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Boston Blackies
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
120 S Riverside Plz(between Adams St & Monroe St)
Chicago, IL 60606
Neighborhood: Near West Side
(312) 382-0700
- Nearest Transit:
-
Quincy/wells (Brown Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Washington/wells (Brown Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
Clinton-blue (Blue Line)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
117 reviews for Boston Blackies
Review Highlights
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"Oh, don't forget to order the onion rings too." In 20 reviews -
"Happy hour has free food i love it." In 15 reviews -
"The burger also comes with this very tasty cole slaw." In 9 reviews
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117 reviews in English
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Review from Bryan A.
Northbrook, IL
3/30/2012
Chronic. Would recommend getting high before eating.
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Review from Chris C.
5/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The location is great (office and customers in same & neighboring buildings) and there is plenty of room at the bar.
After that the place is sort of average. The beer selection is pretty much all macro stuff although they occasionally have New Belgium which makes up for this. The prices are low, but the service is below average so you get what you pay for. The burgers are good but they are a bit on the pricey side. There are other places nearby that have much better ones for the same price or slightly lower.
So when feeling lazy and ok with average beer this place is ok. If you have time and want better beer keep on walking. -
Review from Katie P.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2012
This place has SUCH promise - so close to the metra and Union Station, so close to my work, they sell beer....
Unfortunately, they decide to mess up this perfect equation with the ambiance. B96-esque music blasting and breaking up conversations makes it tough to calm down after a long day of work. If it's sunny outside, good luck on finding some comfortable seating that is not near a loud bunch of people.
Perhaps this place is only meant for those hard of hearing? -
Review from Tim L.
Riverside, IL
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I poor remnant of the awesome Boston Blackies chain that used to exist the the Chicagoland area. It might be good if you've never been, but you'll be disappointed if you had been to other locations before they went out of business.
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Review from Colin T.
10/18/2011
Had the Tough Guy, the double burger on the menu, with no bun as usual and blue cheese (one among their impressive cheese selection), and they covered the bastard in it. I even ate a french fry for science. It was a broad, slim chip and freakin' delicious.
I like the dark pub atmosphere. Would definitely try the Blackie's burger next, though I'd order it with double the grilled onions my dining companion's came out with. -
Review from Carlton J.
Homewood, IL
11/21/2011
I work in the building where this restaurant is located.
Used to eat here often and was reasonably satisfied with the product - it makes for an easy lunch decision when it's snowing and cold outside or you have little time to eat.
The burgers are now much smaller, and cost $10 - no fries - just cole slaw a slice of tomato and a piece of lettuce. Ask for your burger to be cooked medium and it will come back dripping blood.
This place has changed and not for the better. I hate McDonald's, but the next time I want a burger I would consider a quarter pounder before I get Blackie's again. -
Review from Alana T.
Chicago, IL
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Although I'm now sitting at my desk at the workplace, borderline coma from this heavy lunch, I'm still happy with the food here.
I have to say, the cod sandwich I ordered was bangin! The homemade tarter sauce was yummy, and the damn coleslaw stole the show! The steak fries were like, "we're not actually cow, but please believe, we're just as good". This place was banging, and definitely not expensive for the amount of food they bestow upon you.
Good eats, here, good eats. -
Review from Dorotka K.
Franklin Park, IL
11/18/2011
The burgers are so big here that you will not be able to stand up straight for hours. But that's pretty much it and not enough for me to return.
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Review from Kathy L.
Gary, IN
9/13/2011
I just had dinner here. Ordered a cheeseburger with cheddar. Came with a slice of tomato, lettuce leaf, and tight clump of cole slaw.
the burger was preformed and could very well have been frozen. the cole slaw was from a plastic container. can't say that for $20 (incl tip), a mediocre burger and rail liquor cocktail is a happy experience. even the waitress was less than enthused. won't be back.
really, not very good. -
Review from Nathan W.
Park Ridge, IL
1/12/2012
Burger was average, nothing special. The fries definitely had a fishy taste to them. Service was good at the bar, but the place was pretty empty. However, they have no ciders, which is unacceptable to me.
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Review from Liz K.
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Known for their burgers...I was told that the burger was excellent. (4stars).
Service was decent.....nothing too fancy or eye catching.
I ordered a sangria drink and it was okay. Their bloody mary was better but too much ice that it was watered down.
So why 3 stars? I am a vegetarian. There was only one thing on the menu that I could eat and it was not that great. A sloppy sandwich of vegetables. I really enjoyed their appetizers though...the onion straws and fries.
