Authentic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwhiches in Tampa?

[Glutton4Grub]

I've been here for 9 years and haven't heard it spoken of!

There has to be a place!

Also, any Chicago/Chicago-style food places would be great!

I've missed:
Arancinis (rice balls), cannoli cake(really moist like a tres leche), great Italian bread(usually more of a circle-darker brown exterior-super light n airy inside), gardunes(from celery family-slightly tart, usially breaded), etc, etc

[byrd]

decent, not great:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Henrys-...

[lokobous]

BONO'S they were still open when I lived in TPA, Mels and all the other's R terrible compared with Bono's, period, hands down. The beef bread isn't authentic (and the owner will tell you so) but that aside, great beefs and hotdogs, nuff said

[RibDog]

Are you speaking of Bono's in Largo?

[Little T.]

Must be.

I must have passed that Bono's 1000 times but have yet to stop. Enough is enough :)

[Gastro66]

Tony's Chicago Beef in Sarasota, Fl. www.tonyschicagobeef.com or Facebook www.facebook.com/tonyschicagobeef

[Lorenz]

Yes, Chicago Grill has good beef, as good as most of the regular places in Chicago, just a little under the best of the places people really love back in Chicago. Definetly the best Itailan Beef I have found in Florida. For those Johnnies fans, I just read on a different post that they have closed down, no reasons were given why.
I don't think their dogs are as good as their beef though.
Best Chicago dogs I have had in Florida are at Hot Dog Heaven ( no Ital Beef) in Orlando on east Colonial Drive. There are 3 Ital Beef places in Orlando and none are good, what so ever.

[jeff6806]

Looking around online it looks like both locations of Johnnie's are still open? Although it also looks like there's a million of them around the country so maybe we're talking about different ones.

[jeff6806]

There's nothing comparable to Al's or Johnnie's Beef here but there are a few random places around that make a decent one. Most good ones I've had are outside of Tampa Bay unfortunately. I'm still waiting for a Portillo's to open here.

[Glutton4Grub]

Theres a place in Schaumburg I miss...Zippy's!
I heard of a place in largo thats really good.
I hear ya on portillos!! I even worked there at one point!

[triff]

The place in Largo you are probably referring to is Chicago Grill & Dog House on Ulmerton, just east of Belcher. "Mayor" Bruce that owns it is quite a character (originally from Chicago), and puts out some pretty good dogs and beef sandwiches that give us our Chicago fix. My only complaint is he uses a crinkle cut fry instead of a perfectly crispy on the outside and soft in the inside one we know and love from Chicago. Yes, I miss Al's, Johnnie's, Portillo's and countless hot dog joints we had all over the place back home, but Chicago Grill is really a taste of it.

[Glutton4Grub]

That's the one! I have yet to get over there, but plan on it soon!!

[Mild Bill]

Not Chicago, but Italian... You've been to Mazzaro's in St. Pete?

[Glutton4Grub]

Bill, I love Mazzaro's & would move to St Pete just to be closer!!!

[seminole phil]

http://www.italianbeef.com/state/flor... check this out im phrom phlorida, phil

[Glutton4Grub]

Thank you, Phil !