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We had a very successful Evanston lunch group gathering at Edzo's Burger Shop and even though it was Northwestern's winter break (or perhaps because it was break), Edzo's was quite crowded. We were fortunate to snag a table for nine.

For me what makes Edzo's stand out are the basics - with twists. I especially welcomed the hamburgers (and the patty melt): the beef was of high quality and was not overcooked (both the griddled and the charred). The buns held up well - there is a commitment to quality here. I also admired the fries - more so the "old fries" and the "truffle fries" (the cheese fries somewhat less so). The the milk shakes (especially the hot fudge) and the chocolate malt were great (the nutella somewhat less so).

The further we moved from burgers, fries, and shakes, the less memorable were the choices: I didn't particularly care for the peanut butter and bacon (the PBB), the portobello on a bun, or the inside out grilled cheese. Each was a little dry to my taste.

But in what matters at a burger shop - the burger and fries (and shakes) - Edzo's is a firm success. With Edzo's, Wiener and Still Champion, and Burt's, "greater Evanston" provides culinary life support.

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Toast, as every breakfaster knows, isn't really about the quality of the bread or how it's sliced or even the toaster. For man cannot live by toast alone. It's all about the butter. -- Adam Gopnik

I understand that a list of three scans much better than a mere duo, but trying to fit Burt's in "greater Evanston" is a bit of a stretch. Patty's Diner I could accept, but not Burt's which is two suburbs west.

Yes, let us add Patty's and her patty melt.

Greater Evanston is bounded by the dining boundaries of Evanston lunch group! So, Morton Grove counts. And Joe Moore and Richard Daley not to the contrary, Rogers Park is part of Greater Evanston: Parkiston.

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Toast, as every breakfaster knows, isn't really about the quality of the bread or how it's sliced or even the toaster. For man cannot live by toast alone. It's all about the butter. -- Adam Gopnik

Why not keep it to Evanston proper and include Al's Deli? His sandwiches and soups are lovely and from what I've heard, his cookies are excellent too.

I am seriously thinking of getting to Edzo's this week before Christmas. Last time I tried it was a Monday and I didn't remember till I got to the door.

Hi everyone. I just wanted to make a quick post to let you all know that Edzo's is currently featuring beef from Niman Ranch and Dietzler Farm as an upgrade option on our burgers.

The price is $2.00 per 4oz. for either of these "fancy beef" options. Both Niman and Dietzler feature natural, sustainable, and humanely-raised products. Dietzler has the added benefit of being local as well as dry aged.

It's a nice opportunity to try these higher-end products for a still fairly low-end pricetag. We're running this as an option for today and tomorrow, or until I sell out.

Thanks, and hope to see some of you here.

Eddie

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I know where I'm going for lunch today. See you later, Eddie.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

UPDATE:

I had a double griddled swissburger for lunch today along with an order of old fries. After numerous visits to Edzo's I've settled on this as my default order. I decided to try the Dietzler Farms burgers; hoping to get a bit of dry aged tang in my burger. Although it was an excellent burger, I'm not sure I tasted enough of a difference between the Dietzler burger and the normal fresh-ground Edzo burger to justify the nearly 100% markup in price (double burger normally $4.39. Dietzler Farm double burger $8.39). Don't get me wrong, the burger was excellent, but the regular burger at Edzo's is excellent, too.

Edzo's Double Griddled Swissburger W/Dietzler Farms Beef


I'm not sure I'll get the chance, but it may be worthwhile to try one of the char burgers with some premium beef. The thicker char burger may be a better vehicle to taste a difference using the designer beef (if there is one).

As already mentioned, the old fries were spectacularly crispy and good today.

Edzo's Old Fries


One of my dining companions ordered a chicken breast sandwich. He pronounced it very good, due to the char taste. I don't think any chicken pictures have been posted yet, so here's one for the record.

Edzo's Chicken Breast Sandwich

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Had yet another wonderful lunch at Edzo's Saturday. Patty melt and Nutella shake just perfectly delicious. Probably the busiest I have seen it in the four times I've been and I wanted to comment on seating at Edzo's.

I was solo; I had no problem ordering, waiting for food along the counter and then snagging a table. And I would have been more than happy to eat along the counter and watch the kitchen at work.

BUT there were quite a few folks who got in line, which was all the way to the door probably about 10-15 folks deep, and then sent one of their party to save a table. Memo to those folks: DONT do this! Everyone in front of you will get their food sooner and stare you down at your foodless table! Please dont be so selfish, you table-hoggers!

Also, I overheard Eddie answer the phone during this super busy period and tell the caller that the line is too long for him to accept a carry out order over the phone. Good call, chef!

Yeah, I saw this happening too. Hot Doug's explicitly disallows this (there's a sign by the door or by the counter), and it doesn't happen much. I think part of the reason it happens more at Edzo's is that the line snakes through the seating area, so there are many more opportunities to sneak a table.

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Ed Fisher
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I had an easy solution to this when I was at Edzo's. I removed the person's coat from what became my chair, and neatly placed it on the floor.

