Meet the Team at South Branch
At South Branch, no two days are the same, and that’s exactly what Evert enjoys about the job. Born and raised in Chicago, he’s a server who’s all about good food, family time and staying fresh with a solid sneaker game. Let’s get to know him.
Meet Evert R. Berger:
Where are you from?
Chi-Town, born and raised.
What is your role at Bottleneck and at what location?
Currently, I’m a server, but hopefully one day I can be in a manager role.
What do you enjoy about your job?
As a server, every day is different, whether it’s the guests, the crazy weather of Chicago, or just navigating the new menu items, beer and specialty cocktails.
What do you do when you are not at work?
Mostly I spend time with the family, be it with my wonderful wife, awe-inspiring son, and then who can forget my friendly, loyal furry children. But I also play video games, and I love collecting sneakers.
Current favorite drink?
I like the new Cherry Sprite.
What is something that people probably don’t know about you?
When I was younger, I was actually published three different times – all related to school projects. I love writing short stories, poems, and even wrote a fiction novel – that wasn’t published. I was too afraid of the rejection if it wasn’t good enough, but I did get an A+ on it!
Favorite TV/Movie Quote?
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli” from The Godfather.
Biggest party foul?
Double dipping and crashing the party uninvited.
If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I know this sounds lame and unexciting, but when I first moved out of my home with my now wife, we had pizza at least three times a week – and even after that, pizza is still my favorite.
What has been your most memorable experience at Bottleneck Management so far?
When I first started and no one knew me very well, I made a mistake, albeit a little one; it was the second time I made that mistake in the three months that I had been there. Jeremy was able to correct it easily and saw that I took this mistake to heart and was extremely hard on myself. The next day, he came in to check on me, just to see if I was ok. He reminded me that I’m human, mistakes will happen, especially when learning a new system. To this day, I do not believe he knows how much it meant to me to just check in on me. I was new, but he still treated me like I had been there as long as the others, and it made me feel part of the team.
Share a moment of personal triumph.
Marrying the love of my life…finally after 26 years. I still don’t know why she said yes, lol.
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Might be creepy, but I’d like to be able to read people’s minds and maybe even being able to have the power of suggestion to be able to change their minds.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Not to be cliché, but do something you love, you won’t work a day in your life.
What’s your favorite thing about your city?
I love the skyline. It’s unbeatable, but I also love how our neighborhoods intersect from poverty-stricken to upper-class.
What’s your favorite item on our menu?
My go-to is always the Steak Wrap, but I love pretzel bites, cheese curds, and any list missing the bang bang shrimp is invalid.
If you could hang out with any cartoon character, who would you choose and why?
Spider-Man is my favorite superhero since I was like four, and will probably be my favorite until I’m 84. He had regular everyday problems that normal people have, yet chooses “with great power comes great responsibility.”
If you had to delete all but three apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?
Snkrs is a must, eBay probably and Instagram so I can get updates on the latest sneakers and clothing lines.
What is your favorite sport to watch and why?
Although my wife hates me watching it, I would have to say football… Americano.
If you could have the power of teleportation right now, where would you go and why?
I’ve never seen the Eiffel Tower, so maybe there.
Every team member brings something unique to the table, and that’s what makes South Branch feel like more than just a restaurant. It’s a place shaped by the personalities, passions and everyday moments that make each visit special.
Follow us on Instagram for mouthwatering bites, handcrafted cocktails and a behind-the-scenes look at the team in action.