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Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: South LoopHarrison (Red)
Library (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Pink)
LaSalle (Blue)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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I've eaten here twice, both times had the same thing. Epic Burger Jr. (or whatever the smaller burger is) with horseradish havarti and a side of fries.
Really good and really filling, even with the Jr. size. And cheaper. Still around a $10 meal without drink. It's nice that it's all organic but I don't really care about that. I'd rather it be $2 cheaper, but whatever. One gripe is that whenever I ate the burger grease ran down my arm onto the basket.
The kids who work there seem way more interested in talking to friends than moving the line along.
Very good food that's too expensive with immature people who work there.
Alright, Epic Burger. You realize you've set your own bar with the word "epic" in your title, right? Maybe it's me, but two stars does not "epic" make.
Single burger combo (that's with fries and a fountain beverage) including bacon, cheese, grilled onions and their standard toppings - lettuce, tomato, pickle, some sort of special sauce was... wait for it... a ridiculous $12.50. Seriously? Blink blink. Seriously. Head shake.
Hand cut - or seemingly so, anyway - fries. Ok. Pretty good. Burger... ehhhmmmuuhhh I'll go with slightly better than "meh". Thin patty, like Wendy's thin but HUGE. Falling over the sides of the bun. For the price, I felt like a got a ton of food and in fact, I didn't even finish the burger.
But really the only thing epic about this joint is the dent in my poor little wallet. Twelve bucks for a combo burger meal.... head shake... never again.
I wen to Epic last week and was conflicted about several things. They have a lot going for them, but a few fatal flaws that detract from what could be an otherwise fantastic offering.
FOOD: 4 STARS
I was impressed with the quality of the burgers and fries. It wasn't the run of the mill, cookie-cutter burger. The beef was delicious and it appeared to be high-quality, organic meat that was hand-formed. The fries were delicious as well. Not too heavy on the oil and with skin left on them.
SERVICE: 3 STARS
The people at the counter taking our order were obviously less than thrilled to be there. They didn't smile or act remotely interested in being courteous or helpful in making suggestions or answering questions. However, midway through our meal, the very polite manager came over to ask if we needed anything.
AMBIANCE: 2 STARS
This place has the makings of a hip, reclaimed industrial loft-turned-burger joint , with high, unfinished ceilings and retro design work. Unfortunately, it also has really craptastic acoustics...which is not helped by the giant speakers on the walls that are blasting music at about 2 notches higher in volume than what any customer in the place would like it to be (my group's consensus). They really need to invest in some acoustical treatments to those high ceilings, or turn the volume down slightly.
VALUE: 2 STARS
While the food quality is excellent and definitely of a much higher quality than other hamburger options in the city, the price they expect people to pay for this is a bit silly. For a full meal of fries, drink and burger, you're paying more than $10 per person. I could probably understand somewhere in the $8 range, but $10 to $12 for a burger lunch?
LOCATION: 2 STARS
Epic burger sits on State Street, more than several blocks south of where the rest of the corporate lunch crowd tends to congregate. For us, it was about a 9-block walk from the center of the loop. Easily doable in the warmer months, but it leaves this option less than desirable in the winter.
Overall, I want to like this place. The food deserves praise, but the ho-hum service and loud music was really unpleasant.
My new favorite burger spot in Chicago! Five Guys has taken 2nd to them with Patty Burger in 3rd. They're conveniently located down the street from DePaul's Loop campus and give a 10% student discount. I liked the decor too. The price for a combo w/shake is around $12 which I consider very reasonable for the quality of food. My strawberry shake was excellent and the fries were great. I love the option of a wholewheat bun. I got a regular burger w/cheddar, bacon, and grilled onions. Fantastic.
It's nice to get a good burger for a reasonable price, but I think that goes hand in hand with it being place in a college area.
My husband and I got the same thing: Whole Wheat Bun Epic Burger with Horseradish Cheese, grilled onions and bacon (fresh, not pre-cooked crap) along side a bag of fries that are reminiscent of IN-n-OUT fries but even better and a soda. Didn't even need ketchup. Approx. $12 each with add ons.
