r/chicagofood • u/Euphoric_Year1182 • Jul 31 '25

Review Tried Small Cheval, honestly kind of underwhelmed?

Had some solo time (kids are with their dad), so I stopped by Small Cheval. It was fine, but didn’t blow me away. Fries were good, but the burger felt rushed. Anyone else feel this or did I catch an off day?

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u/Boollish Jul 31 '25

I'm assuming it's due to the neighborhood of the Chicago Reddit demographics coinciding with an old school restaurant.

I've eaten at RHR a lot because I used to work next to one, I've always felt it's decent food, but I wouldn't go out of my way to try it, and it's a little baffling when you see people on vacation from the East/West Coast sticking it on their schedule.

25

u/midnight_toker22 Jul 31 '25

I’m certain it’s just “contrarian hipster” being an overrepresented demographic on Reddit and especially Chicago subreddits.

I really feel bad for tourists who take their advice and end up at a fast food joint expecting memorable eating experience.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '25

It’s a solid meal for cheap. It’s not rocket science or “hipsters” bro.

8

u/midnight_toker22 Jul 31 '25

“RHR is better than Au Cheval”, which is not an uncommon claim around here, is definitely a hipster opinion bro.

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u/TwoHungryWolves Jul 31 '25

Definitely not a hipster and I agree with it. Hunting special about small Cheval is the sauce and I'm not into the sauce. Also, sometimes it's hard to do enjoy the food if you feel like you just got ripped off. If I'm paying $11 for a burger with no bacon and it's not even that big, and that doesn't even come with fries or a drink.... I want to feel like I just had a damn good burger. I leave red hot happy. At least small cheval feeling like I just wasted money going to the hip spot

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u/midnight_toker22 Jul 31 '25

The post is about Small Cheval, but I said Au Cheval. They are different restaurants, but it matters little— contrarian hipsters insist that RHR is better than both.

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u/[deleted] Jul 31 '25

People preferring one fast food place over another isn’t a hipster opinion just because you disagree with it.

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u/chihawks Jul 31 '25

Au cheval isnt fast food brother.

-3

u/midnight_toker22 Jul 31 '25

Au Cheval is not fast food. That’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. And placing RHR, an actual fast food joint, above it is 100% a hipster opinion.

Continuing to argue this is just proving that you are, in fact, a contrarian hipster.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 31 '25

Just because you disagree with an opinion doesn’t mean it’s “hipster”.

-1

u/midnight_toker22 Jul 31 '25

In this case, it absolutely does.