A couple more worthy beefs to add into the "worth the try if your nearby" list.

stevez wrote:I'd throw Bob-O's into the mix. They never made it on any of the Beefathon's. I'd say they are at least as good at Frannie's. Also, The original locationof Jay's is well worth checking out. The Jay's on Irving Park around the corner from Frannie's was part of one Beefathon, but it didn't fare well. The Narragansit location is much better.

Bob-O's
8258 W. Irving Park
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 625-9840

Jay's Beef
4418 N Narragansett Ave
Harwood Heights, IL 60706
(708) 867-6733

Nice call. I knew you know your beef so I always had Bob O's on my mind to try. I did that the other day and came away enjoying it very much. Big sandwich nicely stuffed with homemade beef and above average gravy and good hot peppers, also made in house. They do catered beef dinners but you need to order minimum 3 lbs and give them three days notice. I'll be getting that for a Bears game one day soon as the temperatures dip.


beef with hot from Bob O's
______________________________

The best place to get a good juicy beef and hot dog together might be Nana's in Streamwood.


Streamwood, IL

Nana's also makes their own beef as well as a perfect Chicago minimalist style hot dog. Even better is the fact they have a combo meal which includes a dog and fries as well as a mini beef and drink for a nice price. A very good Chicago style lunch spot to have near you, I wish it was closer to me.


a perfect hot dog...


...and a tasty beef

Scores coming soon @beefwithhot. I'm sure Kennyz is already rushing out his door to go try them...

The Original Nana's
1102 East Irving Park Road
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 289-2226

I'm going to have to give a shout out to Novi's in Berwyn. When I first got to the neighborhood 6 years ago, I tried it a few times and more or less wrote it off. I've been there twice in as many months recently and have been super impressed both times. Unusually spicey beef maybe a tad dry, but really excellent. And great fries. A true contender.

mrefjl wrote:I'm going to have to give a shout out to Novi's in Berwyn. When I first got to the neighborhood 6 years ago, I tried it a few times and more or less wrote it off. I've been there twice in as many months recently and have been super impressed both times. Unusually spicey beef maybe a tad dry, but really excellent. And great fries. A true contender.

Great fries indeed, and I do like their beef. That hot giardiniera is a mild travesty tho. There's gotta be ppl who like it tho. It's definitely different, and housemade. I just don't get it at all. The reason I really like Novi's tho- is that the beef's not too salty, and the fries are great. Oddly enough as well, they make a pretty solid "square fried patty" fish sammich. Do NOT ever order the fried zucchini. They are of the nicely fried coating, but consistency of goo in the middle food service variety. Please, trust me on that one. Not a bad place for a hot dog, either.

On Wednesday I went to one of my favorite hot dog stands, Gina's in Bensenville. But this time, instead of my normal Polish, I tried the beef. It was shockingly good. Not transcendental great, but just a notch below. Good sized portion too. And of course, the fries, as always, were excellent. I would have liked it a little wetter, but, due to family constraints, I didn't ask for it dipped.

It's not the best I've had, but I'll guarantee it's the best in the area.

Gina's Hot Dogs & Beef
1222 W Irving Park Rd
Bensenville, IL 60106
(630) 766-1841

Da Beef wrote:The best place to get a good juicy beef and hot dog together might be Nana's in Streamwood.


Streamwood, IL

Nana's also makes their own beef as well as a perfect Chicago minimalist style hot dog. Even better is the fact they have a combo meal which includes a dog and fries as well as a mini beef and drink for a nice price. A very good Chicago style lunch spot to have near you, I wish it was closer to me.


a perfect hot dog...


...and a tasty beef

Scores coming soon @beefwithhot. I'm sure Kennyz is already rushing out his door to go try them...

The Original Nana's
1102 East Irving Park Road
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 289-2226

Thanks to all for the rec on Nana'a!

Happened to be in the area hiking yesterday and (of course) I did a search on this area and while the choices were thin I had a good feeling.

Very good beef! Easily in my top 5.

Ordered it juicy and had a good amount of seasoning in the gravy, just the right amount of grease and a nice touch of spiciness. Perfect fries with a a fun amount of crunchy bits.

If you are close to the area it is worth your while to go out of your way.

