I am giving this place two stars for the atmosphere. It's a really lovely place, with a wonderful garden to dine in. That being said, as a place that is known for its burgers, they are pretty bad. The meat is not treated gently, is heavy, completely unseasoned, and poorly cooked. My burger was very rare in places, and overdone in others. To add insult to injury, the bun was extremely heavy bread, and stale on top of that. In addition, Hackney's commits one of the great "burger sins", in that once topped with cheese, the top bun is placed on top of the cheese, literally gluing the bun to the top of the burger, and preventing you from dressing it as you like. I expected at least a burger on par with your basic Denny burger, and this didn't even come close. A BIG letdown, and I won't be returning. read more

Hackney's never disappoints. Nearly 4 decades ago we left the Glenview area for other parts of the nation. We happened to be in the neighborhood recently and decided to stop in at the original Hackney's on Harms. It is much the same as we remember it. Homey, comfortable, and friendly with great food. One thing on the menu that reminds me of hackney's is the Hackney's Onion Ring. Many people have copied this and call it other things, but this is the real deal. And it it didn't disappoint. Of course, the hamburger is the best, I had the 4oz (thank you for giving me a choice of size) and it was plenty to fill me. This original Hackney's is in an area surrounded by homes and huge trees. You might miss it if you aren't looking for it. read more

I get to this Hackney's location once in awhile. It's a small nice place. Ample parking. They have a patio that's open during the summer. An old farmhouse is located on the property. The food is great and so is the service. Hackney's has a great selection to choose from. Wait times can be an issue during peak times but I usually go during non-peak times to avoid having to wait. I definitely will go back again. read more

These are the best burgers I've had in quite sometime. I'm pretty sure they cover the buns in a few pounds of butter to add to the deliciousness. read more

Hackney's on Harms is summertime. There is a lot of history in that place. I have a lot of history in that place. It has great burgers and great onion loaves.. As I get older my stomach is less tolerant but it's worth a visit a couple of times a summer just to remember what summer was like in calmer more simple times. Great nostalgia and a great place to sit outside and eat, drink, and talk with good friends! read more

Oh, a childhood spent at Hackney's. Such joy! This is the best burger I have ever had in my life, no joke. Also incomparable onion loaf and cole slaw. Friday-night perch were pretty tasty, too. The. BEST! I make it a point to pop in whenever I'm home (which is a lot). I wish we had them in NYC... read more

There on Friday for a "juicy burger" so I asked for the blue cheese burger which was without a doubt THE WORST BLUE CHEESE BURGER I HAVE EVER GOTTEN IN MY 46 YEAR LIFE!!! It was a dry oval UNSEASONED burger on a tasteless bun with a SMALL smear of a pretty bland tasting blue cheese spread. NO LETTUCE NO TOMATO NO MAYO NO NOTHING. ALONG SIDE THE MINUTE SERVING OF THE SCARIEST TASTING COLESLAW EVER (A CROSS BETWEEN BLEACH AND BUG SPRAY, I' M SERIOUS). The only reason I have given 2 stars rather than none is that the onion loaf was good and the taste of the Reuben from my daughters plate was excellent but whoever was doing the burgers needs to rethink the presentation of something they are making customers pay nearly $9.00 for!!! Also the charge of $2.70 for a glass of fountain soda is nothing short of highway robbery, I don't care if it is all you can drink. Sad. read more

I love this place its amazing i get it alot after soccer practice i get a burger with extra crispy french fries and bacon and they have one of my favorite gluten free buns and there is never a long wa read more

Been coming here since I was a kid- and it is still amazing!! Burgers are fantastic but my favorite is the onion rings/loaf- a definite must have!! read more

I struggled in deciding if this place deserves two stars or three. My girlfriend and I ordered different burgers, neither was outstanding. The fries were just fries and the onion loaf was good, but not spectacular. If you're gonna house your restaurant in a cobbled together, hodge podge shack of a building, then the food better be damn good, but the trouble is it's not. After my horrible experience at their Lake Zurich location it's clear to me that Hackney's just doesn't care. They will continue to keep the customers coming based solely on tradition, because their parents or grandparents brought them them as a child, to hell with quality or how you present your establishment. It's sad that so many reviewers here are so blinded they can't realize the food isn't that good. read more

