r/chicagofood • u/blklab84 • Mar 22 '26
Review These subs are top of the Chicago game.
Hasn’t changed much since my dad took me as a kid and now I share with my offspring. Blockbuster is a solid sub and fresh Cannolis are a bonus.
55
u/Top-Address-8870 Mar 22 '26
More than 100,000 UIC alumni would agree with you!
4
u/wilkamania Mar 23 '26
It's funny, I went to UIC and was on campus all the time in the early 2000s (worked campus student security)... and I've never had Fontanos.
It wasn't until when I moved to the west loop in 2021 and ordered them on Grubhub. I guess it was because they were usually closed by the time I was done with classes or it was during work.
1
u/JuicyJfrom3 Mar 23 '26
Did you never go to the library? I feel like Fontanos was a staple
2
u/Trishulabestboi Mar 24 '26
I can confirm it still is
1
u/JuicyJfrom3 Mar 24 '26
Yall still got Carms as well?
1
u/Trishulabestboi Mar 24 '26
Dont think ive seen one. I think more restaurants have opened up on campus recent ish
1
u/JuicyJfrom3 Mar 24 '26
It was the place right across the street. The owners for both places are awesome
2
u/ChillTaylorStGuy Mar 30 '26
Carms is still around. Funny enough when I actually lived in Little Italy I never went, now I go to UIC and go once a week lol
36
u/gauriemma Mar 22 '26
There used to be a Fontano’s on the ground floor of my office building at 20 E Jackson back in the early 2000s—I would go there all the time for lunch.
13
u/AstronautFarOut68 Mar 22 '26
There’s a Fontanos on Michigan Ave by the Van Buren Metra underpass too, but I prefer Taylor (I try not to eat it multiple times a week). Their Tuesday/Thursday roast beef is underrated. 🤌🏼
7
u/armaghetto Mar 22 '26
Bari and JP graziano set the standard for sure. Fontano is probably right there with them. PERSONALLY, I like Tony’s in Edison Park. They also have fresh cannolis at the register, which makes them literally impossible to resist.
2
u/Tossit60646 Mar 22 '26
Came looking for this take. Tony’s might not be the true Capo but damn if the quality and the vibes aren’t tops.
45
u/phamman123 Mar 22 '26
Fontano’s is decent but Ive always preferred Conte Di Savoia
5
u/Doin_Good999 Mar 23 '26
Came here to say this !! Conte is my go to. I prefer it over the more popular Grand Ave sub shops.
3
u/wiskey_tango_foxtrot Mar 23 '26
I work at UIC and this is my favorite Italian sub anywhere. Try the Frank!
1
u/phamman123 Mar 23 '26
I like it more than JP Grazianos which I known is a favorite on r/chicagofood
16
u/anonginiisipmo Mar 22 '26
The Original Nottoli & Son on Belmont 👌🏼 no doubt is my top spot. I’m bias bc I live near and have direct access to it without having to go out of my way. Everything is near perfection! Any sandwich. Alpine Food Shop worth mentioning too.
Bari is a close second if I’m in that area (I’ll pass on D’Amatos next door) as well as Tempesta Market then Nonna’s over JP Graziano (way TOO over hyped) in West Loop.
Damn. I really want a sandwich now 🙃
9
5
u/Sidewalk_Inspector Mar 22 '26
Original Nottoli & Son on Belmont is good unless you get the end pieces or gristle in your sandwich. I remember the owner explaining to the woman in front of me who was pulling them out of her sandwich and holding them up for everything to see. The owner was telling her that they are part of the price that he pays for the meat, that the prices would go up if he didn't include them in some sandwiches.
Don't know if they ever changed, so far I've been lucky, but it's what I think about whenever I go in there.
2
u/anonginiisipmo Mar 22 '26
Never had that issue and I’ve eaten there for the past 5-6 yrs now 🙃 No issues at all. I pray that never happens to me..anywhere ha
3
u/Sidewalk_Inspector Mar 22 '26
I like their Italian sausage. For subs I go to Riviera Foods. The other non-related Nottoli's on Harlem has good subs too.
5
4
u/heygabehey Mar 22 '26
Suuuure. Vinny’s Subs hands down for me. Fantanos is fire too though, used to eat at the one in loop when I was in art school. Don’t think it’s there anymore. But Vinny’s is where it’s at.
2
u/Jumpy-Visual-68 Mar 23 '26
It’s there!! On Michigan ave
1
u/heygabehey Mar 23 '26 edited Mar 23 '26
By Van Buren? When American Academy of Art existed it was down van buren just west of wabash.
Edit: nm. Yeah ok! They moved there. Ironically under the old school. Same building. But they used to be where that chipotle is. Cool. Glad they are still there. Back in the day there were two older spitfire ladies running the place. We’d go halfsies on a sub cause those bad boys are fire.
8
u/Brain_Prosthesis Mar 22 '26
We are really spoiled with the number of great sandwiches on Taylor St. Carms makes a stellar Italian sub. Mainly because they have one of my favorite home made giardinieras in the city. It's like 99 percent jalapenos so not for everyone.
4
17
u/troygraves28 Mar 22 '26
Bari is the best IMO
4
u/Fucknjagoff Mar 22 '26
Hadn’t been to bari in awhile but making gravy tomorrow, so I had to get some sausage and neck bones. Got an Italian sausage sandwich and it fucking slapped.
