Buona, The Original Italian Beef, opened its newest location to over 1,000 new customers at 613 North McClurg Court on Saturday November 4—hundreds of whom waited in line before they opened their doors. The family-owned business, which has preserved the city’s great Italian beef traditions, is pleased to bring its take on Chicago’s iconic sandwich to Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, just east of the Magnificent Mile.
The family-owned fast casual chain serves a blend of old-school Chicago classics, including their signature Italian Beef, Italian Sausage, Beef & Sausage Combo, Meatball and Pepper & Egg sandwiches, alongside fresh, scratch-made fare including pizzas, salads and more. The menu also features Chicago-style hot dogs and seasonal shakes, sandwiches and more. The new restaurant is in a comfortable modern setting, and offers dine-in, carry out and delivery services. The restaurant also offers catering services that include ready-made sandwiches, heat and eat options and platters of Italian favorites such as Mostaccioli and Lemon Chicken.
Buona is the last of the 100 percent family-owned restaurant groups serving Chicago’s original Italian beef. The first Buona restaurant began with a secret recipe and a legacy that stems back to the beef stands that emanated from Chicago’s famous Union Stockyards. Founder Joe Buonavolanto, Sr. was among a group of Italian immigrants who made the Italian beef sandwich a staple of Chicago’s culinary scene, taking a second mortgage on his home in order to open the company’s first restaurant in Berwyn, IL. His focus on family and tradition, and his dogged adherence to the original method for making Italian beef have been essential in driving the company’s expansion. Today, Buona is the Official Italian Beef of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, and is proudly served at Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate fields, as well as at all home Chicago Bears football games.
“We’re proud of our father and the company that he founded,” says second-generation owner Joe Buonavolanto. “He has instilled a sense of pride and tradition in his children—values that we have passed on to our children. He also taught us how to make one helluva beef sandwich!”
Seating 75, the Streeterville location’s design features a mix archetypal Chicago materials and classic modern elements. The location will feature outdoor seating in warmer months.
