I am a disgrace to our beef blog. We went to Carm’s on 4/7/07. Now, over 3 months later, I am finally posting my review. I apologize for my lack of dedication and general disrespect to our readers. On with the review…
Carm’s, located just a few blocks west of the UIC campus, reminds me of my grandpa’s basement, which hasn’t been remodeled since it was built in the ‘70’s. The dark wood grain walls and white fluorescent lights made for a less than inviting atmosphere. Seating was limited to a counter facing the wall lined with a few stools. The staff, however, was superb. The guy working the register, inevitably the owner, was a true Chicago Italian with a thick south-side accent.
Having visited several beef stands since our trip to Carm’s, I had trouble at first trying to remember what the food was like, which has apparently become the best description of our experience…nothing special. The sandwich was about average, earning a rating of 6.7. The au jus was more oily than juicy, which made the beef slightly tougher. The bread held the sandwich together well and the mozzarella added some good flavor. I enjoy my beef with hot peppers. To my disappointment, the peppers at Carm’s added a marginal amount of flavor and little heat. The sweet pepper enthusiasts, however, had no complaints.
Where the beef had fallen short, the fries picked up the slack with an 8.2 rating. They were crispy and golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. The bag was large enough for two people unless, of course, you are the Beef King. He had no problem finishing them off by himself.
Oddly, one of the defining characteristics of Carm’s is the Fontano’s Subs across the street, a favorite from our hometown. Our conclusion: the beef was good but fell short of the high expectations that Carms’ reputation led us to anticipate.
Beef - 6.7
Fries - 8.2
L/A - 7.2
Credit Cards: No
Bathrooms: No
Pop Selection: Coke products including Pibb
1057 W. Polk
Chicago, IL
(312)738-1046
JuicyBeef
Carm’s, located just a few blocks west of the UIC campus, reminds me of my grandpa’s basement, which hasn’t been remodeled since it was built in the ‘70’s. The dark wood grain walls and white fluorescent lights made for a less than inviting atmosphere. Seating was limited to a counter facing the wall lined with a few stools. The staff, however, was superb. The guy working the register, inevitably the owner, was a true Chicago Italian with a thick south-side accent.
Having visited several beef stands since our trip to Carm’s, I had trouble at first trying to remember what the food was like, which has apparently become the best description of our experience…nothing special. The sandwich was about average, earning a rating of 6.7. The au jus was more oily than juicy, which made the beef slightly tougher. The bread held the sandwich together well and the mozzarella added some good flavor. I enjoy my beef with hot peppers. To my disappointment, the peppers at Carm’s added a marginal amount of flavor and little heat. The sweet pepper enthusiasts, however, had no complaints.
Where the beef had fallen short, the fries picked up the slack with an 8.2 rating. They were crispy and golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. The bag was large enough for two people unless, of course, you are the Beef King. He had no problem finishing them off by himself.
Oddly, one of the defining characteristics of Carm’s is the Fontano’s Subs across the street, a favorite from our hometown. Our conclusion: the beef was good but fell short of the high expectations that Carms’ reputation led us to anticipate.
Beef - 6.7
Fries - 8.2
L/A - 7.2
Credit Cards: No
Bathrooms: No
Pop Selection: Coke products including Pibb
1057 W. Polk
Chicago, IL
(312)738-1046
JuicyBeef
1 comment:
Brian, is that ALL you could come up with?!?!? I was in your place when you were writing this. 4 paragraphs took you 2 hours?!?!?! COME ON!
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