Au Cheval Review

Au Cheval Bar & Diner
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

 Downtown Chicago is a food lover’s paradise. A variety of bars and restaurants line nearly every street, giving someone no excuse to run out of options when it comes to a finding a meal. Being from the suburbs, I have not even scratched the surface of the Chicago restaurant scene, but will try to tackle it one place at a time. My most recent journey took place on Thursday night, when I visited Au Cheval, an upscale American bar/diner on 800 West Randolph Street.

Single Cheeseburger With Bacon
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Nestled in the West Loop, Au Cheval is known for its unique take on food, and of course, out-of-this-world cheeseburgers. The atmosphere is typical of a Chicago bar, but there was an upscale feel to it. There were tables and booths lining the walls, but the main attraction was the bar, which nearly rant the length of the restaurant. At Au Cheval, things are done on a first come, first serve basis no matter who you are. With it being the dinner rush, I was told it was going to be a 45 minute wait. This did not scare me, knowing the food would be worth it. A spot on the bar opened up within 20 minutes, so I was seated right then and there. Looking over the menu, I found many things that the ordinary person would question, like chopped chicken liver on toast and roasted beef marrow bones on toast. I was told in good confidence by people I know, and those who I did not know, that everything is prepared in such a way that even an unrefined pallet can enjoy. While sampling the menu would have been a great experience, I did not have the time or money to do so. I dove right in and ordered the menu item I had heard so much about, the single cheeseburger.

The Bacon
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

The single cheeseburger, which actually has two beef patties, is possibly the most popular menu item. If you order it as is, you will end up with the following: two beef patties, two slices of American cheese, red onion, sliced bread and butter pickles, and a house sauce, all on a fresh, toasted bun with a large bread and butter pickle spear on the side. The wait staff at the restaurant always suggests you add a fried egg and some of their world class, thick-cut bacon to your burger. Those two items send the burger overboard. While I opted out on the egg, I did go for the bacon, which was the best decision I could have made. Overall, everything on the burger meshed together seamlessly. The patties were rich and juicy, cooked to perfection. The cheese was fully melted and draped over the patties, almost as if they were a flavor blanket. The condiments were a combination of sweet and savory, offsetting each other in all the best ways. The pickle was extremely tasty and had the right blend of spices to give it great flavor. The bacon was the kicker. It was the thickest I have ever had. When I say thick, I mean that a person would have to use a real knife to cut through it. The thickness only added to the taste, as the bacon was cured in such a way that the flavor ran all the way through the meat. I also ordered a side of freshly cut fries with their house garlic aioli, which was another great purchase. The fries were hot and fresh, and the aioli provided me with a cool, tangy counter-flavor. All in all, a great meal.

French Fries With Garlic Aioli

I spent $22.54 on my meal, which may seem expensive to most, but I can tell you it was worth it. You are not going to get the type of food and atmosphere Au Cheval offers at a much cheaper price in the city, so know that going in. Dining here is something one just has to experience at some point in their life if they want to recapture the classic, American take on food. So if you are in the West Loop, or even if you are not, check out Au Cheval on 800 W. Randolph Street in Chicago. It will be an experience you will never forget.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food/Nature Writer from the Chicagoland Area