Mallie's Sports Grill & Bar prides itself on having the best burger around. Now they are boasting the have the biggest one too. The bar on Northline Road on Saturday cooked a hamburger, which its manager said he believes is large enough to set a new Guinness World Record. The record has not yet been authenticated by Guinness, a process that could take a few weeks.
"That is the way we pride ourselves: We have the world's best and now we have the world's biggest," said Mike Matkin, the bar's promoter.
The event generated a lot of interest as more than 200 people crammed into the establishment and waits for tables were 40 parties deep, he said."It is definitely a good day," Matkin said. "It is standing room only."
Staff had the 24-inch burger dressed with huge buns, cheese, all the fixings and on display by 4:20 p.m.
It started cooking at 4 a.m. Saturday and required three men using two steel sheets to flip it, Matkin said.
Joe Jerrard, a 39-year-old Lincoln Park resident remembers reading the Guinness Book of World Records as a kid and came to the bar on Saturday to see Mallie's attempt to set a record.
"I can't believe it," he said. "It is exciting to be a part of it. It is cool they are doing something like that. It is boosting everybody's morale."
The burger's patty final weight after cooking was 134 pounds. Owner Steve Mallie said the burger will obliterate the previous Guinness World Record of 123 pounds, set by Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pa., in 2007.
He is so sure he will set the record, he already has printed up new menus with the giant burger on it. For $399 and at least 24 hours notice, the burger can be yours.
The burger joins the 12-pound, six-pound and half-pound burgers already on the menu.
"We want to show the world that we have the biggest and best burgers in the world," Mallie said.
Matkin said the burger is a joy to see.
"It is the biggest patty you would ever consider taking a look at," he said. "It's good ole ground round. We are going to display it for awhile and let people take pictures with it. We might start cutting it up and sharing it with people."
Mallie is donating a portion of Saturday's proceeds to the Women Celebrating Life-Downriver, a breast cancer support and awareness group.