They seem to pride themselves on organic meat and I applaud them for trying, which is why you'll find the meat really thin. Thus the complaining you may find from other comments.
I went to Epic Burger after a friend had highly recommended it. Parking in that area is horrible so it took many rounds to find a spot but I thought it would be worth all the effort. I have to say, I was very disappointed with Epic Burger. The burger itself lacked taste and it was very greasy. On a good note, the fries were good but thats about it.
My initial epic visit here was not followed up quite the way I expected. Hurrying in on a very short lunch break I was looking forward to satisfying my hunger with a big, delicious, tasty, sloppy burger.
What I got was a sloppy burger, and re-hydration.
I appreciate having fresh vegetable toppings over my meat, but the amount of water that sopped out of this burger was ridiculous. I thought that maybe I got an overly juicy combination of lettuce and tomato served between about six ounces of H20. Maybe it was just a fluke. It was after all coming after a particularly rainy time in the summer and maybe, just maybe, the veg on my burger had absorbed all of that water- making it a freak occurrence.
Then after heading back to the office, the first two people who asked where I ate for lunch replied (separately) "Oh- I don't like the burgers there. They are just too messy. Too... wet..."
Besides this moisture issue, I would also say the meat patty itself was quite bland. This could have been due to the seasoning being washed away in the shower that was the vegetables, but still- that needs to be corrected.
Another suggestion- if you are going to continue to serve such wet food between a bun, you might want to serve it on toast in order to try to hold up to all that water.
Oh- and did I mention the burger was wet?
Upon entering Epic Burger, I pictured Bill and Ted behind the counter working the grill, Spicoli… Read more »
I debated with myself over giving Epic 3 or 4 stars. In the end, I won the debate (I know, I'm as surprised as you are) and went with 3.
Getting the trivialities out of the way first: The space is pretty nice. Clean, modern, warm. Like an upscale fast food place. Which is what Epic Burger is. They built the place expecting long lines. You can basically have a line from the front door to the counter (way in back, and it's a deep space) without interfering with anything or annoying the patrons dining in the restaurant. Unfortunately you can't see the menu until you get up near the counter, so you can't use your time waiting in line (I went in a bit early and didn't have to wait) to study the menu and decide what you want. Fortunately, the menu is small and doesn't take long to study when you get up there.
The girl working the counter must have felt that way too, as she seemed to get impatient with me as I spent about 5 seconds looking at the board to confirm I wanted what I thought I wanted. Then when I couldn't immediately locate the cheese options she recited them to me with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
But enough about that! Let's get to the meat of the review, so to speak. I got an Epic Burger with cheese and a side of fries. My total with tax was just under $10. A little steep for a fast food cheeseburger and fries. That said, everything was made to order--and I had to wait a few minutes--and seemed quite fresh.
The burger patty was wide but thin, and crisp around the edges. I opted for the whole wheat bun with all the toppings, including grilled onions (included) and horseradish Havarti cheese (extra). As a whole, I enjoyed the taste of the sandwich, but I think most of the flavor came from the fixin's, especially the "epic sauce" and cheese; the burger patty itself didn't seem particularly flavorful. The whole thing was quite messy to eat; you'll go through several napkins. Fortunately they are recycled. The hand cut fries were very tasty but after a while they got kind of soggy, and there were a lot of tiny fries which are hard to eat.
Finally, the afternoon after eating this I got some mild to moderate stomach discomfort. To be fair to Epic, I had a stressful afternoon so I can't conclude beyond reasonable doubt that the food was the primary cause, but I'm pretty sure it at least contributed.
