I've gone to Mr. Beef on Orleans 3x this week, and it's my favorite thus far. I have to drive out to Elmwood Park for Johnnies, obviously, but for someone who doesnt like Al's (beef too thinly cut and too many flavors, and yes I have tried it at the original taylor st location, its just not my cup of tea) and instead prefers the more simple beefy flavor of Mr. Beef, I have one complaint about their beef sandwich. Their hot peppers are basically pointless, they have absolutely no bite whatsoever to them! I almost wish I could bring my own hot peppers or something to spice it up! The beef itself, I love since I appreciate the thicker cut and their gravy is a more simple, hearty beefy flavor compared to the magical but strange mixture of Al's. Today I even decided to do something unheard of, I ordered a hot beef from Mr. Beef with some Provolone Cheese! The guy in front of me did this so I thought, what the heck, might as well try! I think I'll stick to their Beef without the cheese in the future, but dang I wish their hot peppers were spicier! I am going to check out Johnnies very soon, probably this weekend. Until then I am enjoying Mr. Beef regardless of their weak peppers, and also the overall taste of Portillo's for downtown beef eating! Are there any other Beef places downtown that I'm missing? I've been on a beef rampage as of late and it's very addicting, I'm just worried about my waistline now hahaha.

FoodSnob77 wrote:I've gone to Mr. Beef on Orleans 3x this week, and it's my favorite thus far. I have to drive out to Elmwood Park for Johnnies, obviously, but for someone who doesnt like Al's (beef too thinly cut and too many flavors, and yes I have tried it at the original taylor st location, its just not my cup of tea) and instead prefers the more simple beefy flavor of Mr. Beef, I have one complaint about their beef sandwich. Their hot peppers are basically pointless, they have absolutely no bite whatsoever to them!

In that case, give The Patio a try. It's a big step up from Mr. Beef, has good giardinara and is closer than Elmwood Park, although a trip to Johnnie's is never a bad thing.

The Patio
1503 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 829-0454

stevez wrote:

FoodSnob77 wrote:I've gone to Mr. Beef on Orleans 3x this week, and it's my favorite thus far. I have to drive out to Elmwood Park for Johnnies, obviously, but for someone who doesnt like Al's (beef too thinly cut and too many flavors, and yes I have tried it at the original taylor st location, its just not my cup of tea) and instead prefers the more simple beefy flavor of Mr. Beef, I have one complaint about their beef sandwich. Their hot peppers are basically pointless, they have absolutely no bite whatsoever to them!

In that case, give The Patio a try. It's a big step up from Mr. Beef, has good giardinara and is closer than Elmwood Park, although a trip to Johnnie's is never a bad thing.

Yes, try The Patio, it's one of the best beefs in town. Their hot peppers are really hot and Johnnie's are even hotter. If you read my earlier post, Mr. Beef admits they use a milder giardiniera. Mr. Beef is my least favorite of Johnnie's, Patio, and Al's (and a few more I could mention).

Ram4 wrote:

Katie wrote:I enjoyed the Italian beef sandwich I had at Portillo's last week, but wished in hindsight it had more sauce. Should I have asked for it "dipped," or do they only give you sauce on the side?

They will make your beef any way you like, gravy on the side, dipped, dry, whatever. They'll do this with just about anything on the menu, I always order my fries well done for example and they don't bat an eye. Kind of like In 'N Out Burger, whatever you want, they'll do it. A guy who works for my dad orders a combo, with the sausage "naked" on the side. So he ends up with an Italian Beef, plus a sausage. I don't know why he does this, but I guess he doesn't care for them as a combo and likes the sausage as a side dish and it's much cheaper than ordering a seperate Sausage sandwich. Weird perhaps, but to each his own!

Thanks, Ram4 (fellow HPer), good to know. I guess there's something about a place belonging to a chain that intimidates me out of asking for anything customized. Portillo's is the best Italian beef option close to our house, so I will ask for it dipped next time. My first choice at Portillo's has usually been a Polish sausage, though I've already complained in some other thread about them switching from serving it on a bun to serving it on an overly large, dry, chewy hunk of French bread. Someone told me just ask for the bun instead. Duh.

I feel so empowered. I'm going back to Portillo's and bossing them around for a change and getting what I want!

