The food and service has always been consistently awesome! Many try to argue that it's a lot for the sandwich but you get plenty of meat and cheese. Not to mention the awesome flavor and it comes with fries. When you put it all together with the friendly service and chill bar vibe it's worth it. read more

This is the best cheesesteak in the world!! Natalia the waitress was the best she hooked me and my bro up. Water ice was one of the best Italian ice can't wait to take my hole family and friends it took me two train rides to get there but it was worth it!! read more

Monti's - Best philly - Cheesesteaks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been looking for a place that does Philly cheese steaks with the right bread, meat and cheese and not had much luck in Chicago until now. They make a great sandwich and their cheddar cheese alternative for wiz is actually really good. I would put them up against Jim's, Pat'sor Geno's. Great fries too. Local beer options are a plus. read more

First time tried and i love it. Definitely i will come back. I like cheesesteak here and the receptionist ( kathy) very nice . Ps: the fried is very very good read more

I was looking through my yelp account and I remembered this order because of how the owner responded. I thought I would post some of the detail because it was a truly unique experience. I was messaged by the owner and threatened that if I didn't adjust my yelp review that they were going to reinstate charges to my credit card. Plus she would report me to the delivery service. What a joke. I actually for some strange reason edited my review to put exactly in detail what happened, what I was refunded and what I was not. Didn't apologize just assumed I was another order and made a threat. I thought some people could find this useful or maybe funny. One of the worst service experiences I have ever had. If anyone else has been threatened similarly by the owner please message me. Here is one of the full unedited version, spelling mistakes included of the first message to me from the owner. In her last message she said "Look, the fact of the matter is...it's just food. ". Just what I want to hear from a restaurant owner. "Just tracked you down. Check your Grub Hub account. We refunded you $17.45 on $20.65 order. I also tracked you down thru delivery and have confirmed you received your order in one hour the confirmed delivery time. Adjust your yelp review or I will notify grub hub that you refused our refund and reinstate the charge. I will also flag you with our delivery service. Restaurants are not perfect but when we screw up we admit it and try to correct it. We offered to deliver a correct order free of charge or offered a refund. It is grossly unfair of you to take the refund and then misrepresent what happend on yelp." read more

I didn't even think I liked cheesesteak. My boyfriend had a Groupon for Monti's so I gamely tagged along, hoping, at best, to not leave starving. Needless to say, my expectations were far exceeded. On our first visit we decided to start with the society hill salad (a little something healthy to offset the coming grease wave). This is actually the most disappointing thing I've had at Monti's - it's absolutely nothing special and , at $7.75, I felt it overpriced. That mild disappointment was immediately whisked from my mind with the arrival of my cheesesteak. I've ordered both the original and the South Side Johnny - both are great but I give the slight edge to the Johnny for the addition of sauteed mushrooms and horseradish cream. The meat is delicious and not fatty and the rolls are perfect. I love these sandwiches. Love them. The side of fries, which could have been an afterthought, have some kind of awesome spice that makes them absolutely delicious. Oh, and side note: you can ask for a side of peppers for your sandwich and they'll ask you how hot you want them. I'm a wuss, so I always get the mildest. The boyfriend is more adventurous and has ordered most of them. He wants me to warn you all that the Rocky peppers are super hot and you should exercise caution while eating. We've also had the ice cream sandwich sundae dessert. And yes, this is just as simple as it sound (ice cream sandwiches, whipped cream, cherry) and yet somehow the whole is greater than the sum of the parts - it's wonderful. I've been impressed with Monti's servers on both of our visits. They've always been really friendly without being obsequious and are more than happy to bring anything we request. Monti's also has a fairly decent beer selection and if I lived in the area, the bar looks like a cozy place to hang out. There's ample parking, I've never had to wait for a table, and they frequently have coupons (which worries me, actually). Go now! read more

Not all that great. Either the meat is 2 salty or too bland, the "imported rolls & cheese" are just.ordinary. they skimp on the fries, and are way overpriced. I get better at Great Steak Escape. Not worth the money. read more

The sandwiches are overpriced and underwhelming. Very small for what you pay for $12 for an 8" and $15 for a footer (incl. tax)? On top of that, they're thin and the flavor just wasn't there. I'd like to go back, but I would rather spend my money at about 14 other locations in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square. read more

Love this awesome neighborhood restaurant! Of course, the cheese steaks are amazing, as others have noted. I personally love the hoagie version with the spicy mayo. I order the 12 inch so I can have leftovers for lunch the next day! I also really enjoy their soups, the chili is yummy and the rotating soup of the day has never disappointed me! The beer selection is great, and I love that they keep one rotating draft beer to feature. Service has alway been timely and friendly! read more

