Mr. Beef and Pizza

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

Welcome back folks. A new month means a new beef shack to be scored. So today we head west over towards Harlem and Irving to check out one of the favorite spots for locals from around this way to eat in this neck of the woods. Mr. Beef & Pizza is on no ways affiliated with the Mr. Beef that every foodie visiting Chicago feels the need to visit. I'm not sure if there was ever a history but I am sure they have no relationship to one another these days. Also no relationship that I know of between this Mr. Beef and the one in Mt. Prospect.


Locals favorite since 1979 located on Harlem near Irving Park

I dont get here all that often but decided it had been too long at some point last winter so I headed on over to see what was up. They get some love from posters over at LTHforum who's beef tastes I trust and they were right. This is a good version of a Chicago classic. It's got a little more of a spice kick to it from the gravy more so than the peppers and they dont skimp on the beef. Bread is fresh and the peppers are good too. This is a good sandwich and one for a beef lover to seek out whenever in the area. See ya next time @chibbqking.


Beef with hot from Mr. Beef and Pizza on Harlem

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 4
bread: 4
gravy: 4
hot peppers: 4

Score: 16/20

Mr. Beef and Pizza
3719 N. Harlem ave
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 283-7444
Website

The Patio

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

The Patio is a Taylor Street institution. Located on the 1500 bock of the old Italian neighborhood near where many UIC students and newer trendy restaurants thrive today. Back in the day it was different, The Patio has been around since 1948 and remains strong with a new generation of customers today. Italian beef is their specialty but they are a complete Chicago style fast food locally owned place.


An old locals favorite on Taylor Street

Al's Original is the place that gets most of the love from both locals and tourists alike but dont discount The Patio's longtime recipe they use to make their own good version of a beef sandwich. The bread is always and the beef is sliced thin and they pile it on to the point where its just right. Anymore and it would be too much. The peppers while not my favorite are a unique blend but seem to be more like a diced relish recipe. Not to say that's bad, the mix is just very finely diced. All in all a very good sandwich and one I need to get back for another of soon. It's been a minute and I have no excused as for why.


Beef with Hot from The Patio

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 4
bread: 4
gravy: 4
hot peppers: 4

Score: 16/20

The Patio
1503 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 829-0454

Connie's Beef

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

Welcome back as we try to keep it going and remember to get the 'beef with hot' scores rolling. Today we head to Elmwood Park which is the home to one of the heavyweights in the beef game. Back in the day in Chicago there was an old beef place called Connie's Beef located at North and Narragansett. A couple years back Connie's decided to reopen in Elmwood Park on Grand avenue at 75th street. The current owners family took over the old Connie's in the 70's and then it shut down for a while and now it's back located in an old fast food building. I stopped in, oh maybe a year or so back and was happy with what I got.


Grand avenue in Elmwood Park

So they say these are all the original recipes from the original Connie's which was loved by many back in it's days at North and Narragansett. I thought the beef was the best part to this sandwich and that's a good thing. Mine was very tender and the type that doesn't fight back when you take a bite out of it. The gravy was above average but the peppers didn't quite do it. On top of the fact there barely was any it seemed to be just sliced jalapenos with red pepper flakes mixed in. Maybe there was more to it and I just got a little tablespoon full with certain ingredients missing. What sucked about there being a small amount of peppers was the fact they don't skimp on the beef. Many don't like the King of Beef's in Elmwood Park because of that. Overall I liked Connie's and am glad to have them back as purveyors of homemade Italian beef in Chicagoland. A nice option to have as your local beefing hole.


Beef with Hot from Connie's Beef

Rating Scale 5/5

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

Score: 15/20

Connie's Beef
7501 West Grand Avenue
Elmwood Park, IL 60707
(708) 452-6500

Marnell Drive In

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

I saw the old school neon sign below while driving south down Halsted one day and I was very tempted so pulled in the lot and pulled out my iPhone. I looked the place up on google just to get a feel for it and I found it mentioned in an old Tribune Article (you have to be a member to read all of it) from 1993 where Pat Bruno reviews his favorite stands for Italian sausage. I decided I would stop in and see where they were at today.


Halsted avenue in Chicago Heights

I didn't like the fact it was listed as Marnell Pita Drive In online or that when I went in, there was alot of Mexican food offerings on the menu. However I did like the fact they had on old school chimney where the smoke from the charcoal grill would go similar to that which they have at Enzo's also in Da Heights.

