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Name: The Assembly American Bar & Cafe
Address: 2570 W Hassell Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL, 60179
Telephone: (847) 843-3993
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.55

The Assembly American Bar & Cafe

2570 W Hassell Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL, 60179

(847) 843-3993
Store is closed

The Assembly American Bar & Cafe Menu

Appetizers

Stuffed Potato Skins

Homemade Onion Strings

Buffalo Wings

Calamari

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Stuffed Mushrooms

Pick 3 Sample Platter

Supreme Nachos

Mozzarella Triangles

Zucchini
Soups & Salads

Homemade Soup

French Onion Soup

Homemade Chili

Assembly Cobb Salad

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Filet & Bleu Cheese Salad

Southwestern Salad

Chef Salad

Caesar Salad
Gourmet Burgers

Bionic Burger

Bacon Cheeseburger

Poblano Burger

Hamburger

Char Burger

Parmesan Burger

Cheeseburger

Bleu Cheeseburger

Mushroom & Swiss Burger
Southwestern

Filet Mignon Quesadilla

Chicken Quesadilla

Cheese Quesadilla

Tacos

Chicken Enchiladas
Sandwiches

Bionic Chicken

Grilled Chicken Breast

Parmesan Chicken

Bbq Pork Sandwich

Reuben Sandwich

Turkey Reuben

Portabello Garden Grill

Char-crust Chicken

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Jumbo Bratwurst

French Dip

Tilapia Sandwich

Turkey Club
House Favorites

Award Winning Bbq Ribs

Grilled Ribeye Steak

Filet Mignon Medallions

Blackened Pork Chops

Lake Perch

Grilled Tilapia
Desserts

Two Tone Cheese Cake

Chocolate Brownie

Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae

Carrot Cake

Kentucky Derby Pie

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Assembly American Bar & Cafe

Appetizers

Stuffed Potato Skins [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Onion Strings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buffalo Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buffalo Chicken Tenders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stuffed Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pick 3 Sample Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Supreme Nachos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Triangles [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zucchini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soups & Salads

Homemade Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Onion Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Assembly Cobb Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buffalo Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet & Bleu Cheese Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Southwestern Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Gourmet Burgers

Bionic Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bacon Cheeseburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poblano Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hamburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Char Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Parmesan Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheeseburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bleu Cheeseburger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom & Swiss Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Southwestern

Filet Mignon Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Enchiladas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Bionic Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken Breast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Parmesan Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Pork Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Reuben Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Reuben [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portabello Garden Grill [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Char-crust Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jumbo Bratwurst [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tilapia Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Club [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Favorites

Award Winning Bbq Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Ribeye Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filet Mignon Medallions [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blackened Pork Chops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lake Perch [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Tilapia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Two Tone Cheese Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Brownie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carrot Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kentucky Derby Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Hoffman Estates for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 2220 Barrington Rd )

Buffalo Wild Wings ( 2540 New Sutton Rd )

KFC ( 1030 N Roselle Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Hoffman Estates for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 2220 Barrington Rd )

Buffalo Wild Wings ( 2540 New Sutton Rd )

KFC ( 1030 N Roselle Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Christopher D.

In Town for a few days. This was close to my hotel. Came based on Yelp reviews. Ordered just a plain hamburger, and house chips. Fantastic, would definitely return. Burger was huge and actually cooked the way I ordered it. Huge juicy patty on a toasted bun, couldn't eat it all. Server was attentive, but not overly so.
(4)
Laurence K.

Still my favorite burger in Illinois poss the U.S. From sitting at the bar And watching Debbie make your burger while waiting on the rest of her guests it's an art. The Parmesan burger with the fresh grated and melted cheese followed by the garlic butter is to die for Period! Great beers on tap too!! Check it out you won't be disappointed
(5)
Ericka A.

We've been here a handful of times now and the burgers have wavered between acceptable and outstanding, but I'm generally happy with them and appreciate their regularly rotating beers on tap. The Assembly is a close and convenient place to grab a bite with my Mother-in-Law. She typically gets the Grilled Ribeye Steak. It wasn't so impressive the first time around, but she got it with the special "Char-Crust" last time and I felt genuinely jealous of her meal choice since I wasn't sure if I'd like what I ordered that night. Their basic burgers are just that and I'm OK with it. I've also tried the Macaroni & Cheese Burger, but I don't think I saw it on the menu last time. It may have been a specialty item and I can't say as I'm sad to see it go if that's the case. I'm somewhat certain it was Kraft mac on top of an overcooked patty and sandwiched between a dry bun. I get down with the blue box every now and then, but it had no flavor when added to something that substantial. I most recently had the Parmesan Burger and really enjoyed it. I upgraded to the pretzel bun but ended up deconstructing it and eating only the meat and toppings. For some reason the pretzel buns come out dry and are very dense. But it's so much food that you don't miss the bread. Their appetizers are very large and our favorite is the Fried Pickles with their housemade ranch sauce. I was really disappointed at our last trip out here because their giant TV flashed the Yelp logo and asked you to check in on the app before you paid your bill. I hadn't seen a Yelp promo pop up when I checked in before we went inside, so I checked my Yelp Deals page and didn't see anything listed for them there either. We asked our waitress and she had to ask another employee. We were basically told we were mislead by the wordage (at worst) or incorrectly assumed we'd get a discount since it specifically mentioned the bill (at best). In essence, checking in here will do nothing more for you than show others you were there and promoted them, which you could really do at any time before or after the bill. So why mention it? "Don't forget to check in on Yelp!" or "We're on Yelp!" would be more fitting.
(3)
Katy M.

I really wanted to like this place since I heard rave reviews of the burgers but everything seemed like it was very...mediocre. Maybe I went on an off night for them? The waitress wasn't very attentive and the place seemed very understaffed. The food was just okay. I wanted the burgers to be a lot better then they were. I probably won't be back.
(2)
Jason B.

First and foremost, if you have a Yelp special listed, you should honor it. I don't care if "that promotion ended in November" it still shows up on Yelp in March and if your owners are too lazy to go take it off, you should honor the $3 it should have taken off my order. Burger was decent, seems like a burger they pulled out of the freezer and plopped on the grill. Decent grill taste, but no spices, or nothing to differentiate this burger from anywhere else that serves a frozen burger. Service was decent enough, but nothing great or out of the ordinary. Fried pickles were decent, but could have definitely used more breading. In an area with plenty of good restaurants, I see no reason to go back.
(2)
Megan Z.

I've always been a huge fan of The Assembly. However, after my visit today I doubt I'll return again. We stopped in on a quiet Saturday afternoon. We were in the mood for the once excellent potato skins and a cup of French onion soup. We sat in the bar area and ordered our drinks. My guest ordered a beer, I a tomato juice on the rocks. We also ordered a cup of the French onion soup. We waited and waited for our drinks. Guess what, the soup arrived before the drinks. That right there, is a big no no in the restaurant industry. Finally, our drinks magically appeared. The tomato juice tasted like water. Imagine someone adding red dye to a water glass. That was sent back. I was brought a diet Pepsi, flat as can be. That went back as well. Our soup was served hot, yet lacked flavor. There was little to no crouton in the soup. There was plenty of cheese, I'll give them that. However, they should be using Gruyere in place of the bland mozzarella they use. Throughout the meal, our server was MIA. Drinks went dry with no service in sight. Next, we ordered an order of the once amazing potato skins. The plate came with four HALF skins smothered in cheese. Funny thing is, a few years back you would get eight half skins, for $6.99. Now, they cut that in half. Little to no bacon bits on the skins. Very bland and disappointing. Reluctantly, ordered the buffalo chicken tenders. Those too were a huge letdown. Way over cooked with sour food service "blue cheese" dressing. That too, was sent back. I used to be a huge fan of their burger, but did not order it since the food was so disappointing. Sorry, I can't comment on the current state of their burgers. However, I'd assume they cut corners as far as taste and quality there as well. This place used to be my go to spot. If you're looking for food with flavor and good service, head down to the Lucky Monk. That's where all their once loyal customers are. Very disappointed in the decline of the taste and quality of the food. Service was absolutely appalling too. My tip to the owner, get off the wallet and bring the assembly back to the quality you had once prided yourself on. Then, I'll consider visiting again. Two Stars Considering the Manager removed the drinks and buffalo tenders from the bill.
(2)
Nancy S.

My cousin told me about this place and I had to try it. He was right, it's the best burger in the Chicago suburbs, if not all of Chicago! I had the Parmesan/garlic burger with added mozzarella for extra gooey richness. They will customize it any way you like while you watch them making it behind the bar. Top notch ingredients make this a burger you will crave for the rest of your life!
(4)
Robby W.

I stopped in today to grab some food on my way back to the office and got the opportunity to meet Gary, the proprietor of the Assembly. Such a great and genuine gentleman, and he thanked me for my honest review of his establishment. With so many owners of Chicagoland establishments taking an adversarial position towards yelpers, Gary was a breath of fresh air. I took the food to go, as I still had work to do at the office and was forced to eat at my desk, but it was still scrumptious. The kitchen hand delivered my bag of awesome to me and it was complete with all utensils and condiments. To those local to Hoffman Estates or Schaumburg, you really can't go wrong here. Fantastic food and great service.
(4)
Sherwin C.

