For many years, you couldn’t pick up an alt-weekly, newspaper or magazine without reading about the legendary burgers at Stevenson’s Bar in Euclid. If Instagram had been around back then, the joint would have been crowned a “hidden gem” by the content creators who “discovered” it.
The original Stevenson’s Bar – in service until 2013, when the building was demolished – was an old-school diner, where the food was prepared behind the bar in a “kitchen” that consisted of a flattop and deep-fryer. It was largely a locals-only hangout save for the burger enthusiasts, who drove there for the inimitable Big Guy, a double-decker creation that bared a striking resemblance to the Big Boys prepared up the road at Manners.
As for why these particular burgers enjoyed such outsized appeal, the answer likely is a combination of factors such as time, place, taste and – as always – a bit of luck. Regardless the reason, those burgers – a seamless stack of twin patties, triple-split bun, cheese, lettuce and special sauce – kept the humble Stevenson’s Bar in the black for ages.