Great food everything I tried is good, my parents love it as well. Everyone seems nice as well

Addendum to my cheesesteak pilgrimage (see my list!) Back in 2009, I was working out in Philadelphia and made it a point to go to a different cheesesteak joint once a week. I reviewed them all (Dalessandro's all the way), and added a couple more non-Philly reviews in 2010. Well, we're back. I've heard of Monti's for a long time as being the one true cheesesteak in Chicago. However, I live quite far from it and it would need to be a good reason to go all the way up for it. Having taken a day off for my birthday, and with the wife being off, it was good enough for me. I was quite surprised to find that Monti's isn't some kind of take-out joint, but a sit down bar/restaurant. Worked for me. We decided to split some wings, then each get the lunch special which got us a mini sandwich and some chili. The wings are worth the trip alone. Wings are my favorite food, and these are some of the best buffalo wings in the city. Not too saucy, perfectly crisp and huge. The chili was tasty too, but takes a back seat to the sandwich. Yes, this is indeed the best Philly I've had in the city. Sadly there's no Whiz here, but they do offer their own cheese sauce which worked just as well. Again it's not too much, just enough to coat the meat and start to soak into the bread. And the bread is perfect. As with many regional sandwiches, the bread can make or break it. Just like Chicago beefs need Turano or Gonnella, they serve up authentic Amoroso rolls here. Soft but crisp on the outside, it works well contrasting with the cheesy beef within. Monti's is now one of my favorite spots in the city. I wish they had one further south, but it might literally kill me. Yes, the wings and cheesesteak here are death-worthy, and I can't say that about many places. read more

I have to give it five stars b/c I thought it was great. It's definitely a little divey of a space, but there were two different families in there Saturday night when we went and so you also know it's a neighborhood spot. I started with a fruity martini and it was strong - and only $8. That alone will bring me back! AND, they contained several different bottles of Bols liquor. Not many places have this liquor from Amsterdam. It's a great liquor! My husband had the "Rocky" - dear god that was hot and spicy. He loved it but I could never eat a full one of that. It had great flavor, but too spicy for me. I had the "Niko the Greek.". It was perfectly greek - from the sweet and savory gyro meat to the soft bread to the wonderful tzatziki sauce. I would get this item again and again. I will definitely come back to try other items as well as stick with the few that we had. read more

Ordered up some Monti's again after a hiatus (glad they're back in the old spot again) As good as we remembered, finished mine and immediately craved another and I got the large. Awesome. Looking forward to coming in for dine in (and drinking haha) soon! Best Philly Cheese Steaks in Chicago! (I like white American cheese over the other choices, note to self) read more

As a DelCo PA expatriate (no, I did not take your catalytic converter...probably), I can say from experience that they consistently deliver on the quality of the steaks here. I'm always shocked that there is not a full house when we go. We usually go on Sundays though (and the location could be easily missed). I've been in Chi for over 20 yrs and theirs is the only steak comparable to an authentic Philly cheesesteak that I have tasted in Chicago. Also, the new guy behind the bar on Sundays is a def upgrade. read more

This place is a little gem hidden off of Lawrence street in Lincoln Square! I lived up here for a year before I even knew it existed. An Uber driver actually told me about during a ride one day. Obviously I took his advice and went in. Let me just say that I am very particular with claims of serving a 'Philly Cheesesteak', but this place did NOT disappoint! The cheese sauce is so so bomb and they really just pack it all into the buns. AND THE FRIES!!! Some of the best fries in Lincoln Square. Honestly. Looks like a lil sports bar on the inside. The staff is fantastic and very friendly. Definitely a place to visit and try. read more

Monti's - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This def hit the spot!! On my lunch break at work at they hooked me up with this delicious Philly cheesesteak! I've tried so many cheesesteaks in Chicago and this is by far my favorite place! Highly recommend! read more

Monti's - Authentic Philly Cheesesteak - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We're in from Dallas Texas and this was our first food stop. The food was so hot and fresh. The portions are so big, we left stuffed. I will be grabbing a Togo one before leave back home. read more

