Big Burger Grille — Restaurant in Chocolay Township

Some restaurants whisper. Some strut. The Big Burger Grill does neither. It kicks the door down with the smell of sizzling beef and melted cheese, then points you to a booth and dares you not to leave happy.

This is not a trendy burger bar with brioche buns, aioli options, and a menu that reads like a dissertation. The Big Burger Grill is exactly what its name says it is: a burger joint. The kind of place where the grill is hot, the toppings are unapologetic, and the food sticks to your ribs long after you have gone back out into the Marquette wind.

What sets the Big Burger Grill apart is its devotion to Velveeta. That neon orange block of processed cheese that food snobs roll their eyes at has found its cathedral here. Order your burger with Velveeta and you will see why. It does not just melt. It oozes, stretches, and clings to the beef like it was born for the job. Each bite hits salty, creamy, and indulgent, turning a simple burger into something shamelessly satisfying. In a culinary world obsessed with chasing the perfect artisan cheddar, this place doubles down on nostalgia and delivers something better: comfort.

The burgers themselves are no slouch. Thick enough to matter but never so oversized you need to plan your attack with a knife and fork. They come off the grill with that just-right char, the kind that lets you know somebody back there cares about the sear. Add in crisp lettuce, fresh onion, and a pickle with bite, and you have the balance of texture that makes a burger worth writing about. But the Velveeta is the move. Skip it and you are missing the point.

And then there are the pepper jack cheese curds. Every state fair and sports bar thinks it knows fried cheese. The Big Burger Grill raises the stakes. These curds come out hot, golden, and squeaking under the breading. Bite into one and you get the familiar crunch, but then the pepper jack kicks in with just enough heat to remind you that indulgence can come with an edge. The breading crackles, the cheese melts, and suddenly you are transported to a new plane of existence. Not figuratively. You genuinely wonder for a moment if you have ascended. It is that good.

The menu has other things, of course. Sandwiches, sides, and the usual suspects. But let’s be honest: you came here for burgers and cheese. Pretending otherwise is like going to Lake Superior for a quick swim and ignoring the horizon. The Big Burger Grill knows its role, and it plays it with pride.

The atmosphere matches the food. Simple, a little rough around the edges, and honest. The walls carry the echoes of every conversation had over a double cheeseburger and fries. Families stop in after little league games. Students from Northern Michigan University swing by for something cheap and filling. Locals treat it like their living room that just happens to serve better food than their kitchen.

In a city like Marquette, where breweries with artisanal menus draw tourists and foodies, the Big Burger Grill remains unshaken. It does not chase trends. It does not court Instagram. It simply feeds people. And it does so in a way that reminds you that sometimes the best meals are not reinvented, they are perfected.

There is a kind of purity in a place like this. You taste it in the Velveeta dripping down the side of your burger. You feel it in the heat of the pepper jack cheese curds. You see it in the relaxed comfort of the regulars who barely glance at the menu before ordering their usual. The Big Burger Grill does not need reinvention. It needs recognition.

So the next time you are in Marquette and hunger comes calling, forget the complicated search for the new and the flashy. Sit down at the Big Burger Grill. Order a burger with Velveeta. Get the pepper jack cheese curds. Experience food that does not apologize, does not pretend, and does not need to. It just feeds you. And it...

Food is not bad although it’s kinda pricy for the sloppy burger they toss together. but the employees are horrible. The cashier was rude and acted like he had no interest in taking my order, which is probably why he forgot the bacon and other toppings. The cook was even worse. While I was ordering a few older women came in behind me and I audibly heard the cook say “F* this I’m about to lose my s*”. He also swore pretty loud several other times while slamming things around the kitchen every time someone came in. Making it obvious he rather be elsewhere. Also heard him telling the cashier and someone from the pizza place in that building how much he hates his job. Then after waiting about 20 minutes for our food the cashier comes out and tosses my bag on the counter and walks away. Hands down the worst service...

We are not from around the area and it was our first time in this town. I’m rating this place a zero. Our family stopped in looking for a good burger place. There was an unmarked drive around the building and my husband pulled into the second driveway, which ended up being a drive thru and one direction, there was no sign for a one way or any indication there was even a drive through window. We went inside and the lady asked us if we were picking up or ordering, she nicely pointed to the menu. The man that was running the grill aggressively came up to the counter yelling that the drive was a one way and that it better not happen again. My husband stated that there were no signs and we didn’t know and the man continued yelling that he didn’t care and it better not happen again. Terrible staff. Walked out....