I think Nana's in Streamwood is owned by a relative of one of the owners of Gene and Judes, but I'm not sure which one. Their Vienna beef dog and fries are VERY similar to Gene and Judes, and in a very good way. I love Nana's. Great place. Good Italian Beef, too.

I went to Nana's for lunch yesterday. I couldn't decide between a hot dog or a beef, so I ordered both. The natural casing dog was very good and was served exactly the same way as Jimmy's, Red Hot Ranch or Gene & Judes with the fries on top. Minimalist toppings are the default, but they also offer fancy ass condiments such as tomatoes and pickles and (gasp) ketchup on request. The fries are hand cut and very good, although I found them to be a half step below J & J and Jimmy's. The beef was also good. The sandwich itself is served on a very large roll, but it's not particularly overfilled with beef. Giardianara was decent with olives and carrots in evidence as well as peppers. I was wishing they served a half sandwich (which would have been the size of a typical Al's beef) and on the way out, I saw a sign for the #2, which is a hot dog and a small beef and included a drink. Next time that will be my order, although I'm not sure how soon I'll be back because Streamwood turned out to be a lot farther than I thought it would be.

thick wrote:I grew up eating and enjoying beef and sausage sandwiches at the old Connie's at Ridgeland and North Aves. They closed years ago.

How long ago would this have been? Was it one of the storefronts near the dance studio on the southeast corner. Some weeks back my husband had been talking about a place that was at that area where he would go with his daighter and have the best Italian beef. He knew it was at that intersection but could not remember for the life of him what the name of the place was. I asked him if it was Connie's but it doesn't ring a bell. Could there have been another Italian beef place around there? This would have been sometime in the early to mid 80s, maybe even late 80s.

Connie's was in the building with a bunch of small storefront businesses on the northeast corner of Ridgeland and North Aves. It was the easternmost store is the building. The storefront is still there, of course, but it is now another business, a florist, I believe.

thick wrote:Connie's was in the building with a bunch of small storefront businesses on the northeast corner of Ridgeland and North Aves. It was the easternmost store is the building. The storefront is still there, of course, but it is now another business, a florist, I believe.

That must have been some time ago.
I've lived less than a mile from that intersection for about 12 years and it was never a beef stand in that time.

There's a Connie's in Elmwood Park on Grand that has some relation to the old place. All I can tell you is they make their own giardiniera.

Connies was in the building at 6262 w North ave -- its now Belmontes florist...
I think they relocated in the 80's

thick wrote:Connie's was in the building with a bunch of small storefront businesses on the northeast corner of Ridgeland and North Aves. It was the easternmost store is the building. The storefront is still there, of course, but it is now another business, a florist, I believe.

I meant northeast corner. I have zero clue why I typed in southeast instead of northeast but the description is exactly to a tee of what my husband was talking about in one of those little storefronts. Thanks to you and Jazzman for narrowing this down. But he keeps insisting that teh name Connie's does not sound right. I think he just keeps getting it confused with the Beefie's name further east on North Avenue but it definately had to have been Connie's he was getting it from. Incidently, we actually did try the one on Grand Ave over the summer and it was not half bad.

zoid wrote:

thick wrote:Connie's was in the building with a bunch of small storefront businesses on the northeast corner of Ridgeland and North Aves. It was the easternmost store is the building. The storefront is still there, of course, but it is now another business, a florist, I believe.

That must have been some time ago.
I've lived less than a mile from that intersection for about 12 years and it was never a beef stand in that time.

Yep, it was definately a long time ago. This would have been early to mid 80s.

KajmacJohnson wrote:Yep, it was definately a long time ago. This would have been early to mid 80s.

A long time ago? I have suits older than that.

Choey wrote:

KajmacJohnson wrote:Yep, it was definately a long time ago. This would have been early to mid 80s.

A long time ago? I have suits older than that.

I can top that. I have china at least fifty years older than 25 years ago.

The time frame, as I remember: Connie closes (Due to death/retirement/sale) mid to late 1970's. Someone else takes over the spot. Aint the same. Guessing that by early 80's it is all over.

thick wrote:I grew up eating and enjoying beef and sausage sandwiches at the old Connie's at Ridgeland and North Aves. They closed years ago.

Connie's was on the north side of North Avenue about 8 doors east of Mobile (Mobile becomes Ridgeland south of North Avenue).

