RIVER NORTH — Officers lined up to snag a free hot dog from Al's Italian Beef as part of a special offer to honor police.
Ahmad Haj, who's been with Al's Beef for 15 years, said he'd seen about 40 officers come in to the Al's at 169 W. Ontario St. to get a free hot dog, fries and drink on Tuesday. Al's offered the deal after being inducted into the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame.
Al's "wanted to give back to local, Illinois State and Chicago police," Haj said. He expects 30 more officers to come for the deal before the day's done. "They say, 'Thank you very much,' and I tell them, 'Thank you guys for what you do.'"
While officers usually get a Chicago-style dog or an original dog, Officer Jeffrey Burke, a regular at the Al's Beef in River North, prefers a hot dog with nothing but ketchup, tomatoes and lettuce. He comes to Al's about once every week and a half, he said in between bites of his hot dog on Tuesday.
"It's nice to be appreciated," Burke said. "I thought [the offer] was great. They decided to pass it along in appreciation of the uniformed officers."
Officer Jeffrey Burke (left) is a regular at Al's Italian Beef in River North, which offered a free hot dog, fry and drink to police officers on Tuesday. Ahmad Haj (right) said Al's wanted to give back to police. [DNAinfo/Kelly Bauer]
Another officer left and three more lined up at the register as Burke ate. Police cars were parked around the restaurant, and officers, including Burke, joked and talked with Haj.
"Thank you for what you do!" Haj said to a group of officers as they went to their seats.
Al's has lots of officers who are regulars, Haj said. But, Burke thinks he comes there a little more often than most.
"I guess you know I come here a lot when they know my name and order," Burke said.
The offer is available until 4 p.m. Tuesday at all Al's Italian Beef locations.
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