I was really hoping to be blown away by the food here - but nothing that I tried really stood out. The food wasn't bad, but I've had better burgers and sandwhiches in this $10+ price range. In fact, even within a few hours of eating lunch -- I couldn't pinpoint any entree that left a lasting impression on me. Chicken rice soup bowl - This came out lukewarm, in a decent sized bowl. The chicken was a little overcooked, the broth lacked body to it, and the vegetables didn't do much to add flavor. Pulled pork - Lots of meat, but wasn't a huge fan of the sauce. A bit too sweet and didn't really go great with the pork -- the meat was prepared pretty well though. Burgers - None of them really stood out much for me. The meat was ordered medium rare but was cooked closer to medium to medium-well (closer to pink than red and really didn't have much juices flowing out). The Char didn't taste too different from a normal burger, the flavor of the onions failed to make much of an impression. The Philly had a bit more flavor but really more because of the satueed peppers than anything else. Could really have used more seasoning to bring out a more hearty flavor. The parmesan I was expecting to be very rich and greasy/butter in flavor. Even this really didn't have a lot of flavor even with a highly visible coating. Tator tots, fries, waffle fries, housemade chips - Normally I wouldn't lump all the sides into a single category but these were so basic there's nothing particuarly interesting to mention about any of these. The cole slaw was pretty good though -- creamy and a good amount of flavor (really more flavorful than the burgers). But that's not a strong reason to visit the restaurant. Overall, the food is okay -- forgettable but prepared decently. I might visit if I'm in the area but I wouldn't make a special trip here.
(3)
Jake B.

Was going to place an order to be picked up. Wanted to order a burger b/c I've enjoyed them in the past. I call and the lady says there is a .50 cent charge to place a phone order or it's free if I do it online. Yes it's only .50 cents but screw that. There shouldn't be a charge to place an order for pick up that's ridiculous! I'm the one driving to get it, paying for the over priced food and spending my time. Why should I have to pay to pick it up? They just lost a customer
(2)
Donna S.

Hands down the best burger I've ever had! We like to sit at the bar and watch the game, but you also get to watch your burger being cooked! It has to be at least a half pound burger--choice of regular sesame bun, marble rye, or pretzel bun and then of course whatever you want to top it. Their house specialty for the burgers is a mushroom/onion sherry reduction sauce. They recently changed one of their sides---you can have potato salad, waffle fries, tots, or now homemade chips YUM! You also get a small side of cole slaw and baked beans. Really don't need a side at all. We've had a few other things from the menu, but the burger is a must!
(5)
Steven H.

Holy Shit! I'm a city guy, born and raised. And this little suburban joint kicks everyone's ass! Giant Greasy burgers covered in whatever the f*** you want on your choice or bread with a choice of sides and... an arctic cold Miller light Draft to wash it Down. The staff is your mom's age so their working hard, the place is Dimly lit and surrounded by TV's... Burgers and beer the AMERICAN way.
(5)
Jessica H.

This is one of the places where I take friends and folks from out of town. It may look something like a dive from the outside but the food is all delicious. Burgers are a definite must, however, make sure you order it a step more cooked than you usually do. For example, since I prefer my meat medium rare I order it medium. This ensures my bun is not totally disinergrated by the time I get halfway through. The chicken sandwich is also great, always juicy, never dry. I am not a fan of bbq so I order the honey mustard with extra so I can dip sweet potato fries in it. My husband swears by their french onion soup and Reubens, my co-workers won't try anything other than the parmesan burger, my friend's mom visiting from Indiana (told you I take everyone) loved the bloody mary, and my vegetarian BFF said that her last meal would include the fried zucchini. Favorites of mine include the turkey club, fried pickles or filet mignon quesadilla. This is also the only place (other than a school cafeteria) where I've seen tator tots offered (and so much better than a school cafeteria, any of them). I used to crave their cobb salad but awhile ago they changed their plates to triangles and the portion isn't as big anymore. I'm probably greedy but just don't feel like the value is as good for the salads anymore. All other portions are very generous. I don't drink so can't say much about the beer or alcohol situation although no one I have ever taken has complained about it. I have also never had their desserts because we are always too full, but the friendly servers have said on more than one occasion that they're home made which is a plus in my book. Best burger ever? Definitely in my top 3 and most certainly the most convenient in the Hoffman /Schaumburg area. Really solid food and friendly service? Heck yeah. Check it out!
(5)
Caren C.

Always a fan of the Assembly, but this time it left me with a bad taste in my mouth...... We were three girlfriends and a 21 year old visitor from Germany, out for dinner. The visitor from Germany is here doing a college internship in neighboring Schaumburg. Two of the ladies ordered the daily drink special.....our German guest decided to try one for the first time. She produced two German government issued pieces of identification - both with her birthdate clearly marked in English - stating that she was over 21. The server had to receive an "ok" from the manager to serve the German guest. However, the manager required her to produce her actual passport. Our guest does not carry her passport on her, to avoid it being lost or stolen. The manger said it was their "policy"...even though it wasn't "posted", and implying that the Village could be performing a "test" operation on them. REALLY? This was just four ladies going out for dinner.................
(2)
Jeka M.

Exactly what you'd expect! Friendly neighborhood place with good food. Decent service, above average ribs / burgers!
(3)
Greg L.

We tried this place years ago and thought it was ok, last night we went back with our three sons to try it again. Well....we won't be taking anyone else. First, our server Patti, she was good, might have taken her a bit to take our order after the apps and drinks order but that was ok. Once we got going she made sure we were ok so for her a solid 4 stars! IT was hot in the restaurant, now it was hot outside no problem, but I was sweating sitting in the back...there was a fly or flies buzzing around that just made the meal a little off. NOW don't get me wrong the meal was tasty, though my one son did have an issue with his bun falling apart and the owner did come over and told us our server should have suggested another type of bun, that was ok. When we got home within an hour we were all getting sick...now we can't be sure it was the fault of the food, though that was the only thing that we ate in common that day. I'm going to keep an open mind but watching my kids get sick was not putting me in my happy place. They are much better this morning as are my wife and I, now she wasn't as bad but she didn't have a burger like the rest of us...all in all we won't be going back. I know they are an established restaurant in the area and we pass them no less than twice a day so I will chalk this one up to bad for us, hopefully good for everyone else.
(1)
Mr T.

I originally came here because I had to take a dump, but got a burger while I was here. As I said I crept in here clenching hoping to pinch a loaf and jet but after I was on empty I decided why not refill! Their bathroom was sort of dark and I usually hate bathrooms where I can hear other dudes lose a few pounds but this wasn't as bad as the Starbucks across the street, Christ that bathroom was like a steam bath. I'm assuming because of all the coffee trots people leave there. So after I brought the Cleveland Browns to the Super Bowl, I strained up an appetite so I stayed, I sat at the bar and decided I haven't been drunk in 8 hours so I got a long island ice tea, I hated that it pretty much all came out of a premix which the thought of that made me wanna shoot myself but I tried it cause I'm a great drinker and I needed to relax a bit after all that anger dropping I just did. Ya know what, it wasn't so bad. I've had worse I used to drink straight tequila, talk about your bathroom trips...Yikes! After I was knee deep in booze I ordered a bacon cheese burger on a pretzel bun and fries. The bar tender made my burger, I was happy to see they didn't cut corners on the food like they did on the booze. I like my food like I like my woman, greasy! It didn't let me down, either did the cutie who tried picken me up and bringing me to the LaQuinta for a buck and a quarter... We're talking high class! Oh man I can't describe enough just how very hot thick and juicy the meat was and at one point the juices dribbled down my chin but enough about the after party. This was a very well rounded meal. I am excited to say I'll be back and told many other people so far how good this experience was. I can't believe I have never tried them before! I feel like I've missed out! Everything here was really not as bad as I thought it was going to be especially after tripping over the folks in line to lose money at the slots machine the food and booze were good but considering what else I've put in my mouth maybe I'm not one you should listen to. Now to do a review on LaQuinta.... There towels don't clean up anything!
(4)
John L.

I was seated quickly and in a very friendly manner to a clean quiet space in the bar. I had quick, kind service, good recommendations, and a generally pleasant dining experience due to an always-smiling young waitress whose name escapes me. I do not eat hamburgers very often, but given the raving reviews for the burgers here, I decided to try their classic char burger, and it was amazing: juicy, crisp, perfectly cooked and accompanied by bacon, swiss cheese and sautÃ©ed onions, served on an optional pretzel bun. I started with the chili, which was also delicious. I especially liked that I was able to get fruit on the side instead of their fries, tater tots, and other choices. They sounded delicious, but the burger was quite enough calories for a single meal. More likely half the day. The price was very reasonable for the fare, about $20. I was here on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, but I can imagine that on a Friday night, this is the place to be. I can see why The Assembly gets such rave reviews, and while the food is good, I felt welcomed, and that is not nearly as common as a good sandwich.
(5)
Tracy P.

I called The Assembly on a Saturday night to order a salad to pick up. I was excited to try their chef salad that is currently on their online menu but was then informed that they no longer have the chef salad because 'it was the only item they used ham for and it was a waste'. I was also asked why I did not choose to place my order via their online system. I explained I did not know that was an option because this was my first time ordering from them and was told "yea, we are trying to get everyone to use the online system because it really takes away from service when we have to take an order on a Friday or Saturday night on the phone" Disgusted with the service so far i tried to swallow my anger and asked if she recommended any other salad. She named a few including a buffalo salad that i was interested in and when i asked her about it she just said she's never had it. ( Which is fine, but she could have mentioned what was in it) I order the buffalo salad and she takes my credit card information...the whole time almost yelling at me because she mentions she's taking the order in her office and she can barely hear anything. Lastly, she tells me it would be ready in about 20 minutes and proceeds to hang up before i stop her and ask her "Don't you need my name?" She then explains that since I once again am the ONLY one that called in my order that she would know it was me. Overall, my experience just trying to order a salad to-go was terrible i cannot even imagine what the service to dine-in is like.
(2)
Dan L.