The waitress said that they soon will be having veggie burgers...I hope that is true...:-) -
Review from Jennifer R.
Chicago, IL
10/21/2011
Recently made a return appearance here after a long hiatus for a coworkers goodbye lunch and was reminded of how awesome the burgers are! I just had a regular cheeseburger and actually split it with someone, because it is HUGE! The fries are meant to split too and are soooo good! The one downside is they don't take reservations for lunch and it does get packed, so definitely make sure to get here early for lunch if you don't want to wait!!!
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Review from carolyn h.
Birmingham, AL
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only reason i go here is to enjoy drinks with co workers for happy hour.
The food is bad, even for bar food. They are supposed to have good burgers so when I tried one I was so grossed out that I couldn't eat past the first bite. The cocktails are ok, nothing special. I mean, how hard it is to make a kettle tonic. I wish they had a better beer selection. I will say that when I go the service is usually always good. -
Review from Raquel D.
3/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a place to go to enjoy patio seating when it's nice outside or for happy hour. OR when it's in your building and you have no time or are too lazy and cold to go anywhere else.
I have come on those occasions alone. The food isn't outstanding, but it's edible. The service is lacking and the prices are ridiculous. But they have a mean bloody mary.
All in all, it's do-able as a last resort or for drinks. Not for great food or outstanding service.Listed in: Downtown Lunching.
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Review from Paula L.
3/13/2011
I used to work across the street from Blackie's so I've been ALOT. In the past I always got a burger with feta and sauteed onions. I would give that 5 stars. I now work in Bucktown and met friends for lunch. It wasn't a hike or anything, but I hoped my lunch to be better since I traveled to get there.
Got the cod fish sandwich (no longer eat red meat). It was the most boring fish sandwich on the earth. 2 buns, 1 slice lettuce, 1 slice tomato and tartar sauce. Maybe a slice of pepper jack cheese or argula instead of romaine lettuce. The best part about my meal was the onion rings I stole repeatedly off my friends place. -
Review from Michael G.
Rockville, MD
8/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
What a travesty! What a miscarriage of justice!
No, I'm not talking about the recently "concluded" Rod Blagojevich trial. I'm talking about the case against the former owner of the Boston Blackie's chain. I mean, the guy might be guilty as sin, but if it takes relieving him from legal purgatory to improve the chain, than I hope the system fails.
Seriously, though, if you want to talk about injustice, one needs only look to the drink sizes at this location of Blackie's. I was recently having a bad week and a wise girl told me, "if life gives you lemons, drink vodka lemonade." So on a post-work outing, I tried to do just that. For $6, they might have tried to put just a smidgen of vodka in my happy maker. I mean, the beer specials aren't horrible (though the choices are basically Miller Lite and Miller Lite), but isn't the old saying, "if your life's in the clear, then you should drink beer?" I need a little bit stronger a drink sometimes!
The food is better proportioned. That is, except for the appetizers (which are the only vegetarian choices on the menu besides salads). And these are full meal priced. For four small potato skins, I would not expect to pay almost ten dollars after tax. But here I did.
Maybe the new owners are funneling the pure profits on food and drink to the old owner's legal defense of something!
Perhas the yuppie and douchebag crowd that frequents here is used to being gouged but I'm sure they're not as fond of being ignored. And that's just what the servers will do. It doesn't matter the time of day, either - a crowded lunch or a less crowded set of after-work drinks will be equally poorly attended.
Now there are not a lot of places to congregate after work in the West Loop so it's certainly understandable (to a point) that Blackie's takes advantage of the law of supply and demand. But they better watch it or they might end up on the wrong side of a more physical law - charged with a case of highway robbery!Listed in: Surviving In The Food Desert
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Review from molly m.
Manhattan, NY
7/17/2011
I truly enjoy my burger here. Boston Blackie's has always been my favorite spot in Chicago for burgers, and I eat out a lot. The fries are amazing and my stomach always thanks me when I leave. However, I feel like it is my duty to warn others about the oddest restaurant experience I've ever had: the time my unattentive waiter came to the table and yelled at me for not leaving him a bigger tip. His service was horrible, from messing up the order to stedfastly convincing me not to order what I want. In all my many years of eating out, I have never had a waiter pick up my bill while I'm still at the table, open it up, see how much he was tipped, then verbally assault me in front of a packed place.
