This one has been on my list for a while. Even though there are multiple locations (two within about a mile of me), I still for some reason never made it over to a Small Cheval. We finally decided to go up to the Small Cheval in Old Town on what was the last perfect Saturday of summer 2023. Here in Chicago, we do not take our summers lightly. We try to spend as much time as possible outside because we know what is coming. That is by far one of my favorite parts about living in here. People take full advantage of the summer, and there really is so much to do. If you are in Chicago and you’re looking for a simple cheeseburger joint that puts out great food, you need to go here.

I have to start by saying how impressed I was by the service here. Every worker was in a great mood, happy to help, and the food came out quickly considering the amount of orders they were dealing with. Some people might not think about it as much, but I really do consider quality of service when it comes to dining out. It isn’t 100% about the food. How you’re treated at a restaurant can impact the experience just as much as the food can in my opinion. When you combine great service and great food, you’ve got something special.

It is also worth mentioning that this chain is related to the famous Au Cheval, which is also known for their burger. However, Small Cheval is much more simple. Au Cheval is a full restaurant that is much harder to get into. Small Cheval is more of a fast casual setting. You walk right in and order. You’re options are a hamburger, cheeseburger, and fries. Thats it.

The burger was incredible. It comes as a double automatically, which is a great start. The patty was charred, the cheese was melted to perfection, and of course I had to add bacon. This was easily one of the best burgers i’ve had in Chicago. The fries were thin and crispy, the ideal french fry if you ask me. To me, they honestly tasted like a better version of McDonald’s fries. I know that is a crazy thing to say, but I mean it. They were seasoned much better and way crispier. Dipping the fries in the provided dijonnaise is also a must.

Simply put, if you’re in Chicago and you don’t get Small Cheval, you are missing out. 10/10 experience overall.