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We have recently began work on a new website thaqt will be online by the middle of October that will consist of top ten lists from chicago food and drink. I can promise anyone who reads it will agree that its the most unique food/bar site out there. We will have top 10 lists from everything from italian beef( the big one) to sandwich's(beef gets its own catergory) to mexican to bar food and pretty much anything you can think of. I promise the site wont dissapoint. Reason I am announcing this is we are ready to start taking suggestions and hear the voice of chicago on whree theire favorite eats are. Please note this isnt like metromix or anything else out there. We not going to be doing the places everyones knows about or to fancy, itll be a site where you can look at it and if thre spot you like is open you can get in your car and drive to it. So leeme hear your voices and any suggestions you all may have. Thanks. The Top Ten Men. email:jimpop3r@aol.com, barz420@hotmail.com

How often do you envisage these 'top ten lists' being revised?

This sounds... how shall I say... rather shallow, even juvenile. Of course, that might ensure success.

The current obsession with lists in this country says volumes about the reasoning power and attention span of the general populace.

... 'the most unique'... quite...

Bonne chance...

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Alle Nerven exzitiert von dem gewürzten Wein -- Anwandlung von Todesahndungen -- Doppeltgänger --
- aus dem Tagebuch E.T.A. Hoffmanns, 6. Januar 1804.
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Na sir is na seachain an cath.

One of the weekly publications I work for has their "Lists Issue" this week, and they mock a good portion of lists made, giving credence to your statement.

Are you going to have a list of top ten spelling and grammar errors in online posts, because I think your post hit most of them

While I understand that there might be limited enthusiasm for toptenmen's project, I don't think it warrants quite the rude reception here.

When people see new posters so readily bashed for their spelling and copy editing, it doesn't speak so well of our community.

Let's keep it friendly, here, folks.

Thanks,

Aaron

As mentioned before on this site, there is a new Chi-Town Top Ten food/bar's website in the works, done by foodies for everyone to enjoy. This site promises to be very unique in that every place ranked is done so for a specific thing. Example being if Candlelite pizza was on the Top Ten pizza list it would be for "best thin-crust", or if Borrinquen was on "Top Ten sandwich's" it would be the steak jibarto. I cant give you all the info but the site promises to create some buzz. Once enough people have put in their favorites to the database, the list will be changing based on peoples votes. This isnt an official listing or anything but ive been every where up and down in the state always in search of a good beef and this is my list, 15 years in the making.

1.) Jay's Beef and Sausage-Best overall. 10 outta 10. Always amazing.
9732 Irving Park Rd
Schiller Park, IL 60176-1939

2.) Johnnies Beef-Best place to eat one, great deal and 10 outta 10.
7500 West North Avenue
Elmwood Park, Illinois 60635

3.) Pop's Italian Beef-The best hot peppers I can find, 10 outta 10.
10337 S Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL

4.) Mr. Beef-This legendary spot is best for visitors and tourists, close to the loop.
666 N Orleans St
Chicago, IL

5.) Patio Hot Dog's-at just under $3.25 a sandwich this place cant be beat for value, stuffed to the brim.
1503 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60607

6.) Carm's Beef and Snack shop-doing it right since the 50's.
1057 W Polk St
Chicago, IL 60607

7.) Max's Italian Beef-pretty much reliable all the time.
5754 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60659

8.) Ricobene's-They're sicilian beef is different and very good.
252 W. 26th st.
Chicago IL.

9.) Murphy's
1211 W Belmont Ave
Chicago IL

10.) Capt'N Nemo's Sub's and Soup's-The most unique, homemade and very good.
3650 N Ashland Ave
Chicago IL.

Do you have a grammar checker on your computer? You're undermining any credibility you might otherwise have.

(probably reacting as much to the initial post as to this one ... trying to be helpful to this guy)

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Chicago Craft Beer Week!

Can't we all just be friends?

However, I am left wondering where your data comes from. Maybe you should join us on Saturday for the next episode of the BEEFATHON. I would have no problem saying that a few of your entries, based on our findings might belong on the 10 most awful beef sandwiches in Chicago.

Flip

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"Beer is proof God loves us, and wants us to be Happy"
-Ben Franklin-

Just a half suggestion/half request... If you look around this site, you'll see that folks here typically offer up a little detail about why they like places. "Always amazing" doesn't really help to tell readers why they're always amazing, for instance -- your "amazing" may be someone else's "had to gag it down." "Doing it right since the '50s" -- what is this "it" they're doing right? What does "pretty much reliable all the time" mean, and is it just on the good side of mediocre, which that implies, or does anything stand out?

Give us a feel for the tastes and textures. Sound-bite sentence fragments are better suited for the ad department than for a Web site where you can say as much as a subject deserves without any extra cost.

For the best beef I'd put them in this order:

1)Johnnie's - North Avenue - Chicago, IL

2)Mr. Beef - Orleans - Chicago, IL

3)Al's beef - Chicago, IL

Jay's makes a pretty good beef, I must say.

as far as that request yes I understand what you are saying but im not the writer for it, im just saying what MY favorite spots are, theyll get into all that good stuff on the site. As for the grammer, post something about beef or food and dont worry about my grammer. As far as beefathon goes ive seen the places that you all have gone and ive been to all of them. Im born and raised here in chicago, where are you goin this weekend? Ill be in madison anyway for the football game, but odds are that I have been to the spots your going. Which ones dont you like ? Tell me and ill tell you why your wrong.

can go off sorry I went back it isnt good anymore. I really like rose angelis on the south side but I couldnt find the address btw thats my list who knows what the site will say, but I tak emax's back and its not the same it was the only one I hadnt been to in the last 6 months

I'm sorry--leave well enough alone--yea, I know. But seriously...

wtf?

