Al's Beef Question

Does anyone know the Story with Al's Beef ie; I have always thought the Taylor Street loacation to be much better than Ontario. (maybe its just the atnosphere) anyway the Taylor street location has it's own website seperate from the franchise site which includes Ontario. Was it part of the deal that the Taylor street location remain seperate and independent? The Taylor street location also does nationwide shipping, while the Franchises do not.

I think what you see is typical of franchises where the original location did not start out that way. Uno's is another example of that. They have so little relationship to the franchise stores that it's a shame to sully the good name.

The Ontario store is actually owned by the corporate Al's. It was a franchise, but it put out such a bad product and performed so poorly that the franchisee defaulted (or simply had his franchise revoked) some years ago. The quality of the beef on Ontario has not improved, however. They might have re-franchised the location, but I know that at one point, they took it back and I never heard anything about it being re-franchised.

Al's has finally opened a franchise spot in downtown N'ville, south side of Chicago just west of Washington. I was excited and looked forward to trying it. But the week they opened I drove by and there was a big sign in the window promoting their great wraps. I wailed and shriveled inside - clearly this is not really Al's, but a simulacrum, a fraud, a parasite.

The only question now is whether I go and confirm my worst fears, or hold out and keep a small sliver of hope. Okay, I will go and try it sometime, and it might well be better than the local outposts of Buona, and Portillo's. Big deal. Wraps, geez!

dicksond wrote:The only question now is whether I go and confirm my worst fears, or hold out and keep a small sliver of hope.

Dickson,

Hold out for the real thing, Al's on Taylor.

Al's on Taylor Beef w/giardiniera


Sausage grilling over 100% hardwood briquettes.


In general I've never met a franchise or second location I've liked as well as the original.

Enjoy,
Gary

Dare I get my hopes up? Yesterday in the 600 block of Davis Street in Evanston (next to Koi), I spotted a sign announcing: "Future Home of Al's #1 Italian Beef." Since this is just steps from my office, I was feeling a little spring in my step all day. Then I read this thread re: franchises. One can always dream. . .

Josephine wrote:Dare I get my hopes up? Yesterday in the 600 block of Davis Street in Evanston (next to Koi), I spotted a sign announcing: "Future Home of Al's #1 Italian Beef." Since this is just steps from my office, I was feeling a little spring in my step all day. Then I read this thread re: franchises. One can always dream. . .

So far, all of the Al's franchises (which are usually combined with some other fast food operation) have not been in the same league as the original. There seems to be little, if any, quality control coming from the franchisor. But, as you say, you can always dream. Dreams sometimes do come true.

As an aside, the Buona Beef out west (by Fry's) has recently taken a turn for the worse. They're pushing their pizza?! Their beef also got much worse.

The last time I ate at Al's on Taylor was about two years ago. Got a beef, fries and a coke. The beef was very good, but nothing that would justify a nine dollar price tag for the entire meal. I was soo irritated even more because there was a sign there that said "no refunds".

Never again.

bern bern wrote:The last time I ate at Al's on Taylor was about two years ago. Got a beef, fries and a coke. The beef was very good, but nothing that would justify a nine dollar price tag for the entire meal. I was soo irritated even more because there was a sign there that said "no refunds".

Never again.

I pay that plus, gas and tolls driving from South Bend, IN for one. I love them.

The one n Addison is pretty darn good..

Rob wrote:As an aside, the Buona Beef out west (by Fry's) has recently taken a turn for the worse. They're pushing their pizza?! Their beef also got much worse.

Buona has a whole new menu, upgraded service, and that new look with the stylized beef sammy logo.

There happens to be one near my office, and the little samples of food, particularly the pizza, look pretty attractive, so I have sampled some.

The bread salad is okay. The soups are not bad. The pizzas are a horror. I am not sure whether the beef is better or worse, since I have found that product to be pretty variable for a long time. Usually, the beef is okay by itself, but the garlic on the rolls varies, the amount of gravy and giardinera varies wildly, and there are times I have had pretty lousy beef, too, though not often.

The net result is that Buona's has become a quick, convenient, soup and salad spot for me.

Still have not made it to the Al's in N'ville - the whole wrap thing put me off, but I heard it belongs to former Hawks defenseman, Steve Smith. Adds a little flavor to the mix, even if they do sell wraps.

I had lunch at the Ontario Al's about a month ago. It was good, certainly superior to Portillo's, i. e., it was in a top class if not at the absolute top. I have eaten at that location from time to time for the last 15 years. Disappointed a couple of times, but not usually.