KajmacJohnson wrote:How long ago would this have been? Was it one of the storefronts near the dance studio on the southeast corner. Some weeks back my husband had been talking about a place that was at that area where he would go with his daighter and have the best Italian beef. He knew it was at that intersection but could not remember for the life of him what the name of the place was. I asked him if it was Connie's but it doesn't ring a bell. Could there have been another Italian beef place around there? This would have been sometime in the early to mid 80s, maybe even late 80s.

The only other beef stand I can think of around there in the '80s was Q's but it was about half a mile east, near Menard.

thick wrote:Connie's was in the building with a bunch of small storefront businesses on the northeast corner of Ridgeland and North Aves. It was the easternmost store is the building. The storefront is still there, of course, but it is now another business, a florist, I believe.

jazzman wrote:Connies was in the building at 6262 w North ave -- its now Belmontes florist...
I think they relocated in the 80's

Connie's was actually in the building immediately west of Belmonte's Florist (6264 W North). Connie's address was 6266 W North. After Connie's closed the building housed a gyros stand, a taqueria and probably some other businesses.

thick wrote:The time frame, as I remember: Connie closes (Due to death/retirement/sale) mid to late 1970's. Someone else takes over the spot. Aint the same. Guessing that by early 80's it is all over.

Connie's was at 6266 W North, in some form or another, into the 1990s. It's listed in Pat Bruno's Chicago's Food Favorites, published in 1986, where I learned of it. I made my one and only visit to Connie's a year or two after the book came out. I recall thinking the beef was good but not worth a special trip. Connie's on North was mentioned a few times in Pat Bruno's Sun-Times column, most recently in 1990. Also, Jane and Michael Stern wrote an article about Connie's the same year, mentioning the stand's only decoration: a portrait of the Pope and one of Telly Savalas.

thick wrote:The grandson of the original Connie has recently opened up a store at 7600 Grand in Elmwood Park.

Beginning in 1991 there are a few mentions in the Sun-Times of Connie's Beef at 1732 N Harlem in Elmwood Park. The Connie's at 7501 W Grand in Elmwood Park opened in 2009. More information can be found in this thread.

Rene G wrote:

thick wrote: Pope and one of Telly Savalas.

Oooh, I should totally ask my husband if he remembers seeing Kojak on the walls. Thank you for all the info.

AngrySarah wrote:

Artie wrote:

Rene G wrote:"Soaker" is a less common term for gravy bread at Chicago beef stands but it's certainly not unique to Al's.

I remember first seeing and hearing them called "Soaker's" at Carms BBQ at Cicero & Arthington right by the Eisenhower expressway in the late 60's or very early 70's. I think the demographics in the surrounding area were starting to change and they were seeking a cheaper menu item. This Carms also had another location in Berwyn I believe.

Carm's on Cicero was a regular place for a few years back in the late 80s and early 90s. I was keeping odd hours in a factory and my lunch time was around 9 am. I think they were open nearly 24 hours for the truckers from nearby terminals. Good beef and soakers. I've called them soakers ever since.

Another 24 hour service for the truckers were a number of lot lizards in the parking lot. "No thanks, all I want is my beef right now. Thanks."

The last outpost for Carm's on Wolf Rd closed some time ago. They used to be great but the Wolf location wasn't.

Life goes on...

I read through this thread but I can't recall if it was mentioned but I have to say the best Italian beef for me would be Freddie's at 31st and Union. Good, oh so juicy very flavorful beef.

Years ago my father and I used to have several favorites including Hubs on Lincoln Avenue though I have not been there in a while so I don't know if it is still as tasty as I rememebred it.

Panther in the Den wrote:The last outpost for Carm's on Wolf Rd closed some time ago. They used to be great but the Wolf location wasn't.
Life goes on...

Carm's has been resurrected
Carm’s Beef Opens in Tinley Park

Carm’s Beef, a new Italian restaurant with a rich history, has opened at 17801 S. Oak Park Ave. in Tinley Park.

The original Carm’s was opened in 1947 by owner Mick Nebren’s grandmother at Cicero Avenue and what would become the Eisenhower Expressway. A second store followed in Berwyn and then a store was located in Hillside for more than three decades.