Checked out the patio today, great old school no frills place, with amazing prices. You save a few bucks here compared to Mr. Beef/Al's... That being said, I was underwhelmed by my Beef with Hot peppers, the peppers def had some kick to them but the beef itself, wasnt anything to gloat about imho. It made me feel as if I could myself buy a carton of premade beef from a costco or from restaurant depot and thaw the beef myself and put it on a roll. I didnt taste anything homemade about it basically and was paranoid at their rock bottom prices, haha.

I guess I've realized I'm simply a Mr. Beef fan, even though their peppers are mild their thicker cut of beef, as well as the texture, tastes like quality to me. The subtle beefy broth to me is a understated winner and places the focus on the beef itself, which to me is the best, and the slight melting of their soft bread makes it irresistable. I'm going to finally check out Johnnie's in Elmwood park, and if that one doesnt wow me at least I've tried a wide variety of Beef establisments and will be able to be content with my favorite thus far, Mr. Beef.

FoodSnob77 wrote: which to me is the best, and the slight melting of their soft bread makes it irresistable. I'm going to finally check out Johnnie's in Elmwood park, .

tastes vary of course, but I am no fan of Al's, or Mr. Beef, but a big fan of Johhnie's. Only knock on Johnnie's I have is they are kind of small, easily fixed by ordering 2.

I had a pretty good IB today at Donald's, at 24th & Western. I would say it is similar to Portillo's, if you like that style.

Went to Johnnie's in Elmwood Park finally, had a beef with hot and sweet peppers, and also a combo, with hot and sweet peppers, very tasty indeed. Full of flavor, good kick to the hot peppers, and easily the best sweet peppers you're going to find anywhere for a beef joint. Had a large italian ice afterward and was impressed as well. I can see why this is favorite for many beef fans, I liked the char on the sausage and the hot peppers that were actually hot. Good prices as well, I can only imagine what the lines are like in the summertime, yesterday there was a line out the door extending to the parking lot!

Portillo's is consistent and a solid choice for me, but I don't understand why they toast their roll. I prefer it un toasted. Their sausage also seems to lack any spice compared to Johnnies or even Mr. Beef.

FoodSnob77 wrote:Can anyone shed some light and give opinions on these 3 downtown Chicago Beef establishments?

Al's on Ontario
Portillos on Ontario
Mr Beef on Orleans

These are the only 3 I have tried, and wanted to know what the general consensus is on them in comparison to one another. Al's is def the spiciest and most flavorful out of the 3, but I wonder if I should be going to the original Taylor st location for the best Al's experience? Anyone have any thoughts on this? I had an Al's Italian Beef up in the burbs once, and never again shall I bother!

I really liked Portillo's Beef, it was in between Al's and Mr. Beef in terms of spice, but it didnt have the nice meshing of the beef making the bread soggy like Mr. Beef. I enjoyed Mr. Beef the most, but wish it the hot was actually HOT, it's so mild but at least this way you focus on the beef itself, which I did and contrary to other people's complaints, the bread to me was the best, if not a bit small. I ate it so fast I could have easily had 2 or 3! Overall I have to rate Mr. Beef #1 thus far with Portillos and Al's a close tie for 2nd, but I'm wondering if the Taylor St. Al's is the one I must try before coming to this conclusion?

I've added my two cents here before but to give you a little background, I conducted a little blind taste test a few years ago with nine of my closest Italian beef loving friends (chronicled on LTH). We looked at nine individual beefs mostly from the north side (Chickie's was in there as well). The "blind" winners were Jay's, Torre's, Chickie's and Boston's and the unanimous losers were Portillo's and Mr. Beef. Johnnies was near the bottom as well. Al's and Roma's were in the middle of the pack. Now, we did have these dry for travel reasons and had "gravy" from each place on the side. We also had a side of each place's hot peppers so the guys could taste the beef in their "true" form as well. We all agreed that although Johnnies didn't do well in the tasting, their strength is really the combo, most of the time, dipped.

