JEFFERSON PARK — The team behind BRGRBelly — once known as LeadBelly Burgers — announced Wednesday its third restaurant on the Far Northwest Side will open Dec. 1 in an attempt to give the Chicago classic Italian beef a new twist.
BeefBelly, at 4800 N. Central Ave., promises hungry Chicagoans a "chef-driven, gourmet" Italian beef that maintains the classic's "integrity," said Steve O'Brien, who runs the restaurants with his wife, Nicole.
In addition to an original Italian beef sandwich — dry roasted in a blend of spices and topped with gravy and hot or sweet peppers — BeefBelly's menu will feature:
• "Carolina BBQ" beef sandwiches with a mustard barbecue sauce, pork belly, cheddar cheese and crispy onions
• "Bourbon BBQ" beef sandwiches with charred Polish sausage, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and cilantro cream
• Sriracha beef sandwiches with a fiery pepper broth, wok-tossed vegetables, crispy wontons and siracha cream
• "Black and Bleu" beef sandwiches with a red wine sauce, Bleu cheese, crispy onions and horseradish cream
• Chipotle beef sandwiches with chipotle broth, jack cheese, roasted poblano peppers, roasted corn relish, crispy tortilla strips, cilantro and topped with green onions chipotle cream
• Garlic Parmesan beef sandwiches with roasted tomatoes, Asiago cheese and basil cream.
The eatery will also feature BRGRbelly's signature fries piled high with garlic Parmesan sauce, Sriracha or the classic salt and pepper. Chipotle sweet potato fries are also on the menu, O'Brien said.
The menu will also feature chicken sandwiches and salads — served in a bread bowl — for those looking for a lighter meal.
Every children's meal at the restaurant will feature a free trip to the sundae bar, while adults can partake in an Italian Ice — with or without booze, O'Brien said.
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, O'Brien said.
During the restaurant's first week, each customer can submit a "fun" name for the restaurant's 7-foot-wide fiberglass cow. The winner will have their name displayed for a year, O'Brien said.
"We hope to get some great creative names that tie into Chicago and Italian beef," O'Brien said.
The Portage Park BRGRBelly, at 5739 W. Irving Park Road, will be open for lunch on Saturdays starting Nov. 21, and children will eat free at the Gladstone Park BRGRBelly, 5691 N. Milwaukee Ave., with the purchase of an adult meal starting Tuesday, O'Brien said.
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