Um,
the average is 3.5 stars? Really?
this place is just....not that good. The burgers are slimy, and the sandwich itself just doesnt taste that good. in all honesty , i'll go as far as to say that a big mac might be a better invesment - yeah yeah yeah, i know it won't be as 'organic' or 'fresh', but to me, the first and most important part of a burger is the taste, and it's just lacking here. also, did someone already mention that the sandwich looked like it came out of a rainshower? it was soaking wet and soooo greasy.
the fries were good though. =)
I'm keeping this one short and sweet: Epic Burger is delicious. And even though I'm now slightly annoyed with the word "epic" I suppose it really is epic.
Fast, fresh, simple, excellent - I love the caramelized onions the most on the burgers, and their fries are superb. A very filling, fast and reasonably priced burger/meal.
My lunch partner who claimed to be meat-craving because she was "slightly anemic today" (that's what they all say) suggested this is where we should eat.
It's so very just okay. Too expensive; too small portions; too formulaic and thematic.
The food: great tasting. I had a portebello sandwich that was delicious. It was just too small for the price.
I hope the simple menu is not catered to the college kids around the area. With seriously less than five items, it wouldn't surprise me if even the kids from the day care down the street could order from the menu.
I'm always intrigued by places with limited choices; it's almost borderline cocky. As in, you don't need anything else because these three items are so bad ass. Regardless, if all you can order is a beef, chicken or veggie burger, with side of fries, you better do it right. So as far as the bacon, fried egg, double cheese burger I ordered goes, they do.
The burger is greasy.......but good!!! Add the fried egg to it and I swear half the burger ended up on my face after I finished. The fries? Not so much. For really awesome homestyle cut fries, opt for Five Guys.
Overall, it's not a place I would definitely have to come back for just for the burger. That's mostly because the burger, side of fries and a brownie set me back $16. In and Out isn't even that expensive and I would definitely go back there!
K I've been to Epic burger enough times to rate them fairly...
fairly LOW! Haha
ehh... sorry..
The reason I won't ever rate this place above a 2 is because this place is so "epic'n" expensive
6 dollar burger + 1 dollar for cheese + 0.50 dollar for egg + 1 dollar for bacon? 2 bucks for fries And 2 dollar for a drink and my meal is an "epic" 13 bucks for something which I'm not even sure is 4 oz of meat and is slopped together (burger pet peeve of mine), yet I still have to wait 10 min for it.? I think I'm just angry that I need to pay extra for the toppings
I like the recycled and green concept, but shouldn't I technically be paying less?
For those of you deceived into thinking this is a "healthy" kinda burger, I just want to point out that no burger I've ever eaten in chicago, spills as much grease off of it as epic burger (mcdonalds and 24 hours stands included)
If you MUST eat here the 11 dollar double blue cheese/bacon/egg is the way I go.. I mean when I MUST (c'mon 10 dollar KOBE beef burgers with beer can be had in chicago!)
I'm not cheap, just frugal }:D
These negative reviews are weak.
"The sandwiches are kind of messy"
Come on now, It's a burger joint! Of course it's going to be messy. Get real. Go eat some soup with a straw.
A lot of people are complaining that the burgers are greasy. Wow. Burgers and grease? Imagine that.
"There aren't very many choices"
It's a burger joint! Burgers and fries, milkshakes, etc. What do you expect, 31 flavors? Get real.
"I couldn't believe how expensive it was"
The prices are all listed on the menu. It shouldn't come as a surprise if you can read. If 6 bucks seems like too much for a burger to you, eat somewhere else. These comments are idiotic.
It only makes sense to complain about the price of something if that price is a rip-off. I would argue that epic burger is not a rip-off since the quality of ingredients, freshness, and portion size is superior.
If you think no matter the quality, it is ridiculous to pay that much for a meal, that's fine but not a basis for criticism. That's like saying "these onion rings suck" when you don't even like onions to begin with.
The thing is, it's not THAT much more expensive than fast food, and you get way larger portions and fresh ingredients. The bacon is awesome. The epic sauce is great. The buns are real, premium bread. The features of their food are listed on the wall in huge print.. basically an explanation of why it costs a little more than, say, burger king. If you don't share their food consumption philosophy, by all means go to burger king. It all seems pretty clear.