What the heck are you talking about?

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

I could waste my time writing a nasty response to this, but I don't do that for egomaniacs.

Instead I'd like to let you know about the search function on this message board. First you enter a keyword. In this instance you might want to try 'beefathon'. Then, through the miracle of the internet, you will be presented with links to follow for your answer.

Have a nice day!

Flip

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"Beer is proof God loves us, and wants us to be Happy"
-Ben Franklin-

When anybody who's been to Johnnie's tells me that there's a better Italian beef sandwich elsewhere, I have to run out and give it a shot. Last week, I had 5 co-workers join me in my quest to Jay's Beef.

Overall, I thought Jay's was ok -- much better than the terrible beef they serve at the Al's on Higgins (near Cumberland) but nowhere near the quality served at Johnnie's and also not nearly as good as the beef served at Bob-O's (on Irving Park a couple of miles east of Jay's). The sandwich was too wet, although that is correctible on a second visit by ordering the sandwich dry. The texture of the beef was good and the flavor was decent, but not great. Four of my five co-workers agreed that Johnnie's and Bob-O's were superior (the 5th had a Polish). I actually think that the sandwich at Max's is better than Jay's (I haven't tried all of the other beefs listed).

I don't know if Jay's cooks their own beef from scratch, but I think that's one of the things that sets Johnnie's apart -- they season and cook their roast from scratch.

A quick search of the archivescould have saved you the trip, but I'm glad you posted because I have never had a beef from Bob-O's. I'll be remedying that in the near future.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Be forewarned though: I like Bob-O's, but it is not nearly as good as Johnnie's. But one other thing that they do is offer a "cheesy" beef -- I know it's not the real Italian beef when you put cheese on it, but Bob-O's does it very well (I'm sure that if Johnnie found out that I had put cheese on an Italian beef sandwich I would be banned for life).

But Bob-O's regular beef is very good too, and they make a good Polish and a good chicken teriyaki sandwich. Stay far away from their onion rings, but their basket of fries is very good when not overly greasy (which is at least half of the time).

Bob-O's does indeed make a good beef (they cook their own) as well as a great burger (double cheese with lettuce, onions mustard and sweet relish for me). It's been a long time since I've had bad luck with Bob-O's fries. But, I usually hit it during the lunch rush.

Nice folks. Good food. Cheap prices.

FWIW, I had cheese on my Jay's beef on Thursday.

Will,

Is Bob-O's the place where you buy the hamburger then bring it to your office while the flavors meld? I recall you thought it was a better burger for the wait instead of eating promptly.

Regards,

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

I prefer the de-skinned potatoes, twice fried, but I must say that for the fresh cut, single fried variety, Bob-O's is usually very good. And they give you a big basket (or a smaller portion free with your dog).

I agree that Bob-O's makes a good burger -- but not Paradise Pup GOOD.

Bob-O's teriyaki chicken is very tasty too, but again Paradise Pup beats them. It's funny that everyone runs to the Pup for their burger (which is great) because I think the Pup's teriyaki chicken sandwich is fantastic.

Perhaps the best thing about Bob-O's though is the wait -- usually 5 or so minutes, as opposed to the often 20 minute wait at the Pup. And if you want a beef and don't want to drive to Johnnie's, then Bob-O's is the way to go -- Paradise Pup does not make a very good beef sandwich.

Yes, indeedy. Bob-O's burger definitely benefits from a 5-10 minute car ride.

from Antonious..

With that said, I have to say...

There is a supurb book that I am sure many here are familiar with: "Gerry Frank's Where to find it, buy it , eat it in New York" I keep it on a shelf with my Chicao Phone Books...why? It is used more than my darn phone books...Mr, Frank has a genuine, personal, intimate way with tastes, words and food...I live in CHicago, but visit NY often and find these list obsessions very helpful, I am often very pleased to meet someone who has done all the grunge work, all the research, all the exploring, thus, we all can reap the benefits...

Regarding reasoning power, I think anyone who has got the intelligence and passion to even find this forum has mucho reasoning power...

Check out Mr. Franks' Exclusive list...Hundreds of the best taste treats and who serves them ie..Babka, Goulash, Profiterolesl..match these taste treats with their correct purveyor...Chez Ma Tanta, Mocca, Gertel's Bakery Shop...


I love lists, they are fun and informative...After a long day with 27 Kindergarten children I welcome the repose of lingering languidly over a list.


Need any help with the glorious list?

As someone who has recently found this interesting site, I find it disturbing that people respond to "pile on" other posters without realizing how callous they come across (or maybe they do realize..).

I thought this was a forum where interests could be shared and opinions could be respected, but it has simply spiraled into a gigantic Ebert and Roeper, thumbs down-thumbs up ego fest.

It's a shame how poisonous comments spread through such a harmless forum so quickly.

Thanks to Bob S. and others for taking the high road on this one. Theirs are the comments (posts) I like to read.

Waiting for substance,

mattlazz

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"Cooking is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements."
-Marcel Boulestin

I think you will see as you look around that LTH has a wealth of information freely shared by all, generally in a good natured manner (although many of us get passionate about certain subjects). This particular thread was an abnormality, spurred on by a poster who just didn't get it.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Mattlazz, read this. Not that we entirely disagree with you, as you'll see.

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Watch Sky Full of Bacon, the Chicago food HD podcast!
New episode: Soil, Corn, Cows and Cheese
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Thanks Mike G et al, I appreciate the work you and the other people do here.

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"Cooking is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements."
-Marcel Boulestin

I did not mean to sound callous mattlazz...I find the idea of a top ten lists very interesting, and as an editor and food lover I only suggested that I would enjoy helping out..siting Gerry Frank's book was only a suggestion as to how another has approached the project of compiling lists...