Two links of juicy, fennel-forward housemade Italian sausage, your choice of cheese (I chose mozzarella), sweet peppers and onions, and house marinara are barely contained in a crusty Red Hen sub bun. I added their house giardiniera ($.50) to give a spicy, acidic kick to the sandwich, which you can think of basically as an Italian double dog. More
Walking into Kurowski's and ordering "kielbasa" would probably get you laughed out of the store. Because that's like walking into Baskin Robbins and ordering "ice cream." Kielbasa really just means sausage, so to navigate Kurowski's, you'd better come prepared with some more specific instructions. More
Gene's Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square is a towering, multi-story ode to good eating: 40 varieties of house-made sausages and cured meats (many of which are smoked at their large Belmont location), a full service staff of butchers who cut to order, a stock of hard to find game meats, a tremendous selection of beer and wine, and a carefully curated grocery from near and far. More
"This impossibly tender beef is one of the best I've sampled in Chicago." [Photographs: Nick Kindelsperger] Pop's Italian Beef 10337 South Kedzie Avenue, Chicago IL 60655 (map); 773-239-1243 The Short Order: Succulent Italian beef with crunchy giardineria . Want Fries... More
[Photographs: Nick Kindelsperger] Roma's Italian Beef & Sausage 4237 N. Cicero Avenue, Chicago IL 60641 (map); 773-725-5715 The Short Order: Perfectly executed Italian beef and Italian sausage combo. Want Fries with That? Fries are standard. Want Ketchup? Maybe for... More
"There is no polite way to attack rib tips. Dig in with both hands and hope you have enough napkins." [Photographs: Nick Kindelsperger] Uncle John's Barbecue 337 E 69th Street, Chicago IL 60637 (map) 773-892-1233 The Short Order: Saucy and... More
