Ricky B's Prime Burger House a chip off the old chop
Burgers are a hot commodity, and restaurant-goers apparently can't get enough. In Schaumburg, chains and independent restaurants alike from Smashburger to Big Chef have long laid claim to a piece of the action.
Ricky B's Prime Burger House joined the fray earlier this year when it opened for business on the upper level of Woodfield Mall in the JCPenney wing and across from The Cheesecake Factory. It resides in space previously occupied by Ruby Tuesday.
Created by owners of the award-winning Chicago Chop House, Ricky B's offers a convenient sit-down lunch or dinner option for shoppers drawn to the mall, local business people and anyone in the neighborhood craving a burger, sandwich or salad.
What distinguishes Ricky B's from the herd of competitors? The newcomer credits its 100 percent USDA prime beef handcrafted burgers along with its creative approach to fresh, locally sourced toppings
Adding a coup de grace is a diverse full-service bar, anchored by a pair of overhead TV screens. Beer drinkers will find a broad selection lager, pilsner, porter and IPAs — more than 100 mainstream and artisanal brands, including 24 available on tap. A more scaled-down wine cellar features both red and white wines, $6-$12 by the glass.
The bar also dispenses many specialty martinis and other cocktails.
The spacious venue sports a smart look and feel with a red and black color scheme and contemporary chandelier lighting. It can seat about 200 at booths and tables, though during a recent Wednesday lunchtime visit the place was all but deserted at 1 p.m. with barely a dozen patrons present, including one who was dining at the bar.
Although Ricky B's menu includes a handful of sandwiches such as barbecue pulled pork, crispy buffalo chicken and grilled cheese with tomato, burgers are the mainstay.
A good way to sample some of the menu's 15 different burgers is via the Slider Trio ($11). I recommend the Steakhouse Peppercorn, dusted with peppercorns and topped with cheddar, mayonnaise and A1 sauce; Greek Goddess, featuring a ground chicken patty with feta on a bed of heirloom spinach topped with Greek yogurt and cucumber, tomato and onion; and, my favorite, the Green Dream, which comes with avocado, crispy bacon, poblano corn relish, arugula pesto mayonnaise and smoked Gouda.
Cumulatively, the mini burgers add up to about one-third of a pound — about the same size as a full burger. Also filling, if messy to eat, was my tablemate's Revenge of the Shroom burger with a topping of red wine-infused caramelized onions, mushrooms, Maytag blue cheese and horseradish mayonnaise.
Burgers all come on a nondescript sweet brioche bun, and it would be nice if other choices such as pretzel or multigrain versions were available. Each order comes with house fries or chips. Sweet potato and garlic truffle fries, both of which we ordered, carried upcharges of $2 and $3, respectively. Had we known the abundant quantity, we could easily have gotten by with a single order.
Still other burger interpretations include pan-seared ahi tuna with kiwi wasabi rémoulade and Asian slaw; a Korean barbecue-infused patty crusted with panko, fried and topped with toasted sesame, scallions, pickled kimchee and sriracha mayonnaise; and one with a sunny-side-up egg.
The appetizer we shared, crab fritters, was a letdown. The exterior was nicely crusted and drizzled with a tasty honey-mustard sauce, but the interior seemed to harbor only the merest hint of crab. Spinach and artichoke dip was ranked by our waiter as a popular starter. Still other choices included spicy chicken tenders tossed in a buffalo sauce; a dip duo of fresh guacamole and spicy pimento cheese served with fresh tortilla chips; and homemade chips topped with barbecue pulled pork or spicy beef and melted cheese and scallions.
Bread pudding, bombinis (doughnut balls) and vanilla bean gelato were on the dessert list as well as 13 specialty gelato shakes such as chocolate brownie, red velvet cake and strawberry banana shortcake. Duty called, and I tried the salted caramel doughnut shake. I wanted to like it but found the sweet, creamy concoction thick with clumps of cake too contrived for my liking.
Since we were among the few tables seated for lunch it would have been criminal had service not been up to snuff. Our water glasses were topped off and the staff took time to inquire about our meal. I hope that attentiveness carries through when the place is more crowded.
• Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.
Ricky B's Prime Burger House
5 Woodfield Mall (upper level JCPenney wing), Schaumburg, (847) 240-1700, <a href="http://www.rickybsburger.com/">www.rickybsburger.com</a>
<b>Cuisine:</b> Burgers and casual fare
<b>Setting:</b> Refined shopping mall spot
<b>Entrees:</b> $9-$12
<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday