Charlie Beinlich's Food & Tap
Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
290 Skokie Boulevard(between Frontage Rd & Vermont Ave)
Northbrook, IL 60062 (847) 714-9375
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
8 reviews
Evanston, IL
"Really nice restaurant! The location is really nice. It's an old hotel with a really homey and calming atmosphere. The restaurant…" read more »
28 Reviews for Charlie Beinlich's Food & Tap
I have been coming to this place since I was a little girl, and the food has not changed nor the quality. They have great burgers, but my favorite thing was the crab and shrimp cocktail. It is the perfect marriage of seafood; ohh and you cannot forget the cocktail sauce on top of the whole thing. Yummy!
Service & Commitment to Excellence. Some restaurants get it, some don't. Charlie Beinlich's does. They understand it to their very core. It's in their DNA.
If I was reading this, I'd kinda wonder how a little restaurant in the 'burbs could possibly be such a great place with great service. Beats me too. It's just the way it is. Mystery of life thing.
Basically, you are going here for two things:
#1. The best burgers in Chicago, for sure. North America? Maybe. End of discussion
#2 . Amazing service - a totally professional wait staff who remind me of the waiters at Gibson's. They are simply old school professionals. They help each other, appear out of nowhere, move quickly and, most importantly, they don't want to be your friend. I suspect they have their own friends just like you do. They just want to serve you perfectly. And Charlie Beinlich guys. You know what? It's working. Thank you.
So what is the Commitment to Excellence thing you ask? Sounds like Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders. Sorta the same thing. These guys really do two things - they serve gourmet-quality yet classic hamburgers (previously mentioned) and pour perfect drinks. I had a Gin & tonic here last night that should have been going to the Alcohol Hall of Fame. Not too strong, not too weak. It was just like the little bear said, "Jussssst right." Unfortunately, (for you) there is no proof given that I destroyed the evidence...a couple of times.
FYI - they lost a star because of the CASH ONLY policy. I know the whole credit card percentage. Yada, yada, yada. Come on guys, it's time to join the 21st century.
Enjoy Charlie B's.
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I almost feel guilty for not giving this place 5 stars, as if I missed something that everyone else gets about this place. There is definitely a lot of fish and fish decor on the walls, and yes, the only menu in the place is the one that hangs in the corner, with haphazard placement of characters. Definitely gives a backwoods type feel (if only I weren't dressed in my work clothes...).
They pour their pop out of 2-Liter bottles, which I find fascinating for some reason. Our group, being the logistical business folks that we are, agreed that it was probably a great way to save money by not dealing with distributors. Plus, they had 7-Up, which was a plus for me. Obviously, I'm easily amused by mundane details.
I ordered the plain hamburger with grilled onions, fries, and slaw - the burger was perfectly cooked the way I wanted, and was so tender that I barely had to chew. I loved that the bun was slightly toasted, but not that the grease from the burger made half of the bun inedible by the end of my meal. I wonder...do they let the patties sit in a vat of grease until it's time to cook them? Maybe it's all that fat that makes it so darn good. The fries were just crisp enough (I hate fries with soft centers), and the slaw had the perfect balance of cabbage and whatever type of sauce they put in slaw. I like to think of it as a magical tasty sauce that has no calories.
I don't know if this was the BEST burger I've ever had, but I sure didn't have trouble scarfing it down.
The waiters were pretty freaking cool, too. We had a latecomer to the party, so we asked if we could put his burger on at a later time, to which they happily obliged. They also engaged in a little small talk, which was appreciated.
CASH ONLY. And get here early if you want a seat; otherwise, you're s.o.l.
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This is the sort of place that no one could open today if they tried. This place has been there since I was a kid, and I think the first time I was there was 43 years ago. Nothing has changed. The owners are sport fishermen. The wood panelled walls are decorated with their taxidermy of fish they have caught over the years.
The one menu on the wall has no prices. There are few food choices: crabmeat and shrimp cocktails, burgers, ham and cheese, and grilled cheese. And then there is the bar. That's it. And the food is GOOD! (If you like that kind of food; not exactly healthy!)
I took an old friend from out of town there whose daughter lives nearby. We went on a weekday afternoon, when it was quiet in there. That's really the only time to go there. I tried recently meeting someone there on a weekend and it was mobbed; pointless even to try. The line was out the door.
This is an authentic tavern and grill. It won't disappoint.
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The first time I went here, I was going into 5th grade and my parents took me out to celebrate my first day of school. I remember a great burger, a lot of cigarette smoke and I found two $20 bills on the floor near our table. I asked my folks about finders/keepers and they told me to ask the people next to us. I did and they were so drunk, but they said I should keep it!
My point is: Enjoy the food but always look on the floor for $.
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A family favorite! My parents have been taking me here since I was a kid for the best burger ever! Fresh and simple with a classic neighbor hood bar feeling. My mother swears by the BBQ Beef, but its hard to say no to those burgers.
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Stop the presses!! I've just eaten the best burger in all the land. Food Network - end your searches for the best burger here!!! I don't know what it is that allures me to this burger, but it must be some kind of addictive substance they put in the meat.
I've only been here once on a Saturday afternoon and boy was it packed. We found two seats at the bar. Our order came quick, burger and fries with a side of coleslaw. The burger comes with the standards and I ordered it with grilled onions....ugh (Homer moan). You know food is scrumptious when you write about it and find yourself drooling.
Thank God I'm not pregnant, my cravings would probably increase 10 fold for this buger!!
Just thinking about a Charlie Beinlich's burger with swiss cheese and onions with a cold beer brings a sting to the old eye. Man is that good stuff! I dont care where you live, it is worth a trip to Northbrook just to try this place if you have never been.
The first time I went in there I was amazed. What the hell was this tiny, dark, slightly run-down joint doing in Northbrook, 2 blocks down from a Cadillac/Rolls Royce dealership!
But these folks know they have a good thing going and they do not play. The interior looks like a bar you might find in rural North Dakota. They will randomly shut down for a week or two to "go fishing" and do not care if you are sore about it. But when they are open, they will bust their humps getting the hottest, most delicious food to you.
Do NOT expect: 1) to get things not offered on the menu 2) to get a table during weekday lunch rush 3) to call ahead (there is no phone) 4) to go with a group of 10 and expect to get a table and linger for 2 hours. Charlie will not dig on that idea.
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Yummy!!! I don't think anything has changed for decades. This is one of the best, if not the best burger places in all of Chicago. The menu is simple and they have a full bar. It is a nice escape from all of the grandeur of the North Shore. Don't be surprised if there is a line on a Tuesday night. The don't take credit cards so bring cash. Try the shrimp cocktail as an appetizer!
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Chicago can make a burger too. You go here, and your choice is a burger or a burger, and you order a burger, maybe get some cheese, maybe not, maybe get some fries, definitely get a beer, and you're satisfied. The end. Don't go here if you are one of those "froofy" people who needs to be catered to. DO go here if you appreciate a good burger in a really authentic atmosphere.
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I read on the wall once, "Charlie Beinlich's patrons are truckers and rolls royce drivers." The following are 5 memories from Charlie B's over the past 20 years of my life:
1. Ordering Sprecher's rootbeer, cheeseburger, and cup of chilli. My father ordering the same, but with a cold golden glass of MGD. My father letting me sip a little of his beer. I longed for my own cold glass of golden frothy goodness.
2. Putting the paper coasters in my mouth and wanting to take one home with me. Then realizing at 20 years of age, "Gross, you put those dirty coasters in your mouth, and you wanted to take them home, what were you thinking?"
3. Going with my sister, dad's girlfriend, and divorced father, on the wekeends when he had parental care. After the delicious hamburger, perfectly prepared cold slaw, and a bun that is toasted with butter, the four of us would go see a movie at Northbrook Court. Till this day I still have all the movie ticket stubs from the dozens of shows we saw together.
4. The waiters are like toy soldiers: they never get old & work they work their asses off to please the customers. They are only a hip and a skip away if you ever need anything. They work together and probably pool their tips. So they all work hard together and share the load equally. They are usually all men and seem to have worked there for 20 years. Recently, there was a younger guy that was bussing there. It almost seemed to me like it was a great honor for him to get that position. I hope he works hard and will stay there for the long number of years the older guys have. I would love to see their tax returns.
5. Wearing my Charlie Beinlichs t-shirt when I am in different cities, and locals coming up to me saying, "I've been to Charlie Beinlichs, I love that restaurant! Where are you from?"
Thanks Charlies for being a part of my life, and providing me with a high quality food, excellent service, and fond memories. If I were a more descriptive writer, I would have discussed the incredible green fish on the walls, the tanned-panther like wooden chanks aroding the walls, and the magical glow emitting from behind the bar. Charlies is a place you have to go, it's almost like a religous experience.
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The burger here is *transcendent*. The service is efficient and friendly -- I got my burger in under the estimated 8 minutes. I ordered mine with just grilled onions (no cheese) and, oh my GAWD. Utterly fresh and craveworthy. It may not be Kobe beef, but you can't argue with freshness.
I visited family in the area immediately afterwards and told my cousin of my visit. He then quickly polled his 3 kids on what their favorite hamburger was. Their answer was inevitably "Charlie Beinlich's".
It would seem that the consensus here is: stick to the burgers, maybe get a shrimp cocktail. Their menu is an exercise in non-pretentious minimalism, and it's these little, eccentric places in the world like Charlie Beinlich's that offer some of the best food.
Homey, fishing-lodge decor. Not too long of a wait on a weekday evening. Bring cash -- they won't take your plastic, but the in-house ATM will, for a fee.
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BEST BURGER EVER!!!! PERIOD!!!!!! You'll feel like you're in a bar in the northern woods of Wisconsin, but once you taste the burger, you'll feel like you're in heaven. I think the thing actually melts in your mouth.
I have had a couple different kobe beef burgers in Napa Valley of all places, and they are laughable compared to the Beinlich's burger.
Come for lunch or come before 6. After that, you may be waiting a while. But hey, it is so well worth it you'll thank yourself for waiting. Also, try calling ahead b/c, while they don't take reservations, they do pick up and leave to go on fishing trips once and a while and can be closed for up to a week at a time or more.
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There's got to be something I'm missing. The burger was good, but not worth the raves I've read elsewhere (including here) -- or at least not worth me raving like this. It's pre-formed (not that that makes it bad in and of itself), and not all that meat-tasty.
Just to be clear -- I'm no burger snob. I like a good dirty grill burger (you know, the kind with bits of indeterminate burnt stuff on it?) as much as anyone. But these burgers didn't even have that.
I'll grant you the atmosphere is retro and it reminds me of my long ago childhood. But there are other options for that kind of nostalgia.
Sorry Charlie-heads -- I"m not with you on this one...
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Restaurants always claim to have the best burger in the world. In the case of Charlie Beinlich's, that claim is true. There is nothing like a burger at Beinlichs. Loaded with onions and cheddar, the burger is simply out of this world. Located up in Northbrook, IL, Beinlichs is a must visit. That being said, don't try and call them - they don't have a phone.
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Awesome, awesome burgers. And such good shrimp cocktail. It takes it to another level, and it's shrimp cocktail! Absurd!
My family might disown me for this-but I think the burgers at this place is a bit overrated. It's definately old-school and cozy but I just don't think everything lives up to the hype. Cash only.
Cheeseburger with a shrimp/crab cocktail! Outstanding. Fun to go after work, sit at the bar, grab a drink and eat well!! Get out here!
First let me say that if you don't live in the area, I have to disagree with other reviewers and say that its not worth a special trip all the way to Northbrook.