Wonderful food. My sister and I split a medium rare bureger and a reuben and it works out to be too much food, but who is complaining. The highlight, in opinion, is the onion loaf. Not a place to eat if you are dieting, but worth the occasional splurge. The Harms Road location has a charn of it;s own, but it does get pretty busy. I recommend reservations. Plus, they always have Green River soda - a family favorite, although they make pretty darn good martini.. read more

Saw a TV show highlighting their "Inside Out" Burger. A friend from MN has always told me about "Jucie Lucies", so I had to go to Glenview to try it. Got there and the 1st thing was the waiter dropping off a carafe of water but not pouring any glasses. Then we ordered. After being "nickel and dimed" ($0.50 for a particular roll on a burger that is already $14.00?, $1.50 for brocolli sub, etc.) We both ordered our burgers without the onion or cole slaw, I mentioned that twice. 2 other tables ordered quite a bit after us, but all 3 tables' food came out at the same time, This happened later to a few tables as well. 1st thing I had to do was ask for a small plate to put the onions and cole slaw we didn't want on (no comment from the waiter on the error). Then the burger. Came out thick and covered in cheese and a couple slices of bacon. Looked great. Took a bite and it was well cooked. Couple more bites and no cheese & bacon inside.... Half way through, still no filling. I called the waiter over and was told they don't do them that way anymore. Just a "little" inside of the burger. I pointed out that there was absolutely NOTHING inside and he shrugged and walked away. Could've gotten a bacon cheeseburger anywhere.. He brought the $33 check for the 2 pretty common burgers and I put 2 $20 bills in the folder. He picked it up and said "I'll be back with your change". Between the slow, non responsive service and the incorrect burger description and bringing things I did not want on my plate, I expected to be generous and give him a $4 tip. But after almost 10 minutes of him not coming back into the dining room at all, I realized that he felt he deserved a $7 tip for his poor service. Being that I won't ever be back, I cut my losses and left. read more

This place is a classic. You feel like your in a Wisconsin supper club. The inside out burger can not beat. Fun unique place to grab some easy comfort food in a laid back atmosphere. read more

Love the staff and food at Hackneys on Harms! I have NEVER been disappointed at Hackneys on Harms!

Where do I start? First, no one greeted us inside the restaurant, where we waited for more than 5 minutes only to see no employees. We then went outside where all the employees were gathered. We were shown to outdoor seats: not our preference; however, better than waiting for no one to come inside. The first ominous sign was the taste of my beverage. If you can't get a Coke right, how can you get anything else right? The Coke was flat and tasted like rubber & whiskey. I'm thinking they added whisky to the Coke in hope of making the burger seem remotely edible. More on that in a bit. Another patron sitting nearby sent his Coke back for the same reason. I did as well and was told that the machines weren't working earlier because I had the first Coke order of the day, which is always bad. Seriously. They knowingly serve bad Coke to their first patrons. I then received another Coke which was only marginally better. The burger arrived; but, it was terrible....not the legendary Hackney's burger of myth and lore. The burger was exceptionally gamey and the pretzel bun was hard and stale. It tasted as if the burger was cooked in Hackney's original oil from the 1930s and had a rubbery texture. I tried my coleslaw which tasted great; but, much to my dismay there was an actual human eyelash in my slaw. Fries were served family style and to my daughter's horror, she pulled an eight inch hair from her fries. Coke that tastes of rubber and whiskey: check. Gamey burger on a stale bun: check. Eyelash in my coleslaw: check. Long hair in our fries: check. I'm only giving it one star because Yelp won't let me rate it any lower. It was an awful experience at high prices. You'd do better going to a fast food chain and you'd save money too. read more

Let's be clear...there may be better burgers out there...but the whole Hackney experience is what I go here for...the onion ring loaf....the Hackney burger...the cole slaw...the butt steak...the drinks...and the patio in the summer...my family and I have been going there for 30 years...so we are predjudiced...and we are not gonna change our opinion... read more

I have been visiting this restaurant several times a month, particularly on Tuesdays when they have turkey dinner. I would give another star if they slice it thicker like hand carved. read more

