Burger Antics packs punch

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Abby King, Pulse Editor

After the chic ambiance of downtown Chicago illuminated Small Cheval, I was hesitant walking into the tiny restaurant called Burger Antics in downtown Brookfield. The moment I stepped inside I was reminded of the Restaurant Story App with awkward black tables and chairs that were splayed out in the one-room restaurant.

But, even though the burnt orange colored walls that sported local art were definitely a change compared to the twinkle lights and outdoor furniture offered at Small Cheval, the service at Burger Antics was unparalleled to any restaurant I’ve ever been to.

The second I sat down a waiter was at my side in an instant always ready to refill my water or ask if I needed anything else. Open for only six months now at their new location after moving from Countryside, Burger Antics is a hometown, sit-down family restaurant run by a husband and wife who offer hospitality and a large array of choices.

Deciding to splurge, I sat down and ordered a slider plate ($10) to try an array of what they offered. Since all of the food is made to order, after 20 minutes the food arrived on quite literally a silver platter. I looked in shock at the amount of food I had just so foolishly purchased and began to chow down. The first burger I tasted, the Four Cheese Burger, melted in my mouth and overwhelmed my taste buds with the perfect combination of meat and provolone, muenster, pepper jack and fried mozzarella cheese. After sampling their home-made crisp chips and golden fries that were seasoned heavily, I turned to one of their craft cherrytree colas ($4) which had a tangy and authentic flavor.

After a short, much needed reprieve, I turned to the next slider: the Mushroom Swiss. This burger was comprised of Swiss cheese, grilled white button mushroom and house made mayonnaise. Mayonnaise on a burger may sound good in theory, but slopped on with cheese and mushrooms made me cringe at my first bite. But, I did not let that stop me. I forged on to try the final slider, the Black n’ Blue. It was decked with Cajun seasoning that was not in any sense of the word spicy, blue cheese crumbles, house made blue cheese dressing and frizzled onions. While this burger sounded delectable and unique on paper, it was no better than the term mediocre. But, what was the Hail Mary of Burger Antic’s menu, its saving grace, was the Burger of the Month—The Max ($13). This burger was something else. Mouthwatering smoked gouda, bacon, Buffalo sauce and a fried egg was a combination about as unique and irregular as burgers come. Delicious and complex, The Max made you appreciate what good burgers should taste like.

Bottom Line: Burger Antics has a variety of unique and different burgers on its menu with friendly service, but is not worth a second visit due to high prices that may encourage the teenage demographic to turn to other, more affordable burger joint.