The best Philly cheesesteak I've ever had. Better than Pat's in South Philly. And the fries are really good. The celery salt is a perfect addition. But the restaurant is run in an amateur way. I am signing up for Yelp just to let others know what they're in for. * Kids' menu is light and shameful in not offering pizza at a cheesesteak-and-pizza place. There's a maze and pictures to color, but no crayons were offered. No covered cups for little ones. * The service was poor, as if our server was a relative of the owners but never had been a server before. The staff seemed to do more hanging around, chit-chatting than anything else, with the exception of the bartender, who seemed very hard working. * No condiments were offered with the pizza, and our server was camped out at the window from the kitchen, waiting for other tables' orders to be up (though the restaurant was not busy). I asked the bartender for Parmesan and red pepper as he passed by our table. He said, "All you have to do is ask." I think it would be better if the employees were professionals in food service and knew to offer. * The pizza was nothing special AT ALL. I've had better frozen pizza. Seriously. And Pizza Art cafe offers a much better value for a really quality pizza. Monti's should go check it out, take some notes. * There is no beer list and no pricing on the cocktail list. There is ONE beer on draft. I was shocked to get a bill for $58 and change for a small cheese pizza, 8-inch cheesesteak, appetizer and two drinks (no kids meal). My beer was $9. 12 ounce bottle. Craft beer, yes, but $9 is ridiculous. The martinis, FYI (because you'll have no other way of knowing), are $10. * No plates with the appetizer. * The interior has all of the charm and class of the Home Goods clearance aisle -- because that's where the furnishings were picked up. The owner visited our table and talked as if we were in sixth grade, slamming Cinners (I liked Cinners), and boasting that she and her husband spent years in creating this concept and getting it right before opening. I didn't see a lot right. She also said they were offering downtown meals at prices more commensurate with the neighborhood. Rockwell's, Pizza Art Cafe, Red Lion, Fork are all better values and better experiences. I won't go back to dine there. I may order a cheesesteak to go. Such a disappointment. I'll be surprised if Monti's lasts without making significant changes or coasting on the owners' savings. read more

Ordered 12 cheesesteaks for our Super Bowl party as my wife is from Philly. Everyone at the party raved about how good the steaks were. My wife and I were just in Philly about a month ago and went to Pat's King of Steaks as well as a small local place. I must say that Monti's was better than Pat's and the other place. Also, the owner Jennifer was so nice via phone and in person. read more

I came here for the Philly cheesesteak. In comparison to other ones I've had specifically (phillys best) it was no where near my standards. The waiter was nice and the environment is upbeat. read more

Don't bother. Meat was shaved so thin it was looked like bad crumbled hamburger. Did I spot a shred of provolone on my sandwich? Maybe, maybe not. Grilled onions -- not like how they do it in Philly. Nothing like real Philly cheese steak and way too expensive. read more

Everything is amazing. I highly suggest the wings & chili if they have it. All their stuff is made in house. Get on it

I had the NEED for a legit Philly Cheesesteak!!!... Ya know how ..IF you're from Philly... and you live AWAY from PA. every now & then ya need a fix!!!... I can STILL count on Monti's!! ..My wife and I had Cheesesteak Hoggies!!! I had additional Mushrooms. I made it home because I was satisfied and completely FULL!!!. I forgot to ask for some Tastykakes!! I couldn't eat 'em any way because I was stuffed!! My wife told me I was getting older(smh). I got to see the owner. It's been a while since I've seen him,but it's OK. what matters is that I have NOT forgotten HIM/them. The service was top notch,and the food was hot & fresh!!. Monti is still on top of their game. I love 'em!!! They make me feel like I got a hug from Philly!!...{{Hugg}} read more

This is a 3.5 star review. I wanted to love Monti's. I was so excited to have my first cheesesteak in years that I bypassed a planned weekend detox to partake. My cheesesteak hoagie was pretty good. I too requested sweet peppers and the server had no idea what I was talking about (google: San-Del Sweet Peppers). When the server approached us about dessert we were ready for our Tastykakes only to be told "oh, we haven't had those in months". Not cool. read more

I first heard about Monti's on an episode of The Great Food Truck Race. It was mentioned that the owner gets bread delivered from Philadelphia and serves the most authentic cheese steaks around. I finally got around to trying one the other day. I assumed Monti's was a casual eatery and was surprised when I walked into a bar/sit down restaurant. I ordered a "mini" cheese steak combo which includes a 5" sandwich and fries. The food came out pretty quickly and I enjoyed my sandwich. I can't really compare it to a "real" Philly cheese steak but they use quality ingredients and it's cooked to order. It's honestly not something I'd travel here for but if you're in the area and craving a cheese steak, this is the place to go. read more

I always thought Philly's Best had the best cheese steak sandwiches but Monti's is the King of cheesesteaks! The bread stays chewy and does not get soggy. The meat is not full of fat and very tender. The people that work here are pretty cool as well. I've only gone during the day and for pickup but I can imagine the atmosphere during the night time. Best in town. Try it! read more

