Jack & Lou's

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

Hello again loyal readers. My apologies for not getting a beef with hot to you last month. I was busy enough trying to keep S'C'&C running smoothly that I forgot all about BWH. I have a few places waiting to be posted and I'll start with one of them today. I first found Jack and Lou's in Melrose Park while cruising down Manheim Road a year or so back. Since I have been to or know of pretty much every worthwhile beef joint in Chicagoland this came as a surprise to find a spot I had never been to or even heard of, and it looked legit. So I pulled a U-Turn and made my way into the parking lot and went on in for a beef with hot. The place is straight out of the 70's with it's sign and looks outside as well as the feel of the place inside.


a locals favorite in Melrose Park, IL

When I walked in I was greeted by a couple of dudes working the counter and they said what up and asked what I was going to be having today. So I ordered my usual order at Italian beef shacks, a beef with hot and browsed the rest of the menu. They had the usual suspects including what looked to be a damn good meatball sandwich being ate by the guy in the large room next door to the ordering area. It took me to another time as the wide open area was filled with small tables with a few chairs around them each and a couple dancing poles for what I imagine were entertainment purposes only. Oh, the stories this room could tell. I had some high hopes for da beef but in the end it was an average sandwich. Most certainly not bad but I was thinking this could be the last gem of beefs that I had uncovered. If the beef itself was a little more tender and didn't resist when pulled apart the sandwich would of been great. So it's possible I caught them on an off day or maybe got the last of a roast that was cooked a few days before. I've had worse but there are also better. I'll give them another try and look forward to testing some of their other offerings that looked good on my first visit.


Beef with hot from Jack & Lou's

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 2
bread: 4
gravy: 3
hot peppers: 3

Score: 12/20

Jack & Lou's
2001 North Mannheim Rd
Melrose Park, IL 60160
(847) 451-0074