Ritz Klub

Haven’t been here in about 20 years. Not sure how the burger got all of those great reviews except for maybe it’s size. It’s huge. Service was terrible. Burger was dry and overcooked. The place was smoky as hell on a Sunday afternoon. I thought you weren’t allowed to smoke in bars anymore. Never again.

Dropped in here just on a whim and now I have burger brain. The burgers were delicious! Fresh, lean, great ingredients and huge! We got the garlic burgers and they did not disappoint. They were cooked to a perfect medium temperature and had quality cheddar on top. The bacon was also amazing and they did not skimp. There were about 5 or 6 pieces on there. The fries are standard skinny fries, but you could tell the oil was fresh and they were cooked well, too. Great atmosphere! Everyone there is just having a good time either shootin’ the breeze or having a friendly debate. Either way, they get you to join in on the conversation, which makes this place very welcoming. I am already looking forward to eating there again.

My mouth waters just thinking about this spot! This is my type of place — a very clean beer bar with the best burger around. Whenever you are in the mood for a fantastic burger, crispy french fries and beer served in frosty mugs, come here!

I absolutely love this place! My girlfriend and I have gone there several times, and every time we go, we split a burger. Yes, the burgers are THAT big! If we are really hungry, we will grab an appetizer, just so we are full. The menu is limited, but where it lacks in quantity, it certainly makes up in quality! Much like the burgers, their beer is also quite large! This is by far the best burger you will find in Michigan City, and possibly even the entire Chicago area!

As others have noted, fantastic burger. Like really really fantastic. Must be at least half a pound. And grilled onions. Definitely worth a visit. I went for lunch and there was no smokiness at all, though they do allow smoking.

Comfortable, cozy, welcoming, relaxing… such is lunch or dinner at the Ritz Klub. We’ve been going here for years, and we’ve never been disappointed. The garlic bleu cheese burger is incredibly delicious, with a beautiful marriage of flavors. Be forewarned: the portion sizes are beyond generous! We also love that they serve some great beers on tap.
The best part of the Ritz would be the owners, Phyllis, Richard, and Happy. They really want to know the answer to, «How have you been?» and «How are things going?»
Such a lovely way to spend a couple of hours!

It is hard for a beer-​loving woman to walk into a bar alone, but I am so glad I did. Very comfortable feel, made more so by the proprietor Phyllis. Burgers are good, beers huge and if you are driving, be sure to ask for a small beer, which is actually a normal size. Have returned several times since, once so Phyllis could meet my dog.

After reading reviews on the wonderful burgers, I had to try this place out. Went at lunch on a Friday, other than a few patrons at bar we we had the place to ourselves. The service was fast, but when we asked for bacon on our burgers the response was” you are in luck we usually run out of bacon, but we have it today. Its an extra cost”. We were fine with that, I mean how much more could it be? Well when the bill came we were shocked, $ 4.25 extra for bacon. That put a burger that was $ 9 on flavor to over $ 13. If i go back, which probably wont happen, Ill stick to just having a beer.

Phyllis makes the best burgers! Very large beef patties with all the fixings. Even the pickles were amazing. Fries could use a little seasoning but not over-​salted or greasy. She is very nice and will sit down with you if you talk to her but respects your privacy, as well. Great food! Give the Ritz Klub a try. Must be 21 to enter though.

Burger was basic but good. Very lean. Be prepared for Fox News on the flat screen over the bar.

The Garlic Cheese Burger was excellent– chunks of garlic– and the grilled onions were thick enough to actually have an impact on taste. My wife isn’t normally a big fan of skinny fries, but she really liked their fries. Phyllis was a dear, making sure we had everything we needed… including specialty jellybeans that tasted like cake. Not any evidence of smoke, so not sure where the previous complaints came from. Three generations and going strong.

I’m really glad I stopped in to have a burger here on a recent visit to Michigan City. Another friend had seen it listed as having one of the best burgers in the country. After he visited, he recommended it highly, especially as he enjoyed talking to the owner.
It was a good straightforward burger that was cooked really well. I got the plain burger. The owner asked if I wanted bacon and of course I did.
She also came and sat near us and talked to is a bit. A very kind soul and interesting to talk to.
The bar is a bit old fashioned with lots of cool things to look at, including family photos. The bathroom is very nice and clean.