Supposedly "famous" burgers were frozen perfectly circular patties with no flavor. Our server was "lost" for 45 minutes--other servers filled in....without explanation. When the substitute server forgot barbecue sauce for my husband's burger, I went to the front desk to ask....the head Hostess responded irritably that she would have to go to the kitchen to get BBQ sauce for us. No one working there seemed happy to be there--and the quality of the food exemplified this unhappiness as well. For a dinner that cost our family $100....we could have done so much better for half the price at Portillos!!! read more

The patio is nice and that's about all I can say is positive. Known for their burgers but they have no flavor- just an old school over-cooked burger. The coleslaw tastes right out of the grocer bucket. They are not big on presentation either as fries are communal, wishing they were on my plate! To boot service was not very friendly. Sorry but won't return. read more

This place is in serious need of a redo - menu and the restaurant. I thought they were known for their burgers but it was very disappointing as was the service. read more

I've been eating here occasionally since the 70s. Sadly, this location has gone downhill. The carpet-like floor seems filthy. The black table surface was sticky. The onion rings that made them famous were undercooked. I'll be taking a break from Hackney's. read more

It was father's day. We were all looking forward to going to hackneys. As we arrived we saw a waitress coming out of the bathroom with a Hackneys drinking glass. I want to know what she was doing with it. We all just sat down, we got a whiff of a scent that was a mix of grease and farts. We ordered potato skins as a family. It took about 30 minutes to get then and they were all freezing! We sent them back and they came back out with the same plate we were eating off of with the potato skins. The same potatoes came back. Not new ones. Our old ones. We took a bite and the insides were all mealy and tasted lie chemicals. We ordered or food and it took about an hour for our stuff to come out. Everyone was Hungry by then. We ate our greasy food paid and left. It was over priced for the junk that we got. We paid almost 80 bucks. This morning when we woke up, my mom and sister had diarrhea. We will never go again. read more

Simply the best burger on the planet. Always done to perfection on a super-fresh bun or bread. The onion loaf is, figuratively and literally, to die for. Great bartenders actually know how and what to pour. I've been going regularly for 50 years and not disappointed now or ever. read more

Great weather today and chose Hackney's on Harms to eat outside. Arrived at 2:25 had to wait for a table even though they had tables available. Waitress must have been new but kind of out of it. Food was terrible, French dip bun was not cooked and meat bad, ordered a patty melt got a hamburger. Very loyal customers who are very disappointed. read more