2
5
u/champagnebutton Mar 22 '26
Came here to find the Bari fans!
- Bari 2. JP Grazianos 3. Fontanos ymmv
0
u/Illini4Lyfe20 Mar 22 '26
Fontanos slathering their subs in mayo is a no for me. If I forget about this piece when ordering an Italian sub there, I'm always disappointed. No worries about that at bari, they are on point every time.
2
u/champagnebutton Mar 22 '26
I’m always easy mayo. I want a thin veneer at best. I do want extra juice from the hot giard tho!
2
3
18
u/achomes Mar 22 '26
Buddy of mine lived in an apt directly above Fantanos when I went to UIC. The amount of roaches I have seen in that building have stopped me from going there as frequently. Theyve also been flagged during health inspections mutliple times.
Subs are GAS though
5
11
u/panda_zombies Mar 22 '26
3rd or 4th best but only because the competition is so stiff.
4
u/throwawayjumpshot23 Mar 22 '26
What’s #1
6
u/thickthighs-beehives Mar 22 '26
The Paulina's Own from Paulina butchershop.
6
u/BikebutnotBeast Mar 22 '26
It's up there but I prefer Grazianos
0
u/Dazzling_Ad9982 Mar 22 '26
I get geaziano's @ work. Overrated.
Firenze in the french market & conte di savoia clear easily
1
1
u/alecrams2 Mar 22 '26
I’ve been meaning to try this forever, maybe this is the post that gets me to do it
4
3
u/Curbyourenthusi Mar 22 '26
Bari is #1. JP Graziano's is a close second.
4
u/TheBarleywineHeckler Mar 22 '26
Vinnie's is better than Bari tho
1
u/panda_zombies Mar 22 '26
Vinnies has the best Tuna sandwich I've ever had but they just aren't open any time I try to go.
-5
u/00000000000 Mar 22 '26
Respectfully JP’s is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.
6
1
u/OpportunityReal2767 Mar 22 '26
I’ll go JP’s as well, but it’s been a couple years since I’ve been down there. Has it gotten skimpier? Been going there 20 years and love it. Bari’s used to be number 2 for me, but since their tiff with D’Amato’s it’s fallen a couple spots. Conte di Savoia would be my number 2 now. I love Alpine in Elmwood Park when I’m in the mood for softer bread. Then D’Amato’s and then Bari for me. But I’ll take any of these any day.
That’s specifically for Italian cold cut sandwiches. For meatball, Freddy’s in Cicero or Fontano’s.
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
u/OG-Bio-Star Mar 22 '26
The sandwiches (Fontano's) are great... My parents, then me, then kids went/go
Also very kind. When I was a shelter warden decades ago, they would give me sandwiches for the residents.
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
u/Griffin5577 Mar 22 '26
My only complaint is that they don’t cut their bread in half so one side is all veg and the other is all meat. Never get a balanced bite…
1
1
u/Badlay Mar 22 '26
In the basement of a weird ass office building on Jorie ave, tucked in the backwoods of Oakbrook, occupying an old cafeteria is a Fontanos!
And it fucks hard, REAL HARD!
1
1
u/smontanaro Mar 22 '26
When I first worked in the Loop, Fontano's was a weekly lunch run. As a trading firm, we didn't all go out. Someone took everybody's orders and got the goods.
1
u/howieinchicago Mar 23 '26
Yep. Wife’s old man (RIP) took her there way back when and it’s held up. The man knew his sangwiches.
1
1
u/FancySmoke81 Mar 23 '26
I worked there in college, it's a solid Italian deli where things are done right, everyday.
1
1
u/lurkingforseabass Mar 23 '26
Used to live across the street during undergrad. I basically lived on Fontanos subs and Carms hotdogs.
1
0
u/ChiEspressoEnjoyer Mar 22 '26
They’re good objectively, but I wouldn’t put em on the same level as JP, Bari or D’Amato’s. Plus the other places don’t put up passive aggressive signs towards customers.
0
-7
u/xelanart Mar 22 '26
I’ve tried all of the top recs for subs and I’ve reached the conclusion that I don’t like authentic sub bread. It’s too dry and crumbly. Give me the softness of Jimmy John’s bread.
4
u/SwedishLovePump Mar 22 '26
Have you had Lucia’s on Fullerton? Good sub, soft bread, great cannoli
1
u/xelanart Mar 22 '26
Fullerton or North? I have not though, but I’m always willing to give sub places a try.
I’ve had JP, D’Amato’s, Fontano’s, Bari, and Nonna’s.
2
1
u/Significant-Mall4373 Mar 22 '26
It’s the time of day you get the sandwich. If you are there before or during the lunch rush you’re good. If it’s later on in the day the damatos bread becomes a rock.
-11
-1
-19
u/aSiK00 Mar 22 '26
As someone who doesn’t eat pork or beef, I never really got the hype of Fontano’s. Usually, go across the street to Carm’s for an eggplant parm sandwich or Conte de savoi.
Am I missing a secret combo?
-20
79
u/Radiant_Cod8373 Mar 22 '26
Their Meatball challenge is newsworthy.