Friday, September 11, 2009
Lindy's on Fourth, a burger joint at 431 N. Fourth Ave. that is co-owned by and named after former Che's Lounge doorman Lindy Reilly, will be the focus of an upcoming episode of the Travel Network's Man Vs. Food.
The taping is scheduled to take place Friday, Sept. 25.
"I almost cried," Reilly said about the news. "I have busted my ass for so long, so this kind of validation means so much. I’ve sacrificed my health, my marriage, so much. ... It’s kind of like watching your kid graduate, you know?"
The show's star, Adam Richman, will attempt to eat the O.M.F.G.—a three-pound monstrosity made up of 12 patties, 12 slices of cheese and all the fixings.
Reilly said anyone who eats the O.M.F.G in less than 20 minutes gets it for free. He said about one out of every 20 attempts is successful: "There's a high failure rate," he said, chuckling.
This whole thing is great news for several reasons: First off, Lindy is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and although he's one of the place's owners, it's common to find him flipping burgers right alongside the other cooks. Down-to-earth dedication like that deserves notice, which he'll get plenty of, thanks to this development.
Second of all, this will put one of our hometown eateries on the national map, which is good for Lindy's—and good for our city as a whole.
Reilly, who was trying out a new burger topped with a green chile tamale when we called, said he'll be spending the next two weeks getting ready for the hordes that will descend on the tiny burger joint once the news gets out.
The show is scheduled to air on Wednesday, Dec. 2.