Old world quality and hospitality. One of only 2 places in Chicago that knows how to make a hot dog. They actually steam the bun. One of the two best places I've ever found for Italian beef. They ask if you want the Italian beef dipped or not and if you want ketchup on your fries. They are always polite and fast. And the place is always spotless. They have been feeding me for 50 years. read more

Get it dipped. Came here looking for a quick bite before a concert. And it was quick. Got my roast beef sandwich in about 10 seconds. Beef, peppers, bread all dipped in a spicy aus jus. I ate it standing at the counter. I was done with it in about 5 minutes. Next time I'm in the area for a concert I'll be stopping back by. read more

Patio - a half eaten sandwich in a wrapper - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been a customer for easily 60 years, it's almost always a stop when I get home. Not the friendliest bunch but the product is always consistent and on point. Last time I tried to stop by it was closed, hopefully it's open again. read more

There is only one of a few places left for combos, polish, hot dogs, and fries. You don't get nothing for nothing, and you get nothing but the best for the best here. None of the make believe signs "Maxwell Street Polish", or "Chicago Style Hot Dogs" you see at contemporary fast foods. You can return after a long time and they cannot be expected to remember you. They still treat you the same as every other regular customer and feeling home at last is always there like the homemade Italian beef sauce. The Patio is Chicago where I always take visitors from far away. Just thinking about the Patio brings the memory of the taste of their sandwiches to my mouth. Joe Zamora read more

This is a no nonsense Chicago spot. The signage was probably put up when my grandpa was a kid walking down Taylor street flipping a quarter. Anyway, the combo sandwich was excellent. I've been eating a lot of mediocre beef sandwiches lately and this place is worth checking out because their sandwich was outstanding read more

Patio - Italian combo sandwich with sweet and hot peppers - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been going here since I was a kid (over 40 plus years). One of the best Italian beefs in the city hands down!! Sad they are closed. Hope they come back soon! read more

One of the very best Italian Beef sandwiches in Chicago. Seasoned perfectly. Sweet and hot peppers and give it a bath. Taylor Street. Friendly staff. Quick service. read more

Best Italian beef ever.been coming here for over 40 years it always yummy the hot dogs and fries are super good. Best peppers

This Italian beef sandwich is a hidden gem! Juicy tasty, wonderful, sweet peppers. I drive across town to have a beef sandwich here !

When I tell you that Al's beef has nothing on Patio I mean it. I've been pregnant 5 times and delivered at UIC. This was my push present. Every doctor's visit I would have a Patio beef. When my mom was alive we would stop by Patio on our way home. My mom would get the beef and sausage combo dipped sweet and hot, me the Italian beef extremely well dipped extra hot pepper w/oil and damn good sweet peppers. I swear I could just eat the sweet peppers by themselves. This place is so underrated. Not enough customers coming in. The prices are perfect almost $5 less than Al's beef. So, please stop by and order my momma's version (I call it the Freddie Mae) or mine (the Kelly). I promise no lies being told. 28 yrs and counting. FYI the parking sucks so, park in front and run your ass in really quickly. Service is fast so, no wait. Last but not least the people working there are friendly and kind. read more

Good beef sandwich also good polish and hotdog Not the friendliest service but food is decent and prices are reasonable read more

In my opinion this place is the goto place for an Italian beef or combo sandwich in Chicago proper. Once more their hot dogs fries are great as well. Very reasonably priced and quick service. They have been here for decades and deservedly so. Atmosphere: Small takeout spot but you can eat at the counter if you want.Not much to look at but a jukebox that I always wonder if it still works. Service: Quick and friendly. Love the folks here. Alway no-nonsense but very nice. Food: Top notch for a Beef / Hot Dog place. Way better than Al's beef...way way way better. Been to just about all the beef places in and around Chicago and this is in the top 3 or 4. Get a beef or combo and get it dipped. Messy but you will not be disappointed. read more

Patio does have one of the best beefs out there. Their beef was seasoned properly, the bread did hold up and didn't break despite it being dipped. But most importantly, their giardiniera was on point. It was more finely chopped than most other locations and had just the right amount of spice. Wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to get this beef but I would come again. It is also cash only. Only odd thing was their fries. They weren't the greatest and they ask you if you want ketchup. If you do want ketchup they'll put it on themselves. Have never seen that before. read more

Patio - Beef. Dipped. Hot. - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the Patio. Been coming here all my life! Hot dogs are all beef, fries are yummy! The Italian beef and sausage are the bomb. There's polishes and pizza puffs and chili too. Everything good! Service is excellent! I also cater for my family parties and it's always so good! You can't go wrong trying this place! Once you do you will surely return! read more

Man oh man. Perfectly dressed polish chicago style(relish, mustard, sports & diced onions), wrapped in a sack-o-fries. Perfectly plump and snapped to bite into it. Yummy greazy fries. Cheap cheap cheap. Exactly what I wanted when a coworkers said "Anyone want a polish?" today. For lunch tomorrow, maybe we'll have polish maxwell style! read more

