Epic Burger reinvents the Chicago hot dog — and we don't hate it

• Plus: They grill the dog.

The verdict: Pretty darn good, especially if you've always gotten poppy seeds stuck in your teeth and hated that scary green relish.

• The char on the all-beef Vienna frank also adds nice texture and flavor.

Yes, but: I wish they would steam the brioche bun for better softness.

What they're saying: "Relish was certainly a discussion point, but we decided it would not be part of the Epic Dog," Epic Burger CEO David Grossman tells Axios. "And we love the giardiniera peppers instead of a typical sport pepper."

What's next: Grossman will continue to mess with Chicago tradition. He plans to launch an Italian beef burger on Sept 1.

• Epic's beef burger will be "topped with premium Italian beef, a slice of pepper jack cheese, and giardiniera peppers," he says. Then, served with a side of gravy.