Monti's - Mini Cheesesteak and fries! And an 8" Rocky! Very Spicy - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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how is it i can't reach y'all by phone?!? i just picked up an order, took 30 minutes to get home because of a stuck train, and found out my fries were missing.!! the least you can do is let me vent to an actual person!! i spent fifty bucks on food and didn't get my fries. i sure hope it wasn't cause i didn't leave a tip on a pickup order!! cause that would be petty as hell!! do better please. read more

one of the best philly cheesesteaks i've had as far as taste goes. though the pricing is tuff & they skimped me on the cheese :/ that's why they get a 4 this evening read more

I would give them 4.75 because I don't like the fries, but opinions are like assholes, right? Everyone has one. That having been said, I've just had the BEST SANDWICH EVER from them. Rocky Philly, insert garlic bread, I'm a customer for life. UPDATE: I ordered my usual sandwich and it was great, as expected. But the waitress/bartender/whoever wouldn't put it on garlic bread because "it doesn't come like that". Huh? I don't take back my previous rating or post, you guys are awesome, but that was a bit disappointing. read more

I've frequented this business for many years. It's the best Philly cheesesteak in town.

Just stopped in.....only read the reviews since I'm not from the area and since we were in the area we thought we'd try it. All I have to say is believe the hype! This is the best Philly cheesesteak sandwich I've ever had in Chicago and it's right up there with Jim's in Philadelphia as the best cheesesteak sandwich I've EVER had!!! Steak cooked perfectly with onions, the homemade rolls were outstanding and the spicy mayo I had on the side topped it off. And the fries were great also. And get an Italian ice to go......Awesome!!! Katie took great care of us!!!! Kudos to Jim the owner.. we'll definitely be back! read more

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This place fell off so bad when it was on Tolman it was decent the sandwiches were much better. I ordered a Philly cheesesteak and got a bucket of Grease instead. The meat was burned and looked like it was some frozen product the cheese was disgusting also like the kind you get at the movie theaters what a shame this place used to be my go to for cheesesteak I will never order from them again read more

Terribly disappointed with this place recently. I will say, the cheesesteak wiz-wit is a classic, but the last time I ordered it there was practically no meat in the sandwich....I figured it must be pandemic related...cost, new hires, supply shortages, or something. We ordered the pork grinder and a salad with grilled chicken on the side. The pork sandwich was the literal definition of "meh". It wasn't bad, but it surely wasn't good either. Barely any pork tenderloin on the sandwich, the peppers were also scarce and the broccoli rabe was clearly just broccoli crowns they cut up and sprinkled in. It was also the driest sandwich I've eaten. I ordered a side of fries that also was not included. The salad was beyond depressing. Barely any greens, and the toppings were scare to the point where we basically thought they put greens in a styrofoam container and sent it to us. We added "grilled" chicken...it was over cooked and bland beyond all measure. I have to say, I am super glad they survived the pandemic, but it's unfortunate because can't support the food coming out of that kitchen. read more

It was already 5 in the afternoon when my friend went to my house to invite me to eat with her at this place. I came quickly when he said that it's him treat. Luckily my clothes were nice at that time. I just wore shirts and shorts paired with shoes the same as her outfit. As we enter there are few people inside at this hour. We sat at the bar stool. Some nice guy approached us and asked what our order was. We ordered Southside Johnny for him and Where's the Beef Cheesesteak for me. After a couple of minutes it came really quick. My friend likes his food. He likes how chicken breast is cooked properly. He said it was delicious. I like the tenderness of the chicken. It has a good seasoning and is perfect if it has rice on it. We enjoy our food a lot. So I'll give five star for this. read more

So good! Best Philly Cheese Steak in the City!!! Great selection of beer and always a friendly warm face to attend to you

Ok this philly cheese steak is amazing. SO AMAZING. I love that grease spreading through my mouth on the salad while I eat it. I kept raving about this place to my friend. He tried it, but he said it was too greasy for him. I picked up all that grease and put it on my cheese steak. Like man, this is what it is about. I think what happened was he was salty I got the best loot from our last DnD adventure, so he was biased towards my choice of food. W.e. Monti's I just want you to know that your Philly Cheese Steak is like getting 4 rare candies from one pokeball. It is like catching Suicune with only a great ball. It's like having all the legendary lions in your party, before you even beat the elite four. I will definitely have my DnD bash at your restaurant for my bday. read more

