I was hungry. Then I ate.

On my way home from work, I was super hungry. I spotted Michael's Italian Beef and Sausage.


It was a solid sandwich. Sausage, a little gravy, peppers and onions. Hearty bread. Messy on the hands. I added mustard to the second half to see what I thought, but it really didn't need mustard. The sausage itself was spicy enough that it pretty much stood on its own. The fries - meh. Average. The star here is the sandwich. Fries not needed.

This is a no frills place - the inside is nice enough, but nothing fancy. There are signs on the counter that say "Don't reach over the counter!" The letters are made with cut off arms. They are serious!

The kids working the counter seemed bored - and I wondered if they were the owner's children. I remember when my parents made me work at their gift shop. It was terribly boring. Actually, I think I was bored my entire teenagehood - didn't matter where I was working!

Michael himself was sitting in the dining room, chatting with some patrons about good ole Chicago. I found myself staring and blatantly listening to their conversation. He moved to Portland to go to college and decided this was the place. No comparison, he said. He was done with Chicago.

I have to say, I agree. But thanks for bringing part of Chicago with you.