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Clinton (Blue)
"We were in the loop recently to go to our old favorite the Village however decided to try Vivere instead since we had never eaten there.…" read more »
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Wow, what a great change of pace from the chain restaurant lunch option. A chalkboard lunch menu, reasonable prices, good sized portions, and good food! Take a break from Panera, Potbelly, etc. and give this place a shot. It will become a regular part of your lunch spot rotation.
BTW, I had the Italian beef and a side of the cold pasta. Both were exceptional.
Three steps from my work, tasty-fresh sandwiches, and a healthy side serving of cold pasta salad. Three reasons why I LOVE this place. The caprese sandwich is one of my favorite; however, my favorite thing here Bombacigno's is the complimentary side of cold angel hair, olive oil, salt, pepper, herbs, and parmesan --simple, yet perfection.
The only downside is that it's cash only (boo! cash makes me feel like I'm actually spending money). Aaaaand, it's not THAT cheap; somehow, I usually spend a solid $10 there for lunch...
I ventured in here since it's next door to where I work. It's an okay sandwich shop that also sells some Italian food. The people seem friendly and the prices are alright. However, I've noticed that whoever makes sandwiches there has really bad aim.
On each sandwich I've gotten, the meat and cheese have been off to the side. I just don't get it. They don't really put the meat and cheese on the bread so much as just to the side of it. Now, I eat my sandwiches dry (no oil, mayo or mustard), so it's no problem for me to quickly fix this by hand. Someone who takes condiments on his or her sandwich may be stuck with a little bit of a mess.
Great place, a little confusing. Friendly staff...not terribly healthy, but good. Next time I'm trying soup or a salad. The Chicken Parm Sandwich was good but not extraordinary. I spent $10 which included the sandwich and soda.
I ordered a beef sandwich and fries here and it was an experience... A BAD experience! I had been here before and had some sort of pasta dish and another type of sandwich and they were OK, but the beef is terrible. First off, when I got back to work (take out) I had to catch the beef before it hit the floor because the thin brown paper lunch bag they gave me was soaked on the bottom from the greasy fries and the beef juice. When I opened up the sandwich from the wrapping paper I screamed, "Where's da Beef!!!" for the $10+ that I paid for one beef with sweet and hot, cheese and fries I expected at least a good amount of beef. Maybe the pasta and other sandwiches are good here (according to others) but if you're an Italian place in Chicago that serves Beef sandwiches, they better be good... and they are NOT good here.
This is hands down my favorite lunch spot in the city. Don't be fooled by the questionable exterior; inside you will find the best, freshest tasting Italian food made by the incomparable Claudette (the "C" of J & C). Make sure you say hello to her and husband Joe, who are there every day.
Everything that I've tasted on the menu is delicious, but my favorites are: the meatball, the focaccia sub and the lasagne. I usually just order a side of meatball, but the sub is great if you're craving a sandwich. (OR, you can put the meatballs on the focaccia bread and just die right then and there -- it's that amazing). Other favorites: caprese salad and the side pasta salad -- but really, order anything. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Seriously, the best italian in the city. Just get there before 2pm, because they close -- and be prepared to wait, because this place gets PACKED. For those on a time crunch, order ahead. Finally, bring cash because this place doesn't take credit cards.
Thank you Bombacigno's! You've always left me smiling and satisfied!
I went back a second time but was turned away because they don't accept credit/debit cards. This really annoyed me. Do that many people still carry cash all the time?
The food is greasy and decadent (which is a good thing!), but I really like how cozy and friendly… Read more »
You know, I love places with attitude. Don't get me wrong, the people who work there are plenty polite, but there's just something about the fact that this place just doesn't give a shit about what it looks like gives it a great attitude. The old bar, still stacked with knick-knacks and beer advertisements from yester-year are now just cool. Kinda makes you want to start your own bar and just collect stuff for decoration.
The food is great. Everything I've ever gotten there has been above average. The chicken parm sandwich is really good, the pasta comes out perfect, the lemon chicken pasta (and sandwich too) are both very good, the italian sandwiches are also quite tasty. I should go there more often, considering they're only a block away, but for some reason I don't. If I did, I kind of have a feeling that if I tried everything on the menu, I would be surprised if there was something I disliked.
In summary, this is a great place to go if you want a quick bite with a different atmosphere than any of the typical & generic lunch spots that litter downtown.
I like the funky, run-down atmosphere of this place - while the rest of the southwest loop is becoming more clean & shiny, Bombacigno's seems to be a well-preserved relic from the area's skid-row days. The only thing I order regularly is the italian beef and sausage combo, and it's among the best I've ever tasted. I understand that the other sandwiches and pastas are pretty good too. I've had to swear off their cottage fries as there is probably enough grease in them to stop my heart instantly.
Not a bad place for lunch if you can stand the wait - it tends to get pretty busy at lunch time and the kitchen and counter are old-fashioned and cramped, not exactly built for speed. There's usually plenty of room to dine on the second floor, but watch out for the bathroom up there - it seems to be in a perpetual state of partial to full disrepair.
Bombacigno's is one of my recent rewards for having sworn off franchises of all sorts. Life is just too short. As I say, "Mediocrity is the Tenth Muse." You can avoid her here.
Bombacigno's is authentic Italian; people, food and spirit.
In college I worked for an Italian restaurant and catering family who treated me like their own. I'd never been in Bombacigno's until the other day. So, I took my time ordering from the counter - the only place you can order. The "Mom" welcomed me, asked me my name and asked what I like to eat. It was obvious I was giving the menu a good read.
Cold and hot sandwiches, all sorts of salads, pastas and parmagianas. I've had a ham and Italian Sub,and a few other items. Everything is made fresh daily. Try their amazing acorn squash soup or delicious lean chili.
