Very good spicy mac n'cheese. Why beers in cans only? They say it's for environmental reasons, but have they looked into what it takes to recycle aluminum? Blue Moon out of a can was okay, but missing that fresh citrusy taste. There was a DJ guy with headphones playing with various buttons but it wouldn't have mattered because the music was too loud and every tune sounded the same. I'd go back for the mac n'cheese, but would sit outside and drink a glass of water instead of beer in a can. read more

We ordered burgers for delivery .The Burgers arrived cold plus sides were cold. The buns (pretzel buns) were hard and the meat patty were just to big. It was nasty trying to bit into a hard; cold over filled burger. I understand we asked for delivery so some assumption of the food to be cold I get , however this felt like it was just sitting there for a while; all soggy and cold. read more

Tried it a second time tonight. First time had the Scratch Burger and it was 'just okay.' It just tasted like a lot of 'ground beef,' unlike 'Submarine Tender' with better flavours, or 'Goldyburgers,' also in FP, which is ground sirloin. The fries that came with it were over done too. I tried the 'Fireburger' tonight which was more like a 'ground sausage sandwich than burger,' and the price point? This is Forest Park for Chrissake, not Lincoln Park-- $14.00 for a burger?? They're nuts. This is the last time I am trying this place. The noise level was a bit of a challenge, but I have a big voice so not that much of an issue. Just like I said to Johnny Renieri, long time owner of the Shortstop Lounge; 'pretense has no place in Forest Park.' Thankfully, he agreed. RIP Johnny. Point is that I do not think that a place like the Scratch Kitchen has a place in FP. Too pretentious, price point too high. Not a BAD burger, but from what I tried tonight, why not just call it a 'sausage sandwich,' which it is? Thumbs down! Thomas read more

I been here a total of three times. Once for brunch the other for dinner and drinks. I give it four stars because the food is good. Nothing extravagant but good food. The service is good. Didn't have anything negative happen. Even the bathroom was clean so that's good lol. Anyways good spot I like and approve. read more

This is where I had my first date with my wife, so maybe I should lower the rating....but the burgers are just too good

Sent the wrong food from grub hub. They didn't apologize or offer me any kind of replacement. Another time I went in they screwed up my order, and the guy who is preparing the food sloppily put another one together and just kind of threw it at me at the bar I was sitting. Didn't say a word, just looked like he was pissed off. Guy was wearing a camaflouge hat And had a bad attitude. Luckily The waitress was nice and she pretty much took it upon herself to make things right. I'm sure my next visit will be better. Just has to be. Cool look and vibe to the place. It would've been nice if they actually had beers on draft but everything seemed to be in bottles or cans. read more

Had the burger. Meat was dry (overcooked) and could not be cooked to order (per the waitress). The place was severely understaffed but the two waitresses that were on were great. What kind of place that is advertised as "high end bar food" can't cook a burger to specification? Won't be back. read more

Came here on a Thursday night. Scene- dark, booth with tables, small bar Plenty of flat screens to catch a game. (Although every tv had same game on) I want to like this place but it needs some tweaking IMO. It's a gourmet burger and craft beer joint. While the burgers are creative, they won't allow you to substitute toppings and there are way too many non- beef burger options. Pork Burger, sausage burger, Bean burger, lamb burger.. Just 1 Beef burger?? There is an option to build your own but the price to add toppings is high. That aspect kinda rubbed me the wrong way and may keep me away from this place. The apps and sides were pretty tasty Burger was good but not great. The place is a bit small and cramped but not a deal breaker. I didn't feel comfortable to hang out for a few beers after the food. My advice is to get over yourself and give what the people want. Expand the burgers to Beef and make ordering more customer friendly. read more

Me and my girlfriend might be food snobs, we eat all over Chicago trying new places everywhere. I heard about this place from a friend at work so I figured we would give it a shot. When we arrived they had a decent beer menu which we enjoy and the place seemed pretty nice as well. We ordered our beer and looked over the food menu finally picking the HOT mac and cheese and my girlfriend got the legs and I got the chirizo buger which said a drizzle of some sauce. When we got our food three minutes later it had no depth at all I mean how hard is it to mess up mac and cheese. When we got our food both dishes were drenched in sauces I couldn't even pick my burger up. It had decent flavor the first two bites but after that not so much. We wanted to like this place too but not gonna happen we were really disappointed. Would not come back to this establishment again. read more

My burger was fantastic nice and juice, my drink is was an acquired taste I wasn't looking to taste a beer in tequila but it was good after I kept drinking. The music was cool laid back place I like it read more

