Pompei (Sheffield and Wellington, OR, Taylor and Ashland) makes a phenomenal pepper and egg sandwich. thick, chewy bread, eggs cooked perfectly, and lots of parmesan cheese. I've never been disappointed.

El Panzone wrote:no contest. best pepper and egg is Bombacigno's J&C inn, 500 block of w. van buren. warning, the place is run like a 3 stooges episode. they approach it like a @&^* hobby. only open between 11:45 am. and whenever they feel like closing--ususally about one pm.
wunnerfull italian beef. everything very good. great "red gravy."
often out of many items.

Whenever someone says "no contest", I have to make the assumption that they have tried every other place in the city. Is that the case here?

kl5 wrote:La Roc's on Grand (R.I.P.) used to make a nice one that is sorely missed. I did notice last week that Bari is now doing them on Fridays during lent. Didn't try one, but I'd bet my lunch money they're good. Do they do this every year?

Bari Foods
1120 West Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
312-666-0730

I had a pepper & egg at Bari's last week. It was quite different than most p&e's I've had in the past but I liked it. Rather than the loose scramble mixture the eggs in Bari's sandwich were of a folded omelet type with the peppers in the beaten eggs. I've had sandwiches with more filling but it satisfied my appetite so I'm not complaining. The real difference, though, was the fresh, crisp, bread from next door - I'd always had p&e's on (inferior) chewy bread and it was a real treat on the D'Amato's bread.

They had several other Lenten specials listed (I think a total of 4). One of them was an eggplant parm sandwich but I don't recall the other 2.

Kman, thanks. That's what I was looking for. Should've known that Bari did it right.

More filling? After all, it is Lent:-)

And forget about that Italian sausage/p&e combo, please.

HI,

Last week when I visited Johnnies in Arlington Heights, I had my first pepper and egg sandwich ever. I saw the variant offered with sausage, which seemed like overkill, though I now see c8w highly recommends it.

It was not only my first pepper and egg sandwich, I also had my very first Johnnies Italian Beef. I don't usually like cooked green peppers, they just have a tendency to taste sour and over the hill. Johnnies has a very nice touch with cooked peppers both in the egg sandwich as well as sweet peppers on their Italian beef sandwiches. I can offer a reason why the pepper and egg sandwiches taste very much the same as the beef sandwiches as Hammond suggested. It appears the sweet peppers for the egg sandwich and garnish for the Italian Beef are the very same. I suggest this because I tasted both in short order, while I imagine everyone else here goes for the gardinera. It may well be the peppers sit in a liquid similar to the beef.



If you look closely at the eggs, there are flecks of herbs similar to the seasoning of the Italian beef.

I have been to Johnnies several times before after trips to Mitsuwa. After dining in Mitsuwa's food court, we could only fit in the Italian ices. Two great places within less than a mile is a cruel choice.

Regards,

There is a sub shop called Joes Taylor Street Subs on Taylor Street at about 2300 West on the South side of the street. It's owned by Joe (I think of Italian ancestry) and his wife Esther (of Mexican ancestry). They do a great pepper and egg sandwich...I love it with a little red gravy and some giardanera. Also, the breaded steak sandwich with the same accompaniments is outstanding. The steak doesn't get soggy. Great little place.

pretty close saps. in city that is. how many have you tried?

CTB wrote:There is a sub shop called Joes Taylor Street Subs on Taylor Street at about 2300 West on the South side of the street. It's owned by Joe (I think of Italian ancestry) and his wife Esther (of Mexican ancestry). They do a great pepper and egg sandwich...I love it with a little red gravy and some giardanera. Also, the breaded steak sandwich with the same accompaniments is outstanding. The steak doesn't get soggy. Great little place.

CTB,

I'm glad to see further mention of a Tri-Taylor place; back on page 1 of this thread, I mentioend Grandaddy's and also Joe's:

Antonius wrote:...Joe's in Tri-Taylor (SE corner, Claremont and Taylor) offers pepper-and-egg and potato-and-egg sandwiches as parts of their daily menu all year round...

Thanks for explaining the background of Joe's mixed menu -- part Italian, part Mexican. Given that this neighbourhood used to be mostly Italian and for decades now has also had a very large Mexican presence, it's not surprising that there have been quite a few unions bridging the two groups. Another such Italo-Mexican union that has had a direct impact on local restaurant offerings involves the Damenzo's - Papi's Tacos 'empire'. And incidentally, Damenzo's itself now also offers various Mexican items, alongside the pizza and mostaccioli etc. etc.

Joe's sandwiches are big and can be quite tasty, though I must confess that the last one I had (several weeks ago) disappointed me a bit. The taste of whatever cheap oil they use was a little too prominent. But on other occasions I have been happy enough with their egg sandwiches. It sounds as though I should perhaps try the breaded steak sandwich one of these days.

