Billy Goat Tavern Navy Pier

Visited for the novelty of the famous SNL sketch, but probably won’t be back again as the food is nothing memorable. The burger was fine, but really expected more, given the hype. Service was okay, place was adequately clean.

A visit to Billy Goat was on my wish list for places to try during our trip to Chicago. We stopped in at their Navy Pier location. Place was not busy so we were helped right away. We both ordered one of their Cheezborgers! Wifey had a Single, and I had a Double!
Both of us were disappointed with our cheezborgers. The meat did not taste fresh. Just bland and flavorless. It partnered well with the tasteless bun. Even the onions, pickles, and ketchup that we added to our burgers did not make it taste much better. Disappointing to say the least.
Maybe, we came on a bad day. Maybe, we went to a bad location. I have no idea. All I know is that I will not be returning to this branch. Perhaps, I’ll try their original location in the future.

The service was terrible. two women and the fry cook intentionally try to confuse costumers into ordering things so they spend more. They basically try to order for you. the cook asked the man behind me «double?» he said single and the cook repeated «double?» three times and then asked «so you want two?» and the man kept repeating «just a single cheesebuger.» they ask you if you want chips as they hand you the bag and they question you if you try to give it back. when my friend asked how much the chips were, the woman gave him a look and said «you wanna eat or you wanna ask prices?» in a sarcastic way. the chip bags are as expensive as any other fast food place only ¼ of the size. if you want to spend under $ 10 you have to be very insistent on what you dont want.
The food was incredibly bland. the burger patty was flavorless and thinner than any ive seen. The bun was oversized and completely dry. I ordered an egg and bacon on my burger, expecting an egg over easy but it was cooked dry and mutilated so that it was flavorless as well. the only thing on the burger with any flavor at all was the bacon which is impossible to mess up if its cooked, but it was cooked into the egg which made it too chewy. ketchup could barely salvage this meal, and they keep it behind the counter and you must ask for it, just like with anything else. which means you best be prepared to get some attitude.
I was excited to try this place and couldnt have been more disappointed. needless to say, i wont ever be going back and i wouldnt even recommend this place to my worst enemy.

Chips, No Fries!
If your looking for a burger and fries, this is NOT for you. They actually do chips instead of fries.
I like the location. It’s on Navy Pier, and it’s near the boat rides. It’s good for something to eat before a boat ride.
The service was excellent. The staff were quick on the food, and they were really friendly to me. Great job staff!
The food was okay. I got the cheeseburger, also known as the «Cheezborger». It was a small patty, and a large bun. I tasted it, and it all tasted like bread. The party was pretty good though.
All in all, a pretty good place to eat on Navy Pier. I might come back.

I came here while waiting for a boat tour. The service was horrible and the food was terrible. Save your money and time and visit another restaurant. This tourist trap is not good.

The food sucks! Don’t go here also the staff is rude, this restaurant should not be in this location

My boyfriend and I were at the Navy Pier and looking for a good place to eat came across Billy Goat and decided to try it. The buns were way too big for the thin patties, bacon tasted like frozen precooked bacon, BBQ chips were good but that’s about it. I’d never go there again.

I’ve never really been a fan of the Billy Goat (with the possible exception of the Saturday Night Live version from the 1970s and 1980s). Other than being on Navy Pier, this was really no different.
The counter service is brash and not a pleasant experience. The menu has grown a little since the days when the only offered «hamboorgers» and «cheezboogers». They still offer no fries but do offer chips.
There is little reason to get a single burger. Although the price is more reasonable, the bun is so large and the burger so small that it is not good. I ordered a double burger and it did fill the bun. They offer a toppings bar consisting of onions, relish, sliced pickles, mustard and ketchup. I do worry when they leave these sitting out all day, but I did add some to my food and it tasted fine.
Billy Goat is a Chicago institution. I find I like this Navy Pier location better than the original below the El tracks. At least the views of the lake are nice. But, Billy Goat has become a tourist trap located on the biggest tourist trap in Chicago — Navy Pier. Their prices are very high relative to what they offer purely due to location.

Had to try for the myth and story of Billy the Goat. Old school burger. Nothing fancy at all. You put on the onion, relish and pickles. Essentially you build your own burger. If I knew this, I could have made it at home. I essentially made an okay burger and paid 10 bucks for it.
If you are going to billy the goat tavern, go to the original one.

Well we had to try it since we just moved to Chicago since it is one of those tourist things you are supposed to do, right? I wish I hadn’t thought that since it really was so incredibly mediocre and unsatisfying not sure what else I can really write here.
Sure we got to relive our SNL memories by coming here: Cheezborger, Cheezborger, Cheezborger. No Pepsi, Coke. No Fries, Cheeps…
BUT really other than that and taking our mandatory photo of the phrase itself the burger or the cheezborger that is was not anything better than a frozen burger you would make at a cheap tailgate or something like that. The potato chips also were just not that great. It wasn’t that cheap either since the chips don’t even come with the burger but we thought we should try out all of the components. But no, not great.
The one thing this place has going for it is it is on the pier and they have a full bar you can grab a drink at and some outside seating. So Billy Goat you have that and your SNL fame but that burger really wasn’t anything…

Cheap food on the Pier. I’d personally rather go to McDonalds. It’s just as cheap (if not cheaper) and they things other than burgers and chips. The burger was just alright. I’m not sure what there is to really say. Not much meat, you can add your own condiments and stuff. Nothing great. I won’t be back.

Save your money for McDonalds. Place is disorganized. After ordering, you need to tell the cashier what you ordered.
I ordered the steak and eggs. The price was good but the good was bland. I cut myself shaving with the steak.
I purchased a Bloody Mary at a separate counter but the pickle in it undrinkable.
Not recommended. Awful, awful, awful! Sorry SNL.

The poor gf ordered chicken sandwich, and me the double cheeseborger.
This is the worst food we have ever eaten if you can even call this food.
Whoever rated this place over one star must be eating poop on a plate for breakfast and vomit in a bowl for dinner .
Get your head out of your ass and venture out to the city for some real food.
This place is an abomination

This is one of the oldest burger restaurants in Chicago. The burgers were ok, but if you are use to ketchup, mustard, and all the trimmings, this is not the place for you. There are no french fries served with the burgers but potato chips (from SNL) and of course «No Coke»,(Pepsi). Price was not bad, but the meat is not thick. We ate outside and the view was great.

Now, I don’t know what I was expecting. My friend and I were taking in the sights and sounds of Navy Pier when that feeling coming from your stomach stops you in your tracks. No, I’m not talking about diarrhea, I’m talking about the feeling of hunger. It causes grown men to cry and children to become irritable monsters that make you want to truly test out the noise-​cancelling capabilities of your headphones.
Well. The feeling came upon my friend and I like a train on the run and as we reviewed our nearby options, we thought why not try a burger from the famous Billy Goat Tavern.
Haven’t heard of it? Well, to give you some background, apparently it is the reason why the Chicago Cubs haven’t made it to the world series since 1945 and was made even more famous thanks to a Saturday Night Live skit featuring the famous messrs Aykrowd, Belushi, and Murray.
In either case, they became known for their Cheezborger, not cheeseburger. It starts with a kaiser bun that is toasted on the flattop and served up with your choice of single, double, triple or a double double of hamburger patties fried up and topped with pickles and cheese. Needless to say, men should always start with a double for fear of public judgment.
It is served up with an optional pepsi, not coke, and of course chips not fries. Now, this goes against everything I believe in. Burgers served with fries and an icy cold coke. But this is how they do it and have done it for decades, so who am I to judge. It works. I had a mountain dew of course, but it works. The burger was good and the chips gave me that potato I craved. Was it the best? No, but at the end of the day it will still be world-​famous. Largely because people have made it world famous and schmucks like myself decide they have to try and keep perpetuating its status. Its a good burger, but definitely not the best I have ever had.

I wasn’t expecting the best burger place, but wanted to come here to experience the employees yelling out stuff from SNL and so for that, 3 stars!
Yeah, the burgers are simple but then again, the price is cheap so that’s a plus. This place is just a huge tourist fly trap. And yeah, I’m well aware I was a fly this time. I’m glad I came though! Fun experience.
…I asked if they had fries just to hear them say, «No fries, cheeps.» But the blonde cashier said, «Umm, no. We don’t have fries but like we have potato chips.»

There was nothing WRONG with this place, but I wish I’d just gone McD’s instead around the corner. The burgers are fine, but the patties are indeed paper thin. It’s worth being upsold to a double burger. I had no idea it was famous; I just happened to wander past when I was hungry.
The offerings are very limited. Don’t come here to eat healthy.
Service is quick and casual, if a little rough around the edges. You can buy a beer from the bar right next to it and have it with your burger. Yay!

They try to force the double cheeseburger on you, which I guess is good because the patties are paper thin.
It was your typical burger. Good.
It can get a bit crowded so be prepared to wait in line.

Yes, it’s basically the cheapest & quickest food on the pier, but it was honestly gross. I felt sick! I had the Hot Ham & Cheese sandwich, hoping it was simple and didn’t want anything too greasy. It was so disgusting, I can’t even… just tasted like it had been dragged across the floor and the ham was just horrible. I imagine that’s what spam tastes like? Those that had the «Cheeseborgers» said they were fine, so you get ONE star… but I never want to eat there again.
*Pass*

I don’t understand how these are «famous» burgers.
Don’t be mistaken. There is nothing special about these burgers. They are about the same quality as Mc Donalds.
If you are starving and want something quick to eat. Go ahead. It’s quick, and it fills you up.
If you are looking for something special, save your money.