J Wellington’s

I give J. Wellington’s 2 stars for the effort, but for a place that specializes in burgers, the burger was not that memorable.

Um — what’s up with J Wellington’s? Tried to visit and was met with an empty storefront and a restaurant with trash on the floor.
Are you remodeling? Closed? What’s going on???
I tried calling the number, and all I get is «number not in service».
HELP — where is my delicous burger!!!

Greasy food that you can order to go. I come in here sometimes when I am hanging out at my friend’s place around the corner and want a burger. They do it right and they do it quick. Not much more to say!

Why are the burgers here so juicy? I hear they are fried not grilled. True or not, they are delicious. The One Eyed Runt with bacon, fried egg, blue cheese and sriracha mayo is probably my favorite. On my second visit I came for lunch and got the tofu sandwich, which was lightly battered and crispy fried and served and a sweet bbq sauce. Yum! But the place was slammed, and we had to wait half an hour for two burgers (that don’t come with fries)! The waitress was nice and and gave me extra coleslaw but I thought I deserved a free burger for waiting that long.

The food was ok, but not the greatest. They only had one cook and he was very messy and careless. He was overwhelmed when a large group walked in and started to place an order. …So the burgers were undercooked and the french fries and fried pickles were over cooked after being left in the deep fryer too long.
The cook seemed frustrated and annoyed. After he was done cooking for that large group, he stepped out for a cigarette and smoked directly in front of the restaurant, which is unprofessional in my opinion. After smoking, he then walked back in and went straight to cooking again. The only problem is that he didn’t wash his hands. After seeing that, I will never eat there again if he is working.
He is white male, about 5’8″ and he has a goatee and wears a black knitted cap while working. Stay away from J Wellington’s if he is working.

Been wanting to try J. Wellington’s for a while since the place is right down the street from my apartment. Heard some good/​not so good things about this place. First and foremost, you walk up, place and pay for your order, get your own fountain drinks and they bring the food to you.
The good: The burgers. This is a GREAT thing considering it’s a burger place. So first of all, let me say I am not a big red meat eater, but I do love a great burger. So far, Kuma’s is my fave so that will be my comparison point. This place is right up there, without the long wait times. I got The Wellington — Applewood Bacon, Cheddar, Fried Onions, with wellington sauce — on a pretzel bun — well done. It was so good — the wellington sauce gave it this tangy taste/​kick that I loved… it was very, very good. It was also very, very big — I could only finish half. Was it as good as Kuma’s Mastodon? maybe not — but it was close, very close. My BF had the one with the egg on it (ew) can’t remember the name), I am going to assume he liked it since he made some very sexy grunting noises and his eyes rolled to the back of his head a couple of times as he quickly finished off his burger and assessed whether he could finish off another one.
The good: the fries — definitely better than Kumas… I had the hand-​cut french fries — they were lightly salted, cooked perfectly. Nice portion. A la carte, of course. I hear the sweet potato fries are good — may try them next time… yes, there will be a next time.
The good: As I mentioned above, when we went, there was no wait at all and the time to make our burgers was not too bad at all.
The good: Nice loooong hours for the weekend. Yes, I know, we shouldn’t be eating big sloppy burgers at 1:30a.m., but it’s good to know that if we want one, we can have one!
The good: This place is BYOB.
Not so good: The price. Two burgers, Two fries, Two fountain drinks: $ 26.95. OK, so I am conflicted because the food was really really good, but was is $ 27 good? The jury is still out. I mean, if a burger costs almost $ 9 it should come with a side of fries. And while I may not think it’s worth it, I do think the food is good enough to come back at least one more time and try some more items I noticed on the menu before I chalk this place up as a «special occasion» or «only if I have a certificate» type of place.
Judge for yourself… the burgers really are terrific!

I’m still trying to get used to this whole idea of BYOB that includes beer and at like a fast food kind of place… but that shouldn’t affect how I feel about the burger and it doesn’t. The burgers are great!
You can pick one of their burger creations or make your own. I made my own and it was so tasty. Bacon, cheese, relish, all on a flavorful and juicy burger. Yum.
Only downside, the fries are so salty my tongue was numb. I wanted to like the fries so bad and I know they can be good, just ease up on the salt… I’m begging.