I loved this place when they had their own place. Ordered several weeks ago and my order was wrong so I threw it away. Tried it again a couple days ago. The food made me and my wife sick with nausea and diarrhea for three days. I initially didn't attribute it to Monti's. However my daughter just informed me that the exact same thing happened to her and her boyfriend. I'm sad to write this review because I genuinely used to love this place. But I thought it was necessary if people are potentially getting sick. read more

I got their philly steak with white american cheese, aged cheddar sauce, and jalapeno. It was soooo delicious!!! Bread is soft, meat is juicy. Fries are still crispy even when it starts to get cold and didn't get greasy. read more

Monti's is The most LEGIT Place in the Land of Lincoln for a Philadelphia Cheesesteak sandwich! I tried a 12 inch Philly with cheese Whiz "Aged cheddar mushrooms, onions, jalapeños and a side of pickled Serrano peppers (Extremely hot)for my fries and wow was I blown away. Most juiciest beat tasting sandwich I've had in a long time. The original Philly flavor and quality is definitely there. Will be back soon! Beer selection is also GREAT. Thanks Montis!! read more

Monti's - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Subs here are soooo damn good, but unfortunately way over priced. I could understand $10 but $14.50 is way upcharged. The platter of fries are pretty solid and at $5 fair for thick cut fries. Pretzel bites were ok. I don't think id go out of my way for a sub here just cuz of the price but it's definitely good so if im near by I just may read more

Stopped here for takeout yesterday for lunch. Very cheap prices and the vibe in the restaurant was pretty chill. I got the sampler with the original cheesesteak, the hoagie, and the pizza one. I also got chili on my fries and a side order of the boneless buffalo wings. The original cheesesteak was delicious, but I would have to say that the hoagie was my absolute favorite. The steak was nice and flavorful, the cheese was still bubbly and the toppings made it so so good. The fries were alright, I don't think it's a good choice to get takeout, and I can't say I was that big of a fan of the chili. I guess I'm use to meaty southern chili and this was the regular beany chili. ‍ The boneless wings were a nice addition to the meal. Nice and juicy with a very good coating of buffalo sauce. I'd definitely get that again! All in all I would recommend this place. It was good! Just be weary of sogginess with takeout. Hope to try their Italian ice soon! read more

Super disappointed at this please You guys should close this place.. Customer service was terrible, guy behind the counter was on his phone the whole time. Didn't want to answer any questions we had. I place an order and had to wait outside in my car for an hour. To top it off they got my order wrong and had to get it remade and wait again. read more

Just a shout out to my friends at Monti's! Had a delicious cheesesteak sandwich on Saturday that I brought over to Dovetail Brewing. Patrons and staff alike, proclaimed the Philly original smelled terrific, and it paired perfectly with the Dovetail Lager. On Sunday, my girlfriend and I shared another Monti's treat when we attended Wingfest in Wrigleyville. Read my review for yourself, but Monti's wings blew past the competition with a crispy skin, spicy buffalo sauce and tender poultry that really stood out against the rest. A challenge for the management team: What's your favorite cheesesteak sandwich in your home city of Brotherly Love? read more