Would definitely Not call this a dive bar. Very old but not a dive. Dined with friends who recommended the burgers. Very good burgers. I had the garlic and hubby had the jalapeño. Asked for medium rare and got medium well. The couple we were with asked for medium well and got pink. Maybe they mixed up the orders?
Overall, Extremely clean hardwood floors, cool lighted bar, very dark and intimate during the day.
We will definitely be back!

Ok maybe it’s just my taste buds are off. I came here for a quick meal after leaving the outlet mall down the street. Only found out about this spot thru the other Unilocal reviews. They looked impressive so I decided to give it a go.
First off, let me admit that they cooked our food fresh and hot and the owners (I assume that the couple who served us own it) were nice. For that, they get two stars.
Got the garlic blue cheese burger. Before I just flat out say it was nasty, il be fair and say what I didn’t like about the burger. The blue cheese was cooked on the burger itself instead of using it as a topping. That’s bad because heated up blue cheese tastes horrible and sure enough it had a very strange smell and taste to it. Additionally, it had absolutely no seasoning so it was bland.
My wife got chicken strips with fries. The chicken strips were bland too. The fries taste like reheated McDonald’s fries. I’m not sure what everybody else had that tasted so great but I wish I had the same experience.

I would rate this a ⁵⁄₅ without ever putting a burger to my lips (which I did, and it was marvelous). The atmosphere was exactly what I imagine in a hole in the wall– and then some!
Philly is a wonderful human being with a huge heart. I mean she made a burger for my dog. I’ll be back, and back, and back, and back.

Best kept secret in Michigan City, but doesn’t need to be that way. I entered on a Thursday just after 11:30 a.m. I was the only person in the place. The owner (Phyllis?) was sitting at the bar watching TV. Sci channel. I ordered the Cajun burger and she told me it would be a while, it took her burgers a long time to cook. I told her I was okay with that.
There are a lot of restaurants where you go to get a burger and end up paying $ 10, and you’re okay with that, as it’s the going rate in NW Indiana. However, this place is unique in a couple of areas. First of all, this is probably the biggest burger I’ve eaten since I had a Gunder burger at The Shanty, in Gunder, Iowa. Burger was spiced nicely and had a lot of peppers on it. Probably had half a grilled onion on it as well. I would recommend you ask for the onions on the side. It was difficult to handle the burger even after I cut it in half. Tons of shoestring fries as well.
The menu seemed limited, and I’m kind of kicking myself for not asking what the daily special was (says on the sign outside that they have daily specials).
This kind of place is kind of an anachronism these days. Pretty cool, but it was kind of sparse for lunch. Check into it.

Don’t pass up on grabbing a burger at one of the oldest, if not the oldest bar in Michigan City. Located two minutes from Blue Chip casino, this place is a gem. Chefs from all over come to taste the burger these guys put out, and now I know why. Best kept secret until Thrillist put it on the top 10 burgers in the COUNTRY list.
So if you are going to Blue Chip, here is the only sure bet. Eat this burger! Also, the owner is cool as a cucumber… I’ve only been there once, but will be back asap!

Best Burger in town!!! Their portions of good are usually generous. Besides that, Richard & Phyllis are very nice people. The oldest bar in town. Many people don’t even know it’s there or when they are open, and I think they like it that way. It draws just the right crowd, mostly regulars, and often people from out of town to try their food. I highly recommend the garlic blue cheese burger — I guarantee you will have leftovers. They also have free pool and popcorn. Huge beers for $ 5 on tap and also a nice selection of wine.
It is a BAR, so of course it is 21 & up. Don’t understand what the confusion is there.
Family owned for generations and they definitely aren’t in it for the money or to impress the young crowd.

Excellent burgers! Had a garlic and bleu cheese burger, it was huge and very tasty. The fries were standard shoestring fries. Plenty of lettuce, pickles, and onions on the side.
There is smoking permitted, Indiana’s ban allows smoking in bars.

This place is just plain cool. The burgers are the biggest I have seen, they are equally as good. Ritz Klub is that of the old school type. The bartender on duty this afternoon was respectful and spot on with servicing us. Keep up the great work!