Johnnie's was literally our first stop in Chicago -- suitcases in tow! It was at the very top of my…read morehusband's list of places to try, so we grabbed an Uber straight from the airport and headed there before doing anything else. It absolutely lived up to the hype. For only $7, the Italian beef sandwich was incredibly tender, juicy, savory, and packed with flavor. Even with how popular the place is, the line moved surprisingly fast and the whole experience felt easy and efficient. Our only regret was having to fight the urge to order a second sandwich! We had another meal planned and needed to save room, but we easily could have eaten another one. Such a great first taste of Chicago and definitely worth the stop.

Johnnie's Beef was one of those Chicago stops I was really looking forward to, and it absolutely…read morelived up to what I hoped for. It's a small, no-frills, old-school spot where you walk in, know what you want, pay cash, and watch your food come together almost instantly. I got the Italian beef and fries. The beef was easily my favorite. It had so much flavor, and getting the bun dipped was absolutely the right move. The fries were simple but hit the spot; crispy, fresh, and basically what you'd expect a fast-food fry would taste like. What stood out to me most was how genuinely original the whole place feels. The little building, the outdoor tables, the cash-only setup, the fast-moving line, and the way everyone seems to know exactly what they're doing all add to the experience. You order, they make it right in front of you. Pick it up and go. I can see why people make a point of coming here. It's not just about getting an Italian beef sandwich; it feels like getting a little piece of Chicago. The food is simple, but it has so much character. Nothing feels overdone or reinvented; it's just a classic done really well. Definitely a place I'd come back to next time I'm in Chicago.

fast service even with a line. sandwiches made to order…read more and salads and sides are always fresh. lots of other shelf items and frozen to take home also. try their italian subs.....delish!!!!

Alpine has been around since the 1950"s and is still family run. It is a…read more classic Italian deli. It is a small store with a 4-5 tables. The minute you walk in you smell the Italian meats. and fresh bread. The is long deli case showcasing all the meats, cheeses and salads. We were immediately greeted and a gentleman waited on. We shared this was our first time and he guided us through the ordering process without any pressure. I had the Original Alpine Sub. It is described as their flagship sandwich, and often called one of the best Italian subs in the Chicago area. It comes piled with salami, capicola, mortadella, provolone, lettuce, onion, seasoning, and their signature secret oil dressing. The bread was classic turano bread, so fresh. The sandwich was incredible, The meats were fresh and piled high, making it impossible to eat it in one sitting. My husband had a Corned Beef Sandwich. The corned beef was thinly slices and served with provolone and a variety of toppings. We also had a homemade cannoli. The food was excellent and service waqs outstanding. It is easy to see why they have been in business for 70 years.

I originally went in thinking I wanted pizza but ended up ordering the prosciutto panini and I'm…read morereally glad I did. It was hot, crispy, and packed with flavor. I definitely have to try the pizza next time though, my neighbor told me it's fantastic. He also turned us on to the homemade gelato which was a great recommendation. My wife got the coconut flavor with what I believe were almond and chocolate pieces mixed in. It was fantastic and the perfect way to finish the meal. I had a great espresso along with the gelato. The service was quick, friendly, and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. Overall, we had a great meal and a really enjoyable visit. We'll definitely be back. Next time, I'm trying that pizza!

Food looks great. I wanna eat there. But when I walked in there's flys crawling all over all of the…read morefood. They were making a sandwich while I was in there, and there was a fly on the sandwich at the lady was making and never even tried to pat it off. The flies were crawling all over the Cheese and lettuce. If they can get rid of the fly infant station I really think I would eat here a lot.

This Italian deli is Chicago old school from the delicious food to the friendly staff to the…read moreincredible variety of eat-in and take-out options. There's a two-sided counter in the middle with freezer and refrigerator cases full of deliciousness on one side and the sandwich and cold case items, like macaroni salad, eggplant rolls, marinated olives, etc. on the other. I had the Italian sub, and our group also ordered an Italian Beef and a Meatball sub, plus some macaroni salad to share. All were made to order and were delicious. We didn't have a cooler with us of we'd have picked up the lasagna as recommended by a man picking up dinner for guests and his wife, or some of the fresh sausages or meatballs. Highly recommend eating here in general and definitely before going to nearby Rolling Stones or HIP!

