A new casual eatery with some mighty tasty offerings has opened in Lakeview.
Burger Boss ( 3210 N. Southport Ave.; www.theburgerboss.com ) has expanded from its first restaurant in Elmwood Park, still employing its concept of letting guests "Be the Boss" and customize their meals to build their own burgers. ( However, they may choose from the restaurant's signature menu as well. )
Savor recently sat with affable co-owner Anthony Gambino ( who runs the chain with brother Nick ).
Windy City Times: How do you all decide what combinations to use? For example, there [was] the turkey and stuffing special.
Anthony Gambino: Me, my brother and our financial partner, Mike, sit down and decide. First, we start with the proteins, so if we're talking about turkey we ask, "What goes with turkey?" We started thinking Thanksgiving and leftovers. But every month we have a signature sandwich; December is a take on the Cuban sandwich—ham, Angus beef, pickles, garlic mayo and Swiss cheese.
Or we'll take almost, like, regions—like we'll ask, "What's popular in Louisiana?" Right now, we're working on something like a muffaletta sandwich. Our version had olive tapenade and roasted peppers. We try to take different regions, and every once in a while we'll go "back in the day," like with fried bologna. There's no rhyme or reason; we just ask, "What are we feeling?"
WCT: How did you decide on this location?
Anthony Gambino: Our first location's in Elmwood Park, where my brother and I grew up. We were looking for about a year in different locations, whether they were in the city or suburbs. We went North Side, South Side, the Loop and the West Side.
We saw this property three times over a year. We saw it and thought we were in love, and had to go out on the dating scene. [Interviewer laughs.]
We did a complete demolition. This used to be two storefronts; one was a dentist's office and the other was, like, a chiropractor's office. We did a complete [change]. Everything is new, except the roof, the bricks and what's underneath the floor.
We're really neighborhood guys and like to be involved in the community. We like to know who our customers are.
WCT: How many Burger Boss restaurants do you see yourselves opening?
Anthony Gambino: Ah—that's the million-dollar question.
WCT: Are you looking for Starbucks domination?
Anthony Gambino: Oh, no. My brother and I want ownership of all of them. We're looking to maybe open five or six over the next few years—nothing too aggressive. The focus would be the neighborhoods, though; it doesn't matter if it's the city or suburbs. I don't see us on Michigan Avenue.
We don't want standard transactions.
WCT: You want it to be more personal.
Anthony Gambino: Yes—more personal. We do this program called "Dine and Earn." We primarily work with schools, but also with nonprofit organizations. They choose a Tuesday; 15 percent of the net sales from that day go that organization. All we have to do is serve great food—which we do.
WCT: Now with a name like Burger Boss, what options do vegetarians have?
Anthony Gambino: With that name, some people might have reservations. But we sell a lot of veggie burgers and portobello burgers—options that have been on our menu since day one of our operation. You have to try to appease as much of your clientele as possible. Vegetarian items are not an afterthought for us.
WCT: Let's talk about the "Boss" part. I assume you're referring to the customers.
Anthony Gambino: Yes—the customers are absolutely the boss. But the reality is, besides that, I have a 13-year-old son who has been out to restaurants constantly. At a very young age, he had a very sophisticated palate. He would say, "I want to go to this place," and I'd say, "OK, boss." That's how we came up with the name.
The customers are truly the boss, but the name also came because of my oldest son.
WCT: What his favorite sandwich?
Anthony Gambino: It's actually the Classic [burger topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo on a brioche]. It's the standard burger that sets the bar for any place. If we wants to be adventurous, he'll go for an 8 A.M. Burger [which has the additional toppings of fried egg and applewood-smoked bacon].
The most popular overall are the Southport [with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, "Boss Sauce," pickles and onions], Classic and 8 A.M.
WCT: And what's your favorite?
Anthony Gambino: All of them. [Smiles] No; all jokes aside, it's the Southport. I love onions and cheddar.
WCT: Is there any "sin" a customer can commit regarding burgers?
Anthony Gambino: Well, it's not like hot dogs, where putting ketchup on them is a no-go. I think burgers have always gotten a pass regarding those taboos. I'm a mustard fan; sometimes, I like ketchup. Sometimes I like both and "Boss Sauce," which is our tangy take on Thousand Island. I do eat hot dogs—but I don't put ketchup on them.