The funny thing is, the manager was standing right there and fully backed the waiter. He looked at me like I was the bad guy. I was truly astonished and felt I needed to make a Yelp account just to warn others about my horrible experience... -
Review from julie q.
2/28/2011
Get there early if you don't have reservations. and make sure your entire party is there because if it isn't, they won't seat you until it is. Awesome burgers, cole slaw, and fries are good to share. Do me a huge favor - If you go here, DON'T ORDER A SALAD. Or I'll give you dirty looks from across the restaurant the whole time you're eating it. You don't go to BB's for SALAD! Just sayin.
They have a good happy hour too. -
Review from Isabelle L.
Wheeling, IL
8/5/2011
Good place in the loop to grab lunch or a drink before catching a train at union station. The terrace is a nice place in the summer time. Service is fast and friendly. Decent choices of draughts for about $5. Lunch will set you back about $10 to $15 with the usual choices: burgers, salads, sandwiches. Nothing fancy, the menu is pretty limited but still a good alternate to fast food where you can enjoy your meal on the terrace in 30 min or take your time if you wish to.
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Review from Brian S.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2011
A place that is known for their burgers. They are good, but not great. Chicago is in the midst of a burger revolution with all the gastro food bars that are now popping out $10+ gourmet burgers with Kobe, Pretzel buns, truffles, and you name it. Boston Blackie's hasn't reforumulated to compete against this onslaught. So in burger land they come up short. However, Boston Blackie's is a good place to grab a meal and does serve a whole lot more than burgers. Their fish & chips and chicken is quite tasty. They have a number of locations around Chicago and I find they are consistent between them. I do like the outdoor seating at this particular locations and think it would be great in the summer.
Overall
Good Burgers
Lots of offerings
Typical American Food - Average Sit Down Quality
Fair Prices -
Review from Kyle H.
8/13/2008
Lunch here is near impossible with the Chads that work nearby crowding this place...so stagger your lunch. I like their burgers, the salads are good but would love to see more than 3 on the menu! Had their Chicago style Hot Dog once and wow- this thing can only be described as mythic. It's the thickest hot dog I've ever seen and damn good. But I swear I got a hangover after eating it, the saltiness sucked all the H20 right outta my body!
Oh, and this place has a great outdoor seating area, and is good for afterwork drinks. Who's joining me Friday?? -
Review from Rick F.
5/27/2009
Atmosphere: Lunch rush, burger joint
Price: Fair
Service: Typical old school cold and rushed, no personality
Food: Above average
I arrived late for lunch with a small group of people, when I arrived they were being served, so I asked for a diet coke and chicken sandwich, they said it would be quick.
It was it arrived within 3 minutes, WOW! and it was delicious. Coleslaw was good too.
I'm a fan.... -
Review from Alexander L.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2008
Boston Blackies was definitely worth braving single digit temperatures. All you need is a big coat and a bigger appetite and they'll sit you down and stuff you before work drags you back to your cube or desk.
Working in an office building all the time can dull your senses when it comes to good lunch food. Often times it's that time where you realize "oh I have 20 minutes so I'll grab something from downstairs". Also in Chicago there's the propensity to look out a window (if you're lucky enough to have a window) and say "I don't feel like trudging through the snow for lunch"
I met the conditions head on and my love for adventure was satisfied in walking the three or so blocks from the office. Before we even took off our gloves the host seated us and we were ordering the name branded burger. It was awesome. Not skimpy on the bleu cheese that I asked for and one order of fries was sufficient for two of us.
I highly recommend this place to those downtown who want a big meaty burger. There's the great feeling of a pub and it's a great place to come in out of the cold. -
Review from Sharlene K.
Chicago, IL
5/14/2007
Good lord. This is the place I go when someone from out of town is visiting me at work for lunch. This is the place I go when something at work went down and I need to eat myself better.
This is the place in the Loop I swear by for my cheese burger, and if I have time to wait through the service.
The meat is a delicious mix of chuck and sirloin (oh yeah, I can tell) and I'm pretty sure there's some bread crumbs and worchestire sauce. You know how I know? Because excellent BBQ-masters and devoted fans of Steve Raichlen alike know that a good hamburger maintains composure without being soggy and gross by imitating meatloaf and meatballs! This is one awesome hamburger and at half a pound, it's not for the faint of heart. It's a minimalist burger without the superfluous toppings of a California style joint.
Then there are the cottage fries they serve on the side. These are the greater and more obese cousin of the potato chip. Slightly thicker and salty while soft and almost creamy in the middle while crisp on the outside. When Governor's Pub used to be open on State/Lake, they had far superior cottage fries, but I can take what I can get when the going gets slim.