Im SO happy to have finally checked this one off the bucket list ! Very cute, small and quaint shop…read morelocated right off of Belmont. They have an array of variations and several different assortments of Italian seasonings, sides, desserts, sauces, frozen pizza, cans of goodies for all of your main dishes and not to mention fresh bread! Service was friendly and efficient! We got there right before noon on a weekday afternoon and it started getting packed quickly! Their 12 inch sandwiches are HUGE. We really enjoyed their arranchini ! It's the best one I've ever had and the second best one my husband has ever had next to the ones he tried in actual Italy! Loved their chewy texture and offering it warmed up with sauce. Delectable and simply devine! Would love to come back to try their breaded steak sandwich ! You can't go wrong with whatever you order. Their homemade spicy sausage is also amazing! Decently affordable for the quality that you're getting. They take both cash and card. Really enjoyed the old school Italian Chicago neighborhood vibes!

I can't believe they have been around for 4 years and this is my first time there…read more When we walked in I was concerned that no one was in the restaurant. In their defense it was 4:00 and the evening rush hadn't began. We were greeted by a lovely young lady (Nicki) We decided on 3 sandwiches so we could try a little of everything (or so we thought) 1. Brisket sandwich Amazing! Perfectly cooked, 6 options for BBQ sauces. Just a great sandwich. 2. Pastrami sandwich Spectacular! My personal favorite. If you're looking for a NY style Pastrami, then go to NY. This sandwich was a thick cut Chicago sandwich. Also, not a traditional mustard but a mustard dressing...fine by me because the Pastrami is all that matters. So juicy so flavorful, a fat man's (me) dream 3. Italian beef. I was almost full and picked at the beef...really good too...but I have to say their giardiniera is amazing. My only gripe with the beef was it didn't come out hot, it came out warm...I prefer hot WAIT THERE'S MORE!!! Halfway through our meal Nicki came by to check on us and DROPPED A COUPLE OF PIECES OF SKIRT STEAK on the table for us to try...no seasoning at all not even salt...its was sooooo good that I'm going to get the steak sandwich next time. Great food, great atmosphere, and great people It's a must have

Top Butcher is the best restaurant. Not only in Elmwood Park nor Chicago, probably in the whole…read moreworld. Everything I've ever had from here in the past three years has been incredible and I think about it a lot. It's one of the last places where you get that community feeling even when you step through the door; wether you're greeted when you walk in or having someone check on you while you eat, the ambiance is unmatched.This is a restaurant that I recommend to people I like because you don't just go to Top Butcher once it becomes part of your routine. The Scorza family is always inside talking to everyone and working like maniacs. Top Butcher is on my death row meal... I love this place!

These guys are the best! The meats are outstanding and the ahi tuna is heavenly. Erik, Justin and…read morethe rest of the team are super knowledgeable and helpful.

Carnivore in Oak Park…read more This is a butcher shop and fish market that also sells sandwiches I can't really decide if the old time decor is by design or if the place is really needing an upgrade. I actually think it's the latter. It's a lot smaller than I imagined with very limited seating. We went here for the grilled salmon sandwich. We had seen many online reviews saying it is amazing. They make the sandwiches right in front of you, so you know that they are fresh. We took our sandwiches to go and by the time we got them home , they were cold. The fries traveled well, but again they were also cold bu the time we got home. The grilled salmon sandwiches were very good, but not great , and I really would have loved to have eaten it warm. Prices are on the high side for the butcher meats. But I guess you should expect that since they are an artisanal butcher. I did not like the look of some of the meats in the cases. Would we go back? Maybe to try the Bacon Burger. But we would definitely recommend eating your food in the butcher shop and not taking it to go. I have just found out that that are moving into Carnival Grocery in Oak Park.

