Imagine one of those horrible reality television shows that groups four random strangers and forces them to survive together. In a nutshell, that was my dinner last night. I would like to preface this story with the statement that we all had mutual friends. We were brought together by the magic of St.Patrick's Day and a party crashed by a random bagpiper that could play while lying on the floor in the splits. (It was absurd) After the party had ended, we all were on a mission together: to celebrate St.Pattys with patties of beef.
A wild search for a Chicago burger led us first to DMK where we were met with an hour and 45 minute wait. The captain of our crew made the executive decision to go west to Paramount Room, home to an excellent burger, he assured us.
He was right.
The Paramount Room is home to the Wagyu Burger, a hand packed 100% wagyu beef patty atop a brioche bun. Toppings include lettuce, tomato, onion, special sauce and a pickle served on the side. The beef patty was thick and juicy, cooked-to-order and very delicious. The brioche bun was soft and combined well with the freshness of the lettuce, tomato and onion. Their special sauce definitely includes horseradish. I was nearly in tears from the bitterness of the sauce but it meshed so well with the other elements of the burger that I didn't mind at all. Their hand cut frites were perfectly salted and crispy, an optimal pairing with the Wagyu Burger or any other entree item on the menu.
Overall, a great burger at an awesome restaurant. I can definitely understand why Paramount Room has been a recipient of a Michelin "Bib Gourmand" rating for the past three years. The lounge was intimate and paired well with the fantastic food served. A must-visit if you happen to be in River West.
Mary