If you do live in the area, then be sure to stop by and enjoy the kitchy (but cramped) sports lodge decor, and one of their two menu items: either a cheeseburger or shrimp cocktail (both if you're real hungry). The burger is pretty good, but there are comparable burgers elsewhere in Chicago (for example, there is also a Boston Blackie's in Northbrook). But "best hamburger ever"? Please... try a Kobe beef burger sometime if you want a transformational burger experience.
Bottom line - great place to have nearby, but not a destination locale.
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This place has the best burgers I have ever tasted. The only downside to Beinlich's if one can be pinpointed is when they close and go fishing.
This place is no frills and worth every penny. The burgers literally melt in your mouth. I live fairly close to Moody's and there is no comparison. If you want a great burger, make the trip, you will not be disappointed.
Best burger and shrimp cocktail around. This place is a classic and should be put on the Register of Historic Places. I love this place!
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All the quirks are worth it. The service is the best, the food mouth-watering. Just be laid back when you go because some of the customers are RUDE and pushy....but just ignore that and order the shrimp cocktail, a burger and fries (with the onions) and enjoy it so much...even with a smoker...10 stars. Beware, they have at least one long break, I believe around New Year's.
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Just visted Beinlich's again for the best burger in the world! The meat is unbelievably fresh. There is no other burger like it! The menu is humerous because there is only about 8 items total on it. Don't think about anything else except a burger. I like mine Medium with Cheddar Cheese and Grilled Onions. Ahhh...hits the spot!
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Best Burger's....EVER. I'm not kidding. From the outside it looks tiny and strange, but do not pass this place up. You will leave satisfied...I promise!!!
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Great hamburgers in a great room since 1950.
Charlie Beinlich's (charliebeinlichs.com) is a family-run place with knotty pine paneling and mounted trout on the wall. Even though it's virtually underneath the Edens Expressway spur, once you're inside, you might as well be in the middle of Wisconsin or rural Illinois.
The beautifully brief menu (on the wall sign only -- don't wait for one to be handed to you) features simply delicious hamburgers and cheeseburgers. It also includes shrimp cocktail, barbeque beef, roast beef, grilled cheese, egg salad, and tuna salad sandwiches, cole slaw and French fries. The bar serves beer and liquor.
Local people love this place, and it's often packed enough that there may be a short wait, but once a table opens up, the food and the service are both just right. You're instantly at home.
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One of my favorite places. An old school roadhouse that doesn't take reservations or credit cards, Beinlich's will definitely take you back in time. They don't even have menu's, just a board posted above the bar with about ten items and no prices.
They have among the best burgers in the Chicago area that are made to order and their shrimp cocktail is better than any seafood place I have been to. Definitely worth the trip if you don't live in the area.
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Hands down the best burger in chicago!! I love this place!
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There is no denying the honor, this place is No. 1 on the north shore for Burgers.
Imagine a time when you were so hungry your stomach hurt. You would have eaten anything, but you lucked out and found food so delicious that you felt as if you'd died and gone to heaven. Well, look no further than this tiny, lodge-like haven decorated with stuffed fish and wood paneling. It's no secret. This place is the alpha dog of burgers. (All meat is from Lakeside Foods in Winnetka)
You will be instantly wisked to a past era of family-run dining as you enter the cozy environment inside. It's dark, but I'd eat here with a blindfold on. The menu is no more than shrimp cocktails, burgers and sandwiches but throw a dart and you'll be happy. Older folks still smoke at the bar, but you won't notice. Service is spectacular because it never really changes. They are charming and efficient. Don't mind the caffeteria style plates or the huge lines after 7PM. Get the deluxe burger with fries and slaw. The slaw could be a delicacy itself.
The burger will literally melt in your mouth. My jaw always tingles when I start lifting my burger to my mouth because it hurts to wait once that aroma hits your nose. Would I spend $15 for a burger here, yes! But you won't have too. The prices are tawdry and fixed. They pack em in and it's great. You'll see something new every visit. Be patient and enjoy your wait because it is SO worth it. Snobs need not attend. Try a Hersey bar for dessert.
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