Antonius

El Panzone wrote:pretty close saps. in city that is. how many have you tried?

Quite a few. But I haven't tried enough of anything to claim that it's "the best, hands down".

Plus, what I think is the best to me won't necessarily be what others think is the best.

I know I will catch flak for this, but one of my favorite P & E's around is at Portillo's. They make it on the same croissant that they make the beef and cheddar on.

I make sure to get it at least once every year!

I am truly sorry I didn't see this post during Lent as my reply would have been so much more timely. There is a place in the So. Suburb of Burbank on 79th street called "The DUGGOUT" that has been written up many time as having the best Pepper & Egg sandwiches. The owners name is Mike DiStefano,(humourous sarcasm removed as per moderator instructions). His father was the brains behind his "famous Pepper & Egg sandwiches" and the substance of the ingredients therin. I have tried many P & E's but always return for his and have tried them with sausage(good too), and loaded with mozzerela. The P& E's are popular enough there that it is a year round fixture on the menu and not just a "Lenten Special". Seroiously if your in the area try one.

The Dugout
6300 W 79th St
Burbank, IL 60459-1134
(708) 599-7333

Also has an awsome breaded steak that is way more than you'll get at a Ricobene's just f.y.i.

I have definate opinions on pepper and egg sandwiches.

First of all, the prescrabled with peppers on a steam plate is awful. I went to Roma's on Cicero this past Lent and regretted it much. Soggy eggs, soggy bread, tastless peppers.

However, my favorite p & e is just a little bit down the road - Pete's Red Hots just south of Irving Park. Each sandwich is freashly made (it is a permanent part of the menu under breakfast items). Nice sauted peppers. It is the omlette style and not really scrambled. MMMMM! Too bad the fries are these thin little frozen things. Is it really that much work to use fresh potatoes?

I guess we're really posting for next year's Lent and that's fine.

I gave up meat for (all of) Lent (yes, I cheated some, the record is probably somewhere on this site, so don't bother me) and had my very first P&E sandwich from Johnny's this year. First let me say that I think eggs are boring, give me tummy troubles, and if they did not preclude life I'd ban them when I am King. Second, why would anyone choose a P&E sandwich over a beef (or sausage) at a beef stand? What are you -- some kind of mope?

Wow! What a revelation. I was thunderstruck. I finished the whole thing while driving home and returned for a second. When I finally got home, my wife snarfed up the sandwich while I was preoccupied. Damn!

I wanted to return to the scene of the crime but my pants were already off and I didn't want to repeat past social blunders.

-ramon

I had a craving for a pepper and egg sandwich this morning, but I work a couple blocks west of Michigan in River North and couldn't think of anywhere to go. I know that Ronny's Steak House (in the Thompson Center, right by the Clark/Lake L stop) has them, but didn't have time to walk that far. I thought Billy Goat's would have it, but they just have bacon/ham/sausage, egg, and chesse sandwiches. I'm guessing that anyplace that does Italian beef ('cus then they'd have the peppers) and is open for breakfast would have it.

Thoughts?

cjk

I've seen signs advertising them at Mr. Beef on Orleans but that may be a bit far for you as well.

If you're willing to travel a bit, Fast Track has pepper and egg sandwiches:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t= ... fast+track

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:I've seen signs advertising them at Mr. Beef on Orleans but that may be a bit far for you as well.

I stopped by Mr. Beef this morning in the hope for a delicious pepper and egg, but, alas, I was informed that they don't have them. Perhaps it's a Lenten thing for them. I guess I should gotten a Combo at 9am, but thought it may be overkill at that time of the day.

Many beef stands including Johnnie's only serve Pepper & Egg on Fridays.

Not a destination by any means, but if you're in the neighbourhood and need a pepper and egg fix, Lulu's, at Ogden and Taylor and Leavitt, produces a villainous yet surprisingly flavourful p&e sandwich. I've had their version a couple of times, during Lent, when I would prefer eating a home-made Lenten meal but was out seeking fast food that would satisfy my pre-school age kid (i.e., hot dogs and such). I do, however, think the p&e sandwiches are available year round chez Lulu.

Anyway, they're tasty, with a pronounced garlic element that hides some of the other shortcomings endemic to the fast-food culture of this region. But beware: twice I've had one and twice the roof of my mouth got burnt. Draw your own conclusion. And let the thing cool off for a minute before chomping into it.

