Bombacigno's J & C Inn

Not sure what I enjoy more here, the first class Chicago's best Pizziola Italian Beef sandwich or the decor. Man this is as old school as it gets. On Van Buren St snuggled between Clinton St and Jefferson St is possibly the single best all around Chicago Italian lunch you're gonna find anywhere in this foodie city. Now one should know upfront that they are open only 3 hours a day weekdays only for lunch 11 - 2 pm. Why? Because they can. The place is usually pretty packed but people are cool and eat and leave not linger as they are regulars who know the drill as seating is limited. The decor alone is worth the price of admission and probably a lot more that that. There is a now defunct bar from the old days that is something of a museum piece.

Their menu is hand written and had enough choices so that there is something for everyone. All homemade offerings from pasta and sandwiches to salads and sides. The lasagne is top shelf and usually a choice of cheese or meat or veggie, all incredible. Get it with a side of sausage and red sauce which only adds to the lasagne. The beef sandwiches, Pizziola is incredible with thinly shaved seasoned roast beef Chicago style in a soft Italian roll with fresh mozzarella and drizzled with red sauce. I added the cottage fries that are house made thickly sliced potatoes grilled to perfection. The past side of angel hair sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and oregano is a definite side dish go to. I mean, let me tell you you won't regret stepping into a time warp here at Bombacigno's J & C.

The family owned old neighborhood spot has been around sometime and should be a go to for tourist and local alike. If I were a tour guide this would be a must stop deal.

I've realized I have no real strategic plan for creating my new list of go-tos in Chicago, but what I'm doing seems to be working since I haven't found a dud yet (knock on wood). Bombacigno's - which I will now refer to as Bomba's - was among my never ending endeavor to find all the "good spots" in Chicago and it served up something totally unexpected and will forever have a patron in me.

The place reminds me kind of a train bar car turned restaurant. It's not, but it's narrow and one side is a dedicated bar that seems to be out of commission, but is filled with antiques and whatnot. There's nothing particularly aesthetically pleasing about Bomba's... it's very simple... some tables and chairs, a large chalkboard menu in three parts above the register, and a counter with someone ready to take your order. It doesn't need to do a whole lot though, you're not paying enough to need a song and dance too so it's perfect.

So I went in thinking I was going to order the Italian Beef sandwich, but when the guy working the register realized I hadn't been before, he let me know the Chicken Caesar Salad was their best seller. And I was thinking "How the hell is a salad, a Caesar salad no less, a fan favorite?" So even though I can only tolerate small quantities of chicken, I was way too curious to not order it. And when I bit into it, I understood... this salad doesn't know if it's a salad and I am actually okay with that. On first looks, it looked like a normal Caesar salad with a well-seasoned chicken breast on top, but layered in between the lettuce is angle hair pasta peppered up and slightly creamy (maybe just a butter mix, but maybe more of a carbonara) and it just works. And I devoured it along with most of the very delicious chicken.

Bomba's is different, it has a very "I don't care about what you think, but if you're hungry I have some food you're gonna just eat up" vibe. This is a quick lunch spot, very welcoming and easy going.

Conveniently located close to Union Station, I stopped here for lunch before getting on my train and was so pleasantly surprised by the old school decor, the amazing Italian beef and Joe--the shop's long-time owner. We had a lovely chat over lunch and I got a bit of the backstory on the place.

Come here, come hungry!

Simply love this place! I haven't tried anything but the Italian beef but thats enough for me. Tasty and stacked high with beef, can barely finish it. Staff is always friendly! Catch me here for lunch at least once a week. Caution... it can get crowded so early lunch is best.

Excellent Italian food in a place that looks like it is out of the 1950s. In fact, it would have been a standard Italian deli lunch spot at that time. The decor hasn't been updated in that time. Brick walls, dark wood paneling, heck, the menu is still written in chalk on a chalkboard. I'll enclose a couple pictures to illustrate. Really good submarines. What makes them special is great meat and bread.

I stopped in for lunch one afternoon, this place is near my school and is kind of a hole in the wall, but definitely a hidden gem.

Their hours are very limited, I believe only from about 11am-2pm weekdays.

I would describe it as an old-fashioned lunch counter, like something your grandpa might have went to many years ago. The inside is old school as well, they have bar and table seating with additional seating upstairs. There are many interesting, vintage curios, relics and advertisement on the walls and behind the bar to look at that made an ordinary eat-in lunch much more interesting. Not much has changed on the inside for many years it looks like, but in a good, nostalgic kind of way.

You order at the counter in the back. The menu is handwritten above. They have everything from hot and cold sandwiches to pasta and salads. It was busy at lunchtime but the older guy behind the counter (maybe the owner?) was super friendly, and they call your name loud and clear when your food is ready.

I opted for a cold cut, the focaccia sub. It came on made in house focaccia bread. The bread was really tasty but overall the sandwich was just alright. They are a little skimpy with almost all the toppings compared to some other sub places, but the delicious homemade focaccia bread was definitely the highlight and proved for a filling lunch.

It is fairly pricey, at $9 and some change for only the sandwich, but I think given the unique atmosphere, West Loop area location, homemade bread and nice service, the price is not bad when you consider most Loop lunches approach the $9-11 mark.

I recommended the place to a friend and he said he had an Italian beef sandwich that was above average, so I will for sure have to try one of those next time I am in.

This place is a hole in the wall gem! Its right next to my office so, I come here frequently. It has an old school Italian deli counter feel. Everyone who works there is super friendly!

I haven't had one thing on the menu I didn't like! The chicken parm, lemon chicken and cottage fries are my favorite go to's and the portion sizes are huge!

Depending on how busy it is, you might have to wait 15+ minutes to get your food so if you're in a rush, I wouldn't recommend. HOWEVER, I think it's worth the wait!

A true mom and pop stop for good food. I can end the review right here but I'm sure you want to know what is so good. The chicken ceasar salad is great. It comes with pasta salad. The bread is kind of hard, avoid it. The chicken parm sandwich is pretty great too. Sadly, it doesn't come with pasta but you'll be so full that you won't miss it. The Italian beef isn't bad but it's not Portillos (or Al's Beef).

There is always a wait during the lunch hours but it's worth it.

I've lived a block away from this place for 12 years and I just tried it recently for the first time. Not sure why I waited so long, I knew it was there the whole time. As everyone has mentioned, it's legit old school inside. No frills Italian deli/diner counter-type service. The large menu is written on a chalkboard and it's a bit hard to read. We had the Italian beef pizziola and the chicken caesar sandwich with pasta salad. Portion sizes are large. I thought the food was fine, but nothing amazing. It's a good option for quick, homey Italian food for lunch in the loop.

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.