So, I had seen the signs and read online that a place had opened up over by the movie theater that was supposed to have Chicago food. I read online that someone said their roast beef s's.andwiches were like Portillo's. We have been big fans of Portillo's ever since Jacob moved to Chicago.
Jacob was in town for a day and a half, so we decided to try them for supper.
First let me tell you that we'd been in this space before when it was His and Hers BBQ. It looks VERY different now. The space has weird furniture. It is like they are trying to make a living room. There is a music listening area. There is a sitting in couches area. There are about 5 or 6 tables that have chairs and benches. Part of it has the feeling of a lounge where you would drink bourbon and smoke cigars. It doesn't feel like a place you would eat Chicago beef sandwiches or hot dogs and maybe have a beer.
They said the menu wasn't fully operational, so we had to order from a limited menu. Mike ordered a Chicago beef sandwich. I ordered a Italian sausage sandwich and Jake ordered a meatball sub. They have SKI brand pop. The pop comes with the sandwich. They write your order on a brown paper bag and then take it back to the kitchen. Jake says they do this at Portillos. I don't see the point. They don't use the bag...they take it to the kitchen and then throw it away!! Weird.
When we arrived the owner/chef was sitting in the front room. He went back, cooked our sandwiches and then came out and chatted with the woman at the front counter. After we had eaten most of our meals he started talking to us. He wants to add a full liquor license and have a back 1/4 of the room have a few tables and have a "speakeasy" feel. He said he lived in Chicago but is here now because he got a divorce and his ex-wife and kids are here, so he is here. He plans to add deep dish pizza to the menu.
This place has a serious identity crisis. The owner doesn't really know what he wants it to be...bourbon bar, speakeasy, sandwich restaurant??
The food was OK. My Italian sausage was good but the peppers that were grilled with it were flavorless. I had giardiniera added and that was good and spicy. The bun it was on was a little hard but got way too soggy way to fast.
Mike said his beef sandwich was fine but he thinks the beef came from pre sliced, frozen slices and they just grilled them up...like the old "steak-ums." He wasn't impressed.
Jake actually said his meatball sub was good enough he'd go back. He said the meatballs were huge and had good flavor.
This place was just too weird and I predict it closes in a few months.
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