All I can say is Mr. Beef has never given me a bad sandwich. In fact, it's always about the best you can get. And it runs (if I recall) around five bucks. Not too shabby.

Well, that's a relief.

For a long time, I had this nagging feeling that quality was slowly deteriorating at the Ontario Al's, to the point where I finally defected to Mr. Beef. Glad to finally have confirmation that I wasn't imagining things.

bern bern wrote:The last time I ate at Al's on Taylor was about two years ago. Got a beef, fries and a coke. The beef was very good, but nothing that would justify a nine dollar price tag for the entire meal. I was soo irritated even more because there was a sign there that said "no refunds".

Never again.

I have to agree. There was a time years and years ago I used to love Al's, but it seems their sandwiches have gotten smaller while their prices have only gotten higher.

But, that matter aside, my favorite beef joint is Chickie's on Pulaski. Bigger, tastier beef sandwiches, and they even happen to be much cheaper (around $5 or $6 IIRC w/ fries & pop).

cowdery wrote:I had lunch at the Ontario Al's about a month ago. It was good, certainly superior to Portillo's, i. e., it was in a top class if not at the absolute top. I have eaten at that location from time to time for the last 15 years. Disappointed a couple of times, but not usually.

I eat there quite often as well, mixing it in with trips to Mr. Beef and Luke's for lunch when working. I like the product - the giardinera is the same as the original location, which is the highlight of the sandwich at Ontario. It's not quite as good as Taylor, but still better than most imo.

That nine dollar price tag at Al's is outrageous. Truth be told, I never even tried Al's beef until about a year ago. Before that, a beef had to be bought down Taylor a couple blocks west and across the street, at Vittori's Sandwich Shop. Bart Vittori ran this place since at least the mid-70's---when I was a student at Circle (UIC) & strapped for cash, I could get a 15" combo, wet & hot, for lunch for $3.45 and be good the rest of the day. Phenomenal cold subs too, called the 'Bart Special'. Pepper & egg 'sangwiches' on Fridays during Lent. Unfortunately, just like your Mom & Pop pizzeria, Vittori's went asta-la-bye-bye maybe 2 years ago.

Since I tried Al's, I would say they're good, and they're authentic, but the price smacks of gouging, and I could do just as well when I crave a beef to find a nearby Portillo's (heresy I know, but they ain't bad).

why heresy? nothing wrong with a Portillo's beef in a pinch..they have decent burgers too..

i started going to al's on taylor in the early 60's, when there was an italian neighborhood and no circle campus. my father or older brother would take me as i didn't drive yet. @ that time, it was a counter on the other side where the prep is now done. the giardinera was in containers on the counter that you helped yourself to and it was staffed mainly by local women, winnie being one, and another we referred to as "steve's ma", because she resembled a friend of ours mother.


i once took my high school marketing/busineess class there for lunch after a field trip i planned to maxwell st (after a couple polish and a pork chop sandwich). there was a gang called the "taylor st dukes" that we were supposed to watch out for, but we were hungry and ignored that.


that said, i can only say i'm a die hard al's fan. i find all others, pretenders to the throne. maybe i'm wrong, but frankly don't care. i have to much history here to consider a beef anywhere else. this is a little something i wrote re: al's a few years back. i know it doesn't answer the question regarding any franchises, which i've never found to be equal to the original as i don't care for chains. but i do have a fanatical reverence when it comes to...


italian beef

an homage’ to al’s on taylor street in chicago, which i grew up eating,
dream of often and go to immediately upon arrival back home.
to be eaten with marios italian ice, from directly across the street.
over the years, i’ve gotten it down to a science. you park @ al’s,
walk across taylor street to mario’s, get your ice, walk back to al’s, order and eat. that way, while waiting, you need not be denied any sensory indulgence...


“anything worth doing, is worth overdoing."


my earliest memories involve a “combo dipped,
hot and sweet, and fries, thanks”.


the only thing that changes here are the faces and prices.
the aforementioned beef is similar to a french dip. but to say that, would humble it’s gravitas. seasoned and slow roasted, sliced paper thin and dipped in its’ own pan juices. it’s more than the sum of it’s parts.
a “combo” is the addition of a grilled spicy italian sausage to the thin sliced ambrosia on gravy laden roll.


“hot and sweet” refer to the peppers that are additional and necessary to attain true al’s enlightenment. “sweet” are the red and green peppers sauteed in olive oil for an hour or so until they become one with the pan. “hot” is the fresh giardinera that has chopped garlic, celery, onion, plum tomato, oregano etc.


