The Assembly American Bar & Cafe at West Dundee — Restaurant in Dundee Township

It's been a while since I've been to the Assembly. Back in the Day frequented the Hoffman Estates location on and off for decades. I live in the area of the new one in West Dundee and on a Saturday night have it a try.

Our server was Coa Coa. She gave us a few minutes to look at the menu, ask for drinks. We knew we wanted the the signature Onion Strings Loaf, a beautiful thing prior to our main order. She came back and had some questions about the menu. We know the 'smaller' burger was a new menu item. The actual menu was not as descriptatory as I'd like it to be. So I asked what the the base burger came with other them the slaw and potato choice. She said it was plain, nothing else came with it. My friend asked about the 'old' menu Blue Burger -Burger with Bleu Cheese. It's no longer on the menu

We paused the order and regrouped. Checked the website menu. The website did not have the smaller burger, nor The Blue. Yet is did describe the base burger better on what it does come with. Lettuce, tomatoes and onions. ON REQUEST. This info should be on the main menu. Now we are getting somewhere. Also discovered we can add on the Bleu cheese. OK, we are now ready to order. I order the 8 ounce basic, my friend the 8 ounce basic with Bleu cheese. Clarified the lettuce, tomato and onion. The server made a point, that my order was without cheese, I clarified I knew my order did not come with cheese. An odd interaction.

Not long after our burgers came out.

Never gave us mustard and ketchup. We grabbed some off another table.

Never received our onion straws. They asked if we still wanted it. At that point, the timing of meal was off and declined.

I did also ask for A1, BBQ sauce and Mayo.

They did bring that over.

The server, explained I'm a human and make mistakes. Informed us that she will no longer be serving us and passed us over to a different server. Another strange interaction.

The menu, I get it. The old menu had all in one pricing. Now getting north of 18/19 dollars for a burger (themed like the bionic) and fries. Even more with the original sized patty.

The smaller option is more budget friendly. From psychological standpoint the a la carte order style my make it easier to upchage, 2.79 for this (bionic and others) 2.99 for 2 more ounces of meat.

Prices have been going up everywhere and it's harder for restaurants to compete.

I understand the creative menu choices.

Poor uneducated service, not acceptable.

An offer the comp the onion strings to go, would have helped. Offering something for the mishap as show of good faith would have been nice.

The burger was tasty, cooked a proper medium rare. The tater tots we a nice golden brown and crispy. Even better dipped in their special BBQ Sauce. The wine/mushroom sauce was weird/odd. I understand what you were trying to accomplish. A fancy meat gravy/sauce. ...

My family LOVES the assembly in H.E. and we were overjoyed another location opened closer to home.

Upon entering, the smell of smothered charcoal is overbearing - not in a good way. The wife and I ordered burgers nearly $20 each without any extras. By far the most expensive burger in town - by a long shot, but falls short on taste. The meat lacked flavor, unseasoned. I'm not one to overseason burgers, but for the love of god at least use salt and pepper! The toppings were good, bun quality is mediocre. I just dont understand how this could be the most expensive burger in town and fall so short. Ordered a corndog for one of the kids - it came out mutilated, no joke. Idk if it blew up in the microwave, if it fell off the plate, but the bread was mostly removed and all over the plate and the hotdog was in pieces. The fact a cook even put this on a plate blows my mind. Then, the fact that a server grabbed it and served it to my child is beyond crazy. I was convinced it was a joke. We waited a bit for our server to come back and I said “I’m not sure if this is a joke, but he’s not going to eat that.” The server looked shocked! As if they couldn’t wrap their head around what could possibly be wrong with the meal they dropped off at the table. I explained that we expect a corndog in it’s whole form and not in pieces, they got a new one.

Now the bill - It’s a lot. Like I said, prices are some of the highest in town. Already, the food doesn’t justify the price tag. But then they have the audacity to charge you 3% for debit or credit card transactions. Now I understand credit card companies charge businesses surcharges for transactions. I’m also a business owner. My business is much smaller and mine are 1.9% or less (Amex a little more). I highly doubt they’re being charged a full 3% on every credit card transaction. So lets figure some of that 3% charge just goes into their pocket. Not a single other business in town or anywhere I’ve been for that matter charges this additional fee. The assembly stands out here like a sore thumb. They charge top dollar for their food and then pass their fees onto you. You can get a better burger at DC Cobb’s for $14.95, no 3% charge. You can get a better burger at Bandito Barneys for $15, no 3% charge. Emmett’s, River street, and so on. To charge $20 for a mid burger and then pass additional fees onto the customer seems like a straight insult. So they place an ATM in their establishment - if you don't like it, go take out some cash. Guess what?! They make money every single time someone uses the ATM!! So the entire thing is just a scheme to drain a few more bucks out of you before you walk out the door and again its straight insulting as a customer. Leaves such a bad taste in your mouth as your walking out the door - it almost makes you forget...

As a seasoned food and restaurant reviewer, I was delighted to find The Assembly's newest location in West Dundee living up to the high standards set by their esteemed Hoffman Estates establishment. The exceptional cuisine and impeccable service, marked by the presence of an engaged owner and a convivial atmosphere, truly set this eatery apart.

Upon our arrival at The Assembly, promptly at their noon opening, we found ourselves among the first few groups to be graciously welcomed by the hostesses and the affable owner. Our server, Alyssa, promptly attended to our beverage needs and ensured our swift seating.

Although the building is still undergoing minor renovations, it is evident that considerable effort has been put into remodeling the space. The majority of the restaurant has been transformed, while the foyer retains a nostalgic touch reminiscent of the Chili's that once occupied the premises.

As lunchtime patrons continued to arrive, the atmosphere remained pleasantly relaxed, with the hum of conversation and music at an agreeable level—a testament to the establishment's well-balanced ambiance.

We commenced our culinary journey with the Loaded Potato Skins, an appetizer that, although seemingly simple, often falls short in execution. The Assembly, however, exceeded expectations, delivering a truly delectable rendition of this classic dish.

For my entrée, I opted for the original Bionic Burger, but with a twist—a pretzel bun instead of the traditional butter bun. The result was a triumphant recreation of the flavors I fondly recall from their Hoffman Estates location, cooked to perfection. While the Char Burger and Parmesan Burger remain favorites of mine, I was eager to assess this new locale's Bionic Burger prowess.

Our table also enjoyed a succulent grilled steak adorned with garlic butter and a generous portion of fish and chips. Both dishes were superb, though I found the homemade tartar sauce to be a tad too mustard-forward for my taste.

As the restaurant filled with hungry patrons, the quality of our service remained unshakable. We settled our bill and departed, replete and gratified, with the certainty that we would return to evaluate The Assembly's continued progress...