I Love Burgers

I Love Burgers Has Closed: ‘Tis Better to Have Loved Burgers And Lost…


Michael Movestro shares a moving Memorium of ‘I <3 Burgers’ now closed.

For some reason, I’ve gotten known for reviewing burgers. I don’t know why. Seriously. It beats me. It confuses me. But I have.

A long time ago, way before Vegas Bright was even an idea, I was on a trip to Vegas. Shocking right? I remember it was my last full day in Vegas and I was worn out. And then the following happened…copied directly from one of my trip reports.

At this point my stomach was ready for food. With my Carnevale Coupon for 15% off, I headed to I <3 Burgers at the Palazzo. No waiting in line, and I was seated promptly. I presented my coupon and Des’ree (the waitress) noted it. She was very attentive and did a great job. I decided on ordering the Dante burger.

Love between the buns
Love between the buns

Ground Angus, blue cheese, caramelized onion and roasted garlic aioli. It was sooo delicious! From the first bite to the last I was in my own happy tasty world. With a full and happy belly I paid the check, tipped well, and headed out to more Carnevale activities.

I was so impressed with that burger, that I made it a Vegas Must. On each trip since that one in 2013, I was sure to stop by I <3 Burgers at the Palazzo. Often, it was my first meal when I arrived in Vegas.

It was my “I just got to Vegas” tradition. When my wife and I arrived in Vegas for our honeymoon, we were starving…so guess where we ate? Yup. I <3 Burgers. Look how freaking happy I was:

I Love Burgers
Excited for the Dante Burger…

I Love Burgers

And then it arrives…

I Love Burgers

My wife ordered a different burger than I did, and she loved it.

mov_iloveburgerclosed_5_10192016

The past three times I went to I Love Burgers, I noticed changes. Particularly to the menu. First, there was a style change as seen here in this tweet.

I knew this was coming, in fact, I wrote about I<3B’s upcoming menu changes in my very first article here at Vegas Bright.  In April, the burger had a new name (The Blue Burger) and two different ingredients, but it was still almost as good. And, on my last trip in June…things went to crap. My newly named burger now had completely different ingredients (except for the meat). It just wasn’t the same. It seemed average, it lost it’s “wow” factor for me. It was the first time that I didn’t even finish the burger before I left.

I still held out hope. I figured on my next visit, it would go back to how it was, maybe they were just trying something new. Whatever it was failed as both I Love Burgers locations closed last week.

We would like to thank our loyal guests and employees who have made the last 6 years a wonderful experience, but both I Love Burgers locations in Las Vegas have closed.
We would like to thank our loyal guests and employees who have made the last 6 years a wonderful experience, but both I Love Burgers locations in Las Vegas have closed.

I blame Sam Marvin, the Head Chef who ran Echo and Rig out of Los Angeles, who took over as Head Chef of I Love Burgers. I Love Burgers wasn’t broken, I’m not sure why it needed to be fixed. All I can do now is be grateful for the mouthfuls of that Dante Burger through the years. And, with that, I end with a poem:

I held it true,  I felt its call;

I ate it when I hungered most;

‘Tis better to have loved burgers and lost

Than never to have loved burgers at all.

*clears throat*

[Photos: Michael Movestro, Craft+Brand]

27 thoughts on “I Love Burgers Has Closed: ‘Tis Better to Have Loved Burgers And Lost…

  1. Reads your poem: Wipes lone tear away from eye, as there is no drool left to wipe from my mouth. :-)

  2. I’ve been in a similar mourning for KGB Burger at Harrah’s for the past year. Of course, the death of creator Kerry Simon was at the heart of it. Really sucks when your favs are stricken from the list of “must do’s” through no fault of our own. Add I Heart Burgers to the ever-growing list of “Lost Vegas”.

  3. I haven’t done it in Vegas (in part because most of the burger places aren’t quickly accessable; as it can be a chore sometimes to navigate The Strip, the parking and the casino “just” to eat a burger). However, on one particular trip to Reno I had a burger at every meal (including breakfast). Only one (out of eight meals) was one that I would say I was disappointed in.

    I like the “build a burger” at the Burger Bar at the Mandalay Place, and the “Hells Kitchen” burger at BurGR.

    I guess my long-winded point is… I like hamburgers, too.

    1. Yep! They started doing that about a year ago I think. They didn’t originally though.

    1. Not sure what happened, both locations closed and both were in different locations. The place had good reviews everywhere, so I’m not really sure why they closed up shop.

  4. KGB, BLT at Mirage and now this? As long as Burger Bar (one of my MUSTS) stays open I will survive. But this is sad.

    1. Which reminds me, I’ve had Unami burger on my list for a while, I should probably head over there soon to see what all the buzz is about.

  5. I’m not surprised it closed down: on my last visit, I purchased a burger and a side. I gave them $100 and they gave me my $80 change. I sat down, and an hour later the food still hadn’t come. I asked the server for my money back, and… he gave me $100. I said, “Here’s $80 back for the change”. He just looked at me, shook his head like I had grown horns and walked away.

  6. Sorry to hear about another great burger place closing down in Vegas. I regret to say that I never got around to dining at this place, unfortunately. For me, as long as they don’t change or remove of the “Cheeseburger Island Style” from the menu at Cheeseburger Las Vegas at the Miracle Mile Shops, I’ll be happy!

    1. Thanks for reminding me! That’s the one with pulled pork, right? *Adds to reminders for trip coming up*. This is absolutely going to happen!

      1. Yep, that’s the one! It’s the burger with the pulled pork and grilled pineapple. Great burger!

  7. I wasn’t impressed with their food the one time I went back a few years ago – overpriced, small portions. Go to burger places for me are Fat Choy and FukuBurger.

  8. I too mourn the loss of KGB Burger at Harrah’s. I have been searching out new places to name my favorite burger place in Vegas and on my most recent trip in September I tried out Cheeseburger in the Miracle Mile, Wahlburgers, Stripburger (which I used to think was pretty good), Gordon Ramsay BurGR (the a/c in this place was freezing) and Back Stage Deli at the Luxor (had the California Burger). For me the clear winner was Cheeseburger!!!!! Back Stage Deli takes 2nd place. 3rd place to BurGR. 4th Walhburgers and sadly my old favorite Stripburger has slipped to 5th.

    1. Cheeseburger Las Vegas is great, but I’ve only had one of their burgers so far, looking forward to trying the “Island Style” on my next trip!

  9. Damn, I was planning to visit that place last year but I got struck down by the stomach-upset-demon on that day so I made a note in my book to go there next time (which will be next year) Guess I have to go somewhere else now to get a nice burger.

  10. I can definitely relate. Cheeseburger Las Vegas was my favorite burger place on the strip and I found out it was closed by walking up to an empty storefront on Wednesday.

    1. I found out by walking up to an empty storefront on Saturday. I was going to try the Island Style as recommended by another reader here. I’ll have a story up about it today.

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