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Had my first visit to Edzo's a couple of weeks ago and have forgotten to post until now. I'll echo echo echo most of what has already been said - my griddled double with Merkt's and garlic fries were delish. My husband and I split a peanut butter/chocolate milkshake which was also top notch.

I had taken an early morning flight back from the west coast and was famished (by this point it was about 1:30 and I hadn't eaten a thing all day), so he and I plowed through everything and left stuffed. The the weirdest thing happened - I stayed feeling stuffed AND wasn't hungry for the rest of the day and night. All I ate for dinner that night was a piece of toast. This NEVER happens to me. Give me six hours tops and I will always be ready for my next meal, even if I ate duck fat fries, a sausage with everything, and a corn dog for lunch (maiden voyage to Hot Dougs, circa 07). But something about the volume I consumed at Edzo's was unique.

All of this leads me to one question: What about a "small" option for the fancy fries?

At Doug's, not only is there a sign, but there is also active (but very polite) enforcement. Something for Edzo's to consider, if there are staff on the floor.

Jen

Very polite?

DOUG: Are you a doctor?

GUY TRYING TO SCAM TABLE: Uh, no...

DOUG: I didn't think so because you GOT NO PATIENCE!

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Hee hee, I was thinking of the tactful Justin approach, having never seen a full Doug takedown. That said, the public humiliation method might also work.

Jen

OTOH, this is SOP at places like Pita Inn, when theyre crazy-busy at lunch or on weekends - when you arrive, someone goes and tries to grab a table (or else stands in line for one), while the rest stand in line to place their food-orders. Never seen anyone object to it, either.

As for people getting their food first and staring you down...Iam sure at a place like Edzo's (especially), a fair few people might be taking their food to go too, no?

c8w

Interesting comparison to Pita Inn. Ive only ordered carryout there so have no experience dining in. It strikes me that there is probably more seating at Pita Inn than Edzo's. Pita Inn can certainly be a madhouse!

It just strikes me that when you walk into Edzo's, see a huge line yet immediatey grab a table, that's rude. At least that was my thinking while waiting for my food at the kitchen counter. Having said that, when I could tell that my order was coming up soon, I did start looking around for a place to sit.

I try and avoid the "in it for yourself", "Ive got mine", "lifeboat" mentality in many things.

Given that Doug's Dad is a physician, that's pretty funny.

Regards,

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Cathy2

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My Dietzler Farm single griddled burger was delicious but, like Steve, I was unable to detect a difference between the regular griddled burger, also delicious, and the upcharge Dietzler. Commendable effort, but better in theory than on the plate.

Edzo's Daily Special for 1.22.10



Loved the off-menu sometime special Aztec Shake, smooth, rich, hint of heat. Eddie experimented with the concept at the pre-opening Shake Out and it was a little rough around the edges, unbalanced with a slightly gritty texture. I had it a second time a few weeks later and, while the chili heat balance was better, there was still a slightly gritty quality to the shake. Third time was the charm, Eddie reached in to his fancy chef bag-o-tricks made a ganache with Mexican chocolate then added the chili (ancho/cayenne) resulting in a creamy smooth balance of sweet and heat with the Mexican chocolate lending a subtle note of cinnamon.

Edzo's Trilogy



Shakes, of any stripe, are messy business



Still haven't tried a corn dog, and I do love corn dogs.

Enjoy,
Gary

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

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Awesome write-up. Congrats Ed!

Way to go Ed! Good stuff!

Gary & Steve, were the upgrades at least as good as the regular? Some of us, I usually buy the meat for the family, would be willing to pay the increased price for meat that was "sustainable" &/or "humane", particularly if the taste was still great.

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Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening

Ava,

Taste was every bit as good for the Dietzler Farm as Edzo's regular burger meat.

When you say "some of us" I am confused, I thought you were a vegetarian?

Enjoy,
Gary

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Very nice, congrats to Edzo's and Eddie, "a jovial egg of a soul"

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

Congrats to Eddie. I can only strive to be a jovial egg.

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Very deserved praise, but Borrelli is wrong about the patty melt. It's no afterthought.

Gary,thanks for noticing. I'm still animal-free in 2010 (probably even more so as I read Safran Foer's Eating Animals) but like many women, I still have quite a bit of influence over what comes into my house when it comes to food. Most of this week's dinners(not for me) were from Ronnie's Steakhouse--the customer appreciation special.

I've been meaning to get to Edzo's for the milkshake & fries anyhow.

I'm usually a milkshake purist, vanilla without any adornment, but that Mexican Chocolate ganache with heat sounds very, very intriguing.

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Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening

Wow! That shake was amazing. I also had a veggie burger w/ all the trimmings, & truffle fries. The truffle fries were the best I've had. I will be back. The shake is the best I've had this year. It was thick, not too sweet, and cold then the heat from the spices would kick in. If we weren't going out for dinner I think I would try to get another shake this afternoon.

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Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening

Got a double griddled with american, a large fries and a mexican chocolate shake this afternoon. Eddie, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed, well, everything. I only wish I lived a little closer, I would be in here all the time.

Edzo's gets a lot of Northwestern students. Northwestern students are pretty easy to move out of the way if need be. I've never had a problem getting a table, but I've never been there when it was so busy you couldn't find a table.

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