Back on the Illinois Burger Trail

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Illinois

Summer is here and so is the sudden urge for a road trip. Jumping in the car and exploring the Midwest this time of the year is one of my favorite pastimes and I’ve turned many of those excursions into blog posts over the years. No matter where you are in these parts the one thing you can usually find is a good bar burger. A bar burger is simply a burger served in a bar - it can be small or big or grilled or griddled but they’re usually made with fresh locally butchered beef and offered at a fair price. Today’s post will keep us relatively close to Chicago as we visit five spots 50-60 miles west of the city.

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Bristol Tap (Bristol, Illinois)

Bristol is an unincorporated community in Kendall County located 8.5 miles west of Aurora. Even though it's off the beaten path, the Bristol Tap's close proximity to the second biggest city in the state makes it a popular place for both burgers and beers. This place feels like a backroads Wisconsin bar with the exception of all the Cubs stuff - the previous owner was a big fan. But they have a popcorn machine, they don't accept credit cards and kids aren't allowed. The famous 'Bristol Burger' is a no frills burger that starts out with 9 ounces of fresh and never frozen ground beef cooked on a large flattop behind the bar. It's a classic pub burger that could use a bit more seasoning which is why I suggest getting it with bacon. It's likely not going to compete for the honor of being the best burger you've ever had but it's still going to be a very satisfying stop for those that like a burger and a beer.

Bristol Burger at Bristol Tap
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The Friendly Tap (Plano, Illinois)

Plano is about seven miles west of Bristol and also in Kendall County. It's a small town of just over 10,000 people with a classic Main street setup. It's considered part of the Chicagoland area but it feels more like a farm town than it does a suburb. Last summer I took a ride west to grab some locally grown sweet corn and ended up at The Friendly Tap for a basic but bomb cheeseburger. The beef is delivered three times a week from a nearby farm making it a real deal farm to table burger but with fast food pricing ($8). If you go on a Tuesday it's just $4.50 and beer prices are equally cheap. My only complaint with it is it could've been dressed better. It was bit messy but it was a delicious mess. 

Cheeseburger at The Friendly Tap
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Old Thyme Inn (Sandwich, Illinois)

Olde Thyme Inn is just down the road from our last stop. It's in Sandwich Illinois which sits in both Kendall and Dekalb counties. Sandwich is home to the oldest county fair in the state which goes back to 1888. I cant find the dates for Olde Thyme Inn but it's an old time bar located in the middle of Main street. There's a long and narrow bar with old wooden vibes inside. I'd visited here before on taco night but I never had the burger until last Fall when we took a ride out west in search of a good bar burger. There was a nice crowd here on an NFL Sunday and they were all eating and drinking - beers and burgers to be exact. Half pound balls of fresh ground beef are given a light smash on the flattop behind the grill and the end result is a textbook backyard burger except this one is served in a bar. 

Cheeseburger at Olde Thyme Inn
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Mott's Lounge (Burlington, Illinois)

Even though it's only 53 miles away Burlington Illinois feels like it's much further from Chicago. I don't even think you can call it a small town as less than 1000 people live there. It's most famous resident isn't a person but rather a bar. Mott's Lounge is Burlington's oldest bar. It just turned 100 last summer having served it's first drink in 1924. This spot shows off all the characteristics of an old school tavern including an excellent neon sign on the outside and a bunch of old school beer memorabilia at the Brunswick bar inside. There's also a jukebox and a classic pin bowling machine. Mott's is located in residential area and it's been run by the Mott family since it's inception. The kitchen is the size of a walk in closet and it's known for churning out one of the better burgers in Kendall County so I rode out there to see for myself. I got the famous Mott's Burger which comes with American and Swiss cheese plus grilled ham and bacon. It's a bit on the expensive side at $16.50 but it does come with fresh cut fries. I enjoyed my burger and a High Life outside on the patio on what was a perfect summer day.

The Famous Mott's Burger at Mott's Lounge
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Sullivan's Tavern (Dekalb, Illinois)

Sullivan's Tavern is an old watering hole in the corn growing town of Dekalb - the town of 40,000 people is home to Northern Illinois University and was also the childhood home of Cindy Crawford. Sullivan's celebrated it's 80th anniversary this past May and it's still in all in the family as it's owned by four brothers who are the third generation of Sullivan's to run the place. It doubles as a liquor store but most people seem to be there to eat as it's busiest during the day. Old school burgers cooked on a flattop behind the bar. They're a bit on the smaller side which is reflected in the price. I asked for everything but this is the type of burger that's best with just mustard, onion, and pickles. Since 1945.

Cheeseburger at Sullivan's Tavern
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More from 'The Illinois Burger Trail'

- The Smashed Crispy Burgers of Central Illinois (2015)

- Ridott Corners Tavern (2018)

- More Burgers in Illinois (2023)
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See ya next time @chibbqking