Talk about a traditional pub and grub, The Assembly is quintessential. You can get a serious burger and a pint. But if you really want a treat, snag the filet and bleu steak salad. Best price in all of Chicagoland. Cooked to order perfectly every time, this dish is hidden from the crowds at this local tavern. Every time I bring someone new they are stunned that they've never been here sooner. From fish n' chips to onion rings, from homemade soups to fresh potato salad and cole slaw, The Assembly has something for everyone. Love the hospitality and fare.
(5)
Allyson E.

So as we made the trek from the city into the north suburbs to pick over the discarded remnants of my friend's childhood home, her father calls to say he was still running errands and it would be a while before he met us. My friend turns to me and suggests this establishment for a beer before her father arrives. Fortunately, he arrives to meet us at the storage unit so we didn't have the beer beforehand. I say fortunately because the experience would have been very different. After a game of furniture Tetris in a clown car, this was the right choice. This place is obviously a local gem. We chose to eat at the bar, but there is a dining room. Stacy was our bartender & Jim manned the grill. When we sat at the bar, Stacy gave us the most genuine smile, and took our drink orders. When she returned with the drinks, she gave a round of introductions to the others working in her station. Stacy was sweet & spoke to you with the ease of an old friend. Jim was a beast on the grill. The thing about sitting at the bar is that you get to watch every burger go onto an open flame grill. And, honestly, what's sexier than meat and fire? You can watch as red and orange flames reach through the grates of the grill to caress 10 oz patties. We're not talking about the flare ups when your uncle barbecues in the backyard and turns what was once beautiful flesh into burnt leather. No, this is the gentle build up of passion between lovers that eventually and naturally crescendos into flame, which brings me to the food itself. This establishment is famous for its burgers. A lot of places claim a good burger, but very few deliver. The Assembly makes one of the best burgers I have experienced in my life. The ground beef they use is beautiful. The flavor makes it obvious that before old Bessie was on my plate, she lived a happy life, and Jim prepared her with the deference she deserved. I like my burgers medium rare which is a sometimes trying experience. Jim cooked it perfectly & timed it with my less primal carnivorous friends so that all four of our burgers arrived at the same time to the doneness we specified. There was silence where there had been girlish gossip once we each took our first bites. I could have been struck down after my first bite and I would have died happy. From what I can gather, pretty much everything they make is going to be delicious. From their appetizers we got fried pickles, onion strings & mozzarella triangles -all were wins ( the fried pickles the biggest winner). The menu offers a lot and I wish we could have spent a few weeks going item by item. The only thing I would recommend against are the French fries or waffle fries. Get the tater tots instead. It is obvious why this place has been around for as long as it has. There was a steady line during peak dinner hours while we were there. Everyone was friendly, including the manager (maybe owner?) clad in a tight cheetah print top and black pants who suddenly appear to check on how we were enjoying our experience. It was almost cartoonish in that one moment there was nothing, and then there she was. Her concern was genuine, albeit her manner a little odd, but endearing. If you happen to be in the north suburbs, or you decide "heck yeah, let's make a trip for free furniture," go to The Assembly. If it's probably going to be your only visit, get the fried pickles and a burger with tater tots. Don't even look on the other side of the menu because it will only lead to heartache. If you can, sit at the bar. Watch Jim cook your meat, laugh a bit with Stacy, and enjoy. *There was another bartender there, too who was also friendly, but I unfortunately forgot her name.
(5)
John S.

Have been to this busy place multiple times in the past few years and have been satisfied, though never blown away by awesome quality. I was very disappointed today for lunch! The medium burger I ordered was completely well done with no juices left. Thus the meat was void of much flavor having had it cooked out. The sesame seed bun seemed beyond a few days old. The 20. tab for a burger, soft drink and tip not value worthy. I would of been much more satisfied at Portillo's for under 8.00. As a former Chef and food service professional I do know food more than the average person, and cannot wholeheartedly recommend The Assembly American Bar & Cafe. Furthermore, I do not plan to return again.
(1)
Debbie C.

I have not been here in over 10 years. I have to say they have remained consistent. I remember the chili tasting the same. And the side of coleslaw and mushroom sauce with my burger. The burger is big and tasted good. I should have paid an extra dollar for a better bun. But really they charge a dollar bun upgrade?! The place is cute and great service. The restaurant was busy. A good place to have dinner before a movie down the street at the AMC.
(4)
Anna H.

Haven't been here in years.. But boy did I love the burger, tots and fried pickles!! Service was an A++ love Stacey, Jim @ the grill and .. Becky?? So sorry forgot your name after my food coma..but Love u all!! So personal and way to sell us the good stuff!! Looking forward to my next visit!!
(5)
Ross P.

It's dark and scary in the Assembly but that doesn't matter when you get such a rocking burger. I'm always down for a crock of French onion soup too. Great beer selection, the in house "micro-beer" is so so. Overall a pretty good value, don't let the looks scare you. IMHO sit in the bar, not the dining room.
(4)
L K.

I am addicted to their Mushroom Swiss Burger on a pretzel bun!!! This is a restaurant that always aims to please. Welcoming staff and plenty of locals frequent this restaurant/bar.
(5)
Timothy B.

I have driving by this place 100s of times finally went in Friday 5/23. I had read reviews of the Bionic Burger and the French Onion soup. Let me say this, the reviews don't quite do it justice. The Assembly looks like your typical sports bar/pub. Maybe a little older looking, but that is fine. It gives it character. The smell of wood smoke inside is welcoming, not strong (and I will walk out of places that are too smoky). Here it is like an appetizer, you know if you food is cooked on that it will be good. I read a review for their French Onion soup and it is indeed really, really good. Is it the best? I don't know. But it is certainly in my top 3, and the best I have had for twice the price. The Bionic Burger is mess. A wonderful tasty mess. I the onions, cheese and bacon melt to form this perfect crown on 10oz of beef. The burger beef was good all on it's own. The mushroom-cherry sauce (on the side) was fun and added a nice little hint of "other" to the burger. I got the sesame seed bun, I think next time I will opt for the pretzel bun. We also had at our table a regular burger and a bacon cheese burger. All very, very excellent. I went with the waffle fires, but others got the tater tots. The tots were better. Our waitress, Patti, was very good. Quick, attentive, let us know about all the specials and options. Quick on the drink refills and getting our table cleared. Perfect professional. All in all a great choice and I think they are secure in their claim as having the best burgers in the Northwest suburbs.
(5)
Annie M.

We came here for a quick burger and draft pint last night. Everything was great! We got there just in time to order food before the grill behind the bar closed. The bartenders and servers were fantastic in accommodating us. Try the new grapefruit ale they have on draft. It is delicious! Also, best burgers in town! Will definitely be coming back!!!!
(5)
Morgan H.

Tonight was my first night at The Assembly, and I had been meaning to try it based on referral. I ordered the Parmesan Garlic burger, and literally it is up there with some of the best burgers I've ever had. It was phenomenal. My friend ordered one with peppers, bacon and onions and that was equally as good. Perfect cool temperatures on the meat, and we are sticklers for that. The best part, the bartenders knew how to make a good Long Island, that is hard to find. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Debra R.

Hands down our favorite burgers (at the bar). We have been coming here for many years- and it has always been my "litmus" for other burgers. They huge and flavorful with great seasonings and toppings. Fries come from the kitchen- sometimes are little off in the timing- but I really love their sweet potato fries. Saturday evenings- you cannot get a seat at the bar and the wait for dining tables is also long- a good sign of good food. I must confess I really have not had much else than the French Onion soup, chili and burgers- I can't stop myself from the burgers! Debbie and Ryan are both great bartenders and cooks- but really everyone is very nice. Sitting at the bar is a must for these burgers- the ones from the kitchen are good as well- but the bar is da bomb!
(5)
Joel M.

After reading many reviews of this establishment, I decided to give a couple of visits before reviewing. I am sorry I did. I am a fan of this place. It is right up my alley. My first visit, I ordered the Char Burger medium rare with the pretzel bun (after an earlier review, I was ready to ask for it out of the blue, but the bartender had the whole list of options ready). I was leery after watching the amount of seasoning was being applied but those concerns were soon to be discarded. The cheese was nicely melted on the grill, for my coveting view, under the dome of a small grill lid. My only demerit would be the bacon did not get enough time on the grill itself to release some of the wonderfulness hidden in the recesses of the delightful, wavy, marbled edges of flavor filled fat. The burger was rather juicy, hot and very tasty. The right amount of fat from the burgar worked with the application of seasoning to work itself into a hungry turned satisfied belly. I dug in as soon as I was allowed and was wondering about my fries, which came from the kitchen right after I was served the burger. I could tell they were not as fresh from the fryer as my burger and felt they needed to be eaten rather quickly to gain any tasteful satisfaction.(this is my 3.50 star review.) My next visit, nearly 2 weeks later, I decided for a lighter affair than the first. I ordered the reuben sandwich with fries. I feel I had chosen wisely. The corned beef was perfectly done as well as the kraut and cheese delightfully covering it whilst caressing the sides until creating a protective stance upon my plate. It was juicy and flavorful to the end. The fries, this time, came upon the plate with the sandwich. I do not know if they attempt to time up all the dishes to appear at the same time or just make a batch when they make a batch. The reason I question it is that these fries obviously came right out of the fryer. You may say, "that is a good thing, right?" As a former cook, it is not. It means I was lucky, because the guy next to me who ordered a little later, had the same quality of fires I had my first visit. It is a time saving technique but often backfires on slow days and hurts with critical assessments. But, I am being too nit picky. I still give an overall 4 on this place. The service along with the follow through of the staff and the quality of the main fair overcomes the short comings of the side, in my opinion. This is a solid place and I will be back as often as I can.
(4)
Persimmon V.