Obviously, many people in the area love this place and think of it as an institution, and I can see why. The patio is a very pleasant place on a Sunday afternoon, and it was moderately busy when we were there. But I had never been to either of Hackney's locations before and have no sentimental attachment to it. But I am an experienced diner and worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, so I recognize the signs of a restaurant in trouble in Hackney's on Harms. We arrived at about 3:30 on a Sunday. Server #1 took a little too long to get our drink order in. I counted at least a dozen staff and a manager working the patio, but they all seemed to be hanging around the bar area talking among themselves. We ordered a 1/4 onion brick as a starter, but the plastic ketchup and mustard bottles on our table were empty and it took another couple of minutes to get anyone's attention. While we were eating our greasy and bland fried onion, Server #2 announced to the table next to us that they were changing shifts right now and she would be taking over the station. She must have assumed we heard what she told the other table, because neither she nor Server #1 ever informed us about this. Our entrees, two Hackney burgers, a small one medium rare with cheese and a large one rare without, seemed to be taking longer than expected given that the restaurant wasn't super busy. Finally, Server #3 delivered our burgers. When we originally ordered, Server #1 didn't ask if we had been there before and didn't describe the "Famous Hackney Burger" very well, so I wasn't expecting what I got: a greasy, grey slab of meat between 2 untoasted slices of rye bread! I laughed, thinking this is the kind of burger I used to make on a budget when I couldn't afford to buy buns. But at least I would toast the bread! It was served with a single limp leaf of iceberg lettuce, a slice of raw onion, and a tasteless slice of tomato. Our fries were served on one small plate and were very soggy. A good burger should be slightly charred on the outside, even when ordered rare, and hot and juicy in the middle. A grey hamburger is a sign that your grill isn't hot enough! And any well-trained cook knows that "rare" does not mean raw! I don't care how long they've been in business or how many loyal customers they may have, but Hackney's is failing Restaurant 101. Like most people, I hate to complain, so I added some mustard and ketchup and took a bite. But I just couldn't eat that raw and cold burger. Server #2 seemed surprised when we pointed out the problem. She started taking the burger back to the kitchen when I asked to have it cooked medium this time. Although the menu claimed everything was supposed to be fresh, nothing tasted fresh. The fries especially tasted frozen. If they were indeed fresh, they were ruined by bad cooking. The coleslaw came in a pathetic hot-dog-stand-style plastic dish and tasted like the commissary slaw you get as an afterthought in any high school cafeteria. The bread didn't seem fresh, either, and was dry and flavorless. (Quick question--what's the difference between a patty melt and Hackney's Famous Burger?) Even the meat tasted like it may have been frozen. If it was fresh, I was tasting the refrigerator, not the beef. Server #2 soon delivered what should have been a new burger--standard restaurant practice to start over when a customer returns a dish--but she was back way too soon for that. Indeed, I was given the same patty. I could see where I took a bite and where the mustard had been wiped off. The same lettuce leaf and tomato slice came back as well, but for some reason the onion was no longer there. As if we were being punished for complaining, no one came to our table again for the duration of our meal. Finally, after some time had passed and we were clearly finished eating, Server #4 came to take our plates and bring us the check. I never saw Server #2 again anywhere on the patio. We over-tipped because we're both former restaurant workers, but we got bad food and bad service here. No one offered to comp our beer or do anything to make up for our bad experience. Indeed, I felt sick to my stomach for about an hour after leaving. I'm still a little worried I might get sick from that meal. Hackney's was obviously once a good restaurant, but now they are coasting on their reputation alone and the times are passing them by. The staff is poorly trained, and the kitchen is taking cheap shortcuts. Notice how almost every 4 or 5 star review on Yelp mentions, through rose-tinted glasses, the memories and the tradition of the place. Others have noticed, as did we, that most of the regulars are elderly. Younger diners will increasingly choose the brewpub down the road, and before long, the parking lot won't be as full on the weekends. read more

I used to take my son to Hackney's when he was little - the food was fresh and delicious every time. Fast forward 15 years and a visit the 'new' location - what a sad and awful difference! Ordering the famous Hackney's burger was our intent and when one of us ordered it rare, the burger showed up not only uncooked, but cold on the inside. We sent it back, asked for it to be cooked to medium. The cook took the same burger - something you NEVER do as as professional - and grilled it for a few more minutes; it came back still cold on the inside and only slightly more cooked. I've worked as a cook for many years and that's an insult to the customer - if we hadn't been so hungry we would have walked out. Clearly the waitstaff is frightened of the (drunk? old? jaded?) cook and I even saw one waitperson jump up and down with joy when she learned her shift would be over so she could 'get the hell out of here'. French fries were frozen, the 'bakery fresh' dark rye was stale, and the cole slaw clearly came right out of a big ol' SYSCO bucket. At least the local beer - Mecushla - was great. Pretty patio - don't be fooled! Turn around! Drive away! read more

I really want to like Hackney's. I mean, I grew up around here and have fond memories. But the reality? Ick. Just not good. Service is average. Food is greasy and bland. Even the outdoor setting is looking tired and a bit dirty. It's better in my memory. Sorry... read more

Been before and way better then today.Meat not hot asked the server and it was like a chor,at the time ther were only 8 people and took 20 minutes to get food,fries were hot.Old and beat up.will try other ones next time.Outside patio will be nice again. read more

I love dark rye bread, and so I looked forward to a burger on rye. I was a bit disappointed with Hackney's offering, however. The bread was too soft, almost like wonder bread in texture. I'm used to rye bread that's a bit heartier and better able to hold up a burger. Also, I don't know if this is normal at this restaurant, but I was served just the meat on the bread, with a side dish of raw onion. I had to request lettuce and tomato. Once that all got sorted out, it was a tasty sandwich. read more

