Au Cheval | Senza glutine a Chicago

Nitin Malla
18/07/2025

3

I was glad to finally try Au Cheval, given all the buzz, but overall, it didn’t quite deliver. I had the fried bologna sandwich, which I was genuinely curious about since it’s a rare find on most menus. I’m glad I tried it, but in the end, it wasn’t anything particularly special. It came on the same bun as their burgers and felt more like a novelty than a standout dish. My wife had the gluten-free burger, and that was unfortunately the low point. It looked more like a stack of greasy components than an actual burger—no real gluten-free bun, just meat and a hash brown that leaned heavy on the oil. For a place with this kind of reputation, I expected more thoughtfulness and care when it comes to accommodating dietary restrictions. We also ordered fries, which came out soft, under-seasoned, and definitely lacking the crispiness you’d expect from a place that takes its food seriously. After reheating them at home in our air fryer, they became passable—but still nothing to get excited about. The service was friendly, and we enjoyed sitting outside, but the food just didn’t live up to the name. I'm glad we tried it once for the experience, but I don’t see myself coming back.

Frank Haviland
15/06/2025

5

There was a 2 hour wait to get into Au Cheval; and many people we talked to highly recommended we go there. They said it was an amazing burger, and we needed to try it out. So... we waited our two hours and wandered other establishments, wondering what this burger would be like. Firstly, hype is a dangerous thing, especially in the food industry, and when we were finally allowed to enter and eat we noticed that the menu was down to Earth and there wasn't anything too crazy or unique... But.... I tell you what, it was a delicious hamburger, and the place reminded me of a nostalgic diner feel with a modern hipster take; it was highly enjoyable to be there and to just experience your meal with whoever you chose to share it with. They took their food and their reputation very seriously; they paid attention to every detail, and they were highly aware of food allergies and how to navigate the menu for people with Gluten Allergies like myself. The hamburger was delcious... complimented with their in-house "Dijonaise" sauce. The coffee was amazing... but what made our experience even better was when my buddy asked for some real cream for his coffee. Our waitress proceeded to go into the kitchen and to make a fresh blend of milk and cream to ensure that he could thoroughly enjoy his meal and coffee. The food was tasty, the staff was great, and you could tell that everyone who worked there cared about the customer experience and the reputation of the restaurant. Highly recommend you grab a bite when you can. Allergy friendly options are available.