Where to find the best burgers in Schaumburg

There aren’t that many places in the northern suburbs where you can find a really great hamburger. There’s the reliable Hackney’s. And there’s Jameson’s on Dundee in Arlington Heights, which is my personal favorite for burgers.

But now there’s a new restaurant to join the big-league burger ranks: Big Chef Burgers in Schaumburg and not far from Woodfield.  Located in a strip-mall, the eatery has a contemporary feel and is bright and airy thanks to floor to ceiling windows in the front and the side.

Big Chef is actually owned by a well, big–6′ 6” chef,  Cristiano Bassini. Bassini also owns the popular Italian Bapi Ristorane in Arlington Heights.

The burgers are fresh-ground and made from hormone-free, 100% Angus beef. They’re enormous too–1/2 pound.

I  had the excellent Italian burger, which was topped with fresh, melted buffalo mozzarella and piled high with sun-dried tomatoes.

A mountain of  fresh-cut fries  come with the burgers (or other options such as sweet potato fries). The fries had the skin still on  them and were a stand-out, near perfect–crunchy on the outside and soft and pillowy inside.

My husband had the brick-oven vegetarian pizza, a gorgeous and crispy specimen topped with roasted pepper and grilled eggplant along with zucchini and spinach. It was not only delicious, but a bargain at $8.

Actually right now, the pizzas are an absolute steal–half price when you eat-in Monday-Thursday from 4-7 p.m. Reason enough to try Big Chef!

We split the lentil salad–a healthy and tasty combination of lentils, roasted beets, baby greens, crumbled bleu cheese and asparagus with a balsamic dressing. The portion was more than big enough to split if you’re having a burger or pizza with it.

Word is that the gelato shakes and the desserts are divine, but the truth is we were too full to try them. Definitely next time.

http://www.chicagonow.com/sugar-buzz-chicago/2014/03/where-to-find-the-best-burgers-in-schaumburg/