“and fries, thanks” how do i describe the definitive fry? the fact that they are whole potatoes, peeled skin on, blanched in oil, drained and then refried at an even higher temperature is shocking enough for a neighborhood joint. these are frites for christs sake, done correctly, like in a french bistro, but with the addition of the beef juices dripping from the sandwich onto them... it catapults the entire meal into legendary status. it’s more than the sum of the parts.


it's the bees knees. the real deal. the mahatma ghandi.

I hadn't thought of the poetic possibilities of "a combo dipped, hot and sweet."

Nicely played.

Portillo's beef isn't a bad sandwich, but it's closer to Arby's than to Al's.

I too was amazed by the Taylor street $9 price for a beef, fries and drink. The beef was outstanding, but I couldn't get over the blatent price gouging. I have been to the franchise locations in Addison and Napperville, and have had decent beefs at both places. I have to admit I feel a little guilty going there, almost like I'm selling out. At the Addison location, they sell salads for crying out loud!!! If you sell salads you aint no beef stand. But still, in a pinch it's better than most of the other fast food places.

Even with the $9 price tag, I still think its the best beef in the city. The key: some flavor in the juice that no other beef has. It's like cinnamon or nutmeg or whatever, but that taste makes it different than the rest. Check out the picture posted above, its makes the gravy a beautiful orange color.
Heavenly.

oldman wrote: I still think its the best beef in the city.

I waver between Al's and Johnnie's. Johnnie's has the edge on the beef itself, but Al's has better sausage and fries.

I wind up at Ontario more often than Taylor Street, especially in winter, partly because it's convenient to swing by there on the way home from downtown (there's even a drive-thru). I can't say I've noticed any strong difference in the sandwiches, although there are definitely differences in ambiance.

When they embarked on franchising, Chris Pacelli told me that he and his brothers would still own and operate the Ontario and Taylor locations. I do not know whether that information is still accurate.

Al's No. 1 Italian Beef
312/226-4017, 1079 W. Taylor St., Chicago
312/943-3222, 169 W. Ontario St., Chicago

Johnnie's Beef
708/452-6000, 7500 North Ave., Elmwood Park
847/357-8100, 1935 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights

FWIW, an Al's outpost will be opening soon on Touhy, just west of the Shure building.

The exact address is 5948 W. Touhy.

E.M.

When the River Rd. Al's first opened up, I tried it. It paled compared to the original. But the fries were still pretty good and, I don't get much chance to get to Taylor St. much these days.

I tried the place for the third, and probably the last time about a week ago. Wow, weekday lunch hour and the place was virtually empty. There was nobody seated inside and only two people waiting in front of me, and they were there together.

I got my order to go since I only live 5 minutes from there. The beef itself was dry and void of any discernable flavor. The giardiniera had almost no oil. And the fries were undercooked and unappetizing. Basically, for my $6, all I got was a big bag of suck.

anyone know when the davis street restaurant will open?

The Evanston location is finally open. Really!

I'm having a beef right now and, well, this is my first Al's experience. Johnnie's is pretty much the benchmark for me and I will say it falls short. I ordered a regular beef with hot peppers, dipped. The juice is a "hey, isn't that orange juice?" orange color - that threw me off.

The overall sandwich is acceptable. It's lacking the subtle spice I'm used to with Johnnie's. In the battle of the Chicago chains, I'll actually take Portillo's over this. I'm still glad this location is open, and am willing to try out some other menu items there (including a relatively reasonable for the area $3.49 burger.)

My lunch, a regular dipped w/hot peppers and a small fry, was $7.09. (Oh yeah, pricey.)

The River Road location in Franklin Park is dark & shuttered. I'm not too suprised since I was usually the only customer in the place each time I went. And then there was one time I went and they were OUT OF BEEF. Like Midas, I live 5 minutes from there and I'm sad to see those fries slip out of my immediate reach.

pmcaleer wrote:The overall sandwich is acceptable. It's lacking the subtle spice I'm used to with Johnnie's. In the battle of the Chicago chains, I'll actually take Portillo's over this.

With Johnnie's as a benchmark, you're really holding your beefs to an almost impossible standard. However, you might be interested to know that the guy at the Skillet Doux food blog agrees that Portillo's is better than Al's...and he's talking about Al's Taylor Street location!

I'll tell you what---when you take the Portillo's ingredients to go (consisting of shrink-wrapped beef, au jus pail complete with 'fat plug', fresh Italian loaves cut into 3" pieces, sweet peppers and their ho-made giardiniera) home, you can make your beefs (beeves?) to personal specifications. Much better than buying a hot one there to be eaten, in my book.