GREAT servers and bartenders. Nothing special, but fantastic burgers cooked EXACTLY how you order it. Perfect fries. Strong jack and diet cokes. And, when the snow is falling gently, it's a nice haven when you've traveled 2000 miles to see family. The local team is always on the tube.
(4)
Rick G.

I had lunch there on 7/20/2014 the food was very good. I had a cheeseburger with tater tots my only complaint about the meal is that I wanted a few more tater tots. The cheeseburger was awesome. The waitress kind of forgot about us and we had to wait a bit for her to take our order. Other than that everything was great
(4)
Howell W.

I heard they have have great burgers. Unfortunately I had a 20 year old with our party. They told us only 21 plus at bar. Can't even stand behind us. They told us was after we ordered our first round. Also heard food sucks if not at bar.
(2)
Jennifer M.

There is good reason why this restaurant is still in business after 30+ years! Good atmosphere, great service, best burgers! When I'm not sure about something, I tend to go conservative. They have a decent selecdtion on their menu but I was focused on trying a hamburger. All burgers are 10oz, cooked your way and about $1 an ounce. I asked for a cheeseburger. It arrives without lettuce, onion and tomato. Just a side of pickles. Yes, with downward fist motion towards abdomen, my favorite condiment on a cheeseburger! A cheeseburger comes with choice of cheddar, American or Swiss cheese. I upgraded my regular bun and choice of side off their list for a pretzel bun and seasoned waffle fries. The fries had too much salt sprinkled on them! Jason ordered from their Sunday Specials' board: Texas BBQ Chicken sandwich with an upgrade of waffle fries. Free refills on Pepsi and Iced Tea. For $35, it was money well spent on lunch! We'll definitely be back to enjoy the wood paneling, really good food, friendly service and sports. While you're waiting for your food, be sure to check out the last page of their food placard on the table. You'll find a funny snippet from an episode of "Cheers!" which will help you justify why drinking beer is a very good thing, indeed!
(4)
Anthony R.

What a disappointment. Me, my wife, a friend and two kids ate for $90!!!? What a let down. 3 under seasoned burgers and two bowls of boxed Mac n cheese for the kids plus 3 beers should not cost even close to a hundo. This place doesnt live up to the hype.
(2)
Amelia I.

You can def tell this place used to be BIG on smokers! The smell is still in the walls and it caused me to get a migraine. HOWEVER, the food was pretty damn good. I liked my burger though it was under cooked for my liking. But mmmm tater tots won me over! I would eat here again next time in the area, burgers are about the same size as Lucky Monk though do feel 'meatier'. Maybe its an extra ounce or two of meat? I did feel like the mushrooms on the burger were canned...which I hate. Worth the wait for the burgers and sides/ little coleslaw. (totally tasted like KFC!) We sat in the bar area and it was a tad loud for my liking. You could tell some people are regulars just by how the managers interact with them. A lady did check in on us which I thought was nice. Cost wise for two meals, app, desert, and a drink was around 50 bucks. Not bad though the carrot cake has WAY too many raisins, and some kind of weird glaze I didn't like.
(4)
Phil C.

My mama always told me, "if you can't say anything nice - don't say anything at all." With that sentiment in mind let me keep this short and to the point. I have been visiting the Assembly since 1996 and lived through its ownership changes and year after year it was a "must go" destination for good food and at one time, micro brews! The appetizers arrived and unfortunately they were average at best. The Assembly has always been known for their amazing Chili. Some how they have managed to screw up this classic of staple on the menu. The Chili was less dense, flavorful and was rather soupy. We then ordered the Char Burger, Bionic Burger, and two Cheeseburgers. All came rare...too rare (almost) to eat. The grilled onions were barely grilled and they were served up on cafeteria white buns. WTF!?! The server never even offered Marble Rye, Pretzel or any other bread option. Do they even have those options any longer? What was once a GREAT must GO to place, has now devolved into a "so so" restaurant...at best. . The ambiance of the place remains pretty much the same, the bathrooms were VERY clean (so that shows someone is paying attention) and they now have Video Gaming so if you are into that, and less concerned about the quality of food, this place may be an option for you. After spending $115.00 for lunch for food and drinks (Guinness, Stella, Cokes) I didn't leave feeling like I got my monies worth. Far from it... I think this is good bye and good riddance.
(2)
Terance M.

$17 for nachos. .. whoa!! The nachos were horrible.
(1)
Chris S.

Unbelievable burgers, 10 ounces of deliciousness, one of the very few places that if you order a rare burger you get a rare burger not medium rare. For the best experience you have to sit at the bar, that's definitely not a knock on the waiting staff, it's that they cook your burger right in front of you on their grill.
(4)
Blanca B.

I've dined here before but recently I've done pick up and for the past two times I have not received all of my change or even full change. The first time it was about 46 cents I didn't really care, it was 46 cents after all. The second time the manager helped me and it was a dollar she also didn't give me my receipt so I wouldn't notice, but I can do math. What really bothers me is not that it's just a dollar and a few cents but the fact that they keep what's not theirs. It seems like it's done on purpose too because the two times it was slow to say that they were busy and made an honest mistake and the POS system also tells the total and change that is due. I'm not worried about getting my money stolen next time because there won't be a next time. Honesty is the best policy! As far as the food, the burgers are not as good as they say if you want a great burger visit meatheads in Willow Brook worth the drive. The chili is okay they use slices of cheese as opposed to shredded cheese which doesn't melt as well and it also doesn't really help when the chili is luck warm. Also the menu online is not up to date so expect to read the menu once you get there. If you're looking to get wowed this is not the place.
(1)
Rachel O.

This place was right across from the hotel i was staying at and i usually order delivery from grubhub.com but i decided to venture from my room because of the sign out front "worlds best burgers!" I thought this was a really ballsy statement so I, the consumer, needed to decide for myself! It is kinda dark and warm inside but the smells are enticing! My waitress was super friendly and made some great suggestions! I ordered the bacon cheese burger, medium-rare and it was cooked perfectly! They give you a delicious mushroom-onion sauce that seeps into the meat which was juicy and tender. I don't know if it's the best burger in the world but it's the best burger i'v ever had! I'v had better fries but they have so many side choices it doesn't matter! if youre in the area, stop by and give them a try!
(5)
Mike F.

This is a very cool place - good food, grill behind the bar (kind of cool), always busy.
(5)
Lana P.

Great Burgers and great place to hang with friends. Atmosphere is cozy and food is always good. I love the mushroom swiss burger. The zucchini appetizer is a must. It's becoming a regular hang out for me. It's just one of those places that you feel at home at. I like that it's not your typical chain restaurant, and hope it stays that way. The staff is so nice. We always request Kara; she is just the best. She makes us feel at home and is the perfect combination of being attentive and giving us time to chat. I'd give it 5 stars, but the coziness may translate to dinghy/needs a little extra cleaning to some. Plus they took my enchiladas away!!
(4)
Jo R.

Besides resembling a round spaceship, the Assembly is pretty nondescript from the outside. It is very 1980's inside and out. I felt like I walked into a time warp and should have teased my hair big. When I came on Sunday night, I first saw some video game machines. Upon walking in further, I noticed a pretty empty dining and bar area. Without much chattering going on, I was able to hear the 1980's music that played all night--lots of Journey, Duran Duran, etc. As I waited to order, I noticed very old 70's paneling throughout the restaurant and lots of flat screen televisions conveniently located. Now on to the food and drinks. I ordered a mimosa which was excellent--strong orange and champagne taste. The appetizer I had was the fried zucchini, which tasted a lot like potato chips. It was served with Parmesan cheese sprinkled over it. It was enjoyable, but I'm not going to rave about it. Since the Assembly is known for having a great burger, I decided to order a plain hamburger and judge for myself. As my side dish, I chose the french fries. The burger came with a wine sauce on the side, as well as very fresh and perfectly chopped raw onion, tomato, and lettuce. The burger itself was gargantuan. I ordered it cooked medium and it was very soft and pink inside; the meat almost fell apart. It was very meaty, and I think the wine sauce added a nice touch. Definitely a great burger but not my all-time favorite. Nonetheless, I think I will return to the Assembly. The menu contains a great variety of items and many different burgers.
(3)
Phil S.

I've been coming to this place for several years now as I live in the area but it wasn't until about a year ago that a friend had me try the burgers that were cooked to order at the bar. Now I'm hooked and only fill my burger cravings here. I've tried a few of their burger varieties but I always go back to their Char Burger. Cooked right in front of you if you sit and order at the bar. Special char seasoning sprinkled on before charred to perfection on searing hot gas powered steel open grill. It is served with their special mushroom sherry wine sauce. Wash that monster burger down with some of their micro brew or your favorite beer and you will be absolutely content. I've had better burgers before but this place is close to me and world class. Their ribs are fantastic as well if you like the kind that fall right off the bones and they are well known for them. This place will forever be a local favorite of mine.
(4)
Eric C.

probably the best burgers I have ever had. They frequently offer fun special burgers which aren't on their main menu. my wife and I have eaten here twice so far and we will definitely be back. the first time we went all out, I got a rack of ribs (tender and flavorful) my wife got the parmesan garlic burger which she ordered on a pretzel roll (omg amazing!) we also had their stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and split a piece of carrot cake for dessert. although the carrot cake was a bit dry it had good flavor, we left with a to-go box because the portions are good...we felt the prices were very reasonable. the second time we went we kept it simple, we both ordered a burger they had on special...mine was a Philly burger (like a Philly cheese steak) hers was called the bacon and egg burger....her bacon and egg burger was out of this world good! I thought the Philly burger was pretty good, but not as excellent as the other ones we had. They have a great bar and video gaming if you're into that, we came for the food. the food and prices are amazing and the staff is ...well, at least they are friendly^^ the pictures I'm posting are from our second visit...it's the Philly burger and the bacon and egg burger.
(4)
Kellie M.