Antonius

fiore's deli, an old style italian neighborhood grocery store which makes lots of sandwiches around lunchtime(be forewarned) does a very fine pepper and egg sandwich all day every day. . below is a link to the deli menu. much as i like this place for its cheaper- than -most volpi genoa salami, proscuitto and fresh mozzarella, i have to say i find their homemade deli foods such as caponata, marinara, composed salads,etc. to be pretty bad. they do have a small but fresh selection of produce(though not local or organic, alas).

fiore's is at 2258 w. erie

http://chicago.menupages.com/screenmenu ... aglineid=0

Only one place in chicagoland boasts the best italian beef, sausage, and friday pepper and egg. That would be Johnny's in Elmwood Park. Anyone who says otherwise has not been there.

Yes, Friday is the best day to get one of these sandwiches. I've had a good pepper & egg at Johnnie's, Buona Beef, too - in the Oak Park/Elmwood Park corridor (I prefer the Buona Beef rendition to that of Johnnies). I don't rate Johnnie's beef sandwiches very high any more (changes for the worse, in recent years IMO)- maybe if I happened to be in front of the place and nothing else to do I'd stop in again - but I certainly wouldn't wait in line for one, and I wouldn't drive out of my way for one either. Johnnie's hot dogs can be good, though.

Bill wrote:Yes, Friday is the best day to get one of these sandwiches. I've had a good pepper & egg at Johnnie's, Buona Beef, too - in the Oak Park/Elmwood Park corridor (I prefer the Buona Beef rendition to that of Johnnies). I don't rate Johnnie's beef sandwiches very high any more (changes for the worse, in recent years IMO)- maybe if I happened to be in front of the place and nothing else to do I'd stop in again - but I certainly wouldn't wait in line for one, and I wouldn't drive out of my way for one either. Johnnie's hot dogs can be good, though.

Thanks Bill, thats one less person in line ahead of me.

Last Friday I stopped, once again, at Fast Track for a pepper & egg, to compare it to the first - and only other - one I had there. Though it's more of a "fried egg" sandwich than I prefer (what I like best is the type in Cathy2's photo above), it'll suffice when I have the urge.

Fast Track Pepper & Egg Sandwich



This particular sandwich didn't have the mild garlic taste the first one I had there had, but I asked the counter man to add some onion to it, and it was good. I like the bread (used for the sandwich) at Fast Track and need to remember to ask the owner where he gets it.

Today, I stopped at Bombacigno's J and C Restaurant for a pepper & egg, but they have it only during Lent.

So, I set out to get a quick eggplant parm from La Rosetta at 3 First National, and ended up with an egg and pepper and a 30 minute wait. Very good sandwich though - omlette-y with the peppers (green and red) cooked in on a softy italian roll, sprinkles of parm and a side of hot giardianara that I added, extra oil and all. In addition, I asked that they melt some mozz. over the top - which was well-melted and added a bit of crisp to the bread from the oven/broiler melting process. Besides wishing for a perfect, crusty piece of bread, this was a very good sandwich. Came with some limp shoestring fries that were pretty weak but tasted alright after soaking up some giard. oil. Sandwich was freshly made to order (I saw the mozz. preparation after the sandwich came sizzling out of the kitchen), and I had my bberry to keep me company and some amusing watching of other people in line at various stages of aggravation. But man, the line was really long - out into the little seating area that they have in the lobby of the building, and I think I waited about 20-25 minutes, post-order, for my sandwich. Another issue -- it cost $8.95 plus a dollar for the mozz. melted on top, or $11 total - a bit dear, it seemed. In fact, I think the last time I had a pepper and egg sandwich was in high school at Patio on Taylor, and it cost a $1.40 or something (for indexing purposes, at the time I think a hot dog w/ fries at Patio was $1.10).

I remembered this thread from years past, and mistakenly figured that it would have been resuscitated by now for Lent, but I guess I am the first to do so since 2007 (or, perhaps more likely, there is another, definitive thread elsewhere on the LTH internets)! Of course, having found the thread, I notice that Bombascino's is the last mention, and given the overall quality at J&C, the version there may well be an as good or better (and certainly cheaper) loop-ish option. Nonetheless, if you have hankering and need a more centralized location, I thought this was a good feed. Not sure if they serve it all week or only on Friday - would have asked if it was a little less hectic.

La Rosetta
70 W. Madison
312-332-9500

Not sure why there's no mention of Fontano's P&E here. I've been going there for many years (Jackson just East of State) and their version is always great. The Pompeii version is also pretty good, but Fontano's feels like someone's mom just made it in the back of the restaurant (which is often the case).

Do they serve the P&E at Fontano's all week or just on Fridays during lent?

bjt

Ahmad,

I think La Rosetta makes one of the best pepper and egg sandwiches in the city. One of their few menu items worth the cost. One Friday I bought the entire office p&e sandwiches.

Don't get your mozzarella addition though.

Bjt, it's just Fridays -- but year round.

It's Ash Wednesday, people.