Hay George!

[Mik]

We now have a Giordano's pretty close - half hour away. Maybe I can get a respectable Italian beef.

[George K]

Funny you should mention...

Never had Giordano's beef, but I imagine it's pretty good. I like their pizza, even though Mrs. George can't abide "deep dish" or "stuffed" pizzas.

But, I digress...

We had Buona Beef for dinner tonight. Got the family pack which will make 5 sammiches with the best potato salad I've ever had.

We both like it better than Portillo's, and that's saying something.

Sadly (for you), they're only in the Chicago area.

[Mik]

Better than Portillo’s is a pretty high compliment.

[George K]

@Mik said in Hay George!:

Better than Portillo’s is a pretty high compliment.

Yup. There are SO many good places for Italian beef in Chicago. Portillo's, of course, is the standard that everyone knows. However, amongst the Chicago crowd, many compete for being as good.

1. Buona Beef (which I mentioned)
2. Carms - only about 5 locations

and one that EVERYONE agrees is the best Italian beef in Chicago...

3. Johnnie's in Elmwood Park. It's a real hole-in-the wall type of place. In the summertime, there will be a line going around the block to get a beef at Johnnies. I've had it once. Outstanding, and, yeah, better than Portillos.

However, don't expect to eat indoors (there's no indoor seating, and outdoor seating is sparse.

However, it's a 20 minute drive for me, and it's marginally better than Buona. Yelp rates it #2 in Chicago, behind Portillo's.

The thing about Portillos is that, like McDonalds, it's consistent as hell. Order a beef from Portillo's and you know exactly how hit will taste, regardless of the restaurant.

[Mik]

That’s very true.

[LuFins Dad]

Where at? It would be nice to have a place that I insist we eat at when traveling to Cincinnati.

[Mik]

This is up southeast of Dayton in Beavercreek.