Press
Epic food when you're in the mood to eat green
If you are looking for good eats around Roosevelt University’s Chicago campus, look no further than Epic Burger [517 S. State].
With the tag line, “A More Mindful Burger,” Epic Burger stands out as one of the few “green” restaurants in the loop. They use eco-friendly packaging, energy-efficient appliances and cook with fresh, organic food.
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"Hot Spots" - Epic Burger in Chicago
"Hot Spots," hosted by Evan Schmitt, profiles Epic Burger - home of Chicago's most epic burger!
Labor Day Treats from Epic Burger
David Friedman of Epic Burger joins Ed Curran and Don Schwenneker with a look at some more Labor Day burgers.
30 Greatest Burgers
If you name your place Epic Burger and post seven burger "rules" on the wall, your hamburgers had better bring the thunder. David Freidman's eco-friendly fast-casual spot - brilliantly located on the street level of a Columbia College dorm - doesn't quite live up to its brash name, but it comes close. Epic hand-packs freshly ground chuck (from grass-fed, grain-finished cows), then sears it on a flat-top grill; the result is a lean, flavor-packed patty that goes well with one-year-aged Wisconsin Cheddar and beautifully sauteed onions. For $6, that kind of quality is hard to beat.
Can the sauce make the burger?
But it wouldn't matter if the 1-year-old Epic Burger didn't have street cred, because most college kids talk about this place as if it's the latest Animal Collective LP. And it begins with the namesake Epic Burger, one of the most aesthetically pleasing, vibrantly colorful renditions I've eaten.
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Top Eco-Minded Restaurants
One of the latest restaurants that have integrated an eco-friendly culture is Epic Burger, a premium burger concept in Chicago. This burger joint is more than about serving 100% organic beef burgers. Also regarded as a more “mindful burger”, Epic Burger uses only biodegradable cups and utensils, petroleum free packaging, energy efficient equipment and lighting and products that are sourced from areas requiring the lowest possible mileage. The result is a fresher and tastier burger in a clean environmentally friendly atmosphere.
Odyssey: Counter Intelligence
VIBE: Young, loud, earnest but fun
MENU: Sandwiches, fries, shakes, smoothies
WE LOVE: Epic burger with Cheddar ($6.88); turkey burger with horseradish Havarti ($6.88); fresh-cut fries ($1.99); four-berry smoothie ($4.89)
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Quick Bite: Epic Burger
Right away we was impressed by Epic Burger’s space – HUGE ceilings and bright orange and brown pop art walls. At 5 PM on a Wednesday, EB was already hopping, with Chicagoans of all ages scarfing down EB’s stock in trade – all natural burgers.
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Reader's Choice - Best Burger
#3: Epic Burger
When it comes to Epic's burgers, readers said "the name says it all." "It is an experience you won't want to miss," Chicago native Brittney Hopkins said. "And unlike other burger joints, you get to enjoy a retro atmosphere that is environmentally friendly [Epic uses biodegradable packaging]." The ambiance isn't the main draw. Readers claim their burgers are "tasty to the last bite."
V.I.B. (Very Important Burgers)
If you were one of the many people trying to get into Epic Burger last night and wondering why there was a packed house drinking cocktails, it was their VIP Grand Opening. Yes, that's right. A burger joint had a VIP Grand Opening, complete with white tablecloths, wine, and Goose Island beer.
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Epic Fries
Epic Burger's cheery staff serves a savory portabello sandwich that's brilliant when you get it with grilled onions. But their fries are really where it's at. Hearty, with some skin still on, they're soft on the inside and a touch crispy outside.
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The Food Chain
Epic Burger has other good things going for it, greenwise--eco-friendly packaging, energy-efficient appliances, a commitment to diminishing its carbon footprint through local sourcing. The upshot: not epic but not half bad, and, actually, when you consider the price point, pretty damn good.
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Epic Burger
The brainchild of a former fast-food consultant, Epic's a brightly decorated, 80-seat dine-in & carryout spot dedicated to serving up "a more mindful burger": high quality, reasonably priced, and always remembers to put down the toilet seat.
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More Burgers
The burger trend has arrived in Chicago and its newest arrival is Epic Burger. The menu is simple, consisting mostly of burgers and real fruit smoothies. The all-natural epic burger is juicy and delicious. For vegetarians, there is a portabella mushroom burger sandwich and a turkey burger. Spice up your burger with extras like nitrate-free bacon, or a cage-free organic fried egg.
Small Bites
It's been said time and again that when it comes to real estate the most important thing is location. For a restaurant to succeed, having good food is generally a plus. Fortunately new downtown burger joint Epic Burger nails both points.
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First on the Scene
Chi-town has finally ended its pursuit of finding the perfect burger thanks to legendary chef David Friedman. The South Loop experienced an epiphany perfecting the classic American burger with the recent opening of Epic Burger.
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Epic Burger rates 3 forks
On the plate: Epic Burger gets its name from its commitment to organic dining. Is it still a fast-food burger joint? Yup, just one that knows what "eco-friendly" means.
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French Kiss
Pollack rushed down to Epic Burger (517 S. State St.; 312-913-1373), the new spot we wrote about last week. Loved the hand-cut, skin-on fries, and the smoothie was so thickly smoothied that you had to pinch your cheeks in to suck it up the skinny straw.
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Epic Burger on Centerstage Chicago
It seems fitting (or perhaps ironic) that the home state of Mickey D's may also be the birthplace of the next wave of restaurant trends: the "conscious" fastfood eatery. South Loop's Epic Burger is the creation of restaurateur David Friedman, who, according to the Epic Burger website, was inspired during a road trip to create a fast-food restaurant that doesn't skimp on all-natural and locally raised ingredients.
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2009 Eat Out Awards
Best Loop Lunch
EPIC BURGER
OFFICE OASIS Epic Burger serves up your favorite Loop lunch.
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Chain think
The green thinker: Epic Burger Epic doesn’t earn its name for the size of its burgers but for its slow-food-meets-fast-food take: hormone-free beef, organic ketchup and the option of having a fruit smoothie instead of a shake.
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More fries folks love
...crispy, super fresh for a fried spud.
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NRA Show restaurant roundup: A Taste of the Windy City
How does a professionally trained chef do quick-service-style burgers and fries? Epic Burger founder David Friedman does them using all-natural beef cooked to order on a freshly baked bun with a side of hand-cut, unprocessed fries.
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Epic Burger — Not Your Average Burger Joint
Epic Burger is different. Its exterior doesn’t reveal the fact that its burgers are made from all natural beef. Or that its bacon is nitrate-free. Or that the milk in its shakes are organic. Even their packaging is biodegradable.
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An Interview with David Friedman of Chicago's Epic Burger
We're driving down State Street in Chicago's South Loop this past fall and my wife points out a restaurant with Nelson Bubble lamps hanging inside. We pulled over, walked right in and were struck by a visual treat...the aforementioned lamps and Saul Bass-like graphics on the wall. And this was only just the beginning of our love affair with a hip and socially conscious burger joint called Epic Burger. link to article