Breaded Steak sandwich

With the demise of La Milanesa on May st. Is Freddies the reigning king of italian breaded steak sandwhich? For years I thought Freddies was the best until my uncle hiped me to La Mil. I really miss it. I guess I'm hoping that some hardcore Foodie knows somewhere secret. P.S. El Milagro Milenesa taco doesn't count.

I know a buncha ppl that will absolutely swear by Ricobene's. I can't recommend anyplace, however, I've never had one.

[comes out of woodwork for Ricobene's]

I like Ricobene's in all its "breaded carpet square" glory. You just need to go to 26th Street instead of having them at the Taste of Chicago or other locations (food service trucks, etc.) where they're re-warmed for serving. My standard order is a regular - which is already enough food for two hungry people - with light sauce and giardiniera. It's really a good sandwich, and tastes just like the ones my grandma used to make for picnics.

Dixie Kitchen also makes a great off-menu breaded steak sandwich - country fried on the pulled pork bun, add your own vinegar sauce at the table. Not Italian, but delicious.

I guess I should have stated that Ricobene's is not IMO in the ballpark with Freddies or La Mil. Don't want to hurt feelings, but......

I've never liked the heavy handed Italian version of this sandwich (breaded carpet square is a perfect definition for most of them). I am now completely won over by the Mexican influenced version, the Cemita Milanesa (or, even better yet, the Cemita Atomica) at GNR Winner Taqueria Puebla.

Taqueria Puebla
3619 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-772-8435

Longtime lurker, I finally have something to offer to the conversation.
Mangia Fresca 2556 S Archer, recently opened and is reported to have a
former La Milanese cook. I hear the steak sandwiches are spot on.

stevez wrote:I've never liked the heavy handed Italian version of this sandwich (breaded carpet square is a perfect definition for most of them). I am now completely won over by the Mexican influenced version, the Cemita Milanesa (or, even better yet, the Cemita Atomica) at GNR Winner Taqueria Puebla.

Taqueria Puebla
3619 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-772-8435

For the record, the Milanesa is a ham steak, if that makes a difference to the posting member. An article about Cemitas Puebla displayed on the wall indicated the reviewer had eaten a beef milanesa but the cashier (and LTH members) have confirmed that it's not beef.

It is, apparently, delicious.

beauford wrote:Longtime lurker, I finally have something to offer to the conversation.
Mangia Fresca 2556 S Archer, recently opened and is reported to have a
former La Milanese cook. I hear the steak sandwiches are spot on.

Thank you sir! This is exactly the kind of news I was hoping to get.

Glad to assist, please report back.

I haven't had a breaded steak since I tried the "empire" special at Ricobene's and was grossly mislead by what a breaded steak should taste like. Then one day I found this forum and also found la Milansa. I didn't even know it was gone because I'll eat maybe one breaded steak every two years. I'm more of a beef guy than the meatball, breaded steak etc...

I have never had a breaded steak from Uncle Johnny's Grocery but the beef's are above average and they seem to take great pride in their sandwiches. I'd be willing to bet that they do a damn fine breaded steak and I remember reading on here a poster saying they were good or Johnny himself saying they were good.


Johnny's has redecorated both interior and exterior since the LTH beef-a-thon trip


beef with hot from Uncle Johnny

In fact if you drive around that area of Bridgeport there's about three or four family owned deli and sandwich joints that all have breaded steaks on the menu and might be worth a try.

BTW, stay away from the beef at Ricobene's as well...

Uncle Johnny's Grocery
500 W 32nd St
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-6111

Do any of the local Argentine restaurants/groceries offer a Milanesa? In Argentina, it's usually veal (it's a version of Viener Schnitzel - apparently Germany got it from Italy via Vienna, and it came to Argentina with the Italian immigrants to BA.)

IIRC it's not generally a sandwich, but it may be an option for you, Ghazi.

Yes, the Argentine places have Milanesas, particularly Tango Sur.

The schnitzel sandwiches at Resi's are very, very good. And of course there's a tremendous collection of posts regarding the breaded pork sandwiches of the German Midwest over on the beyond Chicago pages.

PS, not just in Argentina, but throughout Latin America, Milanesas are commonplace. Cuban cafes often have Milanesas, and they can be quite good. Rarely does one encounter a Cuban place in FL following the unfortunate Mexican fast food practice of pre-fried Milanesas with mushy breading. (Of course, the better Mexican spots, such as T. Puebla, fry to order.) Other places to look for pounded, breaded meat include our Eastern European delis and cafes. Andy's does a good job. Then there's the Japanese Milanesa by way of Portugal, katsu.

