The Hamburgers are not very good at this famous Chicago Landmark Restaurant

I want to write about what I think are some of the most overrated restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. When I think of overrated I take into account how the actual food at the restaurant is, what they are famous for, and the presentation. The first restaurant on my list is a very famous Chicago tourist spot and world-renowned: The Billy Goats Tavern in Chicago.

Where's the Beef?Photo by Frank S/ChicagoFoodKing.

The main location is 430 Michigan ave in Chicago.

underpass above restaurantPhoto by Yelp.

This restaurant was made famous by the sketch that was originally written by Don Novello (of Father Guido Sarducci fame) when he was an advertising copywriter in Chicago. Many of the famous SNL alumni, like John Belushi and Bill Murray, had also frequented this establishment while they lived in Chicago in the ’70s.

Famous SNL skit of Billy Goat's TavernPhoto by Google

The SNL skit made famous the line that Billy Goat Tavern still uses today.

“"Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger. Coke No Pepsi. Chips No Fries. Double is best”

Billy Goats Tavern used its fame to open up multiple locations all over Chicago to the same or lesser quality as the original location.

outside restaurantPhoto by Yelp.

Now that you know the history of Billy Goat's Tavern and how it became famous, I will now dig into the ambiance and the food of the original Billy Goats Tavern.

My meal the patties are paper thin on a huge bunPhoto by Frank S/ChicagoFoodKing.

When you first walk in, you definitely get the ambiance of a true Chicago dive bar and that is not a bad thing. The bar looks old school and the seating looks like a typical Chicago bar. The main window is lit up with bright neon signage that is very Chicago old-school looking. I have noticed in recent years that The Billy Goats Tavern has attempted to update the decor of the location.

Inside main dining roomPhoto by Yelp.

The main draw here is the Cheeseburger. As soon as you walk to the counter you are greeted with their famous jingle by the employee behind the counter.

Bar areaPhoto by Yelp.

“"Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger. Coke No Pepsi. Chips No Fries. Double is best”

I will say that you will definitely need a double cheeseburger because the patties are razor-thin. The hamburger is then put, in my opinion, on the worst possible bun for the size of these hamburger patties, which is a Kaiser Roll. The hamburger literally gets lost in all that thick bread. I then get a bag of Chicago, famous Vintners potato chips and work my way over to their condiment bar. The condiments at the bar are ala carte, consisting of mustard, relish, pickles, onions, and of course, mustard and ketchup.

condiments stationPhoto by Frank S/ChicagoFoodKing.

The first bite of the burger did not taste good at all. It gives off the vibes of a school lunch burger. The meat tasted unseasoned and the bread was thick and not super fresh. The condiments are pungent, due to the fact they have been sitting out all day.

I have seen numerous posts from food bloggers saying this is on their bucket list to try in their lifetime. I will tell you this wholeheartedly, do not come here for the food. Come here to say you were at the world-famous Billy Goat Tavern.

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