Best sausage, great , fresh hotdogs and a pretty good chilly dog. Can't beat the beef sandwich either. Friendly staff and they keep this gem very clean. read more

Ive been coming here for 18 years and the place is still my favorite for a quick hotdog and fry! I love the patio! Super cheap , and great for a quick bite. read more

Patio - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I grew up going to this place so I can say I've been visiting for 3 decades! The women who work here are sweet and have been working here for a long time some of which are daughters of these women. The beef (combo) and hot dogs are the bomb. I love the aspect of having ketchup on your fries when you get a hot dog. The fries are always crispy so when the ketchup goes on those fries it's a nice balance of ketchup/crispy and salt steamed in that wax paper with your dog. NOTE! CASH ONLY!! Also you'll have to repeat your order so be patient! Bonus for the old school jukebox in there. This place is a Taylor Street classic!! read more

Good food reasonable prices workers there are friendly and joke around with the customers. Get the potato sandwich dipped with hot peppers it's the best. read more

First thing everyone should know- if you are purchasing the Italian ice it has to be paid for separately.... they also only accept cash. The menu is very simple.... hot dogs, Italian sausages, tamales, roast beef, fries.... customer service was ok, staff wasn't too friendly but not overly rude either. It's located on a busy street so parking is hard to find. You can call in your order so you can just run in and pick it. I ordered a hotdog with fries, it's was just ok. The prices are cheap so if your looking for a quick cheap bite for lunch then this place may be an option, otherwise I'd say Skip it. read more

I used to live on Taylor street and this was the place where I got my Italian beef sandwiches. I know everybody else liked Al's, but for my family Patio was king. I went there after years and their sandwiches are still delicious. I love my sandwich dipped with hot peppers and a slice of American cheese. Even their gravy bread is delicious. Don't forget the fries with ketchup! They never disappoint. read more

Good food + cheap price= Happy customer Always good customer service. To those who complain, maybe it's YOUR attitude. People give you back what you earn. I've been to Panera and had hair in a cookie. That can happen anywhere, NEVER at this spot tho. read more

Typical Chicago beef stand. Nothing fancy about the inside stools lined up against the wall to eat off of a counter. No booths or tables to sit at. My wife and I both had a beef that was delicious and a nice size for the price. The fries were reheated but still tasted good with a nice crunch. Ladies behind the counter were pleasant and informative. If your a beef person I would said it was a 7 of of 10. Give it a try if your in the neighborhood. read more

Great fast food items at this family owned venue. They serve a great tasting Italian beef and sausage. I have stopped by multiple times when craving a hot, beef, or Italian sausage sandwich. Friendly staff and great service as well. read more

Patio is great bang for your buck. The hotdogs are standard Chicago style and come with fries. You don't need more than $7 at this place but remember it's cash only. A lot of people make their way here for their Italian beef sandwich which I think is good but not great. It tends to taste better with hot peppers than with mild peppers but I don't know if it's the seasoning of the beef or their Au Jus, but it's just not the most delicious delight which it should be. Still pretty good though. Around $6 for a French roll sized sandwich. They have an ATM inside and get this, they have Pizza Puffs! DO go to The Patio. read more

Perhaps it's the low prices of all their menu items (dogs and frieds for $2, a beef for $5). Perhaps it's the tastiness of the food (well made proper Chicago style hot dog, juicy tasty beefs on good buns). Perhaps it's the friendly staff who calls everyone honey while they're ordering. Perhaps it's the old memories of eating here at least once a week as stress relief from medical school studying. I don't know what it is, but this is likely my favorite Italian beef in the city of Chicago. Their fries aren't always perfectly crisp (though often are), the giardinera is not always made quite right (had one bad experience), but the main food has consistently been good and affordable... and even now with a job that pays for more than when I was a student, I cannot help but crave the beef here at Patios. Verdict: Go forth. Pay little. And eat. And tell me if I'm wrong. read more

Three generations of Italians before me agree that this is THE quintessential Chicago Italian beef. No nonsense eatery. I appreciate the candor of the staff. I prefer my sandwich dipped, with sweet & hot peppers (extra hot on the side, please!) followed by a hot dog chaser. Add a jumbo drink and you're still clocking in under $10. read more

Patio - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mmmmm.... The Patio, I grew up on The Patio and recently converted my "west side mild sauce eating" fiancee' to this glory of glories "vienna hot dog-like" restaurant. My personal favorites include italian beef which includes the well done roast beef simmering in delicious flavored seasoned broth I get mine's dipped cuz it's only right with spicy and crunchy giardinera with mozzarella cheese. My hot dog and fries must have ever thing and the buns are soft with poppy seed on it my fries must be salted with tons of ketchup because when I get those fries alone... in my home... well they dont survive... The pizza puffs are rectangular shaped and deep fried to a crisp that leaves it to be ultimately desired. I please go to the patio and love it if not for me... do it for America! read more

