Buona Beef – The Chicagoland Icon Opens Harwood Heights Location
By Jessica Lewandowski
The Chicago suburbs just got a lot beefier. Buona Beef, a Chicagoland legend among Italian beef fans opened up its 16th location earlier this month in Harwood Heights, IL. I was thrilled to attend their grand opening. It was no surprise that a long line of Buona Beef lovers had formed the night before the opening for a chance to win a whole year of their favorite beef. These coveted prizes went to the first 100 guests.
When I arrived that afternoon, I was greeted by a bustling storefront. Buona Beef’s new modern architecture looks great. A color scheme of sleek black, bright orange and cool gray encompassed the exterior and interior, which was complimented by the exposed ceiling piping and tiled walls. Buona Beef has also joined the rising trend of mounting widescreen TVs displaying Twitter posts from guests. Diners can use the hashtag #BuonaBeef to see their Twitter photos and posts presented in the restaurant.
I had the opportunity to sit down with John Gill, the Buona Companies Marketing Director, to hear all about the Harwood Heights location and what makes Buona Beef unique in the Chicago area. I also taste-tested some highly anticipated food.
The Buonavolanto family got their start in the Chicago fast food market in 1981. Using a family recipe and previous knowledge in the industry, they created classic, Chicago-style beefs, sausages, hotdogs and burgers. Just like the family recipe that started it all, Buona beef only serves all natural and preservative free food. Today, the expanded menu has allowed the restaurant to cater to a wider market by including pizzas, sandwiches and salads.
Wanting to stick to my roots, I ordered an Original Italian beef Sandwich with hot peppers and French fries. When restaurants are creating something as popular and nationally recognized as an Italian beef sandwich, it’s important for them to not diverge too much from what consumers would expect, and Buona Beef serves this Chicago classic up perfectly. My sandwich was hot, savory, and packed with thinly sliced tender beef and giardiniera in a soft bread roll. Of course, no classic Italian beef sandwich is complete without being dipped in gravy. You’re not eating a real Italian beef if you don’t get a little messy, and I certainly did.
I also tried the Quattro Formaggi Pizza: a 9”, thin crust pie with red sauce and a blend of Italian cheeses. Buona Beef pizzas are perfect for two guests to split or to add a little extra for a family to share with their meals. Other pizza options include Margherita, buffalo chicken, rustica and beef & giardiniera, alongside more common pizza options like sausage, pepperoni and veggie.
John Gill was happy to explain that Buona Beef’s original recipes have stayed true to the Buonavolanto family’s tradition. All of their USDA products are made in a single location, keeping all their ingredients consistent with the fresh homemade flavor that has made them so popular. The franchise is only growing from here. Buona Beef lovers can expect to see more locations opening in early 2016. It’s clear that Buona Beef knows how to serve Italian beef up right. Their other menu offerings, like their crusty paninis, pizzas, and tossed salads are every bit as craveable as their iconic beef.
Buona Beef offers gluten free options, low-calorie options, Thursday and Friday specials, and catering services. Even if you don’t live in Chicagoland, you can still enjoy all the Buona beefy goodness, because they ship nationwide.
Chicago and its surrounding suburbs are iconic for a signature style of beefs, sausages, hotdogs and burgers, so if you’re looking to test the fare, I suggest taking a trip to Buona Beef. This much-loved chain expertly purveys what Chicago food is all about and its classic flavors sell themselves. The finishing touch is the family-style atmosphere and friendly, hospitable staff. Even in a busy restaurant, you can expect to be served quality fast food with a homemade flavor.
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Buona Beef has the best Italian Beef Sandwiches in the neighborhood! They also have great fries and burgers!
It is great to have an awesome restaurant like this in the area! They have great food and great prices as well!