That Burger Joint — Restaurant in Bloomington

Review Date: June 11th, 2018

That Burger Joint is… disjointed?

Recently, Oberweis Dairy (an ice cream store, a la Cold Stone Creamery) has expanded to offer a restaurant attached to their store. While driving through Bloomington, the gimmicky name instantly caught my eye.

You would think if you visit a restaurant with burger in it’s name, you would order a burger. But I didn’t. I ordered ‘That Spicy Chicken’. My friend ordered ‘That Burger’. We sat down and were anxious to dig in to the food. The sandwiches were massive and heavy. Almost too big to eat. But where it was big in size, it lacked in flavor. I got jalapenos on my chicken and it definitely added a kick, but the chicken itself tasted… off. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t give me anything to write home about. Just this blog post.

I tried my friend’s burger and she tried my sandwich. Her burger was full of flavor due to the toppings and grease, but the actual meat had no more flavor than a $4 pound of unseasoned beef that you’d get at the local grocer. She agreed that the food was mediocre overall.

The lay out of the inside reminds me of a hybrid between Steak N Shake and Five Guys Burger & Fries. You walk up to the counter, place your order and you either take it to go or they can bring it out to your table. It’s that cross between fast food and restaurant.

The decor was sparse and lacking. There is an attempt to give it a rustic look, but the large swathes of black leave much to be desired. The customer service was good while ordering, but once we were sitting down, the staff was complaining among themselves about how short staffed they were.

I hate to score That Burger Joint so low, but I can’t in good conscious give it a glowing review. It’s best to avoid it, even if you are there getting ice cream. There are way better places in Bloomington/Normal...

Dining at That Burger Joint was an unexpectedly enchanting experience. I indulged in their double cheeseburger “avec tout” — a towering creation where each layer played its part in harmony. The beef patties were succulent and generously seasoned, their juices mingling with a velvety blanket of melted cheese. The pièce de résistance, however, was their house special sauce: tangy, complex, and utterly exquisite, it elevated the burger from the ordinary to the sublime.

The service carried a warmth that matched the cuisine. A gracious waiter glided to my table, inquiring with genuine care if the flavors pleased me, and suggested a side of fries. The interaction felt less transactional, more familial — as though I were being welcomed into the kitchen itself. Indeed, being able to glimpse the staff in the artistry of crafting my burger provided an intimacy, a connection to the very soul of the meal.

As if this were not enough, I delighted in a scoop of peanut butter cookie dough ice cream from the neighboring Oberweis, enjoyed simultaneously with my burger. Imagine — sweet creaminess laced with nutty richness, a delightful counterpoint to the savory indulgence of the cheeseburger. The experience became transcendent when, having overheard my musing about preferring a cone to a cup, the same waiter returned with a complimentary cone, offered with quiet generosity.

This was more than a meal — it was a moment, layered with flavor, hospitality, and human connection. At That Burger Joint, they do not simply serve food; they curate...

They are really expensive for a burger place. Honestly, we spend so much money here... For how expensive their food is, fries should be included. You have to buy fries separately. They also don't have a kid's menu at all, so if you bring your kids here, you will have to get them something off the regular menu, which makes it extra expensive. How hard would it be to make a kids menu?? Be a little more family friendly. That said, their food is incredible. You would think, given my complaints, that we would stop going there. And yet somehow we still end up going there to buy food that is way over priced. You pay all this money for your food, and they can't even be bothered to bring it to your table. We spend SO much money to eat here. You won't bring me my food, and you also expect me to clean my own table?? What exactly do you guys do? I would be a little surprised if they survive. There are plenty of other, cheaper, places to get a burger. However, their environment is really nice, their chocolate milk is beyond incredible, and honestly it's just really yummy. And the manager almost always brings my son a balloon. (Except last time. He was so disappointed.) Give it a try and see...