Is the bartender cooking for everyone? Chili is good. Very interesting place. Waitstaff was nice. The place was packed on a Friday night and we still got seated! Great food for the price - very reasonable. We will definitely be back for burgers!
(4)
Cat C.

Despite having good food, the service is terrible Would not take an order over the phone even though their online ordering system was down. Not a good way to treat customers and I won't go back. Ridiculous and not smart business practice.
(2)
Mike K.

Huge Burgers, Friendly staff, Great Dark beer,, but the best was the Derby Pie dessert.... Pecans, Chocolate and a touch of Jack... ( I think.. lol) I vote it the best dessert,,,, My son (17 ) said its the second best dessert behind Coach's Corner's Pizzokie (Pizza Cookie) ,,, Just save room for Dessert.... The prices have gone up a bit,, look to spend about $40,, with a few beers.... Ha ha they changed the shape of the plates to triangular,, not a good idea.. 2 thumbs down on those... but I still go back....
(5)
Michelle F.

This is the type of place I have passed a million times and never thought to go into until it was recommended by a friend. And then I was like "oooooh, yeah, I know that place" My husband, kids, and I went here on a Sunday evening around 6:30. Although the parking lot was more crowded than I've seen it, we got seated right away--a big plus in my book. It seemed like a comfy atmosphere--there were couples, families, birthday parties, a bar area. It just seemed like everyone was having a great time! So let's start with the nachos. In my expert nacho opinion, they're not really worth it. The chips got soggy really quickly, and the chips were just "meh". My husband is not as picky about nachoes, and even he said they were just 'ok". He did LOVE their house brewed beer, though! For our meals, I got the Southwestern Salad, which was REALLY good!! The lettuce was crisp and fresh, and I liked the blackening on the chicken. And there was no skimping on the chicken, here, either!! My husband ordered the Poblano burger, and it had NO spiciness to it, which he was very disappointed with. He likes spicy things! The kids meal was SUPER cheap. I think it was $3 and it came with a drink, macaroni and cheese, and garlic bread. Which my daughter loved all of! Don't expect gormet mac n cheese, though, I believe it was Kraft. But soooo worth not having to cook. Ok, now do yourself a favor. If you go here, try the mousse. Seriously. Go now. Eat the mousse. It is so light and fluffy and flavorful. My husband is not really into desserts, and he thought it was awesome. So go mousse it up! But the good (not fantastic food), great service (I could have put our waitress in my pocket, she was so cute) and good ambience makes this restaurant a four-star experience!!
(4)
Al D.

Returned to the Assembly Friday night. We had Ainsley as our server. She was very attentive and friendly. She felt like an old friend. The food was great. I had the the Black and Blue salad and the filet was tender and plentiful. My wife had the fried perch which as good as it gets. This is one of our favorite restaurants in our restaurant rotation. Great food, great service and a friendly atmosphere.
(5)
Derek R.

OH YEA!!!!! I finally got a burger cooked the way I asked, I can't believe it. This place was absolutely packed and for good reason. My burger was great. The onion straws were great. My wife ordered the cheesey potato soup and that was great. The coleslaw was great. The potato salad was great. The waffle fries were great. I'm starting to see a trend here, oh yea, the beers were cold and great as well. Think it can get better? It can, the service was excellent. We had Jim O. and for as busy as this guy was we felt as though we were his only customer. I never remember a server's name but Jim is the exception! My wife and I have lived in the area for over a year and this was the first time we tried it. We had talked about The Assembly before but we hadn't gone in because of how the outside looks. Also the advertising of the video gaming had turned me off. Well don't let these things stop you. DO IT!
(5)
Rose D.

The Assembly has been around forever and is a good option over the string of chain restaurants at the Barrington & Higgins intersection. I'm not saying their food is amazing, but it's good stuff and far superior to whatever you would get at Chili's or TGI Fridays (don't get me started!). Their burgers are quite good and I've had some of the best ribs ever here. I've even had some soups which I found surprisingly delicious for a local bar & grill. Their fish fry isn't anything to write home about, just "okay"..frozen breaded fish fried up for you - definitely not fresh. The staff is always nice and the place is usually busy during peak times, both at the bar and in the dining areas.
(3)
Robert R.

I really enjoyed this place! We came here for the bar last night, but clearly this is a restaurant well known for it's good food. The place was packed but it seemed that everyone was being seated in a timely manner. We were lucky enough to find a few seats open at the bar (the only two vacant seats we'd seen available all night) and were waited on immediately despite the full house. The genius of this place lies in the massive grill they have right behind the bar to grill up orders for those seating there immediately. I'm sure it makes for a lot of work for the bartenders who are cooking up the grub, but the patrons benefit since they get their food faster and hotter than average, too! The atmosphere is cool (I think, anyway) because it reminds me of one of my parents' generation supper clubs. Old school character mixed with friendly service and good food earns four stars from me every time. Check it out for yourself and see if you don't agree!
(4)
Erik H.

Ok well obviously the best time to go to The Assembly is over Halloween, when they go all out with the decorating. At least, for a restaurant. Adorable. The draft list is pretty standard bar fare, and they were out of their special so I ended up with a 312. Could be worse. My dinner was a bacon cheeseburger which I was pleasantly surprised to find was thick, pink, flavorful and overall just delicious. Well done, guys! I mean medium rare, amiright?! It was served with their "special" mushroom onion sherry wine sauce which was, quite honestly, bad. Not a dealbreaker though as it comes on the side. The Assembly is a very good option for Hoffman Estaters looking for a tasty (if uninspiring) burger mixed with holiday kitsch.
(4)
Gerry T.

This place ranked in the top 20 Hamburger places per Chicago Magazine. Just 5 to 10 minutes away from Ikea and Woodfield Mall, they serve the biggest and tastiest burgers. Great food and service, we've never had to wait for a table.
(4)
Christina B.

Living in the area I've been here a few times over the course of several years. I have never dissapointed and to be honest, in my opinion, best burgers in the area. I also had the fried pickles for an apetizer, definitely good food and very reasonably priced!
(4)
George B.

This is going to be a short review... Excellent burgers and reubins! Pretty good beer selections. Unfortunately the coffee they serve tastes like instant coffee.
(5)
J M.

The waffle fries and the carrot cake! Those are the two menu offerings from the Assembly that really draw me in. I know I'm supposed to be talking up the burgers, but for me, these two things are all I need! I'm really not much of a burger consumer, but my husband really is. I usually get one of their great salads (the Southwestern is my favorite) and a side of their waffle fries. That sounds strange, yes, but I don't feel as guilty eating the fries if I am having a salad along with them. Same thing goes for the carrot cake - I tell myself, you had salad - salad - salad - you can have the decadent, fattening carrot cake. And more on that carrot cake.....it's simply divine. The first time I ordered it, I wasn't expecting to be completely bowled over, since The Assembly is basically known for burgers. To date, this is the best carrot cake I have had anywhere. The moistness of the cake is superb, the mixture of flavors and spices is a party for your taste buds, and the frosting is fluffy heaven. Truly a weakness of mine, I can't go here and NOT get this dessert.
(4)
Tj P.

Gonna keep this one short & sweet... Best burgers around. Ribs are great too. Waitstaff was very nice. Good prices. Basically all you could expect from an old neighborhood bar/restaurant. Went their with my young nieces and nephews once & they easily accommodated our little group. Highchairs and all.
(4)
Nora V.

We were recently in the area & were told to visit the Assembly that they had great beef. We thought ok that's a place to try a burger. We chose a bar seat vs a table & got dinner & a show. Deb cooks up a mighty good burger on that gril in the center of the bar. It was cooked perfectly & the wings that came out of the kitchen were pretty tastey too. Big thumbs up.
(4)
Rhiannon K.

The best burgers in the NW burbs. 'Nuf said. Good salads and entrees. Great appetizers. I love the zucchini!
(4)
Roberta W.

Back in January I wrote that I was disappointed that the waffle fries were no longer on the menu. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are now back. Thank you!! Great decision. Also, had great service from Sue tonight. She's a gem.
(4)
Chris C.

Really wanted to rate them higher, and in previous trips here I've had no complaints, but had to comment following my most recent visit. A few gems from tonight: - took me 10 mins to be acknowledged after sitting down at the bar for a drink - took another 15 mins after finishing the first beer to be acknowledged for a refill/request a menu - took another 15-20 mins to ask what we wanted to order - watched the bartender/cook handle the following things, in succession, and without washing their hands: cash, liquor bottle, raw beef, a hamburger bun. - guy next to me waited 15+ mins at the (now near empty) bar to be acknowledged for an food or drink order, and only after he flagged down a passing waiter to talk into taking his order
(1)
Rob R.

Fun little place to good. Burgers are great and beers are cold. You have to have the Bleu burger!
(4)
Bradley P.

