Luke's Italian Beef

Want an Italian beef with a side of kitschy decor? Look no further than Luke’s, a counter-service spot in the Loop seemingly plucked from one of Universal Studios' themed city-scapes. However, the massive Italian beef sculpture protruding from the wall looks more appealing than the real version actually is. Sure, the bread doesn’t disintegrate under the weight of the beef, but that’s because the beef is kind of dry and stringy. The meat has no flavor, as though it was boiled in unspiced gravy. Luke’s is filled with unsuspecting tourists eating close to their hotel, or people working in the neighborhood who have exactly 12 minutes between meetings to grab lunch—and they’re probably ordering one of the other sandwiches, pastas, or pizza slices on the menu instead.