Chicago Burgers: Small Cheval
Author: Sam Levine
Images from the Small Cheval Website
Chicago Burgers: A Series
It is no secret that Chicago is home to one of the greatest culinary scenes in the country, and it can often be difficult to decide on what style of cuisine you are in the mood for. The purpose of this series—of which this is the first addition—is solely to help you after you have decided that you want a hamburger. While this series will not necessarily provide objective rankings, as I find something like that to be far too subjective, I hope to provide a few useful metrics to help inform your decision when selecting a given Chicago burger. My goal is to make this series both comprehensive and practical. That means that I intend to not only find the best burgers overall but also to help recommend the best burger in any given neighborhood. Furthermore, if you have a suggestion for a future article, you can email me at samuellevine@uchicago.edu or text my cellphone (914)-574-7613.
Small Cheval
In the search for Chicago Burgers, where better to start than with Small Cheval in our very own Hyde Park? Small Cheval is a fast-casual spinoff of its West Loop-based older sibling, Au Cheval (stay tuned for a review!). You can find Small Cheval just across the street from CVS on 53rd Street. Small Cheval’s pleasant ambiance makes it an inviting place to eat with friends. It features an outdoor patio with heaters next to each table, and for colder nights, the indoor seating comes in the format of bar seats along each wall. It is worth noting that Small Cheval also has locations in Old Town, Wicker Park, Gold Coast, and Riverside, but this review strictly pertains to the Hyde Park location.
The Menu
Before the burger, let me quickly discuss the rest of the menu. Small Cheval’s menu is likely one of the smallest you will ever come across at any restaurant, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Fast-casual means that you should expect a one-course meal—two if you are intent on going to the front a second time to get some ice cream. Their thin-cut fries and rich milkshakes are essential for any burger joint, and I order them every time I go. I am a huge fan of garlic aioli, and I frequent the little box holding dozens of containers of it, often grabbing two at a time. Small Cheval also offers a plant-based burger for those who do not eat meat, and they have a variety of draft beer, wine, and cocktails. For those looking to pair their burger and fries with a drink, happy hour is from 3:30pm to 5:30pm on weekdays.
The Burger
The burger is great. For those wondering, it does not quite reach Au Cheval’s level as it lacks their iconic thick-cut bacon and fried eggs, but the burger is still delicious. The burger comes with pickles, onions, dijonnaise, and the additional option to add lettuce, tomato, and crispy bacon. Small Cheval’s burgers are tender and juicy, and the buns are nicely toasted and buttered. I would skip out on adding the bacon, as I found it still to be a little thin and underwhelming, but the rest of the toppings, alongside the perfectly melted cheese, make a very well-balanced burger.
The Verdict
The nod to Small Cheval comes in the form of its quick service and filling burgers. It is expensive for what you are getting, but it is definitely a meal you will enjoy. Not to mention, if you want a great option for a quick bite or burger-to-go style, the wait is usually less than 10 minutes. On the flipside, the vibey music and outdoor seating make the restaurant a fun place to hang out with friends. It is without a doubt, the best burger I have tried in Hyde Park.