I you are looking for a bunch of chicken fingers, look no further! This place is known for their wings! Because of the classiness of this eatery, it has great noise level! 4 star. Overall.
(4)
Patricia S.

It's definitely not a place for food snobs... but for the suburbs this is down right amazing. The burgers are amazing and the prices reasonable. I come here partially because of the service... no scripted greetings or server introductions... just genuinely nice people trying to serve you best they can. The food is better than your average bar food restaurant here in the suburbs like you would find at places like fox and hounds down the street, and it is definitely made to order.
(4)
Doug M.

I've always liked The Assembly. They have great burgers, and awesome chili. Sit at the bar and you can watch them cook your food right in front of you. I love when they place the crock of chili on the grill and it becomes almost molten and they'll add peppers and onions if desired. They recently installed video poker games but they were not activated at the time of this review.
(4)
Laurie D.

Our favorite place! You must start with potato skins! I've never had skins so full & cheesy before! We usually grab a burger & fries, but have been ordering the filet mignon quesadillas more. The quesadillas come with yummy rice. Usually have enough to take home (tons of food!). To complete your meal, I have to recommend the carrot cake. You can tell it's homemade! Ask for Ainsley to be your server, if she's working-best server ever :)
(5)
Barbara D.

Forget everything you've heard about "bad bar food" WOW, this place has AMAZING food & A big square bar smack in the middle, with a grill in the middle of the bar. (yeah, read that again) ....where you can watch to make sure no one spits in your burger as the bartender grills your food inbetween pouring beers. SWEET! Our bartender, Karen, made something out of TV's food network without blinking an eye and then proceeded to make sure everyone's drinks were filled before she was asked, all while carrying on multiple conversations... (and she is a blonde) All while SNF was on the big screen. This is my new Sunday afternoon home away from the city. Best part about my new 'burb hangout...there's ALWAYS parking and it's FREE!
(5)
Bernie B.

Thanks for you response. I lived close 20 years ago and ate at the Assembly all the time. The two biggest differences were the gravy and the seasoning on the burger. The gravy was thicker and much more flavorful. It was the only place I knew where you could get that type of side with a burger. It was delicious and to be honest the reason I came. I'd get a soup bowl of it and dip fries as well. No seasoning on the burger, seemed bland. I'll stop by again soon and give it another try.
(2)
Susan marie C.

Good burger, not great. Everything UNSEASONED. And the place was a hotbox. However, the staff and owner, very nice, good service. I would go back but would ask them to season everything! Oh yeah...the baked beans that people boasted about...just your average store bought canned baked beans. Nothing more than that.
(3)
Scott O.

The best french dip in the NW suburbs, hands down! I have been enjoying the Assembly for over 20 years. Great food, friendly staff, cold beer and cozy atmosphere what is not to like? I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Nats A.

We decided to try the assembly after a long day's shopping at Woodfield. I wasn't that hungry so I went with their famous french onion soup and side salad. To be honest, every french onion soup I try I compare it to my moms (in my opinion her's is the BEST!) The french onion soup was just okay, nothing to rave about. The thousand Island dressing that I had was store bought, typical GFS product in my opinion. I would really like to go back and try the burgers, after all that is what they are known for right? Once I do, I will review on that as well.
(3)
Mike C.

I private messaged you (The Assembly) on Facebook last Thursday and have yet to get a response. But here is my story again... I wanted to reach out to you and share my past couple experiences. But first, I am a big advocate of your place. Love the burgers and recommend The Assembly everytime I can. Ive had two instances lately i want to share. I have had business dinners,(1st instance) brought friends & family from out of town and last night brought co-workers for a birthday dinner (2nd instance). The first instance, which was embarassing for myself, I attempted to order my Bionic Burger, Parmesean Crusted with garlic butter and was told by the waitress I couldnt do that. In front of my co-workers I stated I've ordered it that way numerous times only to be told "I don't think so". Keep in mind, I have ordered it that way a dozen times before. To be somewhat humiliated in front of business partners was embarassing. Eventually, it was as requested after she checked with someone else. Last night, there were four of us a(based upon my recommendation) and we were going to sit at the br but to keep from talking over and around each other we chose to sit at a table. The "birthday guy" asked if we could have our food prepared on the grill in the bar and were promptly told "no, those are fighting words around here". I went as far as to ask if his could be cooked in the bar since it was his birthday to which the waitress responded by ignoring my question and asking if we were ready to order. When my Bionic/parmesean Crusted with Garlic Butter arrived, the butter was not melted. There was a slab of butter on the burger and I was reluctant to eat it. Typically, I would send the food back and not eat but I hated to send it back to the kitchen, but I wanted to be able to eat with my peers so I did send it back for another. The burger I next received was better but it appeared to be the same burger (as I cut into the original and this one arrived cut) with a new bun. I was hesitent to eat it, but did which brings me to what happened last evening. I got pretty ill with stomach issues and when I would hiccup or burp, I had the taste of the burger come back up. I battled through my stomach ailment all night. I apologize for the lenghty message but I have been let down as of late. We were assured there was no difference between the kitchen and bar grill preparation but after last night I would disagree. The garlic butter has ALWAYS been melted, not smeared on like peanut butter. I can honestly say I will be back, probably not for a burger ever again, nor will I ever order from the kitchen again. But I love the loaded potato skins and Deb (and I forget the two other cooks in the bar) are fantastic and I have never had issues with them. It always seems to be the table staff. Thank you for taking the time to read this note. ~Mike
(1)
Gustavo A. L.

Lived down the street from this place for nearly 10 years and never had a bad burger. In fact, we would actually make our weekly stops here just to enjoy a good burger with a beer. The place is quaint and unique. We still come here whenever we are in Chicago, about once a year and is still every bit as good !
(4)
Lynn L.

Me and the hubby have been here about four or five times in two years and that's only because we can't afford to come more often. We love the burgers and other dishes, but it's definitely more pricey than restaurant chains. (Approx $10+ for burgers, $7-12 for sandwiches, $10+ for salads, $15 for tilapia, $17 for pork chops or ribs. Appetizers are average priced but the portions are pretty skimpy.) The service is ... meh. They're nice and friendly, but for the money you're paying, you expect to see them more often. We've always had to flag down our servers. I've had their burgers with all types of cheeses, mushrooms, and bacon and they always cook it up just right. The hubby likes try more tastey burgers with garlic and parmesan. They offer fancy root beer which is great tasting to go with any burger. I had their ribs finally and was so happy that the rub/bbq sauce wasn't hot or spicy. Perfect amount of tangy!! I'd love to try their pork chops some day! That's next on my list.
(4)
Greg G.

Amazing hamburgers can be found here at The Assembly! It is extremely difficult to find that perfect burger, and The Assembly nails it. Great service on top of that! Can't wait to come back.
(5)
K F.

oh my goodness gracious!!!! this was the best food i've ever had!!! deb is the best!!! her customer service is above! all! is does not get better then having deb serve you! i recommend you go check her out monday - thursday! you have to sit at the bar! they cook the burgers and ribs right in front of you! :) such a great experience and amazing food! my girlfriend actually shed a tear bc she forgot her burger to go!
(5)
G E.

Good food, been eating there for years, for any reviewers saying the burgers are not that good, I find if you eat at the bar they cook the burgers instead of the kitchen and they tend to be better. my favorites are Cobb salad, ribs, French onion soup, char burger.
(4)
Mirchey A.

My friend has been raving about their chili for the longest time. Yesterday, I went there, finally. BEST CHILI EVER!!! I'm craving it right now. It's nice and spicy with jalapeno peppers, onions, and melted cheese on top! YUMMM! (I asked for no onions...makes my stomach upset.) The bar is fun and unique, too. Definitely, going back. Maybe I'll try a burger too, next time.
(5)
Mark B.

Their sign said "Worlds best burgers and ribs" which is quite a claim. I had to try a burger. It's cool that the bartender cooks the burger right in front of you and it was pretty darn good.
(4)
Bryan O.

I haven't been here in 3-4 years, and I had recently heard some unsettling comments about a possible decline in quality. I must say, the burger is still tops around. Had the Char Burger and it was fantastic. They also have video gaming for those looking for more entertainment with their food & drinks. I will be back
(5)
Brian C.

The Assembly certainly lives up to the A-OK rating I gave it. It delivers neither mind-blowing nor mind-numbing experiences. It's a great spot for a quick (key-word quick) meal with friends. It doesn't seem like a cool place to hang out for an extended amount of time. Consider it Hoffman Estates answer to "Uncle Moe's Family Feed Back." youtube.com/watch?v=CPIeâ€¦ The burgers! The burgers are SO good! I got the char-burger with swiss on a pretzel roll! WOW! 10 oz of med-rare cow. I would really recommend getting the pretzel roll because it will resist becoming soggy from burger juice. My friend got a normal bun and experienced the soggy-ness first hand. The burgers come with a choice of chips, fries or waffle fries as well as mushroom & onion sherry sauce and coleslaw (I got the chips and put all 3 sides on my burger and it was excellent). They have a full bar and about 12 beers on tap--a pretty decent selection. Guiness, Newcastle, Great Lakes Brewing Company, etc., as well as domestics. They also have specials every day....but the Saturday special was a SeaBreeze. I wish they would've picked something better for such a prime day. Check out The Assembly if you are a burger enthusiast like me.
(3)
Scott F.

Great Food at a great price. The burgers are incredible and huge. The service was fantastic also.
(4)
Mike S.

