I work at a non-profit in the area and order from Arturo's all the time for corporate lunches. 1. Everyone loves the food. Ordering for a group of people is always tough because people are particular in what they like and Arturo's is the only place I have ordered from where I never receive any complaints. 2. The service is incredible. I know I can always rely on them and they are so professional. Whenever anyone asks me for recommendations on where to order from in the area, Arturo's is always at the top of the list. Thanks for being so great! read more

Jim and his team always do a great job. The food here is consistently delicious, with a variety of options. The daily specials are a big hit, and I love the Milano and Roma sandwiches. read more

It's great for what it is, an express lunch spot in the loop. Great pricing and deals for the area and service is fast. Ordered the pizza and it was heated quickly. Ingredients tasted pretty fresh with lots of cheese. Was a nice quick, lunch option. read more

Arturo's is the best of all immediate need worlds. If need a cappuccino RIGHT NOW, they're there for me. Skipped breakfast - egg and bacon sammies to- go. In need of quick, light nutrition - salad! Good, fast, cheap. And nice people. There is a Starbucks just around the corner but there's no need. read more

My brother's lived in the building this place is attached to for over a year and only been here once. When I asked him why he responded "Meh...it's nothing to really write home about." I tried them for myself the other day and pretty much felt the same way. It's not bad by any means, but certainly nothing super special. Simple sandwiches, salads, pastas, and pizzas. Slightly above average, but not thrilling enough to make you go even a block out of your way. They're really quick and convenient so if you live in the building it's not a bad option, but like my bro said...Don't expect to write home. read more

When setting foot back on United States soil after my recent European trip, they didn't ask me at Customs if I had anything to declare. But if they had, I would have stated proudly, "I now hate Italian food!" Now it's not for the reason that might come to mind. Having real Italian food in Italy did not sour me on the Americanized version. Quite the opposite. The complete lack of flavor in every pasta that I got (the original Italian style pizza lived up to the hype) overseas made me crave the underly ingredianted, overly spiced, overly oiled, tomato pasty goodness of cheap American spaghetti (and mostacholli and gnocchi and, well, I think the point is made). The thing is, they seem to think in Italy that Italian-American food is worse than it actually is; and, therefore, they can get away with anything in the big cities. They're wrong. There are even Italian delis that serve good food around here! One is close to the food wasteland that surrounds my workplace. The first meal I had when I got back to work, therefore, to wash away the bad memories of Italian cuisine was this oasis of cheap "Italian" - Arturo Express. Their pasta sauce is basically something out of a can. But, darn, it's bene! For $4.75 (I mean, that's only four Euro, try finding that in Italy) they slather a large ladle of the stuff over a huge plate of noodles and give you a cheap American roll to boot (they charge for the bread in Italy, the nerve). Plus, and I know this is a given here but I have to say it anyway - they have FREE water WITH ICE! And on Thursdays, the whole thing that would make an Italian faint but me cheer is buy one get one free (with or without meatballs). Not to say that I think all Italian food is pasta. I tried some actual panini while I was over there as well. And, let me tell you, give me Arturo's fake Italian-style subs over most authentic Italian sandwich any time. The tomatoes and cheeses may taste better in the mother country, but Arturo piles their lesser Yankee cousins on sandwiches thick and tasty. And the best part is, picky eaters get to speak to them in English! Would I seek out Arturo's on holiday? No. But, hey, if I were touristing at the Willis Tour, they would definitely be worth a lunch-sized vacation across the street. read more

My supervisor brought me here for lunch because of a special she used to get every week when she worked in the area SEVEN YEARS AGO. Part of me wondered how a place can stay alive without changing literally anything but I guess if it aint broke... The place definitely gets super packed at noon. I definitely prefer the freshly made sandwiches over anything else, but the salads also look very tasty. I'd probably avoid the pastas they have sitting on the hot plates; while the portions are large, they're kind of meh. But this is 100% the kind of quick office person's lunch spot where you can have a fast grab and go routine without actually eating the same thing every day. read more

My office just moved to the other side of the river. A coworker and I went exploring for new lunch places, and we found an awful lot of nothing - until we stumbled up on Arturo. Upon entering, we saw that the special was a pesto chicken sandwich. My word, was that thing good. Pesto, chicken, mozzarella, all grilled to perfection. It was a big sandwich, too - no sides needed here! We returned today, but alas, the pesto chicken is just that - a special. Instead, I gave the pasta with broccoli and chicken a go. It had a little red pepper kick that I wasn't expecting, but I enjoyed it. And two very enthusiastic thumbs up for the Italian wedding soup I had on the side - so very good. There isn't much to be enthusiastic about on this side of the river, but Arturo is a lone bright spot in the sea of chain restaurants. Yum. PS - for the ladies, this place is a sausage fest. And we're not talking Italian sausage, either - we were the only chicks in the joint! read more

One of the few independent places left to eat downtown - and the quality SHOWS. My buddies and I meet for lunch on a regular basis, and they specialize in italian sandwiches and pasta. Now, you ask yourself, in the fatitude of this era, why do you want to eat pasta? Well, at some point in your life, if you realize you should eat normal portions, no sugared soda (unsweetened tea or diet soda), and exercise, you CAN eat good food and save the 100 calorie can/box/tub/packet/bar for a nuclear winter event. The tweet on that is," YOU make yourself fat. Not the lunch, the clothes, or the stripes." The sandwiches (chicken caesar, italian sub, hot and cold, etc), salads, pasta (lasagna, tortellini, pesto), all have good normal portions which taste excellent. The other day I had the buffalo chicken hot sandwich - be still my harden heart. It was loaded with chicken and had just perfectly toasted cheese on top on a crisp, not stale, italian roll. So go in, get food, and don't eat the damn candybar in your desk. Drink some water and walk around and you can eat here without thinking,"Will this lunch make me fat?" Yeah, if you eat ten of them. read more

This place caters lunch for my office probably about once a week. Their vegetarian dishes are dismal, over cooked, poorly put together mush. A favorite of theirs is "pasta with oil" and "green beans with basil" both which are so bad that people buy their own lunch on days this restaurant is used. read more

Good old Arturos. I think they've existed the full 9 years I've worked in a building nearby. I have some faves but leave at a 3 star for the minimal healthy options (salads are pasta or meat- heavy with few veggies) and a smidge pricier than I'd like to pay for what I get. BUT if I want to dare spend the afternoon at my cube fighting a food coma, I'll try their spinach lasagna. They do have a truly awesome marinara. And that's even with Venice Cafe just a 1/2 block away... Most offerings include some kind of meat but I will from time to time indulge in the napoli sandwich (pesto, fresh mozzarella, roasted red pepper, basil- toasted) and back in my more carnivorous days, I enjoyed a chicken salad sandwich (