My favorite four:

- Johnnie's original location. My dad and I got there at prime time on Saturday at 1 after visiting the cemetery. They were absolutely on point, maybe the best beef I've ever had from there because usually I go around 7pm on a weeknight. We split two beefs (hot with spoon of gravy), and a double-sausage. [At $3.50, the double sausage is one of the best lunch deals in the entire city.] My dad was absolutely raving about it because his usual is from Portillo's near the retirement complex, and he said that when he visits the cemetery in River Grove now (sadly more frequently because my mom recently passed away) he is going to Johnnie's afterward every time.

- Original Mr. Beef, Homer Glen. Odd place, hate the RC products, the video gambling is dumb, and the fries are nothing to speak of. But the beef w/hot peppers is really good. And it's closer to me than Johnnie's. Only problem is that the bastards are closed on Sunday, and now that's usually when I want a beef sandwich to eat while watching the Bears' game.

- Duke's, Bridgeview. A definite step down from the first two. I go there when I get my car serviced at Hawk down the street. Solid beef, like the atmosphere. A very different type of pepper mix than the first two.

- Al's original Taylor street. Al's was my place to hit when I was in graduate school, because Evanston didn't have a beef sandwich worth shit so I'd make the drive down once a month. Demerits because the staff are generally assholes and the beef sandwich is miniscule for the price. Have to be in the mood for their style, but I drive two blocks south of there on my commute home from work, so I usually stop 3-4 times a year. Mario's across the street in the summer is a bonus.

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