Monti's - Love a Monti's Cheesesteak with Dovetail Lager - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in with my boyfriend a little after the saturday lunch hour. My girlfriend recommended, spoke very highly of the place after a company lunch. One thing that convinced me to add the place to my list of "you need to try" was the fact that Monti's offers a vegetarian option. Needless to say, my boyfriend was very excited and really looking forward to trying this place out immediately. Upon entering Monti's we were greeted and we seated ourselves. There were 3 other groups dining in, the place seemed a little empty but we didn't let that get in the way. Our server came over and immediately took our drink order, he also answered all the questions my boyfriend had about the menu and even got a few recommendations out of it. We came in VERY hungry, we slept in and skipped breakfast. I immediately knew what I wanted. I Had a 12" Where's the Beef and a side of French Fries. My boyfriend decided on the 12" Authentic Philly Cheesesteak with a side of French Fries as well. After ordering we waited with excitement. Unfortunately while we waited I overheard the table across from us ordering and not just ordering a standard Philly Cheesesteak they were adding extra ingredients -- I wish I would've known that was a thing!! Maybe next time I'll be able to make an order that fits my liking! The minute our order came out my boyfriend and I were pretty amazed and excited to dig in! Being the Yelper that I am, I needed photos! My sandwhich still intact I got the perfect photo to share with my friends and by the time I got to my boyfriend's dish he was already face to face with his sandwich! Everything was pretty great, from the first bite I didn't set my sandwich down! You know it's good when you're holding on until it's gone! My boyfriend was so into his sandwich, he barely spoke to me! He stopped once to tell me how amazing it was and it was amazing! By the end of the meal we were so full and completely satisfied! I immediately got a hold of my girlfriend and thanked her. Definitely adding Monti's to my recommendations list and knowing what I know now about the place I'll be more prepared when it comes to ordering! I'll be looking forward to my next visit and I'm sure my boyfriend will be jumping for joy upon our return!! read more

Monti's - Where's the Beef!?!! - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Monti's is a new place just off of Lawrence in a remarkably diverse area (within a block are Bosnian, Greek, Vietnamese and Italian dining choices). The diversity is now heightened with this pilgrimage site for Philly cheesesteak fanatics. Upon walking in, the place looks more like a bar with seats for dining too (I was expecting more of a takeout joint). I ordered the straight "Authentic" Philly Cheesesteak to go, and I expected not to finish the 12" version in one sitting (I did not). The beef is black angus rib-eye and is quite tasty in itself, but when accompanied with pieces of grilled onion, mushroom and provolone it's a yummy and not-too-greasy ensemble. I've never heard of the Philly amoroso roll, but this bread is soft and chewy and sturdy at the same time. You get a side of fries with this, and it's almost a relief that the pile of fries is not a humongous greasy bag of soggy potatoes. The fries are again not too greasy, though definitely a supporting player to the star that is the sandwich. It's not exactly fast food (takes 15 minutes, and not that cheap) but it's very tasty and hearty. The bar that surprised me actually looks like a good place to hang out, and my server was a very pleasant young lady. Monti's location is not obvious for everyone (not too far from the Rockwell Brown Line station), but it's worth the trip and easier to get to than Pennsylvania. read more

Had Monti's bookmarked for the longest time, finally made it happen xD Ordered the cheesesteak sampler ($18.95 for 3 minis plus fries), picked their authentic philly, southside johnny, and pizza steak. All satisfyingly delicious, hard to pick a favorite. The bf and I both agreed that the southside johnny had a good amount of mushrooms, but its horseradish cream sauce could use a punchier presence. Also, pickles would be reaaalllly nice to have on the side. Italian water ice free with yelp check-in, yum, except metal cup + metal spoon gave a slight metallic taste. Friendly service, already looking forward to eating here again. read more