I was torn on whether to give this place two or three stars. The ambience of this bar is great, especially for a relaxed and chill lunch. The menu is large but not overwhelming for both food and beer. Being a vegetarian, my boyfriend and I typically research menus before deciding on a restaurant, so we know there is something that I can eat. I came to Scratch Kitchen because they had amazing reviews about their meatless burger, and the burger was great! However, this poor review has nothing to do with the food, it is about the service. We were treated so rudely by our server Sy. In addition to me being a vegetarian, I try my best to eat healthy (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that). I did not want chips or fries with my veggie burger, so I asked Sy if there was any way I could have a salad or vegetable and he said that he could give me a salad. A good waiter would have been observant and noticed that I was ordering a veggie burger and that I wanted some greens as a side, and would have asked me if I like bacon on my side salad. Sy did not. I got a side salad with a ton of bacon in it, and I did not know that it had bacon on it until I began to eat it. My boyfriend asked if there was bacon in my salad because I am a vegetarian and all Sy could say was that he did not know that I was. He did not apologize or ask me if I wanted another side, but left me with the bacon still on my plate. He never checked up on us and left us sitting for quite a while with our dirty plates. He also did not say thank you to us when we were paying. He was one of the rudest servers that I have ever had. I would like to come back here, as we just moved into the area and it seems cool that they have trivia night but I am worried about being discriminated against because I am a vegetarian. So, if you are a vegetarian and you order a side salad with your meal, make sure you make a big fuss that you are a vegetarian or else you will get served bacon with no apology. read more

On a recent visit, I really enjoyed many aspects of this restaurant. Te selction of beer was outstanding and I couldn't resist traveling back to The Land Of Sky Blue Waters to have a couple of Hamm's fresh from the can. My Da South burger was a fabulous party in my mouth and more than enough to share with my wife. Likewise, was her Mac and Cheese. Perfect comfort food for a chilly January or any other day of the year. The over sized tables for 2 left enough room for everything served, even the floating candles. The service was good and the employees were engaging and had smiles on their faces. Looked liked that were happy to be there. There were plenty of flat screens in the dining area and the bar for visual stimulation if you needed it. The sound was turned down which was great. The music was not, and that could go a notch or three lower. With all that was going on, cooking, bar, conversation, the volume of the music was a little too much. If you were seating anywhere near the door, every time if opened you felt a sudden rush of the exterior weather. On a mild night of 40 degrees it was very chilly every time that occurred. perhaps there is a way to create and exterior buffer to shield those within. the bathrooms were clean and small, allowing only 1 person at at time. On a busy night, that might create a problem. The interior of the space is narrow and long, and it appears that might have been the best configurable space for those, thus the size. read more

Sooo.... I was actually headed down the street to dine outside on a lovely Friday afternoon. However, I took a look inside this place and decided to go in! There was fun music playing and the space was inviting. My server was SO friendly, sitting down to explain the restaurant and answering my questions. I ordered the boxed pinot grigio, which was fine, and my lunch was highlighted by the mac and cheese with parm and mushrooms. WOW. This was served in a cast iron skillet, and it was hot, cheesy, and comforting. I will be back for more mac and to try the burgers (which sound amazing!). read more

Went on a Thursday for dinner around 6. Food wasn't bad but I'd rather have a burger from Fat Duck or Kinderhook Tap. Cajun chips were pretty good and the scratch burger is decent but nothing to write home about. Yelp says two stars is "meh, I've had better" which is where I would put this. read more

SKL was one of our new favorite places on the Forest Park strip in 2015. Hopefully they were just a little hungover from the New Year because today was a let down. We went in for a brunch and the restaurant was cold and they were playing loud jazz tracks the whole time. The drinks were lie-quality (Bloody Mary has way to much celery salt and the beer back was Hamms- yuck!) and service was scarcely found. We later overheard there were options on the Bloody Mary, but that was never indicated by our menu or server. I hope they're not growing too fast to keep the quality and uniqueness with which they premiered. The burgers were still good, but an hour later my toes are still cold from the chilly room temperature this afternoon. read more

I've been to Scratch twice this week. First time I had the Fire Mac and Drumsticks, very good. The second time I had the Greek burger and the Pork burger, both were very dry and bland. I saw many burgers being made the first time I went which is why I went back. I guess it depends on the night you go. You really have to be consistent if you want to be in the burger business. read more

