the classic burger accoutrements and your choice or raw or grilled onions. Sesame seed buns lightly toasted. Fries fried in beef tallow and in generous portions. Milkshakes made with actual ice cream and malt. It's quality all around, with prices that remain modest.

Anyone who dares to claim Kuma's is the best burger in Chicago should have their heads examined. That honor belongs to Top Notch, and will for decades to come as long as nothing changes.

To the old school.

Came here about 7pm after a basketball game...that I coached....and won....just saying. Before the fam and I came here, I Googled  "best burger joints in the Chi" at about noon, and saw that this place was top five.  So, for the next 7 hours I was straight up "jones-ing" for a burger and my expectations were high for this place. I walked in and gave it a quick glance and it looked like some run- down-ass Huck Finn at 2am after you've been raving it up with glow sticks and dropping ecstasy. Nevertheless, I refused to judge this little "1950's-post -zombie-invasion-need remodeling-and-a-paint job" book by its cover. And of course, since all I think with is my penis outside of work, I notice two cute Caucasian girls sitting in a booth.  One was a dirty blond, milky white skin, little eyeliner, short bob. Cute. The other...you know? Correction.  I noticed one cute girl. So...I proceeded to the counter and two hipster looking Hispanic slash Italian kids greet me. And by greet, I mean I initiated the dialog by telling them I would like to place a takeout order. And I don't know if they were hipsters, they more like a hybrid of Hipsters and Daddy Yankee lookin' kids. They both were "lined up" but had skinny jeans and those earrings that stretch out your ear lobes. What's the deal with that? If my kid asked to wear those, I'd be like, "Sure...but before you do, can you go on ahead and carefully throw some battery acid on my eyes so I can never see that shit? " After I told them I wanted to place an order, in my exuberance, I said it was my first time there. And that's when the gates of heaven opened. These two potential Jersey Shore stunt doubles started throwing out some mad quality customer service. They immediately opened up a menu and when on to tell me what's a deluxe burger and what comes with it. These two were all smiles and let me tell you, not only did that feel refreshing as a customer, but kinda gives me hope that douchey looking' kids can be quite helpful. Again, they looked douchey to me, but probably would make the girls panties drop in Humboldt Park or Logan Square.  So, we went on to order 3 deluxe burgers and apparently, the deluxe comes with steak fries. Got home about 10 minutes later and tore the bag open, and checked out the presentation....looked like a wrapped burger. There was kind of a big ass piece of lettuce kind of thrown on there, but I was all in for the burger, not the green stuff. Took a bite. Chewed. Chewed some more. Decent? Or was it bad? Did the reviews of the place hype it too much? Think dammit! Think! It was good. Medium rare. Didn't order it like that, but I think if you get it well done, it would taste like cardboard. I would've liked to be asked though. Was it good? Yeah. Patty was so juicy, well seasoned. Just wanted to throw the bun out and eat the patty. Pretty quality. Better than Portillo's. Better than all franchise burger joints. It's good yo. Fries? Standard. Good burger yo.

The mission was meat. It usually is.

I first heard about Top Notch on Check Please about a million years ago. I thought it looked yummy, but would I really haul it all the way down to Beverly for a burger? Yes I would.

Top Notch has been around forever...I'm sure there is many a Southsider than can say, "I used to come here with my grandfather....and it hasn't changed a bit..." I heart places like this....as long as the food delivers, and it does. I ordered a 1/4 pound cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate shake...everything hit the spot. They do offer more than just burgers....but unless it is a Friday during Lent, I don't see me ever visiting Top Notch and ordering anything else.

That said....I'd go back. Yes I would.