Notice the chimney...

Well I don't know why, but I ordered just a beef with hot as opposed to a combo or just their sausage. I wanted to see how it compared to the rest and score it I guess. The old school Drive In sign and fact they have the charcoal grill inside with the chimney to be seen outside are about all that was good on this visit. The beef was awful (I didn't eat but a bite) and for some reason, just like at Enzo's, when you ask for a "beef with hot" they give you sport peppers as opposed to the real stuff. Old timers from around this way wouldn't be happy. I'm not sure but I assume due to the lettering on the drive in sign, that they still make their sausage. So if theres ever a next time I'd try that. Maybe it's just past its prime. Too bad.


Beef with Hot from Marnell Drive In

Rating Scale 5/5

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

Score: 9/20

Marnell Drive In
849 S. Halsted St
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 754-1164

Bob O's

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

Hello folks, I know I'm sounding like a broken record but my apologies on the updates. I have many 'beef with hots' to score on the board here and share for all to see but I've just been busy. Well anywoo we stay in the city today and head to the Northwest Side to check out a place at the western edge of Irving Park road within Chicago city limits. It's called Bob O's Hot Dogs and as you can guess they're famous for their dogs but later on became well known for their beef. I suspect many people that have never been nor heard of Bob O's just did so recently when it was featured, for their beef, on the Hungry Hound segment on ABC7 News.


a longtime favorite on Irving Park Road

I had heard of Bob O's but never been until it came rec'd by a fellow beef eater. One whom I know has got love for beef, he cant ever stay away, always getting into it etc... the true beefers know how it goes. When I had heard how Bob O's makes their own I knew I would have to go and was glad when I did. They decided to start pushing homemade beef after perfecting their recipe of boneless roasts which are doused in dried onion and garlic and roasted until ready and then kept overnight and sliced the next morning. I thought the homemade taste was very recognizable and made the beef taste great. Nearby neighbors are lucky to have a top beef option around them. Read more about Bob O's HERE.


Beef with hot from Bob O's

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 4
bread: 4
gravy: 4
hot peppers: 4

Score: 16/20

Bob O's Hot Dogs
8258 W. Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 625-9840

The Original Nana's

--Got Beef? Italian Beef
a chibbqking production

We're back and today we got a cross post from @chibbqking. Do you ever have those days when you just want both a Italian beef and a dog? But not just any old of each? Legit representations! Well if you do I got the spot for you as today we head to the Northwest suburbs. You can ride all the way along Irving Park Road which is quite the ride for finding many different offerings of ethnic cuisine as you cruise it for miles on end from the lake all the way west past O'Hare. Once you get to the village of Streamwood you'll come across a spot which I consider to be the best place to get a good juicy beef and hot dog together.


a longtime locals favorite in Streamwood, IL

I randomly found Nana's one day a few years back when taking a summer roll down Irving Park Road. As I can remember it's colorful sign letting you know they do Italian beef and sausage as well as Vienna Beef Hot Dogs along with a packed parking lot had me inside in no time. They've been around Streamwood since it was a sleepy little community back in 1973. It says alot that there still there today because plenty of eating options exist today but Nana's remains King. Originally owned by the daughter of Gene (from Gene & Jude's) and now Mike DiSilvestro. They perfected the art of the Chicago style depression dog aka the Minimalist dog with fresh cut fries. More on the story of Nana's and their hot dogs HERE.

The Original Nana's famous Hot Dog with fresh cut fries

Over here at 'Beef With Hot' our focus is on the Italian beef so today we focus on Nana's offering of this signature Chicago sandwich. They make their beef in house and it's the best part to the sandwich I would say. It's sliced thin and comes in the perfect consistency as far as tenderness and the gravy is full of flavor too with high amounts of seasoning inside. You have the option for a mini beef in case you want to have one of their famous hot dogs too and the bread does not suffer from being served on a mini roll. This is one of the better beefs I've had and the same can be said for their hot dogs which are great as well. Thus making Nana's the best place to get both. Check it out.


The Original Nana's beef with hot

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 4
bread: 4
gravy: 4
hot peppers: 4

Score: 16/20

The Original Nana's
1102 East Irving Park Road
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 289-2226
Website