Criticisms: I do think the name is kind of stupid. Epic is an over-used pop adjective. Might as well call it 'rad burger' or 'wicked burger' or 'these burgers are crazy'
I also think it's stupid for an ethical consumption place to have their menus posted on giant flat-screen monitors when normal signs would do the same thing. seems like a waste of money and energy to me.
Overall, ethical burger place is tasty and not that much more expensive. Thumbs up.
Free-range beef burger. Doesn't get any better than this. Old school buttery bun and caramelized onions to order. Fries are fresh cut and delicious. As others have mentioned, this is no 'low fat' burger. It can be greasy, no lie. (However, the dessert brownies that are tempting you on the counter aren't that good, run down to nearby Panera for a tasty pastry).
Some have complained about the lack of menu options. Personally, I like that they stick to what they know and don't put a ton of salads in the fridge case or try to sell things they are not good at. Simply menu is the way to go.
A little on the pricey side for lunch, but definitely worth it if you enjoy a good burger that was grass fed and treated humanely. Some have mentioned that they should be paying less because it is a pretty green company. Sorry folks, green in these times means more expensive. Yes, they use recycled products, but until we have a countrywide (or global) shift to using natural products and putting our resources there - these will still cost more. It is the integrity of the company to provide these amenities, and yes, you are paying for them.
If you would like to see these cost down, subscribe to the movement! Help change Chicago/America --- Please Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Until then, thanks Epic Burger for your yummy delights.
Sub-par, overpriced destroyer of stomach linings. That's an epic burger for you. If it's gonna keep me connected to a toilet all day, it should have at least detonated my taste buds going in.
You can spend your money there if you want, I'm just gonna judge you walking down the street with your (horribly inefficient) take-out bag.
Not sure if you can qualify the burgers here as "epic", unless you're referring to the sheer size and heft of the thing. As far as other qualities go, I won't be laying in bed at night dreaming of it's majesty or greatness.
A decent burger? Sure. Just remember to grab a stack of napkins, not just to deal with the soppiness of it, but to soak up the pool of grease that inevitably forms at the base of your plate (this feature is both good and bad in my arterial-clogged eyes).
One other minus-- free Wifi is advertised, but the signal is pretty weak, even when sitting next to the window as suggested. I wound up just using Panera Bread's next door anyway. (I know, BAD!) Lesson learned, though, as my trackpad wound up collecting a layer of oil on it afterwards. Somehow the combo of messy burger and laptop just wasn't a match made in heaven. Go figure.
Attempting to write an epic to an otherwise stressful, long week, I strolled over to Epic Burger with the office posse, my sights set on a juicy burger and on a mission to sample this renowned Epic sauce.
File under: Epic disappointment.
Okay, perhaps that's a bit of an exageration, but it was not the stellar experience I had been envisioning - you know, the heavens open, the celestial choir sings, and I munch on the most divine fast food burger available in the South Loop.
I opted for the Epic Burger smothered in grilled onions and cheddar, along with the rest of the fixins' and some french fries. For a fast food burger, I was impressed. It was full of flavor, fresh and juicy. Perhaps a bit too juicy. My favorite green shirt will now have a permanent souveneir from our Epic Adventure - a multitude of grease splotches. While this is the signature of a great burger to many, it was a sore spot for me as I tried to hold together my slip n' slide patty and bun. No easy feat.
The fries were tasty. I shared them with a friend and was all set to polish off the rest by myself when...
Gag...
What is this....
A HAIR?!?!
Oh no, evidently it was "likely" a piece of burlap, as their potatoes come in burlap sacks. A nappy, reddish piece of "burlap." With a root. Curious, I've never encountered "burlap" that has a root before, nor one that bore such a close resemblance to one of the employee's shade of hair.
Curious indeed....
When I brought this to their attention, they offered me a free brownie or cookie. While I appreciate the offer, I was already full and to be honest, the nappy "burlap" had all but ruined what appetite I had left. So instead I got a coupon for $2 off my next combo.
Wow.
