Definitely among the best restaurants you can find. Attention to detail and execution are among the elite. The Cocktails are incredibly creative and memorable, scotch egg was perfectly jammy, The gravy in the Bangers and Mash is black magic-level good, and the burger is god-tier.I can’t make the judgement if this is “the best burger in chicago” since that’s a personal take. It was perfectly executed and flavorful. You’ll need to try it out yourself.Worth a stop. Or many.
So happy this place is open again. Walk ins are limited to the bar space but it's worth making a reservation for a table. The drink list is extensive, with great beers both on draft and in the can/bottle as well as a creative cocktail list. The food is amazing. Almost everything is made in house. The scotch egg is bursting with flavor and doesn't feel like a grease bomb in your stomach. The burger is delicious, everything from the patty to the melt in your mouth onions to the bun compliment one another to create a wonderful arrangement of flavors. The cherry on top is the staff is so fun and pleasant to interact with that you feel like you are a regular there, even when it's your first time.
I was so looking forward to dining at Owen and Engine. The Scotch egg was bliss and the fish and chips wonderful. However, our server took the shine off our experience. Twice I had to call her out from behind the bar where she was drinking and chatting. Then when giving our orders she had a faux enthusiasm, “Wow, perfect” or “I love it” as if we were young children who had to have our choices validated and she had never had someone order fish and chips before. We were not told ahead of time that a 20% tip, or dining in fee as they called it would be included in the bill. We had ordered, well ahead of time, for an order to go and had to wait for it for a half hour after paying the bill. This was definitely not an experience I would have tipped 20% for. And I always tip 20% or more. Go for the food and ambience and hope you have a more alert server.
The best burger in Chicago, maybe anywhere!
Food is quite delicious, and upscaled. The drink was so good I had three; strawberry mead. The meal ordered was the Pastrami Smoke Salmon; first day on the menu and was a delightful reimagining of a smoked pastrami. Definitely recommend a stop for a solo date or group date. Expect to spend $$/$$$ depending on the drink and food.
I really like the taste of their House Baked Brioche French Toast Sandwich. It has a sunny egg, aged cheddar, smoked ham, maple syrup, blueberry jam and salad. The combination of it was totally lit. Blueberry jam made this dish more tasty and flavorful. I can't get enough of it. The salad also tasted fresh. It's a little bit bitter but it's good for me. You can eat this dish.I also like their English breakfast. It comes with a lot of dishes including egg, toast bread, fried pork, some potatoes, sausage and a cup of beans. This dish was too dry since it was fried but when I pour the beans it comes with a great flavor.Overall I really enjoy their food as well as their service since they have quick and friendly service. Good job to the staff and to the owner. I highly recommend this restaurant.
We were waiting for a movie across the street. We decided to grab a quick drink. We saw multiple people sitting inside eating and assumed it was open. We entered through the back door only to be greeted by an incredibly rude young lady who seemed to forget the back door was open. Clearly we did not realize the restaurant had not opened yet but were very clearly unwelcome. This young lady seemed unreasonably distressed considering they left the door unlocked... won't be returning.
Owen & Engine is back open! Their food was so good and worth the wait. You can tell they are working through some of the challenges that come with being closed for nearly two years, but overall the staff was nice and the ambiance was great.We sat at the bar and tried the Mission Trip cocktail, a draft beer, the soft pretzel (the cheese with it was AMAZING), and the vegetable korma - so good!It would be helpful to have a reservation as we walked in (around 9:40pm) and they had a 15+ minute wait and suggested we go to Maplewood Brewing (5 minute walk away) to wait, which we did.
I'm so happy they are back after 2 years! The staff is so friendly and accommodating. The Burgers are still the best in the city! As an introvert, this is the only drinking establishment that I regularly go to since the vibe is just right.
So excited for this staple to have reopened and in time before I leave Chicago! Great to have it back and able to enjoy their amazing food. Bone marrow, Venison tartar, scotch egg and the pot of mussels were all delicious. The place didn’t skip a best, congrats on reopening again and thanks for the same great service and experience you always have provided.