Burgers I give a 5. Beer prices give a 4. Staff I give a 3, why? They had a special listed on their board Monday night. So I asked about it, he says sorry we sold out. (Then erase from your board) Few minutes go by a couple sits down next to us, and inquires about the same special female waitress tells them all about it. (Strange thought you were sold out. ) The kicker get my bill , and I'm charged for a $6 dollar beer I didn't drink. So I inquire he grabs bill and comes back with that drink not on it. No apologize, no let me buy you a round ect. Just check your bills prior to leaving. read more

If you are looking for a good brunch with great Bloody Mary's, this is the place to go! It's small on the inside, but the food is delicious and we are definitely going to come back! read more

Good food and service. We went there for lunch and had the Scratch burger and the classic mac n' cheese- very tasty. Our waitress Donna was great, very attentive. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Almost every time we have went to Scratch, the food has been excellent! Mac and cheese is to die for. Do NOT order the Prime Rib special on Saturday nights. It is way overpriced at $27 and is not the best quality meat. It was very fatty, difficult to cut into, and swallow down. We were not asked how we wanted it prepared so it came to the table cooked just below rare. The au jus had a very strong taste of soy sauce with made it salty. For less than $27 you can go to Golden Steer nearby and get a full meal with soup, salad, and starch for under that. You also get a much better quality prime rib. Other than that....... Scratch has an awesome menu and friendly wait staff. read more

The lamb burger didnt really taste like lamb and I made the mistake of ordering their homemade chips instead of just ordering fries. The chips seemed over doneand was not really tasty. Other than that the place might be a decent drinking bar instead of a scratchy kitchen. The place looks cool and service was great. read more

Best burgers ever. Buffalo Mac n cheese to die for. Great place to dine in (super casual) or pick up. Leftover Mac n cheese is the BOMB. I love this place. Nothing fancy but my Lord the food is unreal. read more

i liked the red lights at night and the vibe of the place. the food was fresh and cooked good. great spot for a date

Were in the area and drove by this place, saw the reviews, and figured we'd give it a shot.... probably the best decision we ever made. Service: Besides the burger I had, the best part of this place. Really friendly and personable, wish I could remember the servers name. Food: By far the best burger I had I years! No joke. Got the bbq burger with the $1 fry upgrade. It's a monster burger comparable to Kuma... with pulled pork, pickles, and cole slaw. Burger was so juicy and tasty I contemplated ordering one to go. My girlfriend had the mac n cheese with the truffle, and mushrooms which was really good too in a HUGE portion for what is considered the "small". Definitely coming back to try the Scratch Burger if that's supposed to be the benchmark. read more

We used to go every week for trivia night but it's a small space so limited seating. You had to show up an hour or more early to get a spot. Great food but the menu is gluttonous so don't expect to stick to a diet when you come. Fantastic craft beer options. read more

Service is ok, the food was bland but good.. small space, worth a stop if you're bored on a Thursday eveing

Scratch is attempting to elevate the casual dining experience on Madison Street with this burgers and mac 'n cheese eatery. They took a former craphole of a fast food joint and transformed it very nicely with great wall treatments, lighting, an open kitchen and a bar with every kind of beer you could want. Everything is made from... well... scratch! (see what they did there?) from the meat they grind for the burgers to the catsup they dress them with. I use the word they instead of you since you the customer are not allowed to make any changes or customize their menu in any way. Want your onions grilled instead of raw? Too bad. Want something with no catsup? You'll have to scrape it off yourself after you order it. This type of arrogance is completely expected in an upscale burger joint on the North Side but I doubt it's going to go over very well with your average Forest Parker who I doubt is ready to give up "Having it their way". We were immediately greeted by a friendly server who was prompt and efficient, explained the concept and the menu and let us know about the specials. We split the original macaroni and cheese as an appetizer which arrived quickly and piping hot. Rich (without being overly so) and creamy, with the pasta at the perfect texture, the small is a great share-able portion for 2 - 4 people. I had the scratch burger and my partner ordered the Southern burger topped with the pulled pork and cole slaw. My burger was over cooked and over seasoned and despite this is was still pretty good. His was perfectly cooked and the pulled pork along with the slaw was a great combination. Both burgers came with a deep fried pickle spear (they make their own pickles and they're damn good!) and even though I liked it, for the price point I'd rather have a side of fries. Our mac n cheese, 2 burgers and two cokes brought the grand total to just under $40 for the two of us. The food quality and taste were excellent as was the service but the price point makes Scratch and occasional stop for us as opposed to a regular few times a week thing. Concept: A Execution B- Menu B Service A Quality A Value C+ Overall: B+ read more

Small hipster bar with great food. Buffalo Mac and cheese is tasty along with the different styles of burgers they have. Place is small so it can get crowded pretty quick. read more