Sorry for the entirely gross experiene you had, here's $2 off your next disgusting hair filled encounter.
The owner/manager/authority figure seemed to think that this was just no big deal. Well chief, let's see if you can maintain that same indifferent attitude when YOU'RE the one pulling out the hair from YOUR mouth!
If that doesn't entice me to want to do business with them again, I don't know what does! Evidently maintaining a good relationship with their customers is worth a measly $2 off. This burger joint is like that guy (we all know one) who takes his first dates to Taco Bell and then can't figure out why they won't return his calls afterward.
Overall, it was tasty and the organic products make all the difference in the world. But I don't know that Epic Burger will become one of my regular lunch haunts. Epic Burger is like an old standby that you call at 4 a.m. after the bar closes and you realize it's either call or go home alone.
Meh.
I was stoked on getting a big sammich after stumbling upon this place. The music and atmosphere was noisy and uninviting, so I took my order to go. I spent $10 flat on a combo meal, which was way more than I had anticipated, not to mention having to pay more for cheese if you feel so inclined.
The burger was damned near flavourless, but filling. It was cooked perfectly and the bun had a nice wheaty texture, but I tasted the ketchup more than the meat or toppings. The fries were excellent, but a little scarce for the money.
I wouldn't go back unless they bumped up the quality or
Is it worth the hype? Not really.
Is it still a great burger? Yes!
I like my burgers thick and juicy with unusual toppings. You will not find this here. It's simple, really. Just a burger, with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion (grilled or raw). You can add a fried egg, bacon, and 3 choices of cheese. That's it.
The patty is very large but very thin. For people like me who wants a big, juicy burger cooked medium rare, it isn't going to happen here. The end product is tasty, but a bit greasy and missing what makes a burger a burger.
So we spotted a couple of people chowing down on these delicious things in Millenium Park last weekend and immediately had to taste how "epic" this burger could be - it certainly looked it from what I could see.
Very slick inside. Definitely had that trendy feel to it. The simplicity of the menu was either a real good sign bc their food is that good or a bad sign bc the place is just biding their time before sinking. We ordered a double cheese burger with fried egg and fries and a blondie for dessert which ended up being an appetizer bc some of us just can't wait.
The burger was greasy goodness. As much as I scoff at "low fat" anything, the grease may have been a little much as my egg and lettuce kept slip sliding around which slowed the devouring process. In all, the burger was yummy, the fries just ohhhhh-kay, and that blondie I'm still craving for seconds. It was a little pricey, but when in Rome (aka the Loop)...
Mmmm....yummy burger. Yes, it's a bit overpriced, but I like the options of what you can put on your burger...bacon, egg, three kinds cheese. Two kinds of bread. Even the shakes can come with yogurt, soy milk etc....the sizes are not compromising.
I didn't think that all this organic stuff would be good, but it was a great burger. Might I add that this is only the second burger that I DIDN'T need ketchup on, and I am a ketchup slathering kind of girl. The pricey factor comes out on the fact that most of the serving ware is eco-ok and all the freshness of the ingredients. If you can splurge on it, the burger is worth it. Go Epic.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Burger.
Epic Burger rocks. The burgers are just good. Just really, really good. They're not fancy, you can't customize them all that much but they're good. Juicy, with excellent cheese and bacon. And the grilled onions are great.
And the fries. Oh the fries. Really great fries. Fresh cut, just enough salt.
This place is like a fast food joint on steroids. They serve the same stuff - burgers, fries, milkshakes - without all that much variety - you can add egg, choice of cheese or bacon to your burger - but the product is just a thousand times better.
Docked a star for 3 reasons - first, last time I went the woman behind the counter was not very good at her job, surly, and couldn't seem to understand our order. Second, they continually forget to put onions on my roommate's order. She's a vegetarian, so she just gets egg and onion, no burger, but they always forget the onions. Third, it's a teeensy bit pricey to add cheese and other toppings to the burger.
But still. Epic burger is epically good.