I'm absolutely over the moon with this place! The restaurant is AMAZING, the service was great, and…read morethe food... WOW.... I ordered a soup and a pasta, and both were DELICIOUS. What really makes this place stand out for me is the variety. Sometimes when looking for vegan food, the options can feel pretty limited to fried foods, burgers, wings, etc, but here, you can find more prepared meals, pastas, soups, salads, plus the desserts are a DREAM. Absolutely outstanding! GOTTA BE BACK SOON!

Markedly below average food. Ordered the rainbow rolls, Grace's teriyaki, Burmese noodle salad, and…read morethe green tea cheesecake. Adequate service and totally unremarkable ambiance. The rainbow rolls consisted of plain, uncooked vegetables wrapped in rice paper, accompanied by peanut sauce as well as a vinegar dip. There was absolutely no taste to the rainbow rolls, and the peanut sauce tasted like peanut butter that had been microwaved for twenty seconds. The vinegar dip was the only thing that salvaged the rolls. The teriyaki did not come as advertised. There were chunks of glazed soy in brown rice - no other veggies in the bowl itself. There was a side salad that I dumped into the bowl to add some crunch and texture. The glazed soy was tasty but the rice was remarkably bland and mushy. This regime of blandness continued with the Burmese noodle salad: some of the flavours had potential and the dish might have been tastier if those flavours were accentuated, but instead it was a bowl of noodles and assorted vegetables with no compelling taste or texture. The cheesecake was both too sweet and remarkably bitter at the same time. It was fine texturally but the sweetness was overwhelming. The layer of tea on top of the cheesecake added some bitterness. The two flavours were totally incongruous. I have never wasted dessert before - if I can't finish it I take it home, but this dessert was so inedible that even at nine dollars it was not worth salvaging. Service was fine and the food came out quickly. The location of the restaurant in downtown Oak Park was nice - there was some sort of music festival going on outside that made an otherwise aggressively mediocre meal more bearable. Overall, I do not recommend this establishment.

I've passed by Sandwichón Café countless times driving up and down Harlem, so we finally decided to…read morestop in for lunch--and I'm glad we did. At first, I was a little unsure how it worked since there's a service counter, but staff quickly greeted us and showed us to a table. Table service was a pleasant surprise. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, walking us through an impressively extensive menu. I ordered the Double Medianoche--pulled pork, ham, mustard, Swiss cheese, and sweet pickles, all pressed panini‑style. My friend went with the Pan con Croqueta, a ham and cheese sandwich topped with a ham croquette. For anyone unfamiliar (myself included), croquetas are minced pork that's breaded and deep‑fried. Both sandwiches were solid, but the Medianoche was the clear winner for me--warm, flavorful, and perfectly pressed. With so many options on the menu, there's plenty more I want to try. Friendly staff, good food, and a comfortable dine‑in experience. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. There at least two signs advising they will charge 18% gratuity to tables of three or more and will not split checks for three or more.

Ordered lunch. Food was ready by the time I got there quickly. Lots of parking. Small inside but…read moreenough seating. The food was delicious at a good price. I will def be going back especially to try their breakfast menu!

great selections and fresh made to order. tasty pizza by…read morethe slice, thick italian kind. and cookies galore to pick from as well as canoli that's great! try them and you won't regret it. you'll just come back again and again

When you have a great team, food is always good, as well as great service! Keep up the great work…read more Thank you.

I wanted a non corporate Middle Eastern spot and the spots in Oak Park make you pay to park there…read moreso yea..out of principle, that was not going to happen....soo happy I came across this spot!! Free parking..attentive service..very clean and well lighted inside and the food was awesome.. I will definitely recommend this spot over the others and plan on returning even though Im not from the area.

Great addition to the neighborhood. Simple and Delicious offerings. I order ahead and stop in oftenread more