Meet us where good burgers + good beer = good times
Affectionately dubbed “SKL,” Scratch Kitchen and Lounge adds a unique flavor to the burger scene in Forest Park. The concept behind this restaurant is humble, simple, and delicious: good beer plus good burgers equals good times!
So let’s start with those burgers, which are made with a smash process to ensure a delicious crust. Smashed, hard-seared, and topped with American cheese, house-made bread and butter pickles, and special “smash sauce” on top of a toasted butter bun.
Try the French Onion Burger with crispy-fried onions, caramelized Vidalia onions, and melted Swiss cheese on a pretzel bun. Of course, when in Chicagoland, you can’t go wrong with the Chicago Combo Burger with sliced Italian beef, au jus, melted provolone, and house-made giardiniera on a pretzel bun.
We could go on forever about this extensive burger menu, but we’d be remiss if we left out the delectable Mac-and-Cheese options. Called the “Mac Atack,” SKL starts with roasted shallot besciamella sauce and cheese, slow-simmered and topped with toasted panko crust.
From there, you can add truffle parmesan and shrooms, or roasted poblano peppers and jalapeños, or chicken and blue cheese. Or build your own mac-and-cheese masterpiece!
SKL is open Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from noon to 11pm, and Sunday and Monday from noon to 8pm.
Pro tip: From 2pm to 5pm the burgers are half-priced!
The famed SKL Smashed Burgers are $8 for a single, $11 for a double, and $13 for a triple. The “Mac Attack” starts at $8 for “big” and $14.50 for “bigger”.
With more than 30 years of experience in the kitchen, Scratch Owner and Chef Patrick O’Brien has long contributed to the local restaurant scene, but when he started building restaurants of his own (O’Brien also owns District House in Oak Park), he found himself away from the kitchen and behind a computer.
That’s why he announced - to the delight of all guests who try a Scratch Burger - that he will be in the kitchen at Scratch Kitchen and Lounge.
At 7445 Madison Street, Scratch Kitchen and Lounge is conveniently located a half-mile walk from the Harlem Stop on the “L” Blue Line and a one-mile walk from the Harlem/Lake Stop on the Green Line.