You know what is friggin fantastic? If you're a 20-something like me, chances are you know at least 1 vegetarian and actually I have friends of maybe only 4 or 5 meat-eaters as a product of art school.
VEGETARIANS REJOICE! Boston Blackie's for all it's blood and gore about burgers has one of the most amazing GRILLED PORTABELLA sandwiches. It's this cheesey grilled vegetable goodness that is a towering delight to the senses. It's a great change of pace for the burger fan too because these slices of Portabella mushroom are thick and huge.
The onion rings are great! If you visit by even numbers, have an equal number of fries to onion ring orders and you will be so stoked.
Plus, free soda refills.Listed in: The Loop Will Eat Your Soul
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Review from KELLIE K.
5/4/2009
Lunchtime mediocrity.
My lunch companion and I arrived around 12:30 and managed to get seated at a booth fairly quickly. Unfortunately, that was about the only big thing Blackies had going for it.
It took far too long to get drinks ordered. Apparently I missed a posted sign somewhere about a water shortage because neither one of us were offered any from the beginning nor got any refills once we did get glasses. Mid-lunch, I was ready to go outside and get a drink from the river. Yeah, I was that desperate.
Our server was mostly absent. We only saw her enough times to order food/drinks, grab her attention for another empty plate to share some food, and get the bill. It was busy in there, though I'd guess no more so than any other lunchtime.
The burgers are pretty good, though not even close to great. I'm not sure what the hype is over them. I tried the Oliveburger, which is a burger piled high with chopped pimiento green olives. I ordered it medium, and it was actually cooked medium, which was a pleasant surprise.
We split a side house salad, and I'm glad. For just under $3.50, a big pile of iceberg lettuce, one slice of tomato, and a dish of dressing seems like rip off city. Yes, it clearly states on the menu that the salad is made of iceberg lettuce, I realize that. It seems a bit steep when that's one of the only healthier alternative sides.
The location to my office is convenient and you can get out of there without doing major damage to your wallet. I'll leave Blackie's as an substitute to a lunchtime sandwich joint. However, I'm certainly not rushing back, unless I bring the camelpack as backup.Listed in: On State Street, That Great…
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Review from Alison M.
Chicago, IL
2/19/2008
There should be more places like Boston Blackies downtown.
1) Convenient location with pretty quick service during the lunch hour (be aware, they do fill up though, so get there early).
2) Good food. Their burgers are delicious. The wings and onion rings are good, but my favorite is the potato skins. They are more like little potato cups, and hold much more cheese, bacon, chives, and sour cream than a normal potato skin.
3) Most importantly, unlike so many places downtown, they don't close at 5:30. So, if you're having a hard day, and want a drink and some greasy food, Boston Blackies is there for you. Even if it is after 8 pm.Listed in: The Lunch Bunch
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Review from G S.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2006 ROTD 6/22/2006
Like a few f-bombs sprinkled in with your lunch?
Come here and take a seat at the bar. Ask for Jaime - her specialty is customer service. If she can't make you feel welcome, noone can. She is truly one of a kind - five stars! Six if she brought her twins out to play :)
Note: NEVER ask Jaime for a new knife. If you drop yours or whatever, do without - trust me! You've been warned.
-G -
Review from Abhay S.
12/14/2010
My usual go-to place in the Loop was packed for 2 hours and I needed a place for lunch. My client's office was located near Boston Blackie's so I made the recommendation.
We arrived around 11:45 and were seated immediately. Our service was great - very prompt and friendly. She made sure our beverages were topped off throughout our meal.
I ordered a cheeseburger, and it was OK. Nothing out of this world, and it wasn't terrible either. The fries were decent as well.
Bottom line -if you're looking for a decent burger in the loop area, Boston Blackie's isn't a bad place. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if you're in the area, give them a consideration. -
Review from Sally C.
Chicago, IL
10/6/2010
I've been here for lunch a few times (most recently today). The location is perfect for eating on the patio, but the inside is good as well. The burgers and onion rings are pretty darn good.
I find all the comments about the service a little off from what I experienced. Our waitress was polite and attentive as was the staff who brought out our food and bussed our table. Drink refills were brought without having to ask. We got our food ridiculously fast.
