Parts and Labor

Back Bar @ Parts and Labor by Man_of Steel, on Flickr

As a Designer- I'll "taste" - a new Bar or Restaurant's "decor" or Interior Elements much more carefully than the Food-
on the first go round. Sorry- it's just how I'm programmed.
So when I first spotted Parts and Labor's "Collage/Assemblage" of matt-black-painted wooden ladders,as a back bar design element- I needed to check it out.
To say that the looks evokes Louise Nevelson is an HUGE complement to who ever "designed" the space.....but I find that although simple- it works with the overall vibe.
Take a look at the rePurposed Church Organ Pipes in the front -

rePurposed Organ Pipes @ Parts and Labor by Man_of Steel, on Flickr

A very creative cluster of "objects".
and- these propeller-looking kinda things mounted to the Royal Blue Wall really add another layer of intrigue
to the "Circus"(thank you James Ward)

Entry @ PARTS & LABOR by Man_of Steel, on Flickr

Overall - this place will be hoppin' in the summertime-
as the Back Room's space opens to the Parking Lot-
where a wall was removed to allow for an overhead Garage Door w/ clear panels
to be raised- allowing summer-breezes to waft in.....and alcohol inspired patrons to
stumble around the parking lot- ala Big Star.

OH- YEAH....The food and service.!!
Friendly staff- very attentive -and well informed.
The "deal" is the Combo SPECIAL.
A double cheeseburger and a shot and a side for $10.00-
or as they describe it-
Classic or black bean burger, a side and a swill or shot for $10


Parts and Labor's Back Bar by Man_of Steel, on Flickr


Good Burger- Fried Giardiara's OK- great view of the world on Milwaukee Avenue- where you "KNOW" The Neighborhood's changed-
when The Dialysis Center across the street next to McDonalds is now a Pet Spa / Pet Hotel-
OY- There goes the neighborhood!
( cringe- how I miss Tania's- the Cuban Salsa Dance Club- that took me to a wonderful place many a night- long ago)
Viva La Logan Square!

Parts and Labor
2700 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
773.360.7840
http://www.partsandlaborchicago.com/

since I'm a huge fan of the thin, griddled burger, I was really looking forward to this place. But early reports of the use of a beef/pork blend for their burgers have really turned me off. I still might try it, but for a place that wants to serve "damn good burgers", using pork strikes me as really, really weird.

I was REALLY underwhelmed by the burgers...

Another thumb down. They have EXACTLY two entree choices, pork/beef burger and black bean burger. Dry, thin, lame, forgettable (beef) burger. Only suitable for adolescents. Fries were uncooked and lukewarm. Fried pickle slices were OK. Loud punk music was fun, for me at least. Really a hipster hangout that happens to have (bad) food. View out of restaurant to McDonalds fuels sarcastic conversation. Ugh.

Another strong thumbs down here. Among other things (as most have been mentioned), they have bizarrely small beer list for the vibe/food selection. I think it was 4-5 beers (TOTAL, not just on tap) when we were there. I'm all for for curated, smaller selections, but if I remember correctly, nearly all of them were IPAs as well. Couldn't for the life of me figure out what this place is going for overall.

It is what it is. I didn't mind it, if anything, I enjoyed it. Just a large, simple, inexpensive bar with a good beer list and a decent burger. The interior was kind of loud but it's just a bar where you're going to spend twenty bucks on a snack and a couple of beers.

One might say, it's the Boiler Room of burgers!

Possumlad wrote:Another strong thumbs down here. Among other things (as most have been mentioned), they have bizarrely small beer list for the vibe/food selection. I think it was 4-5 beers (TOTAL, not just on tap) when we were there. I'm all for for curated, smaller selections, but if I remember correctly, nearly all of them were IPAs as well. Couldn't for the life of me figure out what this place is going for overall.

I ordered off of a much larger list - a dozen or two fine selections. Perhaps you were only looking at the beers that were allowed with the combo?

I only mention it because the beer selection was my favorite part of my meal.

vegmojo

A four-year run of griddled burgers, boozy shakes, and trivia nights ended over the weekend in Logan Square as Parts & Labor closed on Sunday night at 2700 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/8/9/1611 ... sures-2017

They had one of the best griddled double cheeseburgers in Chicago, right up there with Au Cheval/Small Cheval, Red Hot Ranch and Flipburger.