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Monti's. This is by far the BEST steak Philly in Chicago! Cool small place, pretty cool staff (most of the time) they make the food when you order so it's nice and fresh every single time, they also told me that their bread is shipped in from Philly so that just adds to the authenticity and their rolls are pretty amazing. They also have some good beers here and don't miss out on the free italian ice with your check-in on Yelp they're very tasty. I had the boneless buffalo nuggets also I was a big fan of them I would order them again. If you're thinking of going with the chicken Philly cause your worried about the steak, DON'T, the steak here is very lean and delicious. No fat or chewiness to it, give it shot you won't be sorry! read more

Great philly cheese steak. Soft bread that I heard they get from Philadelphia. High quality ribeye meat that is well seasoned. I was a pretty big fan of their steak sandwich. The problem is speed of food. I came when they opened on a Sunday and it took me more than 1.5 hours to finish my meal. I eat fast so this meal should not have taken more than 45 minutes! read more

Monty's advertises itself as having "authentic Philly cheesesteaks" and I do not agree. The size and portion is huge. You definitely receive a large fat sandwich. It is just not a true Philly cheesesteak. First, the bread was not the normal Philly style which is critical for the appropriate meat to cheese balance. Monti's uses some local Chicago supermarket available option that is just not a good substitute. The steak does not have the Philly flavor and lacks the char from being chopped on the grill. I was in Philadelphia a few days after my visit to Monti's and I went to Abner's cheesesteaks on Chestnut. This place is the real deal. I was even able to bring one back on the plane and it made the trip with flying colors. Monti's is decent but I will not go back again. Also, the fries are bland and boring. I read more

quick and easy. I ordered carry out. The best philly cheese steak i've had in a long time!

The short: quality Philly cheesesteak at Chicago prices. The food is amazing, but I can't go to five stars because an 8" cheesesteak is $10.95, a 12" is $13.95, each about $2.00 more than I would pay back in Philly. As such, Monti's is an enjoyable, but rare experience for me. If Monti's could manage to get a sandwich and drink special for under $10, I'd probably eat there every day. read more

Love love love that they do gluten free buns so I can eat with everyone else (and not have to special order)! They are always delicious and fast. It's quickly becoming our go-to on cooking free nights. read more

With all the great yelp reviews, we were so excited to try Monti's. The employees were super friendly, the ambiance was just right, the food sounded delicious...Everything was perfect until we got our food. It was just ok. The Philly Cheesesteak was lacking in flavor. The cold cuts on the Italian were sliced too thick for an authentic italian sandwich. The fries were nothing special. I wanted to make this a regular stop, but I don't think I'll be back again. read more

Prologue: Restaurants are a bit like porn stars: some just aren't even trying, just taking a pounding with dead eyes. Others are into it, acting like they're really getting off on it, but they can't shake that thousand-yard stare. The very best are those that really try, try so hard it seems effortless. They make you believe they don't just like the sex, they need it, and you should feel privileged just to be watching on your smartphone on the red line at rush hour. One hand on the phone and one hand... steadying yourself on the handrail of course. Don't wanna accidentally lean against that homeless guy do ya? Gross! But enough about me, my point is that Monti's is that last type - they care about quality and doing things right. And not in a prepackaged, TGIFridays bullcrap way where some smiling server brings you frozen food whilst dying a little inside with each faked bit of sincerity. No, they do things right: fresh ingredients, craft beer selection from real beer geeks, not poseurs, and that small-business working-class sensibility that should warm the cockles of even the most jaded diner's heart. But is this the prologue or the posy of a ring? Yeah, I know, tis brief. As woman's love. What was I saying? Oh yeah, been there thrice, real good food every time. First time I had a standard cheesesteak with sharp cheddar sauce. Not some rubbish yellow plastic cheese sauce either, this was real cheese. Quality. Second time around I felt brave and tried the Rocky. The warning about it packing. a punch was on the money. Damn tasty, but Balboa did knock me in the mouth, spicy style. Third time I had the South Side Johnny, slathered with buttery mushrooms - yum! Also of note is their devotion to fresh, homemade soups. Those I've tried include a tortilla soup with hunks of carnitas-esque pork, a corn chowder, and avgolemono, greek egg lemon soup. Good stuff. Also dig the celery salt fries. Epilogue: So is it good? Positively pornographic. Food porn, the purest form know to man (besides tentacle, of course). Like the rest of the real pros out there, they do it for love of the craft, and they do it right. read more

Simply amazing. Cheese steaks are top notch, and the beer selection is really good. I will definitely be back!!!!

Great spot with cool music and a good atmosphere that serves up delicious cheesesteaks. What more could you ask for?