The place is probably a neighborhood staple of some sort, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it unless I was broke. I had an Italian beef, dipped and sweet... As far as beefs go, I've had a lot in Chicago that were much better. But the plus side of theirs was the price--$3.75 or so. Other places are up to $6. So it's hard to argue with cheap food being "just OK" ... The fries were very crisp and good; she asked if I wanted ketchup and when I said "yes" she doused them over with ketchup--could've done without that since it was "to go." ... "All of their sandwiches come with fries" ... this isn't true. I think only the hot dogs and polishes may. The beef and combos do not. Then they overcharged me $3 and I had to look at my receipt to realize it and tell them. But all in all, the place is OK I guess. Didn't try the polish or hot dogs, but I can't imagine they're anything too unusual. read more

Working our way thru the Tribune's list of top beef places in Chicago from this summer. Been to 16 of 20 and this is in top 2 for us on the basis of the sandwich. Fries are nothing special except they ask if you ketchup on your fries. Never heard of that and it tends to slow down service got non regulars. Counter personnel are not to be rushed so chill and the beef will be worth the wait. Spouse rates this place 100 times better than the Trib's #1 choice. FYI cash only read more

If there was a medication I could take that would make my body immune to sodium, fat, and cholesterol, I would eat a dipped combo with hot peppers at Patio every day of my life. And maybe throw in a double dog for desert. Even the shrimp basket was good, and its probably the only fast food place in the area that offers it; however, when you're craving deep fried popcorn shrimp I suppose it would be good anywhere. The biggest draw for this place has to be the fact that their prices are extremely reasonable considering just how good their food is, and the preferred alternative to going to Al's and paying extra for peppers. How the hell can someone eat a beef sandwich without peppers... Al's is really screwing us over here people and we should not stand for it. Remember to bring cash though, not taking credit is probably one way they're keeping the prices so decent. Also, does anyone know if that jukebox in there actually works? read more

From Cali and this is the first place my in laws brought us! That's got to stand for something... Right? We ordered the Italian Beef, Chicago Dogs, and Fries. Since we've been to Portillo's before I wrote this review, I will say the Patio has the better Italian beef! The Chicago dog was good and fries were good, but didn't stand out. It's definitely family run and they seemed short at first but once I mentioned being from out of town, they seemed a little more friendly. read more

Best part about this place is that the food is very affordable with a beef sandwich being about 5 dollars and the fries are tasty at 2 dollars a bag. What I did enjoy was that the beef was thinly sliced and had a pleasant texture but the beef gravy/broth it was soaked in just did not have enough flavor. It was missing that richness I've had at other italian beef places. As I chewed my food and swallowed it down, only the taste of the hot and sweet peppers really came through. Fries here come in a bag and if you order them with ketchup, they're fully doused in the condiment so prepare yourself for a messy, but fun meal. Cash only! read more

This is probably the greasiest place i've ever been to! If you're in the mood for grease and bad fast food then this is the place for you... for food that will go right through you this place is pretty good. read more

Patio - Fast Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Italian beef was super delicious at the Italian fest but the next time I came in it sucked. I ended up getting a hair inside my hotdog. Don't plan on coming back. The place smells funky. read more

Old school cafeteria style. No frills but highly recommended by me and all the locals. Same family for 65 years! Clearly family run! Great conversation.... If you are in little Italy in chi town.... And craving Italian beef.... Gotta try it!! read more

Italian beef with hot peppers and mozzarella, dipped real good. Excellent fries. read more

I'd read several reviews rating the Italian beef here pretty highly and happened to be in the neighborhood, so thought I'd try them out. The beef, on a dipped sandwich, was tough but bland - bland just like the sauce/juice. The Italian beef should be flavorful. If this is the "best beef in Chicago," as some reviewers claim, Chicago is in real trouble. I've honestly had better Italian beef at the takeout places at O'Hare. read more

I have been a 30+yrs customer, I Loved this place, but I recently just drove 2 hrs to get their beef and had the WORST experience. They charge forpeppers nowon top of their price hike, the short dark hair lady cant fix it how I like it anymore, the young guy was so rude. I would never give them another dollar nor will a bunch of ppl know. From what I've heard now after my experience is that they been rude like that for some time now. They had a great run with my money but never again. read more

Forget Al's Beef and definitely skip Carm's Beef over on Polk and Carpenter, the Patio is THE spot for Italian Beef!! I've been eating at this place for well over 19 years and they have not failed me yet. I always get my beef dipped well [yes I like soggy bread - thank you] with sweet peppers and hot on the side with an order of fries - no salt, add ketchup. If the owner ever closes this place I think I'm going to have a day of mourning and dress in all black. I can't eat an Italian Beef unless it comes from this place. And as a bonus - you get to hear the ladies behind the counter talk trash!! Love it read more