Monti's - Italian water ice - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If, when you think of Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches, you think of those orange and yellow formica, self-service charhouses, or the hole-in-the-wall Italian takeout joints, fuggettaboutit, 'cause this place has clay-ess. It's new, it's a comfortable pub-style setting, and it features quality Philadelphia original cheesestaeks, hoagies, grinders and thin crust pizzas, and a full bar with good bottled beer choices. It is tucked into the former "Cinner's" space, kitty corner from Harvestime in Lincoln Square. The Monti's, Mr. & Mrs., have brought their industry expertise from The Phil Stefani group and Rockit Bar and Grill, and wedded it with a passion for their hometown Philadelpia specialties. And they are sharing the love with us Chicagoans. Subs are "Hoagies," hot or grilled subs are "grinders,"(8" for $8.95 or 12" for 12.95, with chips) and they are accompanied by a variety of cheesesteak choices. Along with the regular cheesesteak(8" for $10.95, or 12" for $13.95), there's a veggie variety made with soy sausage, a pizza steak, a veggie choice called "South Side Johnny" with sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, and horseradish cream sauce, and a "Niko The Greek" with gyros meat, onions, feta onion and tzatziki sauce. Grinders(8" for $8.95 or 12" for $12.95) include Roast Pork Loin, Roasted Turkey, Italian sausage or egg on a roll. Hoagies are Italian, Turkey, or Black Pepper Ham. Priced the same as grinders. Pizzas are thin crust and can be ordered with gluten-free crust, in sizes 11" ($11.95) or 16"($16.95), with a variety of choices to order of cheeses, meats, veggies and seafood. (add $5 for the anchovies or Lobster!.) There are starters, soups and salads as well, all of them original and made with high quality ingredients like Angus Beef or Philly style bread made on the premises. I know I don't mind paying a little more for great flavor and quality. I had the small version of The Authentic Philly Cheesesteak which was delicious. A good portion with tender, tender strips of beef in a restrained (portion-wise) au jus with melted provolone cheese. No onions, No green peppers, as is usually the case with a Chicago Philly Steak. The fries were crispy and fresh and dusted with a little celery salt, a little lip service to Chicago style. I washed 'er down with a couple of bottles of Negra Modelo. Service was friendly and delightful. From the bartender Chippie to the server Carl, who to me seemed like the more charming and handsome son of Eddie Haskell, each of them was passionate, welcoming and just plain fun to be around. Monti's is a great new neighborhood addition for casual get togethers with friends or family (kid's menu available) and for high-quality original and healthy takeout, something which can only enahance and improve our Rockwell Crossing restaurant scene. Open seven days for lunch and dinner, starting at 11 A.M. read more

Monti's - Caesar Salad (takeout) - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I keep forgetting/procrastinating to write an update. I always think "Well, I'm going to go back next month and try something new, so I'll hold off." Well, now I shall delay no longer. Besides the cheesesteaks, guess what else at Monti's is exceptional? The pizza. Seriously, some of the best on the north side. I have to confess that I did not care for the pork loin grinder. Whether by accident or design, there was a dearth of roasted peppers (two meager strips) and an overabundance of broccoli rabe. That upset the balance of the sandwich and made it too bitter. A minor disappointment was the chicken cheesesteak, kind of bland compared to the beef version. Don't bother trying to eat healthy that day and just get the "real" one. While you're at it, try the pretzel nuggets, especially dipped in the accompanying cheese sauce. Delicious. So--cheesesteaks, pizza, calamari, fries, pretzel bites, the occasional TastyKake or italian ice (depending on the season), all outstanding. I can make myself very happy choosing from those top-notch options on every visit. No Phillies playoffs this season...maybe next year. :( read more

This place is a JOKE!! Cannot even call and speak to a human. Guess what? You're not that great or fancy and neither is your food. Which is mediocre at best. read more

I've been back a few times (sitting there right now, in fact!) and have enjoyed all my visits. The staff is always friendly and helpful. They have a great salad called the society hill and a soy sausage sandwich, in addition to a few veggie apps, so are pretty veg friendly. I'll try the soy sammie one day. I've been enjoying my creation: all the veggies sauteed up together with cheese and hot peppers. Yum! Gluten free people: My husband had been by a LOT. Seriously, we need to cook more. He loves the gluten free sandwiches. They also have buffalo nuggets that aren't breaded and an admirable cider selection. read more

Another hidden gem that was recommended by a friend for legit philly cheese steaks. Definitely a place you would not notice if you were drive through this area. Its located on the side street so don't expect to look for big signs off of Lawrence. Each time I have ordered The Rocky since I love spicy foods and it is amazing. I have also tried the South side johnny and that is really good as well. Went there recently because they were recommended for their chicken wings and they are pretty good and pretty big in size. Make sure to check in while you are there to get a free italian ice dessert! read more