Amazing food! I just wish the service was a little better and when you order delivery they would get the order right. Somehow my orders always seem to get messed up. read more

Had a good experience for our first time. The two best things: Butter garlic fries and red hot chili peppers. The waitress, a bleach blonde, petite lady really did a good job with making sure we knew the menu and drinks and was descriptive when we asked questions. Chicken tenders have a lighter, slightly softer breading. I thought they were pretty good with the buffalo ranch sauce. Didn't care for the Carolina BBQ sauce cause I'm not a huge fan of vinegar-based sauces, but the wife liked it. The mac n cheese was pretty yummy, but not my favorite thing on the night. It's creamy and a little bit thinner (runnier) sauce which was fine, but not as bold as I like the flavor to be (I like mine with a little more sharp cheddar and Parmesan). The reason I'll go back is to get those fries again and try a burger or pulled pork sandwich. Much better fries here than FatDuck and any of the local shops around forest park. read more

I have been to Scratch four times...LOVE IT! The Scratch Burger is amazing, 3 Little Pigs burger is amazing. Love the mac & cheese (all of them). Considering a majority of the food is made at the restaurant the price is not bad at all. Can't wait to go back! read more

We moved to Forest Park not even a month ago and we can't stop eating here. Like, have ate here over 10x probably. I literally created this account so I could tell everyone how happy this place makes my boyfriend and I. read more

I moved away a year ago and was excited to have Scratch while I was in town. I ordered over the phone and was told 15-20 minutes. I came in just about 20 minutes later and had to wait 5 minutes to be given my food and rang up. When I got home (a 2 minute drive) none of the food was hot and two entrees were missing the sauces that come with them. The Mac and cheese tasted like noodles in cheese sauce and I find it hard to believe that the liquid-y cheese was made from scratch. Then French fries were soggy and the chicken strips all clumped and fried together in a big mess. Incredibly disappointed as their skillet Mac used to be one of my faves. I will not be returning after this experience. read more

Scratch Kitchen is a great addition to Madison Street eateries . It's a trendy spot with casual food. The burgers are great and the Greek burger is amazing. You've got to try it... The Mac n cheese with prosciutto is a must. I couldn't believe the portion so I asked and its over a pound. The staff are very friendly and it nice to see hard working employees that smile. The beer list is like no other with craft beers and every beer you have ever heard of. The owner put together a fantastic place with great staff. Love this place! read more

I live in Oak Park but have my Friday night fun in Forest Park. FINALLY....a ubber-legit burger n beer joint n the FP. Service was great, the burger was juicy & flavorful as could be, & the vibe was excellent. I agree with previous criticism that there are too many TVs.....but they are up high so I can ignore 'em easily & dig the scene & the grub n the brew.....'cause they are ALL GOOD!!!! read more

What a great lunch we had today! Two colleagues and myself tried Scratch for the first time and were pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is fun and eclectic. The server was so awesome and even gave a taste of their "famous" mac and cheese (AMAZING!!!). We ordered burgers and tacos and we all enjoyed what we ordered. We'll be back. So many menu items to try yet! read more

Came to Scratch Kitchen on a Sunday morning after a New Year celebration. My gf and I were on the lookout for burgers. We were choosing between goldyburgers and Scratch. I wish we chose goldy, only because we wanted burgers. The breakfast pizza and hangover burger wasn't so bad. I'm just not a big fan of the patty on the burger. We wish that we came a later time instead of breakfast time. Our waitress was always attentive and made sure everything was going well even though the crowdedness of the restaurant. Would come again to try the other menu! read more

Scratch Public House - Breakfast pizza and hangover burger - Burgers Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

If your in the area get over here. The vibe is super chill and the scratch Burch is something to experience. A guy caught us on the street and recommend we try it and I am soo glad he did. Will be coming back soon. read more

So I like this place. It's not to big and uniquely decorated. Also they do bingo on Thursday and give out some awesome prizes! I will be going back on a Thursday. Wait staff is attentive and polite. I had the salad and build ur own Mac n cheese. The salad was great. The Mac needs a bit of work. It was good but the breadcrumbs were burnt. Macaroni doesn't need breadcrumbs. Also it wasn't as cheesy as I would've liked it. I will be back tho, my friend had the veggie burger and loved it, oh and the seasoned fries are delish! read more

Dominic was a great server! He constantly made sure we were pleased with our meals. We ordered the Mediterranean spuds as an appetizer. My husband ordered the meatless burger, and I ordered the Chicago burger! We were well pleased with the friendly atomphespere, and will definitely be back (with some friends) in the near future. read more