The "Dad" answered my questions and shared this tidbit: in the "old" days - they've been in this location 32 years - when the hood was so rotten but populated by heavy-drinking printing and manufacturing workers, they used to lock the door at lunchtime and would buzz in only the patrons whom they knew. And they did a land office business - before gentrification.
Go at 11:30 or after 1 pm. Between Noon - 1 pm the place is mobbed. Seating upstairs and downstairs, or at the bar. I haven't enjoyed a lunch haunt like this in a very long time.
Prices: VERY reasonable.
Cash only. (Big surprise!)
Not the best eggplant I've ever had, but damn good. My only complaint is it could have used more sauce. I would have asked for more, but they were pretty busy once I started eating, and I didn't want to bother them. And I'm lazy. The chips were really just okay. I think maybe they were a little overcooked, but I got the feeling that's how they come. I'll skip them next time.
I liked the vibe. Definitely didn't feel like a place so close to the loop - more like an old school Southside corner joint where everyone at the bar has reserved seats, and are there every day.
Apparently there is upstairs seating - wish I knew that while I was sitting by the door freezing my ass off every time someone came through the door to get a delcious, homemade Italian lunch.
Definitely adding Bombacigno's to the Loop lunch rotation.
Bombacigno's J & C Inn is the Bombacigno! If you like GIANT salads with MEAT in them (just look at the picture!), as I do, this is your kinda place. Worth going out of your way for, and go hungry.
I think this place will stay open later - as a bar - as more condos pop up in this area, and make a well-deserved mint, if they haven't already on their delicious lunch fare.
Crazy Schlitz and Blatz promotional memorabilia that I remember from when I was a kid. No, I didn't hang out in bars *grin*, my grandmother ran a corner grocery store for 50+ years.
Awesome sausage and italian beef sandwiches. Pastas are excellent and the eggplant is awesome. Its home cooked italian and very good and fresh. Its a joint and dont confuse it with any other kind of place.
This is just flat out one of my favs of all time and always good.
Get a meatball sandwich too.
Mangia!!
This place is a great family run, made-from-scratch, wood-paneled goldmine. This is a gem you can only find in Chicago. The cottage fries are amazing (thick slices of fried potatoes), the sandwiches are on soft bread, the tomato sauce has hints of wine. I cannot speak highly enough about this place!
You Should: Make The Trip
Sizzle: Food as good as Mamma made
Juice: The absolute best Italian Beef, everything else is pretty damn good too.
Check Please: $
solid solid solid. Id stick with the tuna sandwich over the turkey (that focaccia bread is good but too soft for a true sandwich) and you can't go wrong with the side of pasta or their version of fries. Friendly people, unique atmosphere make this place a lunch staple.
Everything that is served here is served with love. All of the foods are freshly prepared daily with old family recipes and it shows in every dish. I recommend the turkey focaccia sandwich, veggie salad, and the tuna sandwich. A bonus about this spot is that they will turn every sandwich into a salad if you'd like which allows for even more flexibilty.
This is a great little lunch spot. I have been here once and had the italian sub (which would not normally be my first choice but I saw a few on the way in that looked awesome!) Everything is super fresh and great quality meat. The decor is awesome, you feel taken back decades in this place. Only downside is they do run out of supplies - which is good and bad...at least you know you are getting fresh goodies!
The grilled lemon chicken sandwich is my favorite sandwich in the city!
Great lunch spot. I love the chicken parmigiana sandwich. Get there on time because they are busy at lunch and sometimes run out. Good sandwiches and the pasta looks good too but I can't say since I haven't tried it yet.
Little Italian lunch spots don't get any more authentic than Bombacigno's. Everything I've tried here has been great, simple Italian-American dishes of goodness. The chicken parm sub is probably my favorite, but any of their sandwiches on the tomato foccia are good as well.
Bombacigno's J and C Inn (that's a goofy name) is a family-run hole-in-the-wall that has been serving tasty Italian lunches in the West Loop since 1972. The main floor has a counter where you order food, and a few tables and bar stool seating, and an upper floor that can be awkward to reach if you are lugging a plateful of food. My friend used to come here quite often and he was waxing nostalgically about the entire menu. He ordered the Italian beef pizziola, a messy but tasty sandwich. Anything goes great with the fresh cottage fries, which are the house specialty and are a delectable cross between fries and potato chips. I ate the eggplant parmigiana, light in texture even smothered with cheese. My platter came with a side of pasta and a slice of bread. The focaccia sub looks mighty tasty too.
I used to try and eat here once a week back when I used to work over at 300 S. Riverside Plaza. It's excellent Italian food in an unassuming little storefront. I've enjoyed everything on the menu from the sandwiches to the pasta dishes - never been disappointed. I like the layout and the kitschiness of the place. It's been too long and I should return sooner than later. There was some talk about the family throwing in the towel, but I hope it was just lame ass rumors. An unassuming Chicago lunchtime institution. With all the cookie cutter lunch counters around, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest.
This place rocks. I could use numerous superlatives when describing this place, but it all boils down to the fact that for a reasonable price you get a great meal.
I just happened upon this place while looking for a lunch spot. There are so few, good, sit-down-yet-quick lunch places in the West Loop, I'm so happy to find this one. Great food, and surprisingly veggie friendly. The sandwiches come with pasta salad, which was quite yummy. I will definitely be back!
Agree with everyone else that the Chicken Parm sandwich is one of the best ever. Since my office is around the corner I spend a lot of time here and can also recommend everything I have ever eaten. All healthy portions and great tasting.
Wow, what a little gem this place is. What it lacks in ambiance it more than makes up for in food. I had the traditional Italian sub for my first visit - crusty bread, loads of meat and cheese. Simple. Delicious. Can't wait to go back.
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