Great food and service was solid for the most part. I go here every few months. Love their filet minion quasadilla. Burgers are what their known for but most of their menu is excellent.
(4)
Nadeem P.

Great service, and burgers that are cooked as you requested (medium=pink in the midde), and the different burger options rock! If you get a chance sit at the bar, they gill the burgers in the middle of it another cool to watch!
(4)
Carla L.

Since I moved out to Hoffman Estates in '89 we have enjoyed the Assembly's burgers when we want a good one. We are back in Hoffman various times a year (moved to sunny Miami) but always find some time to have some of these great burgers! Not normally one to stick to one item at a restaurant every time, I find myself always gravitating towards the Parmesan Burger, what can I say.. LUV IT. Usually I just cut it in half right away and save the rest for the next day's lunch they are just that big. The brew is awesome as it is beer for those who prefer to deviate from the big 3 and have some delicious Microbrewery options they have plenty.
(4)
Vick C.

Good walleye burger! If you are looking for a very fresh walleye burger, go there! I'm not joking!
(4)
Don Z.

We wandered into The Assembly on a Saturday afternoon right after leaving Millrose, which is a short distance away. (See my review of Millrose to understand why I was still looking for more beer.) The atmosphere had "the dank" as my wife likes to call it. This simply means that it is dark. The wood is dark, the walls are dark and all the blinds were mostly closed. In case this sounds negative, let me assure you that we actually like the dank sometimes. What I don't necessarily care for are the zillions of TV's showing sports in every corner. I know I am in the minority on this point, but I felt I needed to mention my opinion anyway. We sat down at the bar since we had already eaten lunch earlier. The bartender was friendly and helpful. The place was fairly empty during this mid afternoon time slot, so she had time to chat with us. I ordered the IPA and my wife had a Dark Satin. Both of the beers were fair. They did not really excite my taste buds, but they were not offensive either. After finishing my IPA, I tried the weizen. It was fairly tasty and I actually enjoyed it more than the IPA, which was not as hoppy as I would have liked. The interesting thing is that after I left The Assembly, but before I wrote this review, I found out that the beers are made by Taylor Brewing. I thought the names sounded familiar, but I did not immediately make the connection. So the interesting part is that I found the beers at Taylor Brewing Company in Lombard to be absolutely horrible. I am glad that the Assembly seems to have gotten a better batch. Although we had eaten lunch earlier, we did order dessert. I had the carrot cake, which came highly recommended. My wife tried the chocolate cake. Both of them were very good. I like to eat sweets with my beer sometimes and perhaps this helped me to enjoy the beer more on this visit. Overall, I wasn't extremely impressed with The Assembly, but I might stop in again for beer and dessert.
(2)
Meg M.

Not the best but it could sure be worse. The spicy chicken wings are like a punch in the face (that's a good thing).
(3)
Darin S.

The host and server were pleasant and attentive. This place is a local favorite it seems. The prices were reasonable but we were far from impressed with anything we had. Everything seemed to be loaded up with grease and not that carefully prepared. Perhaps we expected too much but I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
K N.

This place needs a make over and a good cleaning, no prices on the web site, also it seems the owner is really interested in his gaming machines then his restaurant. For those prices, they should have a better bun that doesn't fall apart and fresh veggies then the mixed can veggies they serve with the $30.00 ribs.
(2)
Dawn B.

The burgers are great - the bartenders seem over worked - it was difficult to get attention to get a drink while sitting at the bar on a Friday night. They seem to have some regulars there which they are more willing to serve. Would go back for the burger but anticipate waiting for someone to ask you if you want a drink --
(2)
Jim R.

This place used to be my favorite. Not anymore. I went there last week and the food was real bad. The burgers were tasteless.The price is way to high for what it is and the place needs a good cleaning. I scratched this old favorite off my list. Don't waste your money.
(1)
Scott F.

A burger done perfectly. The trick to this perfection of meat is sitting at the bar and having the bartender make it for you. If you sit in a booth or table, your food will be cooked by the back kitchen staff and you will miss out on the goodness. This has been proven unfortunately over and over again. I have sent many people to the Assembly and depending on where they sat, their experience is grossly different. I personally love the old place, a face lift is probably needed, but don't change those bar burgers.
(4)
Nicole M.

They have the pretty good RIBS. When they say fall off the bone, the meat was fall off the bone gooooood! Everything I have had to eat so far has been good, Potato skins, Chicken Finger and my boyfriend got their famous Burger and was so huge he couldn't finish it. But I have to say the french onion soup wasn't that good. The decor in the place is very outdated! Could really use some help. It's way to dark in there. and it seems like a senior center with all the old people.
(3)
Rachel S.

The Assembly is sort of a good, old-fashioned, non-Applebee's American eatery. We had two portabello mushroom sandwiches and a bacon swiss burger. All were freshly prepared on the grill right in the middle of the bar. When I say "the middle of the bar", I mean inside the bar where the bartender works. The portabellos were accompanied by grilled onions and pesto, and the weight of the grilled veggies and moisture of the pesto sogged up the rye bread it sat on in a GOOD way. It was served with semi-decent coleslaw, and a choice of sides. We got baked beans, which had a drizzle of a red sweet and sour hot sauce in the cup. Interesting... The burger came with fries which didn't seem as freshly prepared as the rest of the meal(s). I'd of course prefer to see a restaurant hand cut their fries and fresh fry 'em. It's unclear whether this is the case. I'm assuming not... The menu had a good variety of stuff, and I was surprised such a burger bar could offer a good variety of non-meat items. Portions are large, but with many items - including desserts, thank you Assembly! - you can opt for a "petite" portion. It's not really small. It's just that the regular portions are HUGE.
(3)
Mike L.

I live so close, and somehow I was there only once, I don't know why. I had a very good experience. The burger was big and really good, and perfectly cooked and the staff was nice. The place has really calm and nice vibe to it. I'll be back, I promise
(5)
Leo r.

Well, I have been going back again and again to find the assembly that i knew growing up is gone FOOD made me SICK bad in all areas never see me again
(1)
Elizabeth M.

Good food and good service just don't get the BBQ pork sandwich it's mushy and gross. The talipia sandwich was good and I love their burgers!
(4)
Janet N.

Food was delicious, got the ribs (best ribs I've ever had), blue cheese burger, and the basic hamburger. Everything was great. No complaints at all. Also was very fast! Def going to be coming here more often!!
(4)
Loraine K.

Every time we come to this restaurant it is packed. The unique beers are fantastic. The meal portions are very very large. They know how to cook burgers. My husband enjoyed a real "medium rare" hamburger for a change. My only recommendation is to pass on the beans.
(4)
m t.

Food isn't very good. Wait staff is friendly enough but it doesn't make up for the quality of food or the overall upkeep of this building.
(1)
Scott G.

Best burgers around if not all of Chicago. Parmesan burger is my favorite. Chili is also outstanding. Service consistently good.
(5)
Jake M.

I read about The Assembly in an article in Chicago magazine entitled 30 Best Burgers in Chicago. Although it was listed as # 30, I feel it should have been in the earlier #'s, I mean Five Guy's was in front of it, total popularity contest. It was one of the best burgers I have ever had. I just had a regular cheddar burger, but the sherry mushroom onion sauce that comes with all of their burgers really accented the already delicious burgers flavor without overpowering it. The waffle fries and calamari appetizer were also great.
(5)
Ed B.

The Assembly was a big disapointment to us a " friend" of mine said this place was a good place to eat..the burgers were 10oz quite a large burger and not too bad The wife had chicken said it was good also.The disapointment was that a lot of there condiments came out of a can Like the Bush's bake beans and others.as far as the decor there still stuck in the 1970 this place hasn't been cleaned or painted in that time were we sat the walls and woodwork were nasty to put at mildly.So for food I give it 3 stars for the decor Im only giving it 1 star.Come on Assembly get with it and spend a little money and time cleaning the place up.
(2)
Richard K.

I've been eating at this establishment once in a couple years for about 2 decades now and I was shocked that it wasan't up to par. I was there on a Sunday around 2pm. The bar was nice w/ the flat screen HD-TVs, my food wasant so good. I got the cheeseburger medium rare and it was rare. Oh well......i saved it, got home, heated her up and VA-VOOM...yummy. I did like the wings, the sauce was nice. Still same ole atmosphere after all these years, maybe I just caught a bad burger, it happens. I'll try again during the week instead of hangover Sunday, I think the cook got tore up the night before as well!!! 3 stars until I go back, I hope they can get 4.
(3)
Tom N.

Best burgers in the NW suburbs; easy to get to; just exit 90 on Barrington Rd and you are right there; servers are nice, and the bar and restaurant are unique and cozy. You watch your burgers cook up right from your bar stool. Other offerings are solid: I have had the walleye sandwich and Reuben, and both were great. Pretty decent tap beer offering. Also, if you get the urge, you can do a little video gambling in a dedicated area they offer just for that purpose. All in all a nice place to meet friends or take the family for great food at a fair price.
(5)
Jen H.

This is one of our favorite date-night places. Sit at the bar, have a cold draft beer or two, and watch Deb grill your burger right in front of you. Best burger west of the Paradise Pup, and the best Friday night fish fry south of the cheddar curtain.
(5)
Chester R.

finally tried one of the burgers last night......the bionic burger with grilled onion, cheddar and bacon........i have to say i was less than impressed.....after all the hype, and after sitting at the bar watching them cook so many, and how good they looked....i have to be honest it was average. they look way better than they taste. they need to lose the weird sherry onion "reduction" they serve on the side too, it makes no sense to serve with a burger....it tastes bad, and has the viscosity of dish soap emulsified with grill grease and onion bits. the home made carrot cake however was really good, amazing for 2.95. they also don't make their own micro beer anymore because they sold the location with the brewery in lombard to chck-fil-a. so they added 312 and newcastle brown...ho-hum.
(3)
Ryan H.

