The route to a Slap Burger starts at the bar. Walk through Marie’s Bar and Kitchen, past the drinks, televisions and pool table, and the setup changes at the rear of the room: a small burger kitchen takes orders from a walk-up window.
It is a pleasantly unfussy arrangement. Put in a food order at the back, get drinks at the bar if you want them, then wait around the compact burger space until your name is called. A quick lunch can stay quick, but the room also gives a person plenty of excuses to linger.
The crisp-edged burger order
Slap Burgers are smash burgers, built around thin patties with browned, crisp edges. The OG arrives on a grilled bun with cheese, pickles, sautéed onions and house sauce, a combination that has the right amount of diner-counter familiarity without being plain.
The burger keeps its saucy quality without becoming an unmanageable mess. That matters with a thin patty: the edges provide crunch and the soft bun, melted cheese and sauce keep the middle from eating dry.
The menu includes the OG, the Heater and the Sidekick. The Heater takes the spicy route, with a heat-focused sauce that can bring a noticeable kick while still leaving room for the burger’s other flavors.
Do not skip the fries
Crisp fries are a natural partner for a smash burger here, and they have enough crunch to stand up to dipping. The house burger sauce can be ordered on the side, turning the last few fries into their own small project.
Other food has appeared around the bar as well, including pierogis and fried green tomatoes. Offerings can change, so the burgers and fries are the clearest reason to head for the back window.
A small room behind the bar
The burger area is compact rather than formal: a couch, two two-person tables, one slightly larger table, a counter and a few stools make up most of the seating. It works well for a couple sharing fries, a small group grabbing burgers, or someone settling into a stool while waiting for an order.
Local art on the walls gives the tucked-away room its own character, and a television keeps it connected to the easygoing bar rhythm out front. Seating also extends into the bar and outdoor area, useful when the little burger room is already occupied.
The bar has its own agenda
Marie’s is not simply a restaurant with a bar attached. It is a neighborhood bar first in the sense that regulars, conversation, music and a casual drink are all as much a part of the room as the food window in back.
Beer and mixed drinks are available at the bar, with a Bloody Mary among the drinks that have made an appearance. The two separate ordering points are worth knowing: food is handled at the burger window, while drinks come from the bar.
There are televisions, music and a pool table, with pool priced at one dollar per game. A burger-and-beer stop can therefore stretch into a couple of games, a little conversation or simply time spent listening to whatever is on.
A low-key place to settle in
The atmosphere leaves room for different kinds of visits. Some people come through for a burger to go; others settle in with food and a drink, meet somebody new, read for a while or catch up with friends.
Small gestures fit the mood. Music requests can find their way onto the speakers, and the bar has been known to help out with a dead phone charger. The venue is also pet friendly, adding to the relaxed neighborhood feel.
A few useful details before you go
Bring cash if you plan to order from the bar: the bar is cash only. The Slap Burger kitchen accepts cards, which makes the split setup fairly easy once you know how it works.
Street parking in the surrounding residential neighborhood is free, though an open space can take some looking. Inside, the limited seating gives the visit a loose, communal flow—order at the window, find a spot where one opens up, and listen for your name.