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Boston Blackies
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Boston Blackies
33 reviews in English
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Review from michael w.
Northbrook, IL
Updated - 3/19/2012
I have to add an update, went for full dinner with the family on st pats night, i ordered the corn beef special. Toughest piece of corn beef I have ever had in my life. Awful. Had to let them know. Blackies being about customer service, without hesitation, asked me if I wanted a different meal instead, or a dessert, etc. I was leaning towards taking one of their fantastic burgers home, but I left the decision up to my family who opted for the yummy piece of carrot cake that all four of us were able to split. Thx Blackies for righting the wrong so effortlessly.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/12/2012
My wife and I like this place. Good burgers. Good nachos. Usually run some drink specials ($5… Read more »
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Review from Carl F.
I was not impressed.
The decor is very nice, which gives it the up-scale look and feel. The wait staff is okay, but I've had much better. As for the food... it was plane jane and nothing to really write about. Considering the price of the food, it's just about shameful.
I will not be back. -
Review from m s.
Northbrook, IL
4/29/2012
The food was terrible. Ordered ribs, and they were almost solid fat... you could barely cut through them. Definitely NOT worth what they charge.
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Review from Bernice L.
Northbrook, IL
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
The burgers are yummy, but not the best.
Their ribs that my mother ordered..so sad..were old tasting and not good. My sweet mom went hungry that night because they were so..yuck.
My dad enjoyed his lake superior whitefish though..so that's a PLUS.
Our server was nice though and I appreciated her willingness to help out and accomodate my family.
They have a super $7.99 deal on Broasted chicken which everyone seemed to be getting.
Blackies has very reasonable prices and has decent food, but just won't be my go-to place. -
Review from Pam D.
8/23/2011
Boston Blackie ... Horatio Black, jewel thief turned good guy. Back in the day, Boston Blackie was on radio and film, a franchise of entertainment. Enter the restaurant chain. Ok, this works, cuz Blackie is a seriously cool character. Well times and owners change and it seems like Horatio Black is being eased out of Boston Blackies. The mural over the bar has been replaced by television sets. Just what we need, more sports. Not!!!
Well, the burgers we ate were good. The onion rings were good too. None of it was great but fine for a stop on a Sunday afternoon. I'd stop here again I guess if I am in the area, but I guaran-damn-tee ya that taking the mural away killed the atmosphere for me. Color me a traditionalist. Color them Boston (not so) Blackie. -
Review from Joseph P.
Buffalo Grove, IL
2/8/2012
Not bad,not great. The burgers here are pretty good and they now come with a side of fries as well as coleslaw for a price comparable to other places (about $10). The dozens of varieties have been replaced by ordering the add-ons you want to add to the basic few burgers. The Philly Steak on a pita is a standout - quite unlike the classic though - it uses chunks of real steak, not thin slices. Service can be abrupt if you get the server who is too busy to care. The older crowd seems like the same folks from Carson's when they want a more casual meal.
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Review from Dave V.
Highland Park, IL
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
pretty decent burger. Nothing crazy special. The home-style fries are bomb! We had a groupon for them, i'd probably go back again sometime if someone asked.
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Review from Danny W.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2011 1 photo
Boston Blackie's has good food if you know what to order. Stick to three items:
1. The chicken sandwiches (they butterfly the chicken breasts to the point where they are obnoxiously big, but in a good way)
2. The nachos (they're "the pile" type; ask for an extra napkin)
3. Cottage fries
Don't waste your time with anything else. Sure, they're known for their burgers, but they're frozen pre-formed patties that are always dried out.
People were complaining about the prices but Boston Blackie's costs no more or less than any other burger restaurant these days. Sides are a la carte, but they easily feed three people so it all works out.
Also, if this restaurant closes, there will officially be nowhere to eat in Deerfield that isn't named Tony's Subs. -
Review from Heather P.
Chicago, IL
6/9/2011
Okay, first off, you are charging $9 - 12 for a burger, a la carte. For that money, it better damn well be a Kuma's burger, where you can get a monstrous 10 ounce burger with super premium toppings and the best waffle fries you've ever had for $10. And it ain't. It ain't no Kuma's burger. It ain't nothing at all. It is at average or just below. Add on the $2.50 for fries and you have a stupidly expensive meal.
Second, the slaw that they rave about on their menu and serve with everything is tasty, but it is exactly like KFC's, and if you want it that badly, I think you can get a side of it at a drive-thru for $1.29.
Third, service is hit or miss. This last time I was conned into going, it was slow as all Hell but our server was insanely good-natured and on top of things. The time before, notsomuch either of those. And our then-server argued with me about putting chicken instead of chili on the taco salad, since I didn't eat red meat at the time. And had to get a manager's permission. And even though it was INSTEAD of chili, they insisted on charging me the full $4 add-chicken charge on top of the $9 for the salad. By then I was tired of fighting with them so I ate the cost (but only half my mediocre salad.) Hostesses tend towards the ditzy side.
Mashed potatoes are over-peppered, skirt steak under-seasoned. Good points: Cream of chicken soup is AMAZING and I should have just stuck with that. Onion rings are big and yummy and a good portion.
Honestly, with so many places to get a cheap, ungodly delicious burger in Chicago, I don't see why anyone should bother. And an extra demerit for calling yourself a Chicago institution and then serving our prized Vienna beef dogs in chunks with BBQ SAUCE. WTF, gross. Worse than ketchup. -
Review from Nick L.
10/3/2011
Love the burger and fries. Great service.
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Review from Katrina M.
Chicago, IL
10/27/2010
This place has huge, tasty burgers and chicken sandwiches! They come out the kitchen pretty quickly too! I only knocked off a star because our waitress was a bit rude and not everyone at my table had silverware for the longest time. We ended up grabbing some off the table next to us.
Maybe the waitress was having a rough night? Not sure, but my friend didn't need to be barked at when she requested separate checks for all of us... and the request was made before we had all ordered. That's better than if we had told her after we ordered, ate, and finished right? Other than that, everyone else was super friendly! -
Review from rosie t.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great service and food is awesome as well.
My friends and I sat at the bar and were helped out immediately. -
Review from Lynn S.
Updated - 10/24/2008
It really was cool to see a Yelp sticker on the front door at Boston Blackies when I arrived for lunch. I wasn't going to repeat past mistakes, and correctly ordered a burger.
The patty melt was perfect, the beefsteak tomato and lettuce came along with a cup of terrific cole slaw and I thought their version of a milkshake was totally straw-worthy even though it was not super thick. Their thin sliced, potato chips were served hot and the waiter was attentive.
The menu offers salads, prime rib sandwiches, fillet sandwiches and more. I much preferred Boston Blackies as a lunch spot. Caveat: If you are already suffering a nervous stomach due to the state of the stock market be forewarned that they broadcast MSNBC stock quotes from multiple monitors..1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/17/2007 First to Review
I wish our server had told me this place was known for their terrific burgers. Silly me, I ordered… Read more »
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Review from Janette L.
Chicago, IL
3/17/2008
One of my favorite places to get a good burger. So, don't come here for a salad - you are just cheating yourself. Flavorful burgers at fairly decent prices (compared to other "high end" burger locals like Hackney's and Charlie Beinlich's) I recommend also getting the side of chips can be easily split among the table.
This place can get packed at peak dinner hours so just grab a drink at the bar and hang out. Trust me the burgers are worth the wait. Service can be slower as other reviewers have mentioned but it never has been so bad as to dampen my experiences here. -
Review from Ryne D.
7/1/2008
Went to one of the Blackies in Chicago last year, but I've been to the Deerfield one twice recently. This one is a lot bigger space-wise, but is just as awkwardly cramped as the one downtown.
Cost is an issue here if you're not careful...the fries cost a $2 premium, and some of the sandwiches already come with onion rings. Also, the burgers are so huge that you probably won't have room for much else anyway. That's a good thing, since these are some relatively pricey burgers. Salads are expensive too if you want some meat on it.
The food itself is delicious and juicy, and it's hard to go wrong with any of the items there. I had the guac burger and the patty melt, both leaving me quite satisfied. One of my co-workers has consistently been getting the bbq pulled pork sandwich, which I may have to try next time I go.
As everyone else has noted, the service is pretty disappointing. I know that it's lunch rush and that the place is crowded, but a place like this should be ready to handle that every day. I'll be back for the food, but a good restaurant should be more than that. -
Review from Matt R.
Updated - 11/5/2008
Ah, well. I can't say the second time here was as great as the first. It was just me and a friend, and the place got packed. So the main (but not only) reason I'm really taking off a star is that when it got packed, the time taken to serve each table went waaaay down. Also, I got a burger done medium, and it was closer to medium raw.
Blackies needs to hire themselves a little extra waitstaff. Also, that could have just been a coincidence on the meat. I don't know. Last time I went was so awesome, so why was this time a little diff? Eh, oh well.
Still worth going. Very big burgers, although the fact that fries are separate/extra is a little wacky.
I got...umm, their philly cooper and minestrone soup. The Philly was nice sized, albeit dripping a bit as above. Soup...normal. I guess it just wasn't great or something. I mean this was like vegetable soup of the can almost (in flavor).
So I'm not turned off to the place, but definitely not main priority to eat at.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/31/2008
Well, this is a great place! We had a group of about 10 of us, and everything was served quickly and… Read more »
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Review from Cassie D.
6/2/2009
Been here a lot of times over the years. Went today for lunch with my boss, since it's right near our office.
Good burgers. Really good burgers actually. It annoys me, however, that you have to get the fries separately. I happen to like the fries (they aren't normal fries - the potatoes are sliced thinly into slices instead of french fries... sorry, can't think of a better way to describe it) but when you get a burger and fries, it's an obscene amount of food. Seriously obscene. But really good so you want to eat it all. But it's not possible to eat it all while it's still hot. And really, a burger and fries should be enjoyed hot. So then it's not hot anymore and you don't finish it and you end up wasting food and I don't like that.
In sum: good burgers, good fries, way too much food. The end. -
Review from Liz S.
3/18/2010
There's a reason that this place is packed around 5:30-6:00. The "blue hairs"*, as my mother calls them, know a good thing when they find it - fresh food at reasonable prices, served with efficiency and good attitude.
You can't go wrong with a burger, but recently our server recommended the grilled whitefish, and it was excellent. Lightly seasoned and served with a mountain of steamed broccoli, it was simple and delicious, and generously portioned.
The front of the restaurant is definitely better than the back, but at twilight, you might be fighting a few wily grandmas and grandpas to get a good table. Don't be fooled by their humble demeanor - they're tougher than they look!
*refers to the slightly blue-tinted hair that older women get at the salon. -
Review from Michael D.
South Elgin, IL
4/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went there for a liquid lunch during a work training session in the area.. I was a little confused... Nice, upscale decor and waiters.. but nothing but burgers and sandwiches on the menu? I split and app with my guest and sipped my beer. It was okay, but I can't see myself rushing to go back anytime soon.
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Review from Ricardo K.
Deerfield, IL
7/16/2010
At Blackies a Burger is just a Burger. I had my usual Bacon, Olive, Cheddar on Black Rye. Everything here is alacarte.
You get a little dish of the Carson's Coleslaw on your plate. Looked for lettuce tomato or even a slice of raw, not there.
Very pricey for a burger.
Travel a few extra miles to Paradise Pup in Des Plaines for the meal of a lifetime. -
Review from Jay K.
10/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
I really love the burgers and Blackie draft beer, sooo good. Great chicken sandwiches as well. The burger is huge and you can get just about any topping you want. It's also available on dark rye which I like. Nice bar area with a couple TV's scattered around. Won't break the bank like Beinlichs down the street on Skokie Blvd.
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Review from Alan R.
2/8/2008
A great place for many comfort foods. Excellent chicken, burgers, hot dogs, wings, etc. They also have a good beer selection. The service can be slow at time, but this is all about the comfort food of making you feel good. The hot dog bite appetizer and the apple slices with caramel will remind you a bit of your youth in a casual, but nice atmosphere.
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Review from Rich A.
Gurnee, IL
7/19/2010
Ave Burger. Not bad. Not great.
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Review from Ann Y.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2009
I went here with my parents and I was not happy with what happened. First, I think out waitress was on something. She was extremely spacy and it came through in the fact that so many things got messed up. First, I ordered grilled onions on my burger and they ended up on my husbands chicken sandwhich (who does NOT like onions). My mom ordered a hot dog with cheese and there was no cheese. When she asked for it, they brought her cold cheese and didn't offer to warm it like she had expected. The kicker of this trip though was that there was NO SOAP in the men's bathroom. My husband was disgusted by this and asked twice before they did anything about it. My burger was ok, though it was overcooked for medium. Overall, a disappointing experience.
