Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

Big City opened Friday after Thanksgiving. I had a Italian beef on Friday and went back for a Chicago Red Hot on Saturday. The beef needed a bit of salt and the sweet peppers weren't quite right (maybe they needed to be cooked a little more), but it was the best I've had in FL... actually, it's the only one I've had. The dog was great and had the right toppings, including celery salt and cucumbers all on a Vienna poppy seed bun!

There are a number of other items which I need to sample soon: Italian Sausage, Meat Ball sandwich, Tombstone Pizza, chili cheese fries, tamales, and a garbage salad.

Big City is in front of the Walmart on 466 in the same strip as Starbucks. It's a welcome addition to the area as far as I'm concerned.

Jim

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

Thanks for the review. May try this restaurant out sometime. What's a garbage salad? :dontknow:

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I never heard of Big City Restaurant..Is it a steak place?? What is the dish they are known for?? :dontknow:

Glad it opened near my house..

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

Garbage Salad: Mixed Lettuce, pepperoni, peperoncini, green peppers, black olives, provolone, and Italian dressing.
Two other salads: Caesar & Pecan (romaine, bacon, pecans, & honey mustard dressing).

Jim

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That's a lot of....stuff. :joke:

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Big City is in the Buffalo Ridge shopping plaza. Think I'll try a red hot for lunch after I hit a few golf balls.

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

Top two items on the menu: Chicago Hot Dog & Chicago Italian Beef... ;D
I would say it is a typical Chicago style hot dog stand with pizza and salads... and a couple of NY items: Chili Dog (Coney Style) and New Yorker (hot dog - mustard, onions, and sauerkraut).

Also featured: Chicken Sandwich, Maxwell Street Polish, Johnsonville Brats, and Philly Cheese Steak. They also have party (bulk) selections.

The location is a real hike for me, but I understand they are thinking of opening more stores. This is making me hungry... I'm thinking brats... I'm out of here! :arrow:

Jim

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Jim..Is this place a franchise?? I never heard of it...

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I had a quick chat with the order taker and she mentioned they were from Chicago and had moved to Westmont, IL - right next to Downers Grove where I lived. If they didn't have a stand, they visited enough of them to get the menu right. I am thinking they are "family" owned, but you never know...

Jim

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Thanks Jim..Was curious, because I never heard from them..
:dontknow:

Glad there is another great place to eat...I love NY style food... 040

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Donna, are you thinking that this is our new business venture to open in TV - combining it with our "bar"?? Now that we know Red is such a good cook, we'll let her join our group.

Garbage Salad is a terrible name for such a lovely salad with all those good ingredients. We'll rename is appropriately.

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

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That garbage salad sounds great!!

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And now for a real test, since I can't get to check out Big City until when we visit after Christmas, my brother is in TV now and I'll have him check out the Italian Beef Sandwich and let you know the verdict. He, like me, is an Italian Beef Sandwich expert having been schooled by Italian Beef from Pementie's of Roseland and Dadonie's of Richton Park.

HOPE IT PASSES THE TEST ! ! !

(The peppers better be just right, too)

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

Sunday, I had yet another talk with the order taker and she said they had a restaurant in Villa Park on Roosevelt Road - I forgot the name. It was not like Big City, though.

I had a great brat with kraut (very tangy) for lunch and brought home an Italian Sausage for dinner - it hit the spot even reheated.

Mom had a beef for lunch and thought it was a bit too chewy, but she did like flavor and the hot peppers.

Jim

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Hello all, I'm so glad to hear about Big City. We just moved here from Chicago 3 weeks ago and I'm missing a good combo sandwich already. Are there any clubs for Chicago or Illinois clubs??? Just wondering.

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Chelsea.

At long l;ast I found You!! :bigthumbsup: :welcome:

I am Chicago born & raised and have been looking for some Chicago people in TV. I have had a hard time finding any actual inner city people!
I have not found anyplace that serves a true Vienna Hot dog or the Great Italian beef that they have in Chicago, but if you find a place please let me know!

Where in Chicago did you live?

I know there is an Illinois club that meets in TV but I went once and couldnt find any "city" people. They were all from the burbs. Please write me ;D

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WOOPS!
Sorry to all of you that posted about "Big City". I didnt see your posts until after I answered Chelsea. Im Excited :hot: A real Chicago hot dog and Italian beef in TV? This is wonderful news!!! Cant wait 'till I get back down there this winter to sample them. Does anyone know when they opened? I just got back from TV and didnt know they were there.BUMMER :dontknow:

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Nonie, as jr stated that started this post they opened the day after thanksgiving.

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Thanks Golfnut,

I must remember to read all posts so as not to appear so uninformed! :read:

That is the day I left TV, I repeat! BUMMER >:(

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Hi Nonie, glad to meet you. I'm sure there must be more of us out there. lol I was born and raised in Cicero, just on the edge of the city and my husband grew up in the Rogers Park area. Do you go back and forth from Chicago now? I'm going to look into that Illinos club. Email me if you'd like. I really happy they opened this restaurant too. Nice meeting you.

Native South Sider Here
 

I was born and lived on the South Side (87th and Morgan) until after I graduated from college. Then after 10 or so years in the Detroit area and then southern Indiana, I came back to Chi town but settled in Riverwoods, way up north north near Northbrook, Deerfield and Lake Forest. While we haven't lived in the city for a long while, I worked downtown (at First Chicago) for almost 30 years.

I heard there was a Roseland club, but haven't heard of an Illinois club.

Glad to hear that those great "snappy" Vienna franks are available here--with all the fixings (except ketchup) plus celery salt--a taste of home!

