Panther in the Den wrote:I love a good roast beef sandwich! For a long time this was the favorite sandwich in America and many diners and regular restaurants could not have it on their menus. Many of the places would roast their own beef and, while not the sandwich pictured on this thread, put it between a pair of slices of white bread often topped with lettuce, tomato and a splash of mayo. Often they offer a french dip as well.

The Depot American Diner
5840 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago
(773) 261-8422

Also does a good one in this vein.

After working this thread and since they recently reopened my bride and I made the trip over for dinner...



More of a pot roast flavor with a mild au jus. Very good but not a traditional Roast Beef sandwich. They were out of french bread and I opted for white.

I went to Jewel, got some nice rare roast beef, a couple of kaiser rolls, some au jus and made the sandwiches I wanted at home in 5 minutes. They were exactly what I've been looking for. I guess the restaurant I've been looking for is in my own house!

Rene G wrote:Speaking of Buffalo, maybe you need to visit Western New York, where they take roast beef sandwiches very seriously.

Indeed. And if you can't wait until your next visit to Buffalo, Keefer's makes a decent beef on 'weck for about $9.


Keefer's Kaffe
20 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL 60601

Rene G wrote:

DKoblesky wrote:Speaking of Buffalo, maybe you need to visit Western New York, where they take roast beef sandwiches very seriously. Here's a hand-sliced beauty from Charlie the Butcher (very good but not my favorite beef on weck).

Which is your favorite? I'm going to be in Buffalo again soon, but I always find myself at Charlie the Butchers. I've been meaning to expand my beef-on-weck horizons, but Charlie keeps calling me back.

Unsure of where to share this post, I figured this thread is best. If mod's prefer to put it over in Ream's own thread or Football season is Nearly upon us (not soon enough!), feel free. Ever since Ram4 started this thread I've had a taste for something similar. This might be the best sandwich I've ever concocted.

French Dip Wit (Recipe)

I was over at Ream's shopping for the Memorial Day weekend cookouts and saw they had their own cooked prime rib for sale in the deli meat case, of which most of the meats in are made in house. They suggested that I tell them how thick of a piece I wanted and that I just simply re-heat and enjoy with the side of au-jus they offer with it when you buy some. I told the guy behind the counter my plans and he proceeded to thinly slice up the prime rib for me. I got a French baguette from TI the next day along with some slices of provolone and some onions and got to work.

Directions: Add some butter to a pan and fry up some sliced onions. Cut the loaf and proceed to put a layer of cheese on each end. Layer out the sliced prime rib on baking sheet with the bread next to that and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Take out when ready and layer the meat onto the sandwich followed by the onions on top of that.


Fresh out the oven with prime rib added on followed by the onions


Serve with au-jus and a horseradish cream sauce...


...so simple, so good

Da Beef's
**** W. Altgeld
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) ***-5796
Website

FYI- Full of Bull in Madison (WI) is another suggestion.

Had a roast beef at Novak's in Fontana Wisc on Saturday. Had a bite wasnt great. Dunked it in ranch and totally saved it.

loads of excellent roast beef sandwiches in the Boston area, had a number of those in Nov when I was there.

Closer to home, I recently was able to try a bite of the French Dip sandwich at Hackney's (Lake Zurich location). It is my sis-in-law's go-to sandwich at Hackney's. I was very curious as the only two sandwiches I've ever ordered at Hackney's have been a burger or Rueben.

It was a very good sandwich, beef had nice pink color, was very tender & flavorful (did not need au jus). I was really surprised at how good it was. Enough to make me order it next time I'm at Hackney's? maybe!

Sweet Willie wrote:I recently was able to try a bite of the French Dip sandwich at Hackney's (Lake Zurich location). It is my sis-in-law's go-to sandwich at Hackney's. I was very curious as the only two sandwiches I've ever ordered at Hackney's have been a burger or Rueben.

It was a very good sandwich, beef had nice pink color, was very tender & flavorful (did not need au jus). I was really surprised at how good it was. Enough to make me order it next time I'm at Hackney's? maybe!

Hackney's? Well, if I can resist a burger, maybe I'll try it. Then again, maybe I'll split one and still get a burger. Thanks for mentioning it.

The French Dip at Hackney's has been my Mother's standard order since I was old enough to notice. It's a solid rendition.

Prime Rib sandwich at Eataly worth trying - very simple, very tasty - a bit pricey but I'm dreaming of another one.

Baguette, a little olive oil, a little salt and a big stack of thinly sliced really good prime rib - that's it and all you need.

Some other ones I really like are the French Onion Roast Beef at DC Sarnies. It's thinly sliced roast beef, crispy onion strings, and a spicy dijon aioli on a baugette with au jus. But I think I like the Prime Rib Dip at Pinstripes (Northbrook) even more. It's very thin prime rib (though never pink - which I prefer, but never asked because it's always so good) with cheese (optional) on a pretzel bun and au jus. It's one of the fattier, richer tasting sandwiches out there.

Pinstripes Prime Rib Dip


Pinstripes Bistro
1150 Willow Rd
Northbrook IL
847-480-2323

DC Sarnies
649 Lake-Cook Rd
Deerfield IL
847-509-2000

The roast beef sandwich at the Burghoff Cafe rocks, especially on a roll with creamy horseradish sauce..if you get there when the beef is rare.

I've been working my way thru the all-beef sandwich options on the lunch menu at Boeufhaus in Ukrainian Village. While all of them have been good the Boeuf on Weck ($10) I tried the other day has been the best. It's their take on the Buffalo classic and while it might not be on the level of Charlie the Butcher's it's a great roast beef sandwich in it's own right. A semi soft but still very stable bun is dotted with caraway seeds and sea salt and then the inside is lathered with horseradish spread. The medium rare slow roasted boeuf is thinly sliced and tastes extra meaty with beef juice sliding out after each bite. On the side comes a little cup of potent gravy, beef based of course, and also some chips which are fried in beef fat. Vegans need not enter.


Boeuf on Weck

Boeufhaus
1012 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 661-2116

Da Beef, THAT is what I'm talking about! Chips look great too. I have yet to have a Beef on Weck and that sure looks like something I'd want.

If ever in Vegas there is a pub called Moondoggies (3240 S. Arville) that has a great "Beef on Weck" along with decent pizza from Naked City Pizza located in the bar. It has a Buffalo Sports theme inside (Bills/Sabres).