"On the way, we stopped for gas and the cashier, a local, mentioned Jake Moran’s as well. We learned that their drinks are top-notch and that their cheeseburger is exceptional! Just hearing that made our stomachs rumble with excitement.
Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by Ceasar, which made us feel right at home. We decided to sit at the bar instead of a table, where we usually order food and browse Reddit. Enjoying our Coor's Light and Tito's with lemon, we watched the Cubs game on the big screen and engaged in conversation with Ceasar about our plans for our new home in just four months. We really appreciated getting to know the staff; you could tell they have a genuine passion for their food and their business!
When our food arrived, we could tell it was prepared with care. The chicken fingers were perfect, and the homemade ranch paired wonderfully! The coleslaw was neither dry nor overly sauced—it was just right! We ordered three portions and I ended up finishing all of them because they were that good! Everything was brought out timely, just like we requested.
We love variety and usually like to share our meals, so we tried the “halvesies” approach. The Patty Melt was devoured in mere minutes! The caramelized onions were finely chopped, allowing for a flavorful bite without the typical chunkiness. The bread, infused with herbs, was fantastic! Our waiter didn’t even ask if we wanted ketchup, mustard, or other condiments – he simply brought everything we might need, which was very thoughtful.
My partner Eric isn’t a fan of salad, tomatoes, or onions on his burgers, so we were clear upfront, but I decided to try a bite of his cheeseburger anyway. I fell in love with the bread; it was soft and held the juicy meat and cheese perfectly (I’m not a fan of fatty meats). His burger was cooked medium-well, and the richness of the cheddar cheese paired beautifully with the meat.
Even though I typically shy away from onion rings, I tried theirs and they were incredibly crisp—the best onion rings I've ever had! Eric tried a few, but I couldn’t help but give him a dramatic look as if to say, “Noooo!” Luckily, I was reminded that we could always come back.
They served us the most beautiful pickles I’ve ever seen! Overall, we gave the atmosphere a solid 5/5 for being charming and supporting local businesses over chains. Both of us work for local small businesses too, and we were pleasantly surprised by our experience. I’m definitely going back for that Patty Melt!
As we kept an eye on the game, the cook came over to tell us about their chili for the following day. I loved that it had chunks of bell pepper and tomatoes instead of being a thick paste—just my kind of chili! Another 5/5 for the chili!
By the time we left, we were full and discussing how fall is here, inspired by the idea of making all sorts of soups. Without a doubt, we will be back! Thank you, Ceasar, and the whole team for a wonderful evening!"
