Hackney’s isn’t the oldest restaurant or pub in the area, but it is one of the most well known, with their Hackneyburgers, inviting pub atmosphere and pleasant beer garden – at all of their six Chicagoland locations, from north to south. Though the Printer’s Row location in Chicago is a recent addition, the original Harms Road location is the most notable and historic. Jim and Kitz Masterson opened Hackney’s in 1939, using recipes from their aunt and uncle, Bebe and Jack Hackney, who served hamburgers and beer on the back porch of their house in Glenview in the 1920s and then added a small, four-seater bar in their home following the end of Prohibition. Today, the torch has been passed to the third generation of family ownership, with Ed and Jim Hebson, who opened the two of the most recent Hackney’s installments. The Hackneyburger is a half-pound of fresh, unfrozen ground beef, grilled and served on homemade dark rye or a fresh baked bun. It’s quite juicy so you’ll probably want to eat it with knife and fork, and it’s won so many awards, the novelty’s worn off. The Bleu Cheese Burger and Inside Out Burger with cheddar and bacon cooked right into the meat are also hits. Up to five tons of beef are used for these Hackneyburgers every week. The award-winning onion loaf (like a brick of fried onions), French Dip, and fried fish on Fridays are all laudable, non-burger options. The leafy beer garden facing Harms Woods Forest Preserve is highly sought after in summer. For more information, check out the Hackney’s website.
Full review coming soon…