My only complaint is that for the price of the burgers (about $8.50), I would expect fries or chips or something on the side other than just coleslaw and a slice of tomato (which, don't get me wrong, are very good). This location is primarily a lunch spot, and if you want a burger, fries, and a drink, you're looking at a pretty good tab which most people won't pay for on a daily basis. So for a really good burger every once in a while, I recommend stopping by here. -
Review from Angie M.
7/16/2008
Ick. I don't like this place! I have come to believe it is my lunchtime version of hell. My reasons?
1. Heavy LP Chad crowd. Yes, you know who you are, thinking you're all that in your CDW polo shirt. P.S.... A slurred, "heeeeeeeeeyyyyy" does not constitute a pick-up line.
2. Uber-crowded.
3. Eurotrashy hostesses.
4. Greasy burger + soggy fries = one step closer to a quadruple bypass surgery.
All of that said, Blackie's does have a few redeeming qualities. Their chili appetizer is huge and delicious and really cheap. If you are rolling into work with a killer hangover, stop in for a breakfast flat. They are a greasy delight that coats your tummy and lets you move on with your day.Listed in: Lunch in the Loop (or at…
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Review from Esther Y.
2/14/2009
Four words: cut up hot dog.
Here's the back story. Working late, needed food, Boston Blackies close by. I didn't want that much food so I got two appeteasers. So, I choose hot dog bites and spuds.
What the heck kind of decision did I make? Hot dog bites.... CUT UP HOT DOG! There was a pint of bbq sauce, and 10 pieces of cut up hot dog. IT WAS CUT UP HOT DOG!!!! Can you feel the level of WTFness I am feeling right now? I thought there was going to be something around the hot dog, some bread, something! I got nothin'. Just cut up hot dog.
Now, on to the spuds. SOOOOO greasy, but they were good. If you could withstand the amounts of grease pooling on the bottom of the take out container, then you may like it. I ate it, but then felt ill.
In all fairness, people that got the burgers were happy with them, and their fries were like thicker homemade potato chips-which were good.
I, however, will probably not go there again.
CUT UP HOT DOG. -
Review from Mr. S.
Chicago, IL
8/2/2011
I've eaten at the downtown location a few times, as well as countless meals at the Michigan Avenue location (in the past).. and even the now-closed location on Halsted. Evidently, i read that the original owners were involved in some sort of fraud.
- http://www.nbcchicago....
- http://www.thefeast.co...
- http://www.huffingtonp...
I just was approached by a coworker- we ate there last week for lunch. We received only MEDIOCRE SERVICE and the ORDER WAS WRONG. We split the bill and i took care of the tip (i left 18% on the subtotal as i was a waiter). Well, as it looks, the WAITRESS FILLED-IN AN EXTRA TIP on his receipt! Can you say FRAUD???
The not-so-bright young lady that was a "the manager" offered us this excuse: "The waitress just made a mistake".... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No apology. She didnt even have any contact information of the company that owns this establishment. She only offered the take out number as a contact number! What an inept staff.
Ok, so- mediocre (at best) service, mediocre food...and now FRAUD PERPETRATED BY AN EMPLOYEE! Would you ever trust that this restaurant group and the employees it hires to NOT commit this type of indiscretion again?
As a person that appreciates good service and good food, i can honestly say to AVOID THIS LOCATION like the plague. There are countless established and new restaurants that serve great hamburgers.
LET ME BE CLEAR- If you recall that at one time, Carsons Ribs had something to do with this restaurant Boston Blackies in years past. Carsons has no connection at all to the current restaurants BOSTON BLACKIES. I highly recommend Carsons to anyone. THEY have GREAT FOOD and GREAT SERVERS!
Thanks for taking the time to read my honest review of this mediocre restaurant. -
Review from Jessica Y.
Chicago, IL
5/4/2008
This is our classic afterwork happy hour spot being that I work right across the street, so I'm here most Fridays...except during the winter. The outdoor patio rocks and is a great way to unwind from the day/week. If you don't get here (or send a coworker to get seats) early, you're gonna have to wait. We always order beer buckets, its about $15 for a bucket of 5 bottles, not a bad deal downtown.
The reason Blackies gets 4 stars (and that I avoid it in the winter) is that stuffing people who normally occupy all of the restaurant AND a large outdoor patio into only the restaurant space is not a pleasant experience - way toooo cramped. Plus, as mentioned above, the main appeal is sitting outside and enjoying a cold one. I'm not an afterwork cocktail girl, but I believe the cocktails and shots are a bit pricier. BUT for the convenience and great patio, this place is still number one for happy hour.
