G Wiv wrote:not all that big portion.

My most recent Al's beef from the mothership, though still tasting the same as ever, has shrunk even more. The "regular" sandwich I got looked to be about the same size as you'd get if you ordered a previously sized sandwich and split it between two people. It was noticeably tiny.

I agree with stevez. I went to Al's and Mario's last night and ordered the regular beef wet with sweet and hot like usual but almost laughed when I opened it up and saw the size. It was literally 4, maybe 4.5 inches of bread with perhaps 2 ounces of beef total in it. I devoured it in 6 bites. It's a shame because I think Al's beef is great but it really wouldn't hurt to up the portion a bit. Mario's tutti fruiti was spot on as usual.

I have an Al's Beef/Nancy's Pizza franchised gift card that was refused at the Taylor Street location. How and where should I spend my money now? I received the card as a gift from friends who could tell the Touhy/Niles beef paled in comparison to the original, but likely didn't know about this restriction. Is the Ontario Street version worth waiting for for this North Sider (should probably call to make sure they take the gift card, too), or should I risk a run to Evanston or River Road (if the latter's still up 'n' running)? Is Nancy's Pizza at a franchised location/dual concept worth trying instead? If I still have the receipt from my friends' credit-card use, is a refund still possible (bought back in July)? Oh, the questions are piling up faster than old beef shavings... any help? Thanks in advance.

P.S. I admittedly prefer Johnnie's but have paid for Al's No. 1 more than once, so I can appreciate the difference in style (and people's opinions as well).

River Road location has been closed for a very long time. But the Touhy location (west of Cumberland) wasn't terrible the one time I had it.

But the real answer to your question is *RE-GIFT*

Yeah, I thought re-gift as well. Wonder how many times that one has changed hands. You can also donate it.

fastfoodsnob wrote:Is the Ontario Street version worth waiting for for this North Sider (should probably call to make sure they take the gift card, too), or should I risk a run to Evanston or River Road (if the latter's still up 'n' running)?

Al's Beef in downtown Evanston (622 Davis) is gone.

According to an article in The Daily Northwestern, part of the problem was the high rent at that site. The article also says that the franchise owner may look for a new location closer to the NU campus.
http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/city/e ... -1.2434258

(Posted in the Openings, Closings, Comings and Goings thread as well.)

Good riddance. What should have been a mecca turned into a joke. They were so skimpy on the beef, fries, and the hot peppers (which were not hot at all) that it was downright depressing every time my friends and I would go there. I actually saw one employee (who never said welcome, thank you or even smiled once - he seemed annoyed that we were even in there) put one french fry at a time in my fries container as if to stretch how little he could fit in there to rip me off. What makes it even sadder is that I LOVE their fries and could eat them all day.

High rent issue huh? Had they given decent portions on everything they would have been SO much more popular, had way more customers, and solved the rent problem by actually MAKING MONEY.

Al's Beef - if you are reading this - WHY are you destroying the name of one of the best beef joints (and fries) on Earth? (Or at least allowing franchises to do this) I don't mind paying the higher prices for your food. Just give us a little more! When I want a side of hot peppers, can you give me a little more than a thimble?!! Can you actually spare some fries?

What a shame. It could have been so much better. The manager actually told me that the peppers are not as hot as the Taylor St location on purpose so the Northwestern kids could handle it. Are you kidding me?

Mentioned once previously in this thread, the newish Al's location at 601 W. Adams is pretty good. Fast, professional service, fairly ample dining room, and never too crowded in the 5 or 6 times I've been there for weekday lunches. To echo some of the other commenters, the sandwich portions do seem a bit skimpy for the price. But in a neighborhood where you can easily drop over $10 on an average-sized, average-tasting meal, the relative value and quality are still not bad.

The one time I went into the Al's River Road location --- there was no AIR and it was 95 outside. I noticed an AL's recently on Northwest Hwy in downtown Park Ridge.

I once worked a couple of blocks from the Ontario Location... Forget it ! ! !
I won't go to any - even the original. Small portions for big $$$$.

And if you ever see the episode on TV - I think it was Man vs Food... the sandwich they showed is 3 X's the size of what I was served.

Stick with ... Johnnys in Elmwood Park or MR Beef 39?? North on Harlem ( near Irving ).

( Mr beef on Orleans is a different owner - and is ok, but Harlem is better !)

And the Portillos on North Ave west of Wolf Rd // the 63rd and Harlem locations and even the DOWNTOWN CHICAGO location are also very good.

Also Johnnys in EP has great Italian Lemonade.