Elgin's Prime BurgerHouse serves up bliss on a bun
The hot dog came from Germany. Pizza was first made in Italy. But despite its Teutonic city name, the hamburger - actually the cheeseburger - is the quintessential American food.
Long considered the choice of teenagers, families on the run and backyard barbecues, the burger gets an adult, real-meal makeover at Prime BurgerHouse.
Open since December and located just inside the main entrance to Elgin's Grand Victoria Casino, Prime BurgerHouse is the brainchild of casino general manager Jim Thomason.
"Jim worked here a long time ago and loved the burgers at this little cafe we had," said restaurant manager Cindy Summers, a 15-year casino employee. "He left, then came back to run the casino recently, but his favorite burger cafe had been closed down. Jim conceived of Prime BurgerHouse as a replacement for his beloved burgers."
Thomason, Summers and the casino food staff brainstormed for six months to come up with the wonderful burger selections, as well as the restaurant's whimsical design and attitude.
The restaurant's slogan of "burgers, booze, bliss" fully describes the dining experience. A brightly colored (but not garish) interior is lit just right - yet I couldn't decide if the look was retro '60s Las Vegas or "Jetson's" futurama. (Summers calls it "contemporary with a touch of retro.") The front features cafe tables and a large bar with the backroom made up of diner-style booths (all with flat-screen TVs) and a few large, circular booths.
The small, booklet menu is full of whimsy and fun with provocative photos designed to promote laughter. The menu starts with a listing of prime cocktail, wine and beer selections, then moves into fabulous milkshakes and floats (including "loaded" alcohol picks). Each sandwich selection comes with a list of "pairing" recommendations: cocktail, wine, beer, nibble, shake.
We started with a fun appetizer choice of crispy mac and cheese balls - fantastic orbs of breaded and deep-fried gooey cheese and pasta, served with a light marinara sauce and sprinkled with truffle shavings. A great start.
I decided to go with the Drunken Bull Burger (dietitians, please avert your eyes!), a high-quality Kobe beef patty smothered in sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, blue cheese and crisp prosciutto with a cabernet reduction sauce on a fresh pretzel roll. Outstanding burger, outstanding flavor, outstandingly filling.
One of my dining companions opted for the Sicilian Burger, a tasty choice that came with mozzarella, olive tapenade and roasted peppers with marinara on a toasted ciabatta bun. All of the flavors blended perfectly without one overpowering the others.
The simpler Inside-the-Box Burger (beer pairing suggestion of "any will do") was aptly named - a basic burger served in an open cardboard box. This classic presentation, bereft of any unusual toppings, showed off the extra-fine quality of Prime BurgerHouse patties.
(Summers says they use their own butcher to grind choice beef fresh daily.)
While all of the burgers come with classic "skinny" fries, we decided to try a side order of the intriguing white truffle fries and they turned out to be a big hit. A light coating of white truffle oil and Parmesan cheese was delightful.
Prime BurgerHouse offers eight specialty hamburgers (including the surf and turf with a lobster tail on top of the burger patty) plus a build-your-own burger with choices of nine cheeses, seven fresh-baked buns, 12 sauces/condiments and 21 toppings. There's also the unique choice of having your burger either charbroiled over an open flame or on a classic diner flat-top grill.
Not into beef? The menu features two chicken sandwiches and two salmon choices as well as salads. But ordering a healthy salad at a great burger place like this is like marrying a Brazilian supermodel just to get an extra deduction on your tax return.
We ended the night with a simple dessert, opting for a selection of little treats including a very nice creme brulee and some fresh-baked cookies.
Prime BurgerHouse earns its catchphrase. Burgers and bliss, indeed.
Prime BurgerHouseInfo: 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin, inside the Grand Victoria Casino, (847) 531-7746, www.primeburgerhouse.comCuisine: Premium burgers, fries, milkshakes and cocktailsSetting: Slightly Las Vegas, slightly Retro, slightly futuristic. OK for kids, but more of an adult atmosphere.Entrees: Burgers $8 to $23; sides $3 to $11Hours: 11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and SaturdayFalse20001516Deep-fried crispy mac and cheese balls come with a light marinara sauce at Prime BurgerHouse in Elgin.Christopher Hankins | Staff PhotographerFalse