GLADSTONE PARK — BRGRBelly — best known for its massive burgers piled high with unusual toppings — will be the only Far Northwest Side restaurant to be featured at the 2016 Taste of Chicago, officials announced Tuesday.
Steve O'Brien, who started the restaurant chain with his wife Nicole Masse O'Brien in March 2013, said he was thrilled to be bringing the restaurant's Old Time Religion and Midnight Special burgers to the annual celebration of Chicago-style gluttony.
"This is a very big deal," O'Brien said Tuesday of his restaurant's first appearance at the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park. "We could not be more thrilled."
In fact, the Old Time Religion burger — which tops the burger made from beef ground on site with roasted tomato, goat cheese, arugula and truffle aoili — is featured on the festival's brochure, giving it top billing.
The Midnight Special burger is topped with chili cheese Fritos, pico de gallo and chipotle cream sauce.
CHECK THE ENTIRE LINEUP FOR THE 2016 TASTE OF CHICAGO
BRGRBelly — which has locations in Portage Park and Gladstone Park — will be part of the festival's offering of "pop-up restaurants" on July 6 and 7, O'Brien said.
Its burgers have been lauded by Chicago Magazine, the Reader, Red Eye and Chicagoist as some of the best in Chicago.
City officials on Tuesday unveiled the restaurants coming to the annual food festival running from July 6-10 in Grant Park. Admission is free, with samples costing as little as $2.50 each.
"This is a great way to celebrate what we love about our city," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday.
The festival will run from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 6-8, and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. July 9-10.
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