I had such high hopes here. We needed a quick dinner on a Friday night because we were up against time constraints to catch a certain movie down the street at Barrington 30. I'll get right on point here -- I ordered a 1/2 slab BBQ ribs, loaded baked potato, clam chowder soup. The soup was like wallpaper paste. Not unedible, but by no means a knock-your-socks-off chowder. The ribs -- very average. I love good BBQ and, although edible, really was a downer. Loaded baked potato was completely flavorless. How do you screw up a baked potato? Other guests we were with ordered a chef's salad which appeared competent. Another ordered the ribs as well. And the remaining guest ordered a reuben. No major complaints, but this certainly wouldn't be a place I'd visit on a regular basis. Their prices are a bit steep as well ($18 for a half slab). For that kind of money, there are vastly superior venues out there for a nice dinner. Next time, I'll keep driving.
(2)
Andy D.

The restaurant is outdated, overpriced, and poor quality. It would appear that the local hotels help keep this below grade dive bar in business. The Assembly's atmosphere appears to be last updated during the 70's. The bathroom lacked heat and was severely disheveled. The wait staff was not that talkative and looked very tired. The food was overpriced, fatty, lacked taste and was overall disappointing. A bonus was that they did have great portions. Overall, I would not favor going to this place again.
(2)
Tony M.

My grandma and I went here for lunch thinking it would be good because of what we heard. She ordered the mushroom burger and I ordered the chicken bacon sandwich. The prices were on the high side, the food portions were large, but I could have cooked a better sandwich. I think the server was socially awkward or mute...maybe a combination of the two, but I felt bad for him. The atmosphere felt like a dungeon. Just the overall place gave me a bad vibe. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(2)
Ramboxman S.

Solid bulgar, big too. Music is country only downside, service was zippy. Will return.
(4)
Clark B.

For all those that say The Assembly is outdated or in need of a freshening, go eat your burgers elsewhere! If you're looking for a neighborhood hole in the wall with GREAT burgers, good menu selection, fair prices, hit or miss service that's thrived for over 25 years in the same location, then this is your place. There isn't a single regular or recent convert to this restaurant that will say "change this" or "repaint that". This is a bona fide neightborhood place with good food, very friendly atmosphere, and a kitchen that's open late.
(4)
jenn m.

Stopped by at this corner restaurant yesterday to grab a quick bite to eat to bring with me to a friends. I ordered a burger with mozz and avacodo (a jenn special) with fries and ordered a stella on tap while i waited (yay stella!). Made friends with the bartender. She was cool, vibrant personality,a lot of fun to talk to considering I dont usually go and sit at the bar by myself for many reasons (unless im at my boyfriends restaurant). And ended up getting another free stella on the house for chit chatting with her. Saweeet. Free beer = free star in my book! lol. I totally enjoyed the burger and fries as well. Cooked just how I wanted it - medium well... and the avocado was riped to perfection. Strong work. Ill be back.
(5)
Nick B.

My rating is closer to 4.5 stars. You get great food, very good beers, and a perfect atmosphere to chill with friends, family, or yourself at the bar! I've eaten about 100 meals there over 10 years and have been there with friends each time. Of those times I've only disliked 1 meal and they instantly replaced it! And nobody I have been with disliked their food! Favs: burgers, pulled pork, ribs, buffalo chicken Meh: nachos didn't do it for me, ribeye steak was fatty They'd earn back that .5 of a start if they did a little updating and some clean-up. For some reason the odd shifts in lighting, the old carpet and paint, and weird flow/layout bugs me. But just a bit as I'll likely be back before you read my review!
(4)
Jay V.

The food was much better years ago. The burgers are still good, but the place is really showing its age.
(2)
Janice F.

Great burgers and great service!!!
(4)
Ken J.

Great timeless bar. Someone said it best, love it with smoking ban. Great Taylor Brewing Co beers. My favorite is the lager. Top 10 burger joint in Chicagoland area. Nachos are pilled high and great ratio toppings to chips. Bionic burger is still my favorite.
(4)
J O.

Hubby and I went here recently because he was craving a really good burger and had heard the burgers at The Assembly were excellent. We both got cheeseburgers and fries. I also got the baked french onion soup which was very good. Good and cheesy like a like it. Later on, about an hour later back at home....hubby and I were not feeling so well. I don't know if it was just from all the grease or what, but we did not sleep very good that night. Stomachs were rumbling and just felt icky. All-in-all this place was alright, but too greasy for us so unfortunately, I don't think we'll be going back there....at least not for burgers.
(2)
Tes S.

There's no other place to go and get a burger, that's the bottom line. Everybody here is friendly and it just has that old school feel to it. It's great, I've been going here for years!
(4)
Stacey D.

I was hoping this place could be in our regular rotation. I had heard good things from others; and besides, how bad can a burger and beer be? I've been here three times, each time was just as disappointing. I tried two beers each visit, and I didn't care for any of them. (They don't carry any "traditional" beers, nor are any brewed in house. I believe they're all local micro brews.) The burgers had a sauce on them that gave the burger an interesting flavor. I wasn't impressed with the quality of the food, service, or drinks for the price.
(2)
Mike M.

Crazy good burgers! Huge patty, but you will eat though the pain to finish this one. In addition to the kitchen, you can sit at the bar and watch the bartender cook your meal. The top from the weber little smokie at the bar grill used for a cooking cover was memorable.
(4)
Michael S.

Great burgers. Service is hit or miss.
(4)
Sean M.

still just ok, good portions but not great flavor. Burgers are the thing to get!
(3)
David B.

I stopped by this place to grab a few beers last night. The beer is from Taylor Brewing, so they had a nice little selection of beers... but I suppose that a good number of them are lighter beers. I ordered the winter lager and the 'dark satin,' which was a German-style lager. While I liked both of the lagers, there were some gnats floating around every once in a while. It is winter. There should not be gnats in winter. The last time I came here was maybe five months ago with my girlfriend and we ate food, which was good. And like I said, the beer was enjoyable. I know that kitchens across the world are probably dirtier than I think, or want to think, but c'mon... gnats in winter is dirty.
(2)
Ed L.

I used to really enjoy eating here. However that has changed recently. The last two times have been horrible, the less recent visit was greeted by fruit fly's and poor seating (they did comp us two drinks though). Then last time the fries were soggy, the service near non-existent, and the burgers just OK. Unfortunately I will not be coming back. Sorry to see a once decent eatery go south...
(1)
Roy A.

The Assembly is a good little restaurant with a great craft beer list and some quality burgers. I've only had burgers and beer here and they certainly do not disappoint. I highly doubt there are other places with quality craft beer and burgers around this area and that's why The Assembly seems to always be buzzing with people inside. That and the great choices of burgers you can get make it a place to come check out.
(3)
R N.

We've been eating at this place regularly for several years. We only eat at the bar and usually order their fantastic burgers. If you order burgers from the bar, they cook them on a grill in the middle of the bar. It is fun to watch them cook your burger, piling on tons of bacon and cheese. It can get pretty busy on the weekends. It always amazes us that the bartenders can keep up with serving drinks while cooking the burgers perfectly every time. We've never had a burger over cooked or not cooked to our liking. We also really like the french onion soup. I had the fish taco's once and they were very good.
(4)
Matthew B.

you go here for ONE thing, and ONE thing only.. the burger.. fire grilled and friggin juicy and delicious. they have a flagship called the "bionic burger'.... thats the recommended. they serve all burgers with a homemade sauce.. (sherry and mushrooms). They also have decent french onion soup and homemade beers. But damit.. you have to get the burger, .... thats is all.
(4)
Janice S.

Wonderful! My husband and I have eaten there twice for lunch. I have to say, they make the best burgers I've had in a long time. Hey, they actually understand what "medium rare" means! That's a rare thing too these days! No more explaining to the staff that the fully cooked burger is actually called "well done". The service is wonderful and the staff is friendly. The portions are huge, so plan for a doggy bag. My husband has had a couple of non-burger type food there...also great. We'll be taking family there when they come up to visit.
(5)
John G.

Hands down, one of the BEST burgers in the Chicagoland area! Service has been good all five times I've been there... and the food comes out piping hot!
(4)
Tiffany T.

Mediocre food and mediocre service unfortunately describes the sad state of affairs at this long-time favorite. The burgers made at the bar are still worthy, but the rest of this place has sadly slid steadily downhill over the past few years. Yes, we know you love the Sysco Food Catalog, as shown by the fake (non Heinz) ketchup and the Sysco brand potato chips - can't you even pretend to not be cutting corners? Bring back your good ribs and pasta, and maybe you can restore to your former luster.
(1)

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Address : 2570 W Hassell Rd
Hoffman Estates, IL, 60179
Phone (847) 843-3993
Website https://assembly-bar.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:15 am - 11

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No

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Burgers

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Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.

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The Assembly American Bar & Cafe

2570 W Hassell Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL, 60179

The Assembly American Bar & Cafe Menu

Appetizers

Soups & Salads

Gourmet Burgers

Southwestern

Sandwiches

House Favorites

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Assembly American Bar & Cafe

Appetizers

Soups & Salads

Gourmet Burgers

Southwestern

Sandwiches

House Favorites

Desserts

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