Dear J. Wellington. You, sir, make Seriously delicious food.
I ordered the Memphis Chick: grilled chicken breast topped with coleslaw, cheddar cheese, applewood bacon and our memphis bbq. Pretzel bun? Yes, please. Warning: please do not order if you are remotely trying to attract a mate/​date/​look even the slightest bit presentable. BBQ sauce. Everywhere. Loved every moment of it.
I normally wouldn’t order a side of fries because I like to save a few bucks but for I couldn’t resist trying their seasoned fries. Crisp, delightfully seasoned and perfect of soaking up my excess mahogany moat of BBQ’d flavor.
$ 11. A little pricey, but it broke me out of my Potbelly, Chipotle, Panera rut for an immensely satisfying casual dinner out. The food alone would keep me coming back for more but Mr. Wellington took it a step further and hired very personable, and genuinely friendly staff.
Hat’s off to you, James. John. Jermaine. Or my secret hope – Jobin.

I’ll gladly pay you NEVER for a hamburger today. That’s what I should have said to the gals at J. Wellington’s instead of handing them my debit card. I’m a cheap jerk that way. Haha suckas. But pay I did, and I’m pretty sure I got my money’s worth.
I built my own burger, which sadly was a bit on the done side for me (mooooo) but it wasn’t dried out, so I’ll get over it. I got the pretzel roll, added the usuals, plus some fried onions and deep fried pickle chips, which were excellent, though by the time I was done, the breading sort of fell off, so I might do regular pickles on, and fried on the side. Cheese fries were a nice accompaniment and the cheese sauce was flavorful (Merkt’s I believe). I restrained myself from getting a root beer float as well, but there’s always next time. My companion seemed to enjoy his tofurger, and the lady at the counter very nicely informed him the BBQ sauce that comes standard on that sandwich is oddly, not veg friendly. At 9ish on a Friday night, the place was bustling, but we got our food fairly quickly, and chowed down.

Pros:
Friendly staff, great burgers, chocolate milkshakes (perfect for dipping french fries), and good music. It’s open till 3a on Fridays and Saturdays, though I haven’t taken advantage of that yet. Oh, and it’s around the corner and just down the street from the Damen blue line.
Cons:
No beer (though it IS BYOB).
I’ve tried the cheeseburger, which was humongous, and the grilled cheese (from the kids’ menu) with fries and a chocolate milkshake. The grilled cheese wasn’t as good as the kind I can make myself, but the chocolate milkshake was definitely worth the trip.

My friend Justin took me here before our shoot. I had never heard of this place so I had no expectations. I was amazed on how awesome their burgers were. I tried the one with bacon + fried egg. On point.
I’m going to say the quality of the burger is on par against Kuma, but unfortunately, the ambiance and no liquor menu is a downfall. Burger + beer go well together.

When the night falls down
I want some beef
And I go around
To Wicker Park
Full of hipster kids
On the street outside
When I walk into J. Wells
My heart beats fast for the burgers, son!
And I’m noshing on a perfect patty
On a pretzel bun. And it’s so good because…
Ooh, baby, do you know what that’s worth?
Ooh heaven is J. Wellingtons
They say in heaven burgers come first
We’ll make heaven a place on earth
Ooh J. Wells is a place on earth
Chicago, to be exact.
Hot damn, does J. Wellington make a tasty burger. I went with a regular old burger with lettuce, tomato and pickles on a pretzel roll and it was fantastic. The burger was huge, so you’ll have leftovers, which is cool. I also liked that the burger patty was kind of loosely formed, so it was really moist and juicy. Yum yum.
No booze, though, at J. Wells and that’s kind of weak IMO. Beer and burgers go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or chocolate and peppermint. Or Batman and Robin. Whatever tickles your fancy. So if beer is a must with your burger, you’ll be a little disappointed.
J. Wellington’s is also a little low on the ambiance factor. No servers and you order at the counter. It’s pretty bright and the tables are high-​tops, so they’re not the most comfortable. Perhaps not the best place for a date, but perfect for grabbing a quick bite with friends.
I’m a fan, despite lack of atmosphere and beer. That’s says a lot to the quality and deliciousness of the burgers being served up at J. Wellingtons. Check it out!

These burgers are great!
Staff is quick and aim to please.
They often swing by your table to see how your meal is, refill drinks, or discard of miscellaneous garbage on the table. Thanks.
Even where there is one cook, the food comes out tasty.
If it is busy you need to go here with the willingness to be patient.
There are a number of different burgers to choose from.
Cheese fries are the bomb!!!

Solid burgers worth at least a one time bookmark. So many burger places in Chicago these days it’s easy to forget places.
What comes to front of mind about J. Wellington’s burgers are the way their toppings sit on the burger, the bun and the sauces. They have their own sauces which meld well with the different types offered. I like to take apart an RJ Grunt and add in toppings I want like, cheddar and spicy ketchup. Oh yeah and the fried egg has GOT to be sunny side up. Yolk canoodling over a burger is key and with a pretzel bun. oOh!
From my first visit to my last, customer service has only gotten better. Two out of three times something went wrong with the building of my burger, either cooking or missed toppings, which counter peeps were quick to rectify with a smile. A burger with cheese and a drink (one size only) equaled around twelve or thirteen bucks. If you choose one of their signature burgers (get it standard) and get the other add on sides, you can combo it for cheaper. Regular fries, sweet potato or cheese on top, either of them are all good.
Strangely I’ve only been in cold weather. Luckily they keep the place sufficiently warm, because I HATE to eat in a cold environment. The door faces North and when that door opens a gush of cold wind hits you, so with that in mind, best to sit closer to the kitchen for more warmth.
Open fairly late, so good to bookmark as a late list reminder.

OK. So I’ve been obsessed with DMK for awhile, and I thought no other burgers could come close, but this place sure gave it a run for it’s money. The portions were much bigger than DMK’s, and while they didn’t have as many different options for fries, they definitely had some great food. For you non red-​meat fans, they had chicken, tofu, hot dogs and tilapia. The ONLY thing I was really craving was a turkey burger.
At any rate, my boyfriend got the One Eyed Runt and I got the Trippin’ Swede and we both agreed his was better. How do you beed sriracha mayo, applewood smoked bakon, a fried egg, and bleu cheese?!
Honestly though, this place was pretty great. Not to mention it was far less crowded than DMK and it’s BYOB, which is always nice. Don’t get me wrong, I still love DMK, but it’s nice to know there’s a place closer to me that’s just as delicious in it’s own way.

This is a solid burger joint. The burgers with a drink and fries run about 10 – 12 bucks all told. I ordered a One Eyed Runt (bacon, blue cheese, fried egg) from the menu. The only complaint I had was that when I got it the blue cheese was melted and dripping and I was not even sure it was real blue cheese. The burger tasted great though. rather than dumping the top of the bun on the right off the grill burger, perhaps leave it off if you are serving something like blue cheese? The fries were good.
The funny thing was that when we walked in we had no idea this was a burger joint. W were going to eat middle-​eastern nearby and thought we would check this place out. The name gives you no idea of what to expect inside, and while I think it might be a chain since I saw that there was one in NYC, but since there was no other website, I was not sure. If you are at North and Milwaukee and want a big burger, pop in.

