What's the Beef?

I got an unexpected double dose of classic Chicago food fare today. I found myself driving around the city, and at lunchtime I was near Jimmy's, so I stopped in for one of their predictable, great dogs. Perfectly cooked, with their fresh cut fries wrapped with the dog. No ketchup of course. I just wish they wouldn't smash the bun so much.

Anyway, at dinnertime I was in the near North area on Clybourn, and stopped in at a place called "What's the Beef?" I must say, I was extremely impressed with their Italian beef sandwich. I can't understand why I couldn't find any mention of them here, they've been around a couple of years. The beef was of very high quality; lean, sliced thinly, with no fat or gristle. Seasoned perfectly. The flavor was excellent, very similar to Al's #1. As a matter of fact, I think this beef sandwich rates rights up there at the top with the other heavy hitters we're always talking about. I don't want to say anymore, but please, some of you, check this place out and let me know your opinion. I think it's super! Their menu mentions freshly-cut fries, but I didn't try them as I was still digesting the ones from Jimmy's.

What's The Beef
1863 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
773-477-7200

Cogito wrote:What's The Beef
1863 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
773-477-7200

Cogito,

'Bout every third time I drive past What's The Beef I think I should really stop, but never do, next time I will. Thanks for the heads up.

Enjoy,
Gary

I stopped in a couple of years ago and was completely underwhelmed by the somewhat bland beef. Of course, things might have changed since then. Since WTB is on the site of Edith's BBQ (R.I.P.), home of the french fry machine, I tried an order of fries with a side of "Edith's BBQ Sauce". I was pretty disappointed that the fries were of standard frozen commercial quality and the BBQ sauce tasted like something that came straight from a bottle infused with liquid smoke. Definitely not the home made sauce that Edith used to serve.

I have to politely but strenuously disagree on this one, Cogito

I tried them about a month and a half ago, and came away thinking that what they're serving isn't an Italian Beef, I don't care what the menu says. I give them full marks for roasting their own beef, but it was barely seasoned and didn't taste anything like an IB. And the sweet peppers were really odd... barely cooked and saturated in vinegar. It seemed more like a hot shredded roast beef sandwich with pickled vegetables than an Italian Beef. And the vinegar flavor was so raw and so overpowering that I didn't think it was a particularly good one, at that. The balance of flavors was just all kinds of bad.

Of course, that was one visit and these places are notoriously inconsistent, so who knows?

stevez wrote:I stopped in a couple of years ago and was completely underwhelmed by the somewhat bland beef. Of course, things might have changed since then. Since WTB is on the site of Edith's BBQ (R.I.P.), home of the french fry machine, I tried an order of fries with a side of "Edith's BBQ Sauce". I was pretty disappointed that the fries were of standard frozen commercial quality and the BBQ sauce tasted like something that came straight from a bottle infused with liquid smoke. Definitely not the home made sauce that Edith used to serve.

That part of it must be history. I didn't anything about "Edith," and their sign definitely said fresh-cut. All I can say is I had a great sandwich, but I know these places always get conflicting reviews, which is why I didn't want to get too positive.

Edith served Frispos. For reconstituted powdered potatoes, they were amazingly tasty, especially if they sat under your barbecue and hot sauce for long enough.

Dmnkly wrote:I tried them about a month and a half ago, and came away thinking that what they're serving isn't an Italian Beef, I don't care what the menu says. I give them full marks for roasting their own beef, but it was barely seasoned and didn't taste anything like an IB. And the sweet peppers were really odd... barely cooked and saturated in vinegar. It seemed more like a hot shredded roast beef sandwich with pickled vegetables than an Italian Beef. And the vinegar flavor was so raw and so overpowering that I didn't think it was a particularly good one, at that. The balance of flavors was just all kinds of bad.

Of course, that was one visit and these places are notoriously inconsistent, so who knows?

I know it was not your intention, and I must agree that this does not sound at all like a real, gravy-driven, IB, but your description makes me want to go, Dom. Perhaps if I go with the intention of sampling a shredded roast beef sandwich garnished with pickled vegies, I may be pleased?

The concept intrigues me.

dicksond wrote:I know it was not your intention, and I must agree that this does not sound at all like a real, gravy-driven, IB, but your description makes me want to go, Dom. Perhaps if I go with the intention of sampling a shredded roast beef sandwich garnished with pickled vegies, I may be pleased?

The concept intrigues me.

Maybe so! And had I not been expecting an IB, I might've felt differently myself. But comparing this to an IB was like comparing a ham and swiss on rye to a Cuban... most of the components were there, but it just wasn't the same thing at all.

dicksond wrote:

Dmnkly wrote:I tried them about a month and a half ago, and came away thinking that what they're serving isn't an Italian Beef, I don't care what the menu says. I give them full marks for roasting their own beef, but it was barely seasoned and didn't taste anything like an IB. And the sweet peppers were really odd... barely cooked and saturated in vinegar. It seemed more like a hot shredded roast beef sandwich with pickled vegetables than an Italian Beef. And the vinegar flavor was so raw and so overpowering that I didn't think it was a particularly good one, at that. The balance of flavors was just all kinds of bad.

Of course, that was one visit and these places are notoriously inconsistent, so who knows?

I know it was not your intention, and I must agree that this does not sound at all like a real, gravy-driven, IB, but your description makes me want to go, Dom. Perhaps if I go with the intention of sampling a shredded roast beef sandwich garnished with pickled vegies, I may be pleased?

The concept intrigues me.

This almost sounds like a Roast Beef Po' Boy (except for the underseasoning). Makes me almost want to go try it also.