A very respectable Italian Beef - Mama D's Lemont

It is sort of embarrassing to try a place you think is new, in a location you drive past regularly, and discover that it is very good, and has been there for three years. At least, if you take any pride in being able to identify good and interesting places.

Oh well.

Mama D's is a smallish fast food joint with counters and tables to seat maybe 20 people tightly. Their menu would be familiar to anyone who has visited any of the other Chicago fast food generalists, like Portillo's - burgers, fries, hot dogs, polish, italian beef, fries, tamales, eggplant parm, some sort of steak sandwich, chicken sandwich, fish sandwich, and more. You get the drift and here is the menu.

Not really very encouraging to me, since in such a small place that usually means all the food is frozen and nuked or grilled on order. I was hungry, between two soccer games, and with limited time, so I was going to eat there, but I had my doubts. "What is your specialty?", I asked. "Italian Beef, but all the homemade things, like Eggplant Parm, and..."

I admit I had stopped listening. Call me a priss if you will, but I object to this use of the word homemade at a commercial kitchen, and my inner voice was screaming, "Order a hot dog, or even a burger, because the beef was made yesterday, has been bathing in gravy for hours, and will be a tasteless, rubbery mess."

Wrong again, Einstein. I ignored the voice, listened to the kind lady who was trying to help me and ordered a small Italian Beef. It was really good. Despite it being years since the last Beefathon, I still approach a new Italian Beef the same, slightly deconstructed way. Pull out some beef and taste it. Pinch the roll, then grab a taste. Grab a bite of the Giardinera, and only then actually eat the sandwich.

It was almost all very good. The beef was excellent. Not as rich, brown and beefy as Johnnies, but of the lighter and somewhat more herby/salty style of a Patio, or Mr. Beef. Cooked perfectly. The roll was from a baker I have not seen before - Mezio's (I am sure that is wrong, will try to get the correct name later) - and it was easily the best roll I have had on a IB sandwich. A little crust, and a little chewy, it actually was like a good, industrial baguette as opposed to the flaccid Gonnella crap. This alone recommends the place for me. Giardinera was ho hum - apparently made for them, but bottled and more reminiscent of Dell Alpe than anything else. Some heat, some oil, crispy vegetables, but not much character.

Having finished, I went back and discussed the beef with the lady - cooked daily, held until ordered, than bathed briefly in gravy to warm, the proper technique. Note that my sandwich got a pretty heavy dip (I did not specify), so if you want less gravy let them know.

I look forward to going back for the Eggplant Parmigiana Sandwich and whatever other "homemade" offerings they have. Clearly I need to pay closer attention to these things.

Mama D's
12371 Derby Rd # A (near McCarthy and Archer)
Lemont, IL 60439
(630) 243-1212