Monti's - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My husband had a craving for a real Philly cheesesteak, so I found this place on Google and then confirmed that it was good on Yelp. So glad I found Monti's! The cheesesteaks are amazing!! We went on a Tuesday evening. It was quiet and we both had a Bloody Mary. We also enjoyed the pretzel appetizer. The cheese sauce was delectable and the pretzels were so fresh. I loved that they had various cheesesteak sizes. The sample plate looked like a great option, but I couldn't justify spending $19 for that. Instead, I had The Rocky and my husband had The Southside Johnny. The horseradish cream was absolutely amazing. The beef on both sandwiches was so fresh and the bread was perfect. My only two recommendations: maybe it's a tourist thing, but in Philly, the cheese is usually cheese whiz. I think Monti's should offer that on the classic cheesesteak as an option. Also, The Rocky was SO spicy that I had trouble enjoying the flavor. I still enjoyed it so much, but the spice can be cut by about 30%. Great place for a Philly cheesesteak...highly recommended! read more

Monti's - Pretzel app - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a review for take out. It was take out that I'd love to have again! I hadn't heard of Monti's until recently and within a week of hearing it's praises sung, I was able to try it. I had the sandwich with mushrooms - wow! Juicy and tender and the right amount of mushrooms and cheese. The entire messy meal was awesome in it's deliciousness. They're friendly and I can't wait to stop in for a sit down meal as I'm sure I'll want to eat there again soon! read more

Not bad. Dropped by tonight to use up a Groupon at Monti's, and a number of things were decent here: the meat in my cheesesteak (I went with the plain Jane on the menu, the Authentic Philly Cheesesteak), the service, the side of fries, the fresh rolls that the sammies were served on. But, there were a few other things that left me wanting: 1. Not nearly enough cheese or cheese sauce on the cheesesteak. Like, I wants me some melted cheese baby! 2. The meatballs in the meatball sub were average. Eh. 3. It's really, really dark in the back of the restaurant at the low-top tables, especially as daytime turns into dusk. I had a hard time seeing my wife from across the table! 4. If someone said to you, "Dessert will be an ice cream sandwich sundae", you'd think that was going to be amazing, right? Well, at Monti's, it wasn't....I still can't figure out what went wrong in there! Glad I checked it out, and if I'm back in the hood checking out Nhu Lan or another spot close by, I will give this a look. read more

Cheesesteaks Cheesesteaks & Cheesesteaks!!! My buddy has been telling me about this place since he moved near it about a year ago. He was telling me how they make all their stuff in house. We came over to watch the 2014 baseball playoffs (Tigers got killed in the 8th inning) and it wasn't too full which was cool. I knew I wanted the cheesesteak as my buddy raves about it...I went with the Authentic 8 inch philly with everything on it. It was very good, so good that I ordered the same thing but a mini this time around. What can I say, I had a huge appetite that day...lol Service was very nice as they came by on a regular basis to check on us. Good spot! read more

Saw this place reviewed on TV, bookmarked it to make sure once in their neighborhood I wouldn't miss it .... Atmosphere was good ... Waitress was good.... Now I am a Philly cheesesteak kinda gal.... This sub was not that much different from the steaks subs I get at mall .... Sorry .... Not sure if it's bc the one at the mall is as good as this place or I was expecting something better like my favorite joint in Bean Town... Joe's Subs!!! Great beer selection! NOW..... The cherry ice water I got free for "checking in" ($3.95 value) was outstanding !!!! For sure I will return! read more

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This place was better than I expected. I looked this place up on Yelp because I was feigning for a philly cheese steak. I came here finding out that the WINGS are definitely worth coming back for! Please.. if you are a wing lover, please order the Buffalo Wings here... From my understanding.. their wing recipe won 1st place in 2012 or 2013. They're kind of breaded like hooters, but with a wetter and tangier sauce. Also, these wings are huge! I had a hoagie bun philly and it was ON-POINT. It tasted so good. I really liked how they brought out the wings first..then when they saw that we were almost done.. we then got the phillys out hot and fresh. Our server was very friendly and attentive to our needs. FOOD 5/5 Customer Service 5/5 Place was also very clean, laid-back, and comfortable to sit in. If I was in Chicago now, I'd definitely come back. REMEMBER: BUFFALO WINGS. GET THEM. read more

Monti's - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really overpriced for lackluster sandwiches. Rocky has no kick, and the main cheesesteak is very plain, even when toppings are added. Onion rings were overdone. Not the worst, but I would compare the food to a White Castle or other fast food chain. If you like WC, you'll be fine here. read more