Chicago’s First Bareburger Debuts Tonight in Roscoe Village

The signage isn’t up, as passersby in Roscoe Village could easily walk or drive by without seeing it, but Chicago’s first Bareburger location will open at 5 p.m. today. It’s the 40th location for the chain, which pledges burgers with free-range meats that are pasture raised without hormones. The New York chain hopes to open at least three more locations in Chicago, but no announcements are imminent, according to a rep.

The menu at their first Chicago spot isn’t any different from other spots, including the one in Columbus, Ohio, the Bareburger closest to the Chicago. For those who miss the customizable burgers over from The Counter, the California chain that inhabited the space on Diversey Parkway that Kuma’s Too took over, this could be the remedy. This is a place to take the kids and older parents, free of the blaring music that makes Kuma’s unique.

Pick from a variety of patties—beef, duck, turkey, grilled lemon chicken, bison, elk and wild boar. Vegetarians also have a trio of choices: Black bean, sweet potato & wild rice and farmers quinoa. Buns, cheese and, three—yes three—different types of bacon are other customizables.

Ashok Selvam

Of course, for those who don’t have time for those options, there are 14 preset options, highlighted by the Souther Caviar (bison, pimento, bacon, stout onions, horseradish remoulade) and the Supreme (beef, cheddar, brisket, mushrooms, smoke sauce). Those two have been most popular during friends and family seats, management said.

A full bar resides inside, with 12 beers on tap from actual local breweries, including All Rise and Baderbrau. Eight wines are on draft, as well, along with an assortment of signature cocktails. Also, the shakes are of note, including a Mexican chocolate selection with torched marshmallow and cayenne pepper.

They’re in soft open mode for this week, opening at 5 p.m. and closing at 10 p.m. They’ll start regular hours on Monday, Oct. 3.

Bareburger, 3357 N. Lincoln Ave., regular hours start Oct. 3. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.