If you don’t like the loud music, the lack of service and high prices at Kuma’s Corner, then come to J. Wellington’s. They have a great choice of burgers with all types of toppings that will make your mouth water.
The burger size is big enough where the meat comprises most of the taste, but not too big so that the other toppings can shine as well. Their house sauces, including the Wellington sauce as well as their spicy mayo, are delicious.
The fries are nothing to write home about but the cheese fries do use Mertz cheese (a la Paradise Pup) so if you’re into that, it’s worth the 2.50.
A burger and fries will run you a little over nine dollars and it is pretty filling.
Personal Recommendation: The Wellington, Hand cut seasoned fries

My latest attempt to find a Burger as good as Kuma’s took us to J. Wellington’s. The interior is basic. Just a few tables and chairs. There is also no Liquor, so I would consider this more of a take out joint than a place to dine in at.
The Burger was pretty tasty. I ordered the house special called the Wellington. It came with Grilled onions, Apple wood bacon and lettuce. The burger was good and reasonably priced and the Cheese Fries were a step above the rest. J. Wellington’s left me with a full belly for around $ 12.00.
No complaints, but it was not anywhere near as good as the bliss that is Kuma’s. So the search continues.

It’s been a while since my last burger review (it’s wedding season and I need to trim down a bit). With my love of a good burger and/​or hot dog I am a bit picky… I don’t want to indulge in anything sub-​par on the rare times when I actually decide to treat myself.
So came here late Saturday afternoon. The gf and I were pretty hungry after not eating anything all day so I decided to avoid the unavoidable bad mood (gf’s, not mine) driving to the suburbs by breaking my healthy eating streak and stopping at J. Wellington’s.
So this place is on North right by Milwaukee. Pretty busy area… Walked in to find pretty simple décor. Others are pretty right in calling this place like a Potbelly’s that serves sandwiches. It just has that kind of feel… except that it’s hipper because of the area. One thing to note is the ample amount of flat screens so I could be surrounded with images of the Cubs losing yet another game… Anyways, let’s talk about the food we ordered.
Trippin Swede: I only had ~1/​6 of this burger, but it was pretty good. They are a bit skimpy on the mushrooms even if they did let us switch the cheese from swiss to cheddar. Actually, compared to other burger places it seems like they a little skimpy on their toppings. The special ketchup they have on it was good on the burger and complemented the burger well… Overall, the burger was good, but didn’t blow me away…
One eyed runt: This was the burger I chose and I LOVED it. It wasn’t the fried egg or bacon. That stuff is good and usually gets more applaud nor was it the bleu cheese. There really wasn’t a lot cheese in my burger at all. Like I said before… they are somewhat skimpy on some toppings. Even with less cheese, the sriracha mayo made up for it. I always love the stuff for spicy tuna and other rolls. It’s like my new ketchup… It seems to go well on everything. So the sauce isn’t original, but the idea of putting it on a burger is something of accomplishment…
Also split some sweet potato fries which were good. They were fried just right and seasoned with Parmesan cheese. The gf ate most of these, but from what I ate, they were pretty tasty. Really wanted the mac and cheese after seeing it on two tables… Maybe that will be the next thing I try from here…
Overall, it is a good burger place… A little more than okay because I really liked my burger and it was a decent price. Definitely will come back to form more of an opinion…
Thanks to Bill S for suggesting I try this place!

Went in and found all the owners and what seemed like every employee ready to take my order! I ordered their signature «The Wellington» with Applewood smoked bacon, crispy fried onions, cheddar cheese and a large hand packed beef patty. All for just over $ 6! Add to that the fries for Under $ 1.50 which are crispy on the outside just the way I like em!
The burger was cooked to medium well and was very flavorful and very juicy, but not TOO juicy that it became a problem. The fried onions added a nice touch to the flavor of the sandwich and blended well with the bacon and cheddar! I chose the wheat bun which was great! Not to grainy like some wheat buns can become!
The fries were salted well with what seemed to be parsley sprinkled on the fries.
But my favorite item is what this place has had me hankering for since they put their signs up back forever ago. A root beer float! I didn’t see it on the menu but i asked because it IS on their window outside! It hit the spot but… it was served as a do it yourself float, a few scoops of ice cream in a Styrofoam cup! I thought it was a crime to serve a float in anything except a large frosty mug (unless it is requested to go)? Staff was very helpful and I think it was the owner who came up to me and asked if everything was good! (as my mouth was full… happens every time!)
Happy to have a burger joint of this caliber near my work! Just what this hood needed! Now if I could only check in to this place from my non-​iPhone smartphone App!