The Burger Fiend Strikes Again: On the Turkey Hunt

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

There is nothing quite like a pleasant little surprise. An unexpected gift from a friend or family member – or in this instance a neighbor of sorts – that leaves a kind and lasting impression.

And this little present is brought to by a newer establishment in the Lakeview area named Deleece Grill Pub, located on Clark Street next door to Mia Francesca and Andalous.

This discovery was such a surprise because I had walked by this space at least 25 times in the past month and honestly never once noticed the name on the low-hanging marquee. The venue would probably still be undiscovered by me had a friend not mentioned the name and asked if I wanted to tag along for a bite. Intrigued, and famished for a burger, your veteran Fiend could not find an excuse to stay away.

Upon entering the front door, there is a quaint fireplace along the adjacent wall within the perfect sized dining area suitable that will remain full throughout the year. As I made my way towards the wonderful patio seating area in the back, I glanced at the well stocked bar and noticed they had a decent selection of spirits and whisky.

And even better than the liquor was a wonderful selection of local and regional craft beers, everything from Bells on one axis of the Great Lakes to La Fin du Monde on the other.

Following trend, the menu featured a wide variety of entree choices that immediately jumped off the page (buttermilk friend chicken, smoked pork chop, peppercorn crusted hanger steak), and all for very reasonable prices.

However appealing the selections, we all knew perfectly well my mission: one turkey burger topped with cheddar would be the choice cut this eve. As per usual, the patty was immediately surveyed for a few things, such as any visible seasonings, grill marks and of course the shaping. Not that all of these things completely affect my grading, but as a chef in training I’m perceptive to these small mechanics because everything in its right place does make a difference on the end product.

With this in mind, I was immediately impressed by the odd shape of the burger, which tells me that it was hand-packed in some fashion – an obvious sign someone in the back cares about the quality and personal craftsmanship. And this typically means that you’ll also find a little accoutrement added within the meat.

The burger was cooked perfectly to taste; very tender, juicy and not too charred on the outside. The white cheddar added a subtle touch as well, not overpowering as say a sharp Wisconsin yellow might complement a beef burger.

Going back to the hand-packed craftsmanship, the only noticeable complaint would be there was just a hint too much spice somewhere within the burger, which I suspected was inside the meat and probably simply just the fault of too much seasoning in one area when grabbed and thrown on the grill.

As expected, when I cut through the patty there were visibly fresh house herbs and spices within the meat, generally always a glorious site however a tad bit too much in this instance. Nonetheless, I would definitely say this was a solid turkey burger and would recommend to anyone who is a fan of the protein.

And as I made my exit through the pub, I loved seeing the small open kitchen nestled across the bar, a simple reminder that there are no secrets about the way this food is made – with a fine touch and what you see is what you get.

A quick wave and a tip of the hat to the chef on the way out the door was just the right way to send us both on our way with a smile.

Deleece Grill Pub
3313 N. Clark Street
773.348.3313
www.deleecegrillpub.com

Labels: Andalus, Bells, Deleece Pub Grill, La Fin du Monde, Mia Francesca