As for your original question, I think Al's Original and Mr. Beef on on the opposite sides of the "premiere" beef taste spectrum where Al's has a lot of seasoning and Mr. Beef is pretty bland. The others are in the middle to some degree. I like, in no particular order, Jay's, Boston's, and Chickie's (although consistency isn't a strong suit here over the past few years for a variety of reasons listed on LTH in the past). I also really like Roma's sausage. Along with Johnnie's, I think they have the two best combos on the "northside." None of these are really bad beefs, they're all pretty good to great, depending on your taste and the particular day. There are a handful of other good beefs in the city but it really is just a handful. I'm sure Da Beef could give you a short list of the southside beefs and maybe add a few more to my northside list but if you're going for a beef, you may as well get a decent one. The best of the best?, well, I think that's up to the individual.

I thought Johnnies didn't offer juice on the side at all... did you do it as a catering order or did they make an exception?

gleam wrote:I thought Johnnies didn't offer juice on the side at all... did you do it as a catering order or did they make an exception?

They have done it for me a couple of times, but I don't normally ask for it that way. I think it might depend on how busy they are.

gleam wrote:I thought Johnnies didn't offer juice on the side at all... did you do it as a catering order or did they make an exception?

I'm pretty sure we had a side of gravy and a side of hot from every stand. It was a couple of years ago so I can't be positive though. I will say that I remember being surprised about how the gravies differed. Some were really greasy and some were sort of "clean" tasting. The hot peppers were all over the board as well. About half were somewhat similar but Chickies, Al's and Mr. Beef's were pretty different if I recall.

Ok, I'll be the first to say it, since nobody else will because it's a chain (even though I know half the board will agree with me here...)

Was it last year when Wendy's attempted to break into the Italian Beef sandwich market?
THAT was easily the best IB in Chi-town. Tender, expertly sliced (wafer thin,) and seasoned with a nice peppery kick, but still retaining a very beefy quality along with a very pronounced hit of oregano. I thought every beef stand in Chicagoland should have been ashamed that Wendy's could outbeef them at their own game. I'm still lamenting the fact that they took it off the menu. I think that once the snobbish fanfare subsided and everyone realized that Wendy's was really the best IB in town, they would have had a great success with it here.

And save your eyerolling. Wendy's IB was really good.

seebee wrote:Ok, I'll be the first to say it, since nobody else will because it's a chain (even though I know half the board will agree with me here...)

Was it last year when Wendy's attempted to break into the Italian Beef sandwich market?
THAT was easily the best IB in Chi-town. Tender, expertly sliced (wafer thin,) and seasoned with a nice peppery kick, but still retaining a very beefy quality along with a very pronounced hit of oregano. I thought every beef stand in Chicagoland should have been ashamed that Wendy's could outbeef them at their own game. I'm still lamenting the fact that they took it off the menu. I think that once the snobbish fanfare subsided and everyone realized that Wendy's was really the best IB in town, they would have had a great success with it here.

And save your eyerolling. Wendy's IB was really good.

I tried it. My eyes are not rolling, and I disagree. Completely.

PS, I found a public pic of the "beef," which Cal222 captured for posterity. It's the Arby's on a ciabatta roll looking samdwich on the left, juxtaposed against a Brown's Chicken beef. That's taking 2 for the team.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/78112681@N ... otostream/

Oh, wait, of course, those pics support a post from LTH:

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=19029&p=198017

JeffB wrote:
I tried it. My eyes are not rolling, and I disagree. Completely.

I'm not saying that you have faulty tastebuds, but obviously the day you tried it, there was something going on. Wendy's IB was clearly the best IB in the Chicagoland area. I've been to all of the best IB places around including Portillos, and Buona Beef (been to three or four of them) so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to IB. Wendy's was worlds better. I had Wendy's on multiple occasions too, not just once.

I get it....

April Fools!!!

Bourbon

Yeah, you got me. I should have looked at the calendar first. Expertly sliced should have been the tipoff.

If you replied again with the same viewpoint, I would have disclosed it to be an April Fool's post. Frankly, I should give credit for you (or others) not using foul language, I mean, Wendy's..IB??? Come ON!!

Hope you got a smile out of it!

seebee wrote:If you replied again with the same viewpoint, I would have disclosed it to be an April Fool's post. Frankly, I should give credit for you (or others) not using foul language, I mean, Wendy's..IB??? Come ON!!

Hope you got a smile out of it!

With all the trolls trolling, shills shilling, blowhards blowharding, contrarians being contrary, and axe-grinders grinding pervasively about the Internet, it's often difficult to identify the April foolers fooling. . . even re a Wendy's IB. But maybe that's the point.

