Very fun "basement" restaurant that is very inviting. The food and cocktails were stellar and our waiter was very attentive. Make sure to get reservations! Opened at 5 and was packed by 5:30. read more

O...M...G. Are you freaking kidding me? The best cocktails I've had in FOREVER. Impeccable service--thank you Ruby!!! The best burger I've ever had. The fried olives? Absolute heaven. Best French onion soup I've ever had--and I've had a lot. 10: /10 would recommend. read more

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If you're on the hunt for the best burger in town, look no further than The Loyalist. I had the pleasure of dining there recently, and their burger and fries were delicious The burger itself was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The fries were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and well seasoned. The ambiance at The Loyalist added to the experience, making it an ideal spot for both casual dining and a special night out. read more

$22 for a cheeseburger is a bit ridiculous to me, but The Loyalist currently stands as my favorite burger spot in the city. Definitely better than Au Cheval and Owen and Engine which are also considered some of the other top burger spots in the city. I've been here twice and while there's plenty of other delicious things on the menu, it's gotta be the burger for me. Drinks are also solid. Lavender Haze is pretty refreshing and fun with the egg white. Old fashioned is pretty standard, but well executed. Reservations are available and recommended, but if you want to just do a walk-in would highly recommend just getting there close to when they open and grabbing a spot at the bar which is the open seating/first come, first served seating. Definitely a spot to check out in Chicago and one of my top restaurants in the West Loop! read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Original Cheeseburger - pickled & charred onion, sesame seed bun, frites, aioli ($22 as of June 2023) - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Well it's ranked one of the best Chicago. For sure trendy! very cool drink vibes. It's French inspired but I would not say French, because the food was complicated lots of item or too many items in one chopped salad. Not simple food. Although the hamburger per my friend was delicious. All around a cool vibe!! read more

First of all my friend had recommended me here ages ago. I had no idea that it was the sibling of 2 Michelin Smyth upstairs ! The loyalist sits at the basement of the Ada loft building and it's a very dimly lit place. I really enjoyed everything we had there. And since we had a reservation for 5pm, we were able to enjoy the happy hour (5-6 pm) food and beverages. My friend ordered the loyalist burger which she devoured and said it was wonderful. I got the gnocchi Parisian style which is super scrumptious! she got a classic martini while I opt for a spritz ! Yum yum. The beef tartare was a little light on the salt but nevertheless very delicious:) The most outstanding aspect of the whole experience was the impeccable service. It was not pushy but kind friend and professional. Also when you order ( I believe) any of the burgers you get a free beer+ shot!!!! read more

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We have heard this is the "best burger in Chicago" so I was thrilled when we got a reservation. Let me be clear, the burger is definitely delicious, but I think since it was built up so much, I was bound to be disappointed. The burger was definitely fantastic. I loved the mustard and pickle juice on the side but the fries were just ok to me. I think that's why it didn't live completely up to the hype. read more

The Loyalist - Classic burger and fries. Burger was great, fries were just ok. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're a burger lover in Chicago then you know the Loyalist is on everyone's must list. Finally made way over to try the famous loyalist burger, didn't expect it to have as many sesame seeds however still a decent burger. Not sure if it lives up to the hype with its "side of pickle juice". The place was pretty packed but I was able to grab a spot at the bar and the bartender was very helpful with ordering. It's feels like an old fashion "cheers" bar, if you're in the mood for something new/different see what you think about their famous loyalist burger. read more

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The Loyalist serves my bf's favorite burger so I had to check it out myself! The Loyalist is tucked away on the lower level, giving the spot an almost speakeasy feel to it. We had a 7pm reservation on a Wednesday and it was nearly a full house. Our server was great and was able to recommend us a few items on the menu. We had a delicious uni toast (i don't think this was listed on the menu) and went with The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger. The heavily sesame bun was great and the patty was cooked perfectly. I personally wasn't a fan of the onions - it felt too stringy for my liking, but overall a solid burger! We finished with the Baba au Rhum for dessert and it came with a show! read more

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Squeezed in a date night with a hubs and came across a reservation at the loyalist. We came in Tuesday night and we had burgers on our mind. We've heard nothing but great things. We were seated right away and looked through the menu. Our waitress was nice but felt a bit rushed through the process . 2-3 min after we sat down she came and asked if we were ready which we were not. As first timers it would have been nice to get a rundown of the menu. We ordered the Fois gras eclair and it was extremely unique, delicious and rich. We saw 2 burgers on the menu so we got 1 of each and split it. Honestly they were both disappointing. They were good don't get me wrong but nothing I would return for and honestly didn't make my top 5 burger list. The fries were very good, fresh and not over salted and they were paired with im guessing some sort of aioli but it tasted like regular mayo. Vibe was cool. Intimate speakeasy feeling. Good music. And played some fun movies. Will I be back? Probably not :-/ read more

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We have eaten @smythchicago and loved it. We heard great things about @theloyalistchicago so we had to try it. Space is dark, warm, and welcoming. We had great service with a special birthday treat at the end. Our favorites were French onion eclair, liver mousse eclair, anchovy toast, and the burger. The French onion eclair doesn't photograph well, but the flavor is mind blowing. Chicken liver mousse is all dressed up in an eclair. The don't miss is the anchovy toast! I know anchovies get an extra fishy rap, but please try them this way. They are delicious, they melt in your mouth. Burger is a great pub burger, enough said. read more

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Great basement brunch spot that resides under Smyth. Relaxed service, solid cocktail offerings and a small yet varied menu definitely would bring me back again. Tried the spence egg and their well reviewed cheeseburger. I enjoyed the egg-simple hard boiled with a killer russian dressing. The burger-a fancified big mac without the additional bun did not disappoint. It was rich, salty and creamy. Definitely a great hangover dish. It was substantial and the $25 price tag was definitely a bargain for what you get. I wouldn't think twice on returning. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries. While some say the best in Chicago, I would put it in the top 3 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An amazing meal and atmosphere. I have a few go-to places in Chicago, and this is now one of them- here 2 nights in a row. The OG burger is one of the best burgers in Chicago. Pair it with a glass of Cab Franc and you won't be disappointed! read more

The Loyalist - The OG Burger + a glass of Cab Franc = AMAZING - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a way to kick start 2024 with this super filling and scrumptious meal. My husband and I decided to try the Loyalist as they had a good deal for NYE and I've heard so much about their burgers. Little did I know it was a 5 course meal!! We started off with cocktails, I got the Purple Haze which was refreshing and not too spirit forward. The first appetizer was a caviar crunchy toast which was so full of flavor. The next appetizer was a French soup which was hands down the best I've ever had. It was cheesy and warm. I had to stop myself from finishing it to make space for the next few courses. Next up was the refreshing lobster salad which was so creamy but light at the same time. The only reason for a 4 star rating is cause my prime rib was rare, and I was not asked how I like my steak. It came out chewy and I could not eat it. They were kind enough to ask for it to be replaced but I was so full. My burger on the other hand was super delicious and I would say the best burger in Chicago! We ended our meal with the baked Alaskan, I wasn't a fan of the outside burnt part but the inside was super tasty! Overall an amazing loungey dinner vibe full of amazing food and service! read more

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The Loyalist may be closer to a 4, but I will round up because some of the other Chicago famous restaurants were a big L... no, not like The L. The appetizers had interesting flavors that were tasty and a bit unique. I would've never have thought to pair foie gras with lavender. The eclair pastry might've been a little stale, but the richness of the fillings were more than enough to make up for the eclair texture. Both of the eclairs were very aromatic and it felt like we were getting high tea all in one contained dish. The tartare was wonderful. I believe the toast they served with it had escargot butter, but I'm not 100% sure. It wasn't overly minced like many tartares. The bread by itself was delicious but together the dish really sang. We ordered both burgers. Be warned. These are juicy burgers. Juicier than Juicy Lucy's from MN. I think both burgers are wonderful, but the Loyalist OG wins out slightly. I think the onion gastrique in the Classic has a bit of an overbearing flavor that is a little distracting from how great the rest of the burger is. Order both. You want to. The fries may look like McDonald's fries but remind me of the canned fries you get at the grocery store. They weren't my favorite and I'm not sure why. Perhaps the fries tastes mostly like oil or weren't as salted as I would prefer. We dipped them in the aioli, but we left a bunch of fries untouched as well. My partner ordered the canele and their reaction was "okay". I had explained it's weird they don't serve it with ice cream since that's how I've had it before. The server explained they used to have a homemade amazing ice cream, but for some reason stopped doing the ice cream. Bring back the ice cream! A note about the atmosphere. It's a cool bar vibe a bit on the noisy side, but you're still able to have a conversation. The burgers may not be the best date food, but it wouldn't be bad to bring a date here. There were a lot of small groups getting their drink on. Some of them do get a bit rowdy even on a work night. To me these are all positives. It's nice where a restaurant feels alive and not overly stuffy. Service was decent and very friendly. Overall, VERY impressed and we want to come back as well as try the full restaurant. read more

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I ordered the OG burger medium rare. It was pretty mid at best. I'm a bit of a burger connoisseur. It didn't match up to the hype for me especially for $25. I would rate the burger at Au Cheval above this. The service was fine. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was very good, but over priced for what you get. The filet was swimming in sauce. For me, that is usually an indicator of covering up a poor cut of meat. Unfortunately, my experience here confirmed this again. The burger was just ok for the hype and the price. I could have made a better burger at home. The service and ambiance were good. read more

Was craving a good cheeseburger and so happy I found this place. Located downstairs from a highly rated restaurant. The ambiance Is fitting for friends, date night or welcoming family. Think of upscale local town bar. We did not share any appetizers because wanted to save my appetite for the burger. We both had the loyalist burger and 10/10 for me. The burger is super juicy and well made! The cheese was melted perfectly and the pickled onion was the perfect touch (I love pickles and onions). I ate the entire meal and was stuffed. Will return again. read more

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Our first time to The Loyalist was fabulous! Great space, and service provided by John! Restaurant was packed and people waiting to get in! Five-stars!!! read more

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The service was exceptional but the real markdown comes from the delay in getting the food out. We waited close to an hour on a table of 8. With the simplicity of the menu, and the majority of people ordering the French press or the OG, we expected a quicker delivery. The beef tartare option was wonderful. If there is one selection that is a must, it's that. The OG was quite good but didn't stand out from other gourmet burgers. The patio outside unfortunately took the city sounds in with the train passing by on a regular schedule. Will need to visit inside next time. Will reevaluate the score on service in future visits. read more

The Loyalist - Beef Tartar - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My partner and I celebrated our anniversary here and Timi and Eric and all of the staff were so lovely to us! Thank you for making our day even more special read more

Walked in and was able to grab a seat due to a no show. Appreciated the hostess checking for us and seating us on a whim but would generally recommend reservations to get in as we just got lucky with the timing. Ambiance gave upscale rustic vibes with the exposed wood ceiling and dark wood accents. Drinks were great, food was awesome and the big dessert cookie was amazing. Loved that they had a chilled reds section on their drink menu. Service was great, efficient, attentive, and friendly. Can't wait to go back and try more. read more

I would recommend the loyalist, and I would go back again. The face is downstairs in the basement and has a unique ambience. We were there celebrating my birthday and was given a birthday card along with two shots to start our brunch! Our server was attentive, and very nice. This was one of the best French omelette I had had, and the almond financier was the perfect way to start the meal!the only reason I am giving it four stars instead of five was that I was seated at a high top table or offered a bar seat when I had reservations. I was told I would have to wait a half hour for my table or sit at the bar. read more

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2nd round DID NOT MISS. Read my first review for an idea of the overall experience: still was outstanding. This time we got a variety of foods , breakdown below: - The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger: My vote as one of the best burgers you can get in Chicago. Cooked at a perfect medium rare with pickled cucumbers that take the tang to the next level. Must get - Oysters: These were extremely meaty and full of flavor. Our batch had a pretty fishy taste to it. I personally didn't mind it , just keep that into consideration before ordering - French Onion Éclair: The inside was a FLAVOR EXPLOSION of creamy deliciousness. The outside was soft with the cheese without a crunchiness to it. Im curious on how it would taste if it was piping hot and crunchy - Half Chicken: CRAZY. Chicken was moist, side salad had a nice tangy dressing, the peppers were beautifully marinated. It came with foie gras and a mushroom gravy that both had ridiculously complex flavors that matched everything perfect. I'd definitely get this again. - Mussels: Meaty, messy, and delicious. The sauce is perfect for the baguette it comes with or even dipping the fries in if you're feeling crazy The drinks were also creative and scrumptious. They even gave me a little birthday shot which was unique and had a cool twist. Thank you Loyalist for an awesome birthday dinner! read more

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No go. Music was loud and annoying. Food was over sauced and over seasoned. Lacks control of flavor. The server asked if everything was OK, and we said no. Yet, the check came right away with no questions about our lack of enjoyment. read more

So I've literally tried 99% the items I wanted on the menu & im convinced that the small bites/luxury items are the highlights of this place. The entrees aren't bad but when paying upwards of $75 to $100 per person they could stand to be better. On my 2nd visit I choose the one egg Benedict & it was ok. Not the best nor the worst Benedict I've had. The cookie was actually pretty delicious. Highlight of the meal was a sort of secret menu item which was the truffle deviled egg. Upon returning I'd definitely get the truffled deviled egg, uni toast & id prob skip the entrees in lieu of more of the aforementioned items. read more

The Loyalist - One egg Benedict - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I came here for brunch the morning after dining at Smyth! All of the things we ordered were delicious! My favorites were the loyalist original cheeseburger (best burger ever) and the spence farm egg. The service was the only mixed part of the experience, one of the servers spilled a bunch of sauce off of my omelet plate onto my jacket while she was bringing our food to the table, and she never apologized or said anything. read more

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Only went for the burgers. I had the French Smash and it was absolutely delicious! My buddy on the other hand had the og loyalist burger and said that it wasn't anything special. The fries were okay and the sauces were good and paired well with the burger. Would definitely recommend the French Smash! read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Loved the vibe inside. Dim lighting and spacious booths. Decided to split both burgers to see which one was better. The OG cheeseburger was medium rare with a nice char. The onion gave a good texture and the cheese was super gooey. The classic cheeseburger had a perfect smash patty. There was a great amount of char, tasty onions, and an unreal special sauce. The combo of the meat with the sweetness in the sauce made this the superior burger. My only complaint was that it wasn't a double patty. The fries reminded me of McDonalds in shape but lacked salt. The house ketchup and garlic aioli helped a lot. Finally, the chocolate chip cookie was amazing. Crispy on the outisde and soft on the inside, the brown butter enhanced the flavor. Highly recommend the classic cheeseburger over the OG. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went for Sunday brunch- I did appreciate they accepted reservations since it was so packed. We found this place by browsing Chicago eats on Reddit claiming it was one of the best burgers in Chicago. We got a table for two and I gotta say I have never been somewhere I was so uncomfortable; after 5 min I actually wanted to leave due to the stools being so awkward- I am 6,3 and couldn't lay my feet on the bottom foot rest bar and if I raised my feet for the top foot rest bar I lift and bump the table. I literally had to sit there with my legs swinging but thankfully the service was fast. The burger was really good actually I would rate it 4/5 and yes I agree it is a top contender for best burger in Chicago. The Benton's Bacon I did not like at all it had a mustard sauce with pecans we actually tossed- it was funky. 2 burgers + 1 order of Benton's Bacon + 1 soda with a $10 tip we spent $82.78 that is just insane to me. I will honestly never come back due to me being so uncomfortable and the price- it's a one and done for me. Great burger but I actually enjoy a double bacon cheese burger from Portillos with a side of cheese fries and a cake shake a lot more. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Move aside, Au Cheval--there's a new burger sheriff in town! This place undoubtedly serves the best burger in Chicago. We went for Sunday brunch and easily reserved a table. While most tourists endure a 3-4 hour wait at the other spot, this gem offers a more accessible dining experience. The charming, moody basement bar ambiance ensures we'll return every time we're in Chicago. read more

The Loyalist - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Happy hour specials: burger, beer, shot = $22. Manhattan = $10. Introverts, snag an early reso to avoid noise and crowds. read more

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Went to try the famous loyalist burger. Very mid. We shared the French smash burger and the OG loyalist burger. Could not be less impressed with the two burgers. Fries were the best part. Ended up going to Small Cheval down the street to redeem our appetite. Not worth the hype at all for the price. read more

The Loyalist - OG The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was looking for a chill vibe n good burger sort of place close to The United Center for pre-concert dining & chose The Loyalist - made a 5pm reservation SERVICE - upscale attentive and amazing and quick VIBE - felt comfortable and welcoming Pre-dinner cocktail - delicious FOOD - O.G. Burger & fries (no adjustments) - thoroughly enjoyed ADDED BONUS - Mon-Thurs 5pm-7pm a beer and shot are offered with each burger ordered - my hubby doesn't drink - so I had 2 beers & 2 shots available to me as we both ordered burgers - I declined beer #2 as we had a long night (concert) still ahead of us PARKING - just something I want figured out in advance of heading into city so pre-booked the West Fulton parking garage read more

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The burger was good but not like remember in 2018 the first time I tried it. The fries are no longer made in house so they're like upscale McDonald's fries? The elevation comes from the good salt and the two dips. One is a charred onion aioli with black pepper oil (literally bomb) and the other a house made pickled vinegar. The burger has good toppings but the flavor isn't distinct. Favorite part was the sturdy yet soft sesame bun and the quality beef. Otherwise, I would give this a 3/5 if it wasn't for the good service and the two fry dips. read more

The Loyalist - OG The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries OG - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely disgusting and disappointing that their burgers use pig fat! Why isn't this written or a known fact when knowing there are a significant amount of customers can't consume pork! read more

The Loyalist - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best burgers in Chicago! I will say they are on the smaller side so definitely not for splitting. Each person should order their own! The French fries tasted exactly like the McDonalds fries, which was amazing! The eggs were really good but one order is just ONE egg so be sure to order enough for the table. The savory eclair was basically cheese but it was so original and delicious. Very creative. The service and then the food took awhile to come out. I felt like there wasn't enough of a gap between the apps and the main course. So it really felt rushed to finish the apps when our burgers came...but worth the wait. read more

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Wanted to try this place as I am checking off my Chicago burger list and The Loyalist was on it! We did not order anything else besides the burger but I am sure their other items must be decent. However, the burger was just good. Not amazing or news worthy. It was not bad but it did not make it to the top of my list. The fries were good and sauces paired well! It was just little things that brought it down. And unfortunately the little things matter in a cheeseburger. The bun was very cold and there was very little caramelized onions but I am not sure if that was a choice. The patty itself was cooked and seasoned well. Good patty. Everything else though didn't give it that push it needed. I think it was just missing a little more effort such as toasting the bun and adding a little more sauce and onions. I enjoyed it very much don't get me wrong. But when you do something simple like a burger, every element must be executed to its fullest potential and this missed the mark with the little things that would have made a big difference. Service was lovely and staff was very welcoming. I'd consider coming back to try other things but not for the burger. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist OG Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whether you order The French Smash or The Loyalist Og Cheeseburger you're going to have one of the best burgers you ever ate. The downstairs accompanying restaurant to Smyth is a casual counterpart that is a fairly easy walk in at the bar. Both burgers are cooked to perfection, the fries are golden & crispy, the Og is a classic done to perfection and the French smash is a decadent take with the smash patty smothered in escargot butter. The Heirloom tomato salad is also excellent. read more

The Loyalist - The Loyalist Og The Loyalist Cheeseburger and Fries - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The burger lives up to the hype. Can't wait to be back in Chicago for another. Dark inside but who cares