ELIZABITES

Cupcake overload? I’m thinking this city had been hit much harder with burger buzz. Burger restaurants, bars, eateries, windows, carry-out take-outs, bar menus, $5 lunch specials…no truck (yet), but it’s the feast du jour and I love it. OK, I will admit, I am not a huge classic hamburger person, but when a menu like the one at the new Urban Burger Bar has tuna sashimi burgers, turkey burgers with dried cranberry chutney with peppered bacon and chicken burgers with pesto aïoli, I am overjoyed with options. Since this new spot opened last week, I will admit I have been there three times, but it’s also dangerously close to my office…so it won’t be long before I scarf the whole menu…or maybe just this. The tuna sashimi burger…
You never know what you are going to get when it comes to tuna burgers, but when I see accompaniments like spicy cucumber slaw, eel sauce (hello??), pickled ginger aïoli, I know it can’t go wrong. And it doesn’t. The tuna patty is moist, delicious, sweet and sour, the bun buttered and slathered with mayo. But of course, most people popping into UBB will be doing so for some real meat, the Tallgrass beef burger, the High Hog stacker with barbecue pork, bacon, ham and white Cheddar, and the Fa-Getta-Bod-It, prosciutto, fried egg, fresh mozzarella, tomato and mayo…fried egg…um, yeah, yum.
The rest of the menu at UBB is equally as delish, especially the specialty fries; truffle, sweet potato, Cheddar, green bean, panko-crusted zucchini and holy hell…tempura battered portobellos…
And last but not least, UBB shakes things up in the form of cheesecake, malted milk ball, banana Nutella and other hand-spun shakes served in a tall glass…
As if a malted milk ball shake wasn’t enough, throw in an awesome beer selection, large bar, 8 house-made sauces for various dipping purposes, outdoor seating and very close proximity to the new Apple store and you can see why multiple visits to this neighborhood newcomer would be the norm. 1578 N. Clybourn, 312.255.0055.