Went to Monti's with a group. This was my first time there. They are known for their philly cheese steak sandwiches, so of course I ordered the calamari. It was good. Not over cooked, not chewy, and a fair amount. I would have preferred that the lemon was not deep fried so I could squeeze some on the food. They have a decent bottled beer selection, but I was disappointed about them only having on bet on tap. It is my usual practice to see what's on tap before I order, but at first I did not see any, but was told they had one beer and it was a pale ale. Not a fan. Overall I had a good experience and I am going to visit them again. read more

UPDATE: The response from the business owner is exactly the reason I will never return to Monti's. The employee never once said there was a bad connection when I called to place my order. My money will happily be spent on other local businesses who value their customers. Just a tip: when a customer has an extremely negative experience in your establishment, it's probably better to try to rectify the situation than to further alienate them. Cheers! read more

Let's cut to the cheese. You could do worse, you could do better but overall, "yay! I'm a fan." I stumbled in here one night after some hardware store shopping. i felt so blessed to have such a place in the area. Really the meat is solid, fries fresh and beer cold. The trifecta of what i'm looking for in a joint. read more

This place is awesome! Food here just hits the spot! We did the cheesesteak sampler and it was too yummy. The cheesesteak original was good , the niko was alright but what blew my mind was the rocky! The fries here are very tasty, the perfect texture and flavor. Also, my server was an angel! Took great care of us and gave me Tylenol for my headache, talk about consideration and going above and beyond for a customer, this place gets 5 stars because they certainly deserve it!!! read more

I decided to try Monti's after someone referred me to it and I was not disappointed. Their wings are phenomenal! The place is cozy and the staff is very friendly. I will definitely be back again and again! read more

I love everything on the menu. The homemade soup and wings are really tasty and the Rocky is super spicy and delicious. They even make their own ranch dressing which is really good. Great beer selection, too. And it's walking distance. A little pricey but definitely worth it! read more

Best philly sandwich, deserves the high ratings,had the Rocky sandwich, bread was hot and crispy, sandwich moist with cheese, a little heat added to the enjoyment. read more

Finally got around to checking out Monti's yesterday... Read about the opening on Urban Daddy and was immediately pumped about perfect hangover food within walking distance from Albany Park - YES!! After my experience there yesterday, they are so much more than that! Went around 7 p.m. on a Wednesday and had my choice of table... glad to see the place quickly started filling up a little after 7. The interior is quaint and stylish, just enough seating area. My bf and I tried a new micro-brew on suggestion from our server - loved it. We then started with coconut chicken and split the South Side Johnny. Couldn't have been happier with the food - the chicken app comes with a sweet horseradish marmalade... nearly licked that little sauce bowl dry it was so tasty! The fries that accompany the cheese steaks are perfectly seasoned. The 8" cheese steak along with a starter app was the perfect size meal split for 2. I can't wait to come back and experiment more with the menu... but honestly the best part about this place seems to be the service! Our server was so friendly & attentive, he stopped by several times to ask how our food was and if we were happy with everything; and the owners were walking around, seating people and checking on tables just as much! The chef & owner James made sure to stop by our table and confirm that everything was just right :) You can't get better service than this... especially in this neighborhood. Granted the place was not packed, but the service was top notch nonetheless. As business grows, Monti's will thrive as long as they keep the warm, inviting & friendly service the same. I did ask about drink specials since it was a Wednesday - but our server advised that they're not offering specials just yet since the place just opened in March - totally understandable. I'm really hoping this place attracts enough foot traffic to remain a permanent neighborhood bar! For Albany Parkers, Lincoln Square bars are walkable... but Monti's is even closer and away from that crazy intersection. I did make a suggestion to our server that with time they should work on offering a Sunday brunch w/Bloody Marys... if that happened I might consider moving across the street :) read more

Philly Cheesesteak sandwich is one of America's classics, and this is as good as I remember them being on South Street. Excellent food, just don't know how I'm going to explore the menu because the sandwich is too good to pass up! The atmosphere is very nice, kid-friendly and always such a good thing when the owners take time to talk to you. East walk from the Rockwell Brown line station, and just across the street from Harvest Time Foods. read more

Montis is legit, not just a bar but has amazing food. The cheese steaks are phenomenal, juicy steak, amazing bread, so flavorful. My wife and I prefer it with provolone than cheddar. The wings are amazing as well, we had the spicy one with hot peppers. Those peppers are killer in taste and heat! Perfectly crispy wings. Love it all. Do yourself a favor and try this joint! I'm coming back! read more

As a Philly cheese steak enthusiast I have searched Chicago far and wide. This is hands-down the best cheese steak in Chicago.

Best cheesesteak (period). I have had many (probably too many) a cheesesteak in philly. This one beats them all. I got the cheese wit cheddar sauce- I can't imagine getting it with any other cheese!- topped with jalapenos. Spicy awesomeness. read more