I'm in town for a family event and have a limited window in which to get an italian beef. Is there anything decent within a fifteen minute drive of Highland Park? Staying at the intersection of Lake Cook and Skokie Blvd.

Thomas D. wrote:I'm in town for a family event and have a limited window in which to get an italian beef. Is there anything decent within a fifteen minute drive of Highland Park? Staying at the intersection of Lake Cook and Skokie Blvd.

I don't think there's anything great. But there are some places that have decent Italian Beef in a pinch.

Stashs
1825 Second St
Highland Park, IL 60035
http://stashsrestaurantandgrill.com/

Portillos
9400 Skokie Blvd
Skokie, IL 60076

Mario's Pizza
2677 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062

Wolfy's
873 Sanders Road
Northbrook, IL 60062

If you're up for going a little farther...you may be able to make it in 15 mins with no traffic...go to Als.

Al's Italian Beef
5948 West Touhy Ave
Niles, IL 60714

Tommy D: Sadly there are no true beef joints near the Marriott I assume you're staying at. For a serviceable beef, there are over a dozen options within 5-10 minutes though. To add on to what Kesey just gave you:

Cooker's, Tony's Subs, or Dear Franks in Deerfield.

Viccino's or Michael's, both located in downtown Highland Park.

Little Louie's in Northbrook.

...someone else on the board can hopefully let you know the best choice out of these options (in the next couple hours before it's time for your lunch). My apologies for breaking this board's protocol and forcing you to Google the addresses...have to run some errands!

On another quick note, has anyone tried the footlong "Monster Beef" from Mitch's Chicago Style Grill in Grayslake?

Thomas D. wrote:I'm in town for a family event and have a limited window in which to get an italian beef. Is there anything decent within a fifteen minute drive of Highland Park? Staying at the intersection of Lake Cook and Skokie Blvd.

I'd add LTHForum Great Neighborhood Award recipient fRedhots in Glenview to the list.

fRedhots Italian Beef

Image by Steve Z


fRedhots and Fries
1707 Chestnut Ave
Glenview, Il
847-657-9200

I mentioned this yesterday in a Wolfy's thread, but yeah, there really isn't a top tier beef joint in the entire North Shore. I've heard hit and miss on fRedhots' beef, maybe I'll give it a try.

Ram4 wrote:I've heard hit and miss on fRedhots' beef, maybe I'll give it a try.

I really liked fRedhots beef, but foud it to be somwhat non traditional in it's spicing. It's worth checking out!

FRedhots is more like a spicy roast beef or French Dip than typical IB. It is a good meal in it's own right but not much like other beefs.

Does Stash's still have IB? They've been doing mailings promoting the new location. They've changed the menu and I didn't see IB under "Stash's classics." Did I miss something> Their IB was fairly decent.

A hidden secret for Italian beef is Piero's Pizza in Highland Park's Ravinia neighborhood. It's probably the best IB in the North Shore. It's little known for IB because it's mainly a takeout pizza place. There's no sit-down at the HP location which doesn't open until 2:30 pm except Fridays when they start at 11. I haven't tried the IB at their Northbrook branch, but that one opens at 11 on weekdays.

Piero's Pizza
737 Broadview
Highland Park
847-433-7795 and

3125 Dundee Rd
Northbrook
847-498-5700

A variant of the IB that I long for used to be the signature sandwich of a place on Franklin Ave west of Rose St in Franklin Park.

Paisano's Pizza and their 'Paisano'.

It sounds like a standard variant...

Garlic french bread
Italian beef
A splash of red sauce
... and topped with mozzarella cheese.

Peppers as requested.

What set this sandwich apart was that they would run it through the pizza oven giving the bread a nice crisp, A nice melt to the cheese and most importantly would transform the beef from a regular IB texture and flavor into more of a roast beef. It was served almost open face.

I have been on the lookout for this and never have found one that has experienced the 'transformation'.

George R wrote:Does Stash's still have IB? They've been doing mailings promoting the new location. They've changed the menu and I didn't see IB under "Stash's classics." Did I miss something> Their IB was fairly decent.

I can't contest to how good it is, but yes, they have Italian Beef on the menu.