Am I correct in that the meat may be different in Milanesas from other countries, though (e.g. the pork cutlet mentioned above?) I don't know enough about regional differences to know when you can expect veal when you order a Milanesa except in Argentine food.

I drove down to Freddies, in Bridgeport, about a week ago. Their breaded steak was really
not very good. While I have had good ones in the past, it was a dry bland
mess. Definitely done going there

Dave

At TS, I believe you can get either beef or veal. While the original "Milanesa" is obviously a veal chop, bone still in, the term "Milanesa" seems to be shorthand in much of Latin America for the preparation (as opposed to a particular meat), similar to "schnitzel.".

At a Mexican or Cuban place (not that there's much connection, just two examples where I have experience), a Milanesa is likely to be beef or pork, and probably not veal.

Lots of good info... Is there such a thing as a good breaded steak sandwich?

I used to frequent Ricobene's on 26th in the old days before the remodel (narrow high tables with stools) and they used to be The King. Nice and crispy breaded steak, great sauce and huge. Now it is just a sloppy sandwich. I have even tried their outposts on south Cicero and west 159th in Tinley Park.

Ricobene's

252 W 26th St
(312) 225-5555

8231 S Cicero Ave
(773) 581-6530

9135 W 159th St, Tinley Park
(708) 460-9966‎

I have even ventured to Luke's on Harlem (big, bold sign proclaiming the best) in my search and had a similar result.

Luke's On Harlem
3130 N Harlem Ave, Chicago
(773) 889-4000

The Milanesa along with it's brother, the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich (favored in Iowa at the State Fair, big as a plate on a ridiculously small hamburger bun) is a different, but delicious, animal altogether. No sauce or mozzarella.

The trick in my opinion would be to fry it fresh and hard, slap the sauce and toppings on it and get it to the customer before the sauce turns the breading into a slurry. Maybe even pan frying might help temper the breading a bit.

I wish I knew how Ricobene's used to do it back in the day. Darker brown edges that still retained their crunch instead of the uniformly golden brown thing they serve today. Truly an awesome sandwich worthy of high praise and legend.

I have never had it at Freddie's and will give it a try (with sauce, cheese and sweet peppers) although I do not hold out much hope. Precooked, golden brown. Likely to turn to slush. (Freddies is an awesome place though and at the top of my list!)

Freddy's Pizzeria‎
1600 S 61st Ave, Cicero
(708) 863-9289‎

I have never had it at Freddie's and will give it a try (with sauce, cheese and sweet peppers) although I do not hold out much hope. Precooked, golden brown. Likely to turn to slush. (Freddies is an awesome place though and at the top of my list!)

Freddy's Pizzeria‎
1600 S 61st Ave, Cicero
(708) 863-9289‎[/quote]


Wrong Freddies. 31st and union or Harlem and Pershing for breaded steaks. Freddy's of Cicero doesn't make them as far as I know and I go there quite a bit.

mrefjl wrote:

Panther in the Den wrote:I have never had it at Freddy's and will give it a try (with sauce, cheese and sweet peppers) although I do not hold out much hope. Precooked, golden brown. Likely to turn to slush. (Freddy's is an awesome place though and at the top of my list!)

Freddy's Pizzeria‎
1600 S 61st Ave, Cicero
(708) 863-9289‎

Wrong Freddie's. 31st and union or Harlem and Pershing for breaded steaks. Freddy's of Cicero doesn't make them as far as I know and I go there quite a bit.

I have seen some type of breaded flat meat type of thing at Freddy's in Cicero on occasion and come to think of it, it might of been chicken.

I am not far from Harlem and Pershing and would love to give the other Freddie's a try but i am having trouble finding an address. The only location I see listed is ...

Freddie's Pizza & Sandwiches‎
701 W 31st St
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 808-0147

3910 s Harlem. I think it's called "Fabulous Freddie's" and the rumor mill has it that it's the same owner as the joint on Union. Opened mid Dec, I think.

seebee wrote:3910 s Harlem. I think it's called "Fabulous Freddie's" and the rumor mill has it that it's the same owner as the joint on Union. Opened mid Dec, I think.

Cool! I think that is in the same strip mall as Cue Time.

I'll be down that way tomorrow and i'll check it out.

Thanks!

Confirmed! The Bridgeport location is by the same owners.

Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery
3910 S Harlem Ave, Lyons
708-447-5000

I ate at the new Freddies on Harlem on Tuesday and it is just like the one on May st. The seating area is in the adjacent nightclub they have opened, and that was a little weird. I ate while watching some true crime show on cable with the owners and their workers. Too much sauce on the sammy, but I just let it drip off. Good but not great. La Milenesa spoiled me for life. Need to get over to Mangia Fresca and keep my fingers crossed.

Panther in the Den wrote:

seebee wrote:3910 s Harlem. I think it's called "Fabulous Freddie's" and the rumor mill has it that it's the same owner as the joint on Union. Opened mid Dec, I think.

Cool! I think that is in the same strip mall as Cue Time.

I'll be down that way tomorrow and i'll check it out.

Thanks!

I did stop by last Friday and you can read obout it here.

beauford wrote:Longtime lurker, I finally have something to offer to the conversation. Mangia Fresca 2556 S Archer, recently opened and is reported to have a former La Milanese cook. I hear the steak sandwiches are spot on.

Many thanks for the tip. As a longtime fan of La Milanese I was sad to see it close. You are correct that a former La Milanese cook now works at Mangia Fresca. I had a breaded steak the other day and thought it was a very respectable effort.



Even though I enjoyed the sandwich I didn't find it to be a close copy of La Milanese’s. Both the steak and sauce actually reminded me more of Ricobene’s back in the days when they were good (before the 26th Street shop expanded into its current space and then spread outside of Bridgeport). So even if it’s not the second coming of La Milanese it’s still better than most breaded steaks these days.

I’ll surely be back to try some more of the menu. The eggplant sandwich looked especially good and arrancini are regularly offered. I had no room for dessert but was impressed by a sign stating they fill cannoli upon order.

Mangia Fresca
2556 S Archer Av
(immediately south of Orange Line Halsted station)
Chicago
312-225-7100
http://www.mangiafresca.com
Mon-Fri 6am-7pm, Sat 6am-3pm

I'm a little surprised that nobody here has mentioned Tony's Italian Beef which has a BSS far superior to Rico's. Made fresh with a nice golden crispy breaded steak, great sauce and don't forget the cheese and peppers. Just about everything served here is in big portions and fresh. The only thing that isn't big is Tony's, with a small parking lot and limited stools to dine in. They also make a chicken breaded sandwich called a Chikalini I believe. The Italian Beef is also very good not to mention. I too miss LM but can always get my fix here.

Tony's Italian Beef
7007 S Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60629-5823
Phone: (773) 284-6787

Taco al Pastorius, check your PM.

I second Tony's on Pulaski. The Itallian Beef is pretty good, but I havent had many of the other places mentioned so I can not compare.

Tony's also has an excellent sandwhich called Mexican Chicken sandwhich I think. Its a chicken breast smothered with different spicy peppers and onions served on French bread.

Another old time favorite of mine is a Super Dog. Its a Vienna frank with tom tom tamale, with chili, and cheese and all the fixings of a regular Chicago style dog. YUM!

Just had one at Danny's Deli in Melrose. They say they use pounded NY Strip and I believe them (owners are close family friends). Very good, tender and beefy. Definitiely pan fried to order and perfectly crispy.

Sauce on the side, a couple shots of the Hot G and it's a winner. Really good with a side of neckbones and fried romain.

Taco al Pastorius wrote:I'm a little surprised that nobody here has mentioned Tony's Italian Beef which has a BSS far superior to Rico's.

There's a separate thread on Tony's, with positive comments about their breaded steak.

fortunes_fool_21 wrote:Another old time favorite of mine is a Super Dog. Its a Vienna frank with tom tom tamale, with chili, and cheese and all the fixings of a regular Chicago style dog. YUM!

Very interesting, I didn't realize Tony's offered that. It sounds similar to the Mighty Dog at Fat Johnnie's or the Father in Law at Peppo's.

haven't had many of these over the years, - Ricobenes mentioned upthread is about it.

Had my eye on Casciani's Pizzeria over in Hodgkins for a while now -(Been in Hodgkins since 1986 a second location original spot in Cicero @ 16th & Austin - closed), parking lot typically crowded, finally got in on Thursday - breaded steak sandwich day. $5.45, a little more if you want cheese and peppers of any kind.



More tender and less chewy than ones i've had int he past - this was pretty decent sandwich.:





Cascianis Pizzeria
9200 Joliet Road
Hodgkins, IL.

http://www.cascianispizzeria.com/