Come on down, Nonie. I couldn't get back here soon enough after experiencing the cold and snow over the Thanksgiving weekend. My pool is 82 degrees!

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

For all of you that enjoyed your experience at Big City Grill, either I went on a bad time or you all enjoy no taste meat, stale buns, soggy buns and french fried bits and peices rather that french fries. I went last night and because I was in a hurry I didn't walk out and go somewhere else (it's the season you know). I had the sweet peppers (extra $) and what that amounted to was 2 peices (chunks) of bell pepper on top. The Italian beef was totally tastleless and I already stated the condition of the bun and fries. I am quite confident that BCG will not have me there again, there are just too many places in TV to pay for the slop that was served as a meal. >:(.

Re: Italian Beef & Chicago Dogs...
 

cHELSEA,

Thanks for writing back! I gre up in Wicker park, later as a teen moved to Rogers Park. Where in Rogers park did your hubby live?

I will keep in touch, I want to know more about the Illinois club so that when I come back in February, I can possibly join it depending on what you say. If you go to a function please write me about it.

I really dont think there are that many people from Chicago. I put a post out at one time and got very little response. Just wait until Chicago catches on, they will have to build a new landing for them!!! ;)

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Kahuna,

Thanks for your reply, I guess you do qualify as a "real Chicago guy". good to know your down there and dont tempt me. 82 degree pool!!!!! Alas I must wait for February, sigh

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Sorry you had a bad experience. I do agree that the beef could have a bit more taste (I had mentioned it could use a bit of salt). I've been there 3 times and did get some short fries twice, but thought it may have just been my timing. The Vienna hot dog buns were perfect as were the beef and sausage buns. While they use Chicago Red Hots in place of Vienna dogs, they were very good. Italian sausage was great.

I'm sure they want to succeed, so tell them what you like or don't like. Since it is a family business, I'm sure they are open from suggestions - especially those of us from the Chicago area.

Jim

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I stopped in at Big City Grill and ordered a brat and sauerkraut. Haven't had a grilled brat since I left home over a year ago.

Oh, I was in heaven! Want to try some choice next time.

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After a glowing writeup by the Daily Sun, we were anxiously waiting for City Grill to open. I love hot dogs...I ordered a hot dog with chili and a ceaser salad. The restaurant tossed french fries on top of the chili and wraped it up in greasy paper. I don't eat french fries so I had to pick them out of the chili. The hot dog was average. The salad had so much vinegar in the dressing, I took two bites and threw it in the garbage.

I'm hoping that Dee Dee's Dog House will be better.

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I've heard mixed reviews of the hot dogs at Big City, I wonder if people's reactions may be based on their experience. New Yorker's might prefer the simple, salty Nathan's and maybe can't appreciate the difference of a Chicago style dog. Can't help the taste prejudices we've acquired along the way. Agree, it'll be interesting to see what Dee Dee's Dog House brings to the "hot dog" table. I remember my surprise visiting Northern NJ where quite a few places offered Italian hot dogs. These were regular grilled dogs on Italian bread type roll with grilled peppers and onions. Very tasty! George

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Great news for those of us Chicagoans who are considering TV. You need someone who's lived in Chicago to know how to fix Italian beef and Chicago Style hot dog. Thanks for the update!!

pili :bigthumbsup:

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pili.

From what I understand, the people who opened "Big City" are Chicagoans! Suprised to hear some negative responses .

Kath & Donna, heres your big chance to open that resteraunt! ;)

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Nonie, you read my mind. I thought the same thing. Let's work on Donna to see if she agrees. We'll also make it a sports bar with Donna being the bartender in her genie costume. Bet we'll get a lot of guys coming in. Kath

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Hi all, finally went to Big City and had a combo (beef and sausage) WONDERFUL! I walked in and said to the young man "I'm from Chicago, knock my socks off!" Well, the funny thing is he said that the owner was from Berwyn and I was raised in Cicero (of Al Capone fame -- lol), neighboring burbs on the edge of the city and the big hang out was a beef stand called Novi's on Ogden Ave. Turns out the owner is somehow connected to Novi's Beef and I counldn't believe it. Talk about a small world. I talked to him for a few minutes and took a walk down memory lane. The beef and sausage, with fries was just what I spent my teen years wolfing down! I soooo happy, I feel like my childhood followed me here to the Villages. Wait until some of my old (and I do mean old LOL girlfriends) come to visit. :2excited: wav

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Hi Nonie, just saw your posting, I'm going to the first Illinois meeting on Jan. 7. I'll let you know. The man that called seemed really nice. 'nite

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Open a White Castle and a Prince Castle I'll truly be in heaven

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We got the Italian beef Friday night. It was good except I thought that the sweet peppers were supposed to come with the meat for the price listed on the menu which describes it coming with this and has a price of $12.95???

We got the french fries too which were quite a bit below par from other french fries you can get in TV.

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Do they serve all that oink and moo with sprouts?? Remember, I'm from So Cal. ;D

:dontknow: K.

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$12.95 for an Italian beef sandwich!

Guess I'll be eating the Chicago Hot Dogs (with chips)

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No. That's $12.95 for the pound of Chicago Italian beef with 4 rolls. Supposed to feed between 2 and 4. The menu says-- "Thin sliced beef in Italian seasoned gravy, 4 French rolls with either sweet peppers, or hot Gardineira".

The individual Chicago Italian Beef sandwich is $4.29. (add hot or sweet peppers .40)

My beef (pun intended) on Friday night is that we only got the beef with no sweet peppers. They wanted about $5.00 extra for the sweet peppers. Maybe, there was a mistake in communication though? :dontknow:

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O Boy, this is not sounding good. thats a pretty expensive beef sandwiich, never paid that much in Chicago! :cus: