Lettuce Entertain You is one of the more respectable restaurant management companies in Chicago. They are known for great food, quality experiences and originality. They have a stranglehold on the River North area of Chicago in which, they have 6 restaurants within two blocks of one another. This trip took me to Hub 51, which is a restaurant I have been to but I had never had the burger. Hub 51 is one of the most classic spots to have brunch or weeknight drinks with friends. It is a large restaurant with a VERY diverse menu and a great burger is not the first thing you think of when you think of Hub 51.
However, there is a reason that people say you shouldn’t assume.
The Burger: First-Rate Prime Cheeseburger
The Taste: Hub 51 created a modern classic with this burger. Lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard and cheese are all ingredients of what you would have if you were grilling a beef patty at home. Now the Lettuce Entertain You twist, all those ingredients are fresh, sourced and much better quality than anyone would buy for a barbeque with friends. The ingredients in this burger are top notch and the taste of the burger prove it, the first taste that hits you is the tartness of the mustard and then as you bite through the patty, juices begin to flow into your mouth. The burger kind of dissolved in my mouth with each flavorful bite. The one downside to the burger was the construction of the bun, it fell apart as I got through half of the burger.
I think that one of the most important things to think about when you are creating a gourmet burger, is if you want your burger to be super juicy, you need to pair with a sponge like bun. Unfortunately, this bun was thin and did not hold the juice very well. Having said that, the flavor of the First-Rate Prime Cheeseburger was out of this world. There are 2 other burgers on the Hub 51 menu and I look forward to trying both of them!
The Verdict: Hub 51, see you again soon.
Hub 51 is located at 51 West Hubbard Street in Chicago, Illinois.
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