Ordered:
Epic Burger with Horseradish Havarti, Fried Egg, and Bacon.
Fries
Shake
Went to Epic Burger when I was on a family vacation in Chicago last weekend. I LOVED the burger. It was really amazing. The burger and fries ended up being the only meal I had all day. The fried egg and the horseradish havarti were great additions to the burger. The place is really eco-friendly as well. The place had a great ambiance with its modern design. I look forward to going back to chicago for another epic burger.
I couldn't recommend this place more!
I was on the south end of downtown, looking for a new place to grab a bite. When I saw 'Epic' in the name, I had to stop in.
And it was definitely worth it. First, it was spacious inside, and clean (being early evening, and after the school semester, I suspected as much). It's not as cramped as Patty Burger, or Five Guys (at least the one northwest of downtown). Epic ambiance.
I ordered the chicken sandwich with grilled onions, hoping to get something a bit lighter. Well, it was delicious for sure, but also greasy. In a good way, but unexpected. The bun (grilled wheat) was great, and the onions with aged cheddar made the sandwich. An Epic combination.
Like some other places (culver's comes to mind, or corner bakery), you place your order and are given a number. Your food is brought out to you a bit later. Since I was in no rush, I didn't really pay attention to how long it took, but it's not really grab-and-go, it seems. The waitress came and brought my order along with minimal fuss, and I was off to eating. Epic wait? Not really, but for near 10$, I figured they'd be baking a fresh loaf and aging the cheese for me right then and there (remember, I didn't order a combo, so it was just sandwich, and a tea).
They also had some televisions in the dining area, and a small selection of bottled beverages. The facilities were also clean. The music wasn't annoying. So, I was able to read, but could have also watched what they were showing if I wanted. Epic choices.
I didn't get any fries on the trip, or a shake. And, I haven't ordered the burger yet, so I have to write about those once I try them. This will clearly lead to an ... Epic retry.
Epic.
Burgers are as controversial as politics. Some like them big, thick, and rare, some like them embellished with anything short of a salad, and some like them plain, thin and dripping with grease.
I thought Epic Burger was a good compromise between my desire for healthy (ie not industrialized) meat with toppings and my husband's desire for greasy, meaty burger. It wasn't as meaty as he had hoped, but it pretty much fit the bill for the rest of the requirements. I don't think it's better or worse than any other of the good burger joints I've been to in the city - it's just different!
We stopped in after an afternoon at the museum and a walk through the park. We both got burgers and fries. I didn't think $20 was too much to drop on the meal - there was a little bit of service involved (they bring your food to you as well as picked up our trash) and the place was clean (albeit a little humid).
Our food tasted really fresh. Veggies were crisp, meat had good flavor, and the buns were not stale and smelled so good. The fries were really good - the home made cut potato fries that brown ever so slightly around the edges. Also love that they have organic Heinz - no HFCS! We both skipped the epic sauce - I tend to be wary of mayo based things that I don't make myself. Try the PB shake with your meal and to be honest, you won't remember anything else.
I quite liked it and although I may not make a special trip back I would stop back if I was in the area and hungry.
I had the opportunity of having Epic Burger with co-workers this past week. We order out for lunch in our office several times a week. We did a large order from Epic Burger and picked it up, the food was great; surprising since we didn't eat in and pickup/delivery isn't usually that hot. We all had milk shakes that were steller and the fries are very good. I had the BLT burger..it was great and I ordered - the egg. The sauce was delicious too. We will definatly order from there again.
Epic hangovers call for Epic Burger.
We ordered a combo (burger, fries & shake) and a junior burger which came to $20. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions when you order (what kind of bun, cheese, grilled or raw onions, yogurt or ice cream in the shake, etc). It's similar to Culver's where you place your order and sit down with a number.
I was down with the minimalist décor and black & white movie on the tv.
Once I picked up my burger, I was scared to put it down. It got messy and a little drippy but it didn't totally fall apart. It was good but I've definitely had better burgers in Chicago. I thought the best part of the meal was the hand-cut fries, followed by the chocolate shake (in a compostable cup).
It was a good for a change, especially with the organic beef. I wish Epic Burger had been around when I was a grad student at Columbia.
I found out that Epic Burger is donating 5% of their profits on Sundays to one of my favorite charities so I am awarding them an extra star for doing such a nice thing.
I still only go for the fries. =)
Okay, so I went back again today and the burger was just okay. Weird. I think they forgot to add… Read more »
Epic my fat Irish ass. Major disappointment. Burger was small, mealy and very overpriced. Fries were OK at best even though fresh cut and the grilled onions were underdone.
Eco friendly and "green"? Just the latest way to seperate the rubes from their dough; make people feel virtuous about how they spend their money, how can you lose, Americans love to think virtue can be purchased.
I'll never go back to this place, I'd much rather get a burger at one of the local Greek diners like the Artists, the Savoy or Yolk. Other local places with much better burgers are Hackneys and Blackies.
If it had cost $6 instead of $10 for the basic combo i would have given it 3 stars. All in all not bad, but definitely not EPIC.
Holding at 4 stars because In & Out Burger is my all-time fave, but Epic Burger is about as good as burgers get here in Chicago.
Love the wheat bun, love that I can get my onions grilled or raw, love the sauce, love the meat, love the cheese. Love it.
Also major kudos that the place is eco-friendly. Recycled napkins, organic ketchup, silverware made from plants? Love it.
I really like Epic Burger not only because of the good food but also because it's going for the whole eco-friendly tag with their organic condiments, recycled napkins, etc. I appreciate earth-love when I see it.
Being a vegetarian I wish that they had more than just one option for me, but then again the portabella mushroom sandwich is pretty delicious. I recommend getting it with the horseradish havarti cheese and grilled onions. I also love a good milkshake to which their strawberry one definitely measures up. Fries are good too. Super cool decor.
This is one of the best burgers that I have had in a long time! My number one complaint about working/going to school in the south loop has always been that there were no good burger joints. After my experience at Epic Burger I can no longer make that complaint.
I played it safe and ordered a burger with cheddar cheese. I plan on getting the horseradish Havarti cheese next time, maybe even throw a fried egg on the top. These unique toppings are part of what makes Epic Burger so epic.
The fries resembled In N Out's (My benchmark for all burger joints) and had the perfect amount of salt and the fresh taste of potato present. I am happy to have a south loop burger haven that I can now escape to!
If I could give it a 3.5 I would, but I can't justify a 4, so 3 it is.
Went there for the first time, and the burger was pretty good. Epic... up for debate, but it was definitely above average. Burger, fries and a coke was over $10 which is a bit harsh, even for the Loop.
Other than that, if you want an above average burger, it's worth a shot.
"Epic" has a special meaning in the soundtrack of my life.
Rather than the dictionary meaning, I can still see the vinyl spinning round in those bluish-purple colors on the living room stereo beneath the 70's hanging globed light. As a kid, it was a close as I could get to a mirrored disco-ball.
Epic, of course, meant "Epic Records" home of the former Jackson 5 singer whose name I shared.
Dancing at home on Friday nights, I pretended to be living "Off the Wall" & wondered what it would feel like "Working Day and Night"...ooh Lawd.
That kind of work could only be rewarded with an "Epic" meal.
I found it in this modern-looking burger joint in the near South Loop after a long day's work.
After climbing past the tragically hip chain smoking college students who loitered outside the door like littered cigarette butts, I opened the doors to delicious.
Of course I'd heard of "Epic Burger". It's called hype. In rare cases it's well-deserved.
This is one of them.
I ordered the BLT sans the organic fried egg. I don't do eggs on BLTs. Sorry.
Back to the burger: a finely-crafted meal.
That nitrate-free bacon was some of the best I've ever had that wasn't covered in chocolate. Long, meaty strips curled across the sandwich and hugged the bottom of the bun. I'm sure the lettuce tasted fresh but I wouldn't know since I kind of inhaled the BLT in a scary way especially because I'd ordered to go. My BLT never made it out the door.
Seeing and smelling something so inviting, it was just "Human Nature" to devour it.
Then their were my two shakes - a strawberry and a peanut butter - that kind of made it home.
Wow. I had the ice cream shakes. Both had a great consistency - not too liquidy or too gloppy, they were just right and the rich flavors really set them apart.
Epic? No, I reserve that word for The King of Pop.
But satisfying? Yes. I'd definitely moonwalk back for another BLT and shake.
Suggestions for alternative titles to Epic Burger:
"Slightly Above Average Burger"
"Cool Interior to Justify the High Price Burger"
"Someone Let The Secret Sauce Out of the Bag Burger"
"Trying Hard But Falling Short of Being Gourmet Burger"
"Five Dollars More than Five Guys Burger"
I could think of more, but here is the low-down. It's not bad by any means. There are some unique things you can add to the burger. It is however greasy as all hell, so if your stomach has a rough time with greasy things you should avoid it. It *is* over priced. If you are charging over $10 for a burger and fries the patty should be thick and you should be able to specify how you like it cooked. Fries were kinda soggy. Interior is cool. I'd go back if I was in the area, but it's no epic in my opinion.
Perhaps it was the fact that I had been up for 9 hours and had not eaten a morsel yet, but I have to tell you - Epic Burger serves one hell of an all-natural beef burger, hand formed and cooked to order! I had a Jr Epic Burger, white bun, grilled onions, lettuce, pickles, fabulous horseradish Havarti cheese and that mystery Epic sauce. I want to know what that is exactly because it was heavenly!
The fries were very good, too. Cooked in transfat free oil and seasoned with pure sea salt, these tatoes are cut and cooked without any processing steps in between. Mighty tasty!
Epic also offers malts and shakes and my friend loved hers. The smoothes looked good, but hell, I was not about to ruin my meat/tato/grease/secret sauce inducing food orgasm with fruit, fat free yogurt, nuts and soy. Blasphemy!
In a day and age where for some odd reason burger joints are proudly exclaiming, "oh, we only serve our burgers medium" (think The Counter), I love Epic for cooking their juicy, dripping burgers well done. I order my steaks med rare, but my burgers have to be at least med well - no ecoli for me, thanks - and when I told my guy I wanted it med well, he kindly told me "we only cook them well." Touche'!
I will be back - over and over and over again.
BEST BURGER EVER. As for the higher-than-average burger price... its all natural all organic. buns are baked fresh... you pay for what you get and you get... THE BEST BURGER EVER!!!!!
A very solid 3.5 stars. I think finding the ultimate burger is the trendy thing to do right now, so of course, I had to try Epic! Having had just experienced Five Guys not too long ago, I could only compare the two.
Burgers:
I LOVED the horseradish havarti on the Epic burger. I would go back just for that. Can I even find horseradish havarti somewhere? I am going to start looking at the local cheese shops! The burger patty was thin, but was very tasty. The whole burger itself seemed to feel a little bit healthier, not super greasy and light. (Weird thing to say, I know. I think their whole thing is the all-natural, organic ingredients.) And the wheat bun was soft and yummy. (I loved Five Guys, as well, and it was very flavorful but did feel heavier and greasier.)
Fries: The fries at Epic were the hand-cut ones which were good, but I would give it to Five Guys. (They seemed fresher and crispier.) Plus, Epic's portions were a little skimpy.
Value: Epic was a bit pricey for what you got. I ordered the Junior, which was plenty big for me, and it was $5. That wasn't including any cheese. (I think you can get grilled onions, though.) Five guys did it right where you could get all these different toppings at no additional charge. I think both are pretty comparable in price.
Overall, I liked Epic and would go back! Decent fast food burgers at a reasonable price. I would have to say Five Guys rates a little higher in my book, but it is also a little bit greasier so I probably can't go there too often. I would definitely go for the Horseradish Havarti burger...mmmmm.....
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