One other note, if you plan to go here for lunch, the menu is very limited and basically consists of bar food. Great for sopping up alcohol during happy hour, but not a great source of sustenance for the afternoon - Can you say food coma? Head across the street to Roti or over to Arturo's for some quality lunch fare.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Kal R.
Chicago, IL
8/15/2011
AVOID THIS PLACE! This place USE to be a good lunch and after work drink joint but not anymore. The service is horrendous, the waitresses all have an attitude problem, very rude and never apologetic. The "manager" here looks like shes 19 yrs old and is just as un-apolgetic as the servers when something does not come out right and to top if off she wears flip-flops, im sorry but that is disgusting at a restuarant. The last thing i wanna see while eating a burger is someone elses feet! They changed the burger and bun and they both suck. The one thing this place had going for it was the free meat in the evening but thy got rid of that.
Bottom line is that this place has went down the tubes, I use to enjoy coming here but I will not be back again. I wouldnt be suprised if this places goes under in the next few months. -
Review from Mike R.
Chicago, IL
7/30/2009
Boston Blackies is a fairly cliche place with American food. The burgers are decent, but nothing to write home about. The interior is a little old, but fairly nice and the service is fairly normal.
I don't "not recommend" this place, but I rate it down a little bit because I have had much better from other similar establishments. Not a terrible option though, just nothing to write home about. -
Review from Elaine C.
Chicago, IL
5/18/2009
The burger's here are way better than Kuma's.
There, I said it.
Try the Cowboy. Plus, it's not a pain in the ass to get one. -
Review from It's The F.
Darien, IL
9/29/2008
Reasonably priced
Great Location
Bartender puts in a little extra when asked
outside seating with music
Waitresses are very "Blonde" at times......Wahhhhhyyttt?? (What) LMAO.... -
Review from Laila C.
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
thankfully blackie's outdoor patio is large enough that my co-workers and I were able to find 2 large empty tables when South Branch was overfilled. Nothing special, nothing terrible. They have $2 tacos on Thursdays that aren't too bad but round after round of buckets of beer can make anything better.
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Review from Chrissy N.
Chicago, IL
8/27/2009
Came her with a friend for a chat/ catch-up session on a Wednesday evening about 5:30. Empty. Filled up about 6pm. On the inside, it could be any bland chain place. Wood tables, some booths some chairs, bar. Really plain. Dim light and good music was a plus. And there are PLENTY of tvs around if you're trying to catch a game.
Ordered some drinks, and 2 burgers. Burgers came and it was a burger on a plate with a side of cole slaw. I don't think much of places that really think you come to restaurants to get cole slaw. Puh-leease.
I had mushroom burger. Was good, really really dry. I had homed maybe fries came with it, (I think their called home fries here,) but they didn't, and waitress didn't mention "do you want fries" or anything. Although she was friendly and did stop by regularly to ask if we wanted new beers.
This place was about $40 for about 5 beers and 2 burgers. So we'd go again because of its CLOSE proximity to Ogilvie train station, and the price, but otherwise- I'd have no reason to be back.... -
Review from Daphne L.
9/19/2008
I'm not sure it really matters which Blackies your review is based on since they're one in the same. I frequent this location more than the others because it's close to my office, but have been to 3 of the 500 locations in the city. Not really 500, but close enough.
If you go for lunch make sure to either go really early or well past the lunch rush, I'd say after 1:00. I went for lunch last week with a group and we were able to make a reservation because there were 5 of us. Not only that, but, they asked if we preferred indoor or outdoor seating (we chose outdoor) and were told that if it wasn't weather appropriate they would have a table for us inside. We arrived right on time and were seated promptly, which I believe pissed off the dozen or so people waiting for a table. It was my birthday so we were treated to a complimentary slice of ice cream cake that was large enough for all 5 of us to share. I went back today with one friend, got there around 11:45, and we were seated immediately inside. No line, no waiting.
The food is good, but be warned the portions are huge. I'm partial to the jumbo hot dog, which should really be named "Cardiac Arrest on a Bun", and top that with cheese, please. The onion rings are more than a little delicious. My friend, the responsible one in the group, had a salad that looked equally good. My only complaint: we were rushed more than a little during our meal. The waiter/busboy kept coming by every 5-7 minutes to see if we were done eating, so I finally told him to chill out and when we were done we'd let him know.
It's great for outdoor dining and outdoor drinking after work, weather permitting. I like the coziness of the inside, and am already envisioning a fall/winter lunch inside with a nice bowl of soup. And a side of onion rings.
