Max's Famous Italian Beef

The oddest place I've ever seen two inanimate metal cows is on the 5400 north block of Western Ave. They graze in front of Max's Beef, a stand-alone building on the west side of the street where Italian Beef is the name of the game.

On a gloomy Saturday afternoon when most people chose to stay within the comfort of their own home to avoid the cold and rain, Max's still managed to draw enough people to occupy all the tables in their small restaurant. The dozen or so tables are complimented by a few more seats along the walls. The entire surface area of the walls is covered with a mural of the Chicago skyline with one small detail that you've never seen anywhere else – every other building has a small cartoon cow on top smiling at you.

Walking into the establishment, the first two things I noticed were the incredible variety they had on their menu, as well as the fact that they had two TV's showing both the Cubs and the Sox game at the same time. Upon ordering I noticed they had an option to increase the beef on my sandwich. I respect that option, and I salute all the heroes that make it – but this Saturday I had to pass. The hot giardenera did not come on the sandwich, however. Instead, Max's offers a giant tub of hot giardenera on each table in the restaurant, so that each patron can satisfy their own lust for the delicious concoction. By any licensed doctor's standards, my giardenera intake on this specific day was abnormally high.

The sandwich was delivered in a giant conglomeration of beef and mozzarella cheese and everything that reminds me of freedom and the good life. The flavor of the beef was tender and carried a strong punch of garlic, a sign of a long slow marinade. While some might not like the taste or lingering odor of garlic, the fact that it was so pungent gives a sign of a beef made with a time and care as it should be. The marinade was unlike anything else that we've consumed thus far. The dipped bread did not hold up for very long, and the heaping pile of beef that Max's loaded on my sandwich was not helping the cleanliness of the whole experience. Then again, the only time I'm concerned about the cleanliness of an Italian Beef is when I'm pounding one right before the prom, and I haven't done that in about six years.

The Fries were golden, crispy, and full of flavor. Watch out for the cheese that's included with those fries, though. One of our bloggers found out the hard way that the cheese they include with their cheese fries is very much like a fat girl in a bikini – odd and lumpy texture, it smelled terrible, and the taste it left in your mouth after the whole experience was over warranted a trip to the bathroom to brush your teeth.

Overall, though, the experience as a whole was a good one. This beef stand is well worth visiting, especially if you're looking for something that tastes a little different than the industry standard. The mural at Max’s is worth going to see, and be sure to enjoy one of their delicious Italian Beef sandwiches while you’re there.

Beef -7.5
Fries – 7.1
Location/Ambiance – 7.75

5754 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
(773)989-8200

The Beef King