As lunchtime rolls around, caffeinated, cubicle-confined Loop office workers prowl the downtown streets for quick, delicious eats. Some venture a bit out of the way to try this homey Italian restaurant that offers a break from the usual burrito or soggy Subway sandwich. Although these hungry hounds will notice not-so-cheap prices here (the Italian beef costs $5.10; entrees average $6.50-$8.50), the charming mom-and-pop atmosphere is a nice break from the mass-produced, corporate feel of Wendy's and Taco Bell.
Since 1972, owners Joe and Claudette have served Italian eats in their quaint storefront space. Red-and-white checkered tablecloths and old black-and-white photos of steam-powered trains and classic automobiles shout vintage, as do the old bread tin, painted ceramic cookie jar and old-fashioned radio in the window and the plastic Meister Braü clock on the wall. The daily soup is advertised on a small chalkboard; the rest of the menu hangs on a giant chalkboard near the ceiling. The Italian sausage sandwich is J&C's trademark, so give it a taste test. If the first floor is full—it's bound to be during lunch hour—walk upstairs to the second floor.
Although the spot is currently only open for lunch, the owners are thinking about opening for dinner, too, in an effort to catch some of the evening crowd in the nearby West Loop.
Average cost: <$10
Centerstage Reviewer: Alicia Eler
