Buona

Buona has all the hallmarks of a chain restaurant—ordering kiosks, lots of metal seating, big screen TVs—but at the Streeterville location (which is the only outpost in Chicago) that’s not a bad thing. For one, they'll let you customize your Italian beef in a bunch of ways, including offering plant-based options. Plus it’s always consistent. The beef at Buona is sliced so thin it’s beyond the scope of man’s physical abilities, and each individual slice is packed with meaty, umami flavor and a pleasant black peppery-ness. The filling is juicy enough on its own (and topped with an exorbitant amount of giardiniera) that it doesn’t need to be ordered wet, but if you do decide to get it “baptized” (Buona’s term of choice), the bread will hold up well.