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Review from Leocris L.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2010
i went for a birthday party. didn't have any food, but the bar service was top notch. great atmosphere. good times indeed.
the beer flowed like wine and the beautiful women instinctively flocked like the salmon of capistrano.
not a fan of their house beer. wasn't my cup o tea.. or mug o beer in this case. -
Review from erica s.
Northbrook, IL
2/4/2009
Went in with a friend while she was on her (hour long) lunch break. We were seated relatively quickly, but that was the end of anyone paying attention to the fact that we were there. We didn't see our waiter for more than five minutes (and I mean, he went and hid in the back room after taking our orders, so we actually didn't see him waiting on us or on anyone else the entire time we were there, until the very end when we pleaded with a busboy to go get our waiter; that we really needed our check) and I really doubt seeing myself go back there. I'd much rather go to Woodfire Chicken across the street than go to this Boston Blackies location...I'll just go to the one closer to my work instead...it's much better.
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Review from Gabriela L.
Highland Park, IL
4/7/2009
Good burgers and awesome cottage fries. The portions are huge, all sandwiches can be easily shared by 2 people. The service is good though it can get busy at times. I recommend this place for an affordable, quick bite to eat...as long as you don't mind sitting amongst a "mature" crowd (remember, it's affordable here). Not too much for vegetarians to choose from, salads or a veggie sandwich. Also, the beer list is disappointing, only 2 beers on tap, I'd be happy if they had a few more! Dessert was good, try the oreo ice cream cake!
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Review from Party R.
San Jose, CA
5/21/2011
I don't understand the rave reviews about this place. Other reviewers are right when they said this place was average. I think it's a slightly below average.... Burgers are eh... Coleslaw was eh... Service was eh....
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Review from Timmy T.
Fountain Valley, CA
4/6/2010
Delicious burgers. That's all you really need to know. This isn't a service restaurant, it's a burger joint, and the quality of the product is very high.
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Review from Jimmy G.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2009
Best salad on the planet is the garbage salad with buffalo chicken. Get two blue cheese dressings on the side cause you gonna need them. Amazing flavor. Best Buffalo Chicken you'll ever have.
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Review from Nathan T.
Englewood, OH
6/17/2010
Ordered: cheeseburger, Philly chopper, and fries.
Burgers were great. Hot dog bites were good but not what was expected. Cole slaw seriously tasted like manure. Blackies amber ale beer awesome. -
Review from Sam C.
Deerfield, IL
1/4/2010
A WARNING ABOUT TAKE-OUT
I hate giving this place a bad review because the food is solid. I've eaten in and done take-out. Sure, the place is expensive, but the burgers are very solid and huge.
Of course, when the burger and fries costs over $10, my expectations are high. And when I order a burger for take-out and arrive home to find it cooked really wrong, they need to make it right. (Ever since my wife had baby #3, she wants her burger cooked through all the way. No pink, please.) So, when we arrived home with the burger to find it quite red inside, I would have expected them to make it right. Now, there are a lot of ways they could have done this. Maybe a sincere "my bad" would have been a good start. Instead, the mouthy manager said, and this is a close quote, "I packed it myself and it was fine." Huh? I had no intention of driving back in 20 degree weather to prove to them it was on the raw side. Can I email you a picture of the bleeding burger, I asked. Nothin' doing. My options were bring it back, and she'll make me another one IF she thinks it wasn't cooked correctly. Or, she'd give me 10% off my next order. Seriously? Let me talk to the manager, please. Oh, you are the manager. Ok, please have the day manager call me. I'm still waiting. So, I microwaved the burger for my wife to eat. Ugh.
I really like the food here. But they SERIOUSLY annoyed me with their attitude when something went wrong. Lousy lousy service. And attitude. Take out from this place at your own risk. I'll be calling Trax next time I want to bring in a burger. -
Review from barry g.
Chicago, IL
3/28/2010
Should you choose to eat at Blackies....pay with a check!!! [but tip the server cash!!!]
