Restaurant List
:: Bill's Drive-in
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From: T. Heffernan @ (2005-08-12 23:33:32.879106)
Started eating at Bill's in August 1959 and everyday until May of 1962 when I graduated from St. George High School. I continued to eat there on weekends until I moved to Northbrook in 1969. I went back with my three sons for a family wedding in 1988 and Bill was there, he had turned the running of Bill's over to his daughter, and he recognized me. This blew away my children besides myself. I had bragged about Bill's cheeseburgers for so long and then to be recognized we all ate three cheeseburgers each. I now live in Seattle and every time I return to the Chicago area I eat at Bill's at least three or four times. I am sad to say that Bill himself passed away a few years ago and when I was last there, in 2002 or 2003 it was in the process of being sold to new owners who have not changed the name or the greasy goodness of the burgers.
A few more thoughts that I think are true but were before my moving to the
Rogers Park/Evanston area. The story goes that Bill started with a push
cart with an umbrella across the street from his current location. I think
there is, or was when I visited the area daily, some other kind of
restaurant bldg. there now. He only sold Hot Dogs and even then his secret
was to steam the burns and add celery salt to the finished product. I was a
huge cheeseburger fan but would occasionally have a dog or two with just
ketchup with celery salt and they too were very good.
At ages 14 and 15 I worked at the Dairy Queen up on the Evanston side of
Howard Street. The guy that owned it was named Pat McCormick and we were
only open from late march to late October. We often helped each other out
when we were short of Hot Dog Buns or change for our cash registers. During
the winter months he was a machinist. Next to us was some chicken joint
that delivered with cars that had plastic chickens attached to the roofs.
The last place in that area, which is also no longer there, was a Place
called The Cottage, I think. It was on the Chicago side and down almost to
Western about two blocks up. It was only open for lunch and he had a
counter at which you could sit a maximum of five people or tables
downstairs. Only about four tables. He deep-fried his hamburgers and then
spread cheese whiz on them to make cheeseburgers, It was an unusual taste
but not bad. The McDonald's in that area and on the Evanston side was debt
free in 3 years and 2 months after opening.
A.C. Neilson's, the television rating people, original building was just
past Ridge Blvd. on the Chicago side and they stayed there until they moved
out along the toll way in Northbrook.
Well I don't know if any of this other than the additional to Bill's meager
beginnings are of any interest but I sent them along for whatever good they
are to your organization.
From: dtm359 @ (2005-06-05 20:37:55.341645) :: Overall:
Food - 5 :: Atmosphere - 5 :: Service - 5
House is in. Bill's biggest fan. Too bad he can't golf.
From: dgc241 @ (2005-05-16 09:53:32.879916) :: Overall:
Food - 5 :: Atmosphere - 5 :: Service - 5
Aw, shucks, guys. That's so nice of you. I think, though, that we have a new name to add to the list of those brave enough to eat for the cycle - Edward Reynolds. Although he doesn't come close to me, despite shattering the amount of time that it took me to do it, because he didn't order his cheeseburgers with relish, mayo, and ketchup. Wuss.
From: K. Peter @ (2004-10-28 01:50:40.92368) :: Overall:
Food - 5 :: Atmosphere - 5 :: Service - 5
Not only does Bill's have the best burgers and dogs in the Midwest, but it also allows one to hit for the cycle. Yes, as Wade says...David Gregory Cesa is a legend.
From: D. Dresser @ (2004-09-28 01:18:24.190707) :: Overall:
Food - 5 :: Atmosphere - 5 :: Service - 5
Greatest hamburger stand I've ever been to. Cheap, greasy, good.
From: A. Wade @ (2004-07-27 21:48:35.137891) :: Overall:
Food - 5 :: Atmosphere - 5 :: Service - 5
Dude, this place is the shit. You have no idea. The best dogs in Chicago, I shit you not. Just try and eat for the cycle. That's a single, double, triple and quad burger. David Gregory Cesa can do it. Can you?
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