Burger Papi — Restaurant in Lake Township

This new spot has completely transformed the old building, it gives off fun Miami vibes with neon palm trees and a casual, welcoming atmosphere. The food is phenomenal. The burgers are clearly the star of the show, excellent quality, decent portions, and prices that feel fair for what your taste buds get. The drinks were just as good, and the playful menu categories (like “foreplay” for appetizers and “happy ending” for desserts) added to the lighthearted theme. Service was a highlight as well. Our waitress was warm, hospitable, and created a relaxed experience by switching easily between English and Spanish. Staff in general kept the energy positive. Where I’m a bit torn is with the overall vibe. The music choice creates an edgy atmosphere that won’t be for everyone. That said, during my visit the restaurant was calm, the patrons were respectful, and the staff remained professional. The food is worth the trip, the service is friendly, and the design is playful and fun. If you can look past (or enjoy) the “hood nice” aesthetic, you’ll get one of the best burgers around. I’d go back, but with the hope that the atmosphere grows into the quality of the food.

UPDATE: Went a second time at Burger Papi, and the food was just as great as the first. Consistency is hard to find, but both times the food and service have been amazing and super friendly.

What I’d love to see is this place busier earlier in the evening. I came in around 6 PM and it was almost empty, which surprised me since they’ve got high chairs which suggests they welcome families. By 7, the lights dimmed, the reggaeton turned up, and the party vibe kicked in but the tables were still empty. The late-night party vibe seems to be the identity, but it may be what keeps some of the neighborhood families away. Garfield Ridge has plenty of cops, firefighters, Polish, Irish, and Latino families who love going out to eat, and I’d rather see them packing the tables here instead of sitting at Danny’s down the street or driving out to Countryside or La Grange. Likewise, the Latin party crowd Burger Papi seemingly wants to attract might just head to 18th & Blue Island in Pilsen, where there’s a bigger variety of party hangouts later in the evening.

I really want this place to succeed and stick around for a long time, because with food and service this good, they deserve it. They could be a great example of a place that feeds families early and hosts the party crowd later, instead of trying to do only one or the other. I’ll definitely be back, and I hope next time I come in at 6, I see...

I tasted their wings at the Garfield Ridge Wing Wars this past September - fire!

So I recently took the family for some burgers and wings. The classic burger medium was good and had flavor - but not great. Wife had the unbullievable burger and she enjoyed the gooey texture of the cheese sticks with the bacon. My little guy had the Philly burger it was good too.

As for the wings…Buffalo was a solid 8 out of 10. It was BOGO night so we decided to get the garlic parmesan wings and those were meh - not impressed because the “garlic parm” was nowhere to be found…the chef sprinkled a few spirits of cheese on what I would call deep fried wings with a hint of cheese on what- didn’t really taste the garlic.

Now, I want to talk about the fries “upgrade”…so when you order a bigger you get a side of regular fries, sweet potato fries, or “garlic parm” fries…my son was so excited about the garlic parmesan wings he convinced me to upgrade to the garlic parm fries…well…….the fries had the SAME sprinkle amount of parmesan cheese on them with, again, no garlic to be found. Hey perhaps I read the description incorrectly, or maybe I should’ve asked the waitress.

Lastly, we were charged $2 for the dipping sauce - yes, the black container where restaurants pour the ranch, bbq, or whichever sauce you want. Isn’t the dipping sauce SUPPOSED TO come with the wings. That’s almost a given. Or am I wrong here?? Since we got the extra set of wings we were charged for both dipping sauces. It’s not the money,. It’s the principle. The sauce is always included with the wings. Perhaps it was written on the menu and I didn’t see it. Who knows.

Would I go back…I’m not sure. The burgers were good but feel the garlic fries and wings were 4 out of ten, and to have to pay for sauce when it should come with the wings…can leave a bad taste in your mouth.

The service was solid and atmosphere is great. If I do go I’ll make sure to ask questions to get clarification on what I am ordering and what is...

I honestly didn’t expect this place to have a crowd since I’d never heard of it before, and we went about an hour after opening, but there were already people at the bar having fun and enjoying watching sports.

When we first walked in, the waitress greeted us so kindly. She was warm, welcoming, and immediately gave me a positive vibe about the place. Her excellent customer service continued throughout our whole visit, which made the experience even better. Her name starts with an M.

The atmosphere was great, with TVs for watching sports and two separate dining areas. You can sit in the open area near the bar if you like the energy, or choose the cozier section with booths for a more private vibe.

I had the pozole verde, which was listed as a side but felt more like a full entrée. It was sooo delicious, spicy, flavorful, and a generous portion you can share (or not!). I ate half and took the rest home, and when I woke up the next morning, my sinuses were the clearest they’ve ever been. I’d been feeling sick for a few days, but I actually woke up feeling better! The carne asada fries were another hit, tender, perfectly seasoned meat with cheese and guacamole. It’s a generous portion, perfect for sharing. The strawberry agua fresca was super tasty and came in a cute cup with chamoy and tajín on the rim. They were also playing some great ’90s freestyle music, which made the whole experience even better. This place has great food, good energy, and an overall fun vibe. I’m so glad I found it, and I’ll definitely be...