I hear so many good things about Hackney's but I don't get it. One time I ordered, at their suggestion, their signature plate, the buffalo burger. It was teribble. The next time I was there, I ordered their corned beef sandwich on rye. They brought me steamed cabbage and soggy corned beef in a bowl. It took so long to get it, and the waiter said it would take the same amount of time to bring me the right order, I just ate that and it was not very good. read more

I lucked out when I discovered Hackney's On Harms thanks to other Yelp reviews. I was on a long bike ride from the city to the Botanic Gardens and back, and I was starting to feel depleted. I got there at the perfect time - just shy of 5pm on a weekday. The weather was warm and their outdoor seating garden was quiet and lovely - just a delightful spot to have a sandwich and a beer. When I arrived, I was the only customer there. It filled up pretty fast, though, over the ensuing half hour - by the time I was headed out, there was a line of people waiting for tables! I will return for sure in the spring when I make that bike ride again. read more

Ate on the outdoor patio very large space but run well I first ate here in 1954 liked it then and still do Good burgers clam strips Fries still mediocre but limitless Menu much larger than in the old days even have Brats read more

Food is decent, but I much prefer the Lake Zürich location. Handicapped parking is not enforced here. Today a man with only a police sticker on his windshield took the only handicapped parking space in front of the building. He was sitting at the bar inside! Management went through the motions but he is a regular I guess. so he didn't have to move his car. read more

The wife and I decided to go try this place out after hearing about their burgers. I got the Bavarian burger on pretzel bread (I'm a sucker for pretzel bread and beef) and the wife got the inside out burger on sourdough. My burger was pretty flavorless while her burger had more taste, but nothing special. The fries for two was pretty miniscule compared to other places. The service was good, but nothing to offset the food. read more

Good food. Adults and kids enjoyed the food and environment. Burgers were great. Brick of onion was amazing. Nice selection of beers. Very laid back friendly place to grab dinner. Staff was friendly and accommodating. read more

I go to this place whenever I want a real honest to goodness hamburger. I usually go around lunch time or early dinner. Wait staff is always friendly and helpful. This is the place to come for a beer and a great tasting burger at a fair price. I love meat and always get the Hackney burger on a pretzel roll cooked rare. The other breads just don't hold up to the juiciness of these burgers. I sometimes get just raw onion and tomato or grilled onions. Either way is great. I have had the onion loaf too and it's yummy. I was surprised that when I joined their email club I got 10 dollars off on my order. So with the extra money I splurged and got myself dessert too. Of course I had to get it to go cause I was full after a burger, salad fries and a beer. If I could have changed anything I would have gotten a better grade of lettuce like spring mix or spinach but the salad was yummy too and I ordered it with blue cheese crumbles. But hey I came for the burger. And am always satisfied when I leave. read more

I think some people do not understand the allure of Hackneys and why it has been an institution for so many of us. The burger is not supposed to be fancy! When you want the meat to be the star, Hackney's is where you should go. Never frozen and fresh rye to boot. Try the patty melt, you will not be disappointed. Got mine on rye with American with onions. And spring for the 8oz, the 4oz never drives it home enough. Swing by just to say hi to the owners, such great, personable people. Hackney's makes you feel like home. Onions rings are the best way to get your vegetables in and I wish I knew how to make them at home (but perhaps it is better not to haha). Love the outdoor patio. Inside, sit at the bar, you are sure to becomes friends with the bartenders. I miss this place and cannot wait to get back there! And the slaw..., love that is not the vinegar based you find everywhere nowadays. I do however, wish they cut their own fries. That would be my biggest gear grinder. read more

Nice homey sit-down place, but the burgers are devoid of any flavor except grease.

Went here for lunch last month and ordered the 8 oz. Hackney burger. It was good, the service was good. But I thought it cost just a little bit too much. I will go back again but not too soon maybe next year, not a place where I would go on a regular basis but will definitely go back if friends suggest to go. read more

A gorgeous summer night, sitting on a patio covered w/trees, drinking a cold beer (I hear they make great cocktails) & enjoying a tasty quesadilla, my friend enjoyed his burger on rye bread - that's a great night out ! Wait staff friendly & helpful. Reasonably priced. read more