The Loyalist — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

Our experience at The Loyalist was a mix of highs and lows, starting with an exceptional cocktail program. The drinks were well-balanced and thoughtfully crafted, and our server’s expertise and guidance in selecting them added to the enjoyment.

The highlight of the meal was the mussels, with their plump, tender meat and flavorful broth. However, while delicious, the broth’s saltiness was ultimately overpowering. The anchovy toast canapé leaned heavily toward being too salty for our taste.

Unfortunately, the initial excitement and promise of the appetizers were overshadowed by the entrees’ significant delays and uneven quality. Despite arriving promptly for our 5:30 reservation and ordering early, our entrees weren’t served until after 7 p.m., which left a considerable gap between courses. To make matters worse, a neighboring table that arrived notably later and ordered multiple apps and burgers was served well ahead of us and finished with their entrees before ours even arrived!

When the food did arrive, the results were underwhelming. The burger—the best burger in Chicago we’d heard so much about—had a cold bun, a lukewarm patty, and fries that were stale and cold on top. The patty itself was well-cooked but lacked flavor without the sauces. While the chicken was juicy and well-prepared, it felt unremarkable. The foie sourdough was a standout for its flavor, but it seemed the timing of our dishes was mismanaged, leaving the burger to suffer.

Our server was empathetic once informed of our experience, although we wish she would have checked in more during the extended wait or after the entrees were served, which added to the frustration. The inconsistency in pacing and execution made this visit a roller coaster of emotions. While we appreciated the effort and service recovery at the end, it’s difficult to reconcile the anticipation with the...

Disclaimer: This is the first review I've ever written for a restaurant.

Ambiance was great, and the vibes were something along the lines of "elevated tavern" which I loved. Service was fantastic and in line with what you'd expect from the more casual sister restaurant to Smyth; it was not stuffy at all. Juan had an enthusiasm for the food that was borderline inspiring.

And here's why I felt compelled to write a review for the Loyalist. Please, do NOT order the burger here. Of the tables seated around us, I counted 8 burgers across 8 diners. All of the reviews rave about the burger. I'm sure the burger is fantastic, but if you order the burger then you might miss out on what could be the best meal of your life.

The mussels were hands down the best mussels we've ever had in our lives (and this is compared to NYC, Paris, and San Francisco). The broth has a bit of body from the cream, but the real star is the herb oil emulsion which gives the dish a bit of earthy brightness that most moules are usually missing. It was so good we ordered extra bread (which is brushed with the herb butter as well) to mop up the broth.

The chicken was to die for. One bite into the crispy skin and the juiciness underneath immediately reveals the effort that goes into it. In addition to being brined, the outside is basted with a red wine reduction which adds a touch of sweetness to the intensely savory dish. The chicken juices bleed into the sourdough toast below, and sandwiched between the two is a spread of foie gras. A simple salad (I think it was endives?) balances the plate out.

We also got a side of potatoes dauphine which were great but not as standout as the other dishes and couldn't resist the cookie.

Consider this your PSA to stop by the Loyalist and to also...

Lovely setting (inside and outside patio). The patio is by the train, so you can hear it passing often, which I love - city life! But it is loud enough to stop conversation each time is passed, so for a date, I’d say sit inside.

If you prefer or like non-alcoholic, there isn’t an option on the drink menu - but ask the bar tender. They made me the most delicious sweet/sour fruit mock-tail that I will now be chasing.

Eclair is not photogenic, but it is delicious!!! Definite order one of each (at least!) for an appetizer. The tomato salad was good, fresh, but I wasn’t overly impressed by it. The tomatoes were fresh from the farm, in peak season, but if it weren’t for that, I don’t think, I would recommend with all the other choices.

Oysters are fresh, delicious, simple, just perfect and come in a cute oversized fish can from Spain. We debated between the oysters or muscles - which sound delicious, but opted for the oysters as we anticipated a heavy dinner.

Burger - we heard this was the best burger, and by many counts it was! The house temperature was supposed to be between medium and rare, but I would say it was medium to medium/well. This didn’t bother me, but just an FYI if you like your burger bloody, this may not be the place.

The flavors were fantastic - great ratio of cheese/pickles/onions/sauces!! The bun just didn’t pair well. It feels like a grocery store sesame seed bun. It didn’t hold up well to that size of burger with all the toppings and downgraded the eating experience in my opinion. However, still highly recommend.

Fries were perfect - I’m between shoe string and steak. Perfectly crispy. The hot chili oil sauce was not hot at all - not much flavor, but I tend to like my fries...