“I left the restaurant business for a while to be a Realtor,” said Nebren. “But I decided it was time to bring back Carm’s Beef.”
Hours will be Monday to Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Probably my all-time favorite beef sandwich, I worked in Hillside back in the 80's and once I discovered them I would go there once or twice a week........when I am in town I will have to make a trip to Tinley Park.

Dolfan_Pug wrote:Probably my all-time favorite beef sandwich, I worked in Hillside back in the 80's and once I discovered them I would go there once or twice a week........when I am in town I will have to make a trip to Tinley Park.

Carm's was my very first Italian beef. It will always hold a special place in my heart. My Dad took the whole family on a Sunday and we drove from Rogers Park to their location at Cicero & Arthington. Back then it was .35 for a sandwich .30 for a sausage. I was instantly hooked.

Right now I can't stop going to Brando's in Berwyn. Hits all the right notes.....and their meatball might be better than the beef. Fries are top notch and they give you a couple pounds worth.

I was another big Carm's fan. They had great deals on beef by the pound, which included big loaves of Gonella. IMHO, their beefs were as good as Al's (certainly much better than the present day Al's).

I started going to Al's around 1969. I had a good friend who's extended family lived around Taylor and Loomis (now a parking lot for U of I). Back then you could get a beef and a Coke for a buck. Last time I went to Al's (after a 15 year hiatus), I was shocked at the price for a skimpy sandwich w/ both sweet and hot, fries and a drink (~$11.50 w/tax). When I asked for the sandwich dry with juice on the side (so the bread wouldn't disolve on the way home), they told me I had to buy a pint for $5. I asked if they could just put some juice in a cup, and they refused (in fact, they were sort of jerks about it). The beef was pretty good, but not like I remember as a teenager. The bread back then was much more chewy (It would make your jaw sore, but it stood up to the gravy better), the juice had a much richer flavor (from caramelized fat) and the sandwiches were a lot bigger. The experience sort of ruined the good memories I had of the place.

My brother had a killer combo at Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem recently and he wants to take me there tomorrow. I'm having trouble searching for a thread with reviews on it because the board only searches everything with the words beef and pizza in it (which is quite long on here)! I must be using the search function wrong. Is there a thread for it, or can anyone comment on this place? I also checked Da Beef's blog and he didn't review it yet. Thanks.

Ram4 wrote:My brother had a killer combo at Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem recently and he wants to take me there tomorrow. I'm having trouble searching for a thread with reviews on it because the board only searches everything with the words beef and pizza in it (which is quite long on here)! I must be using the search function wrong. Is there a thread for it, or can anyone comment on this place? I also checked Da Beef's blog and he didn't review it yet. Thanks.

A couple of positive mentions in this thread, albeit from four years ago:

viewtopic.php?t=5763&start=30

Ram4 wrote:My brother had a killer combo at Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem recently and he wants to take me there tomorrow. I'm having trouble searching for a thread with reviews on it because the board only searches everything with the words beef and pizza in it (which is quite long on here)! I must be using the search function wrong. Is there a thread for it, or can anyone comment on this place? I also checked Da Beef's blog and he didn't review it yet. Thanks.

In my honest opinion, I would avoid this place at all costs. My husband and I are up that way quite freuently because his eldery aunt and uncle live nearby in Elmwood Park. Needless to say, we have tried a lot of fast food outlets. The last time I went to Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem, which was last year, it was not very good at all. The beef had this funny aftertaste to it. I had been there once before and I thought it was great but that was about five years ago.

KajmacJohnson wrote:

Ram4 wrote:My brother had a killer combo at Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem recently and he wants to take me there tomorrow. I'm having trouble searching for a thread with reviews on it because the board only searches everything with the words beef and pizza in it (which is quite long on here)! I must be using the search function wrong. Is there a thread for it, or can anyone comment on this place? I also checked Da Beef's blog and he didn't review it yet. Thanks.

In my honest opinion, I would avoid this place at all costs. My husband and I are up that way quite freuently because his eldery aunt and uncle live nearby in Elmwood Park. Needless to say, we have tried a lot of fast food outlets. The last time I went to Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem, which was last year, it was not very good at all. The beef had this funny aftertaste to it. I had been there once before and I thought it was great but that was about five years ago.

I'd skip it and go to Jay's on Naragannset instead. You'll be much happier.

Jay's beef
4418 N Narragansett Ave
Harwood Heights, IL
(708) 867-6733