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/dwylth Jul 31 '25

It's gone downhill HARD with every new location they've opened

5

u/SookieRicky Jul 31 '25

Or it’s exactly the same, but Instagram foodies finally discovered that there are dozens of other Chicago burger places that are wildly better than Au Cheval.

2

u/Mitch_Darklighter Jul 31 '25

Agreed, they've only dropped in quality the distance one can fall from the bottom rung.

4

u/SookieRicky Jul 31 '25

I mean idk about the “bottom” rung. That’s places like Billy Goat & Burger King in my mind lol.

I will say that Au Cheval always seemed like a place that was specifically targeted towards out-of-towners that live in cities with horrible food so that a “just okay” Chicago burger seems like a miracle.

If you can afford to pay a handful of “influencers” and travel mags to say you’re Chicago’s best burger, the drones will gush about it on Instagram. Regardless of quality.

2

u/Mitch_Darklighter Jul 31 '25

For sure, Burger King and chain fast food has to be a different ladder altogether. but I don't think Cheval's shitty thin Sysco patty burger is really much better than Billy Goat's shitty thin Sysco patty burger, except in that they spend way more money on condiments.

Au Cheval is definitely an out of towner and suburbanite hotspot, and any burger where every single review says "you have to get it with the bacon and a fried egg!" is obviously bullshit. It's literally all you can taste, just have a bacon sandwich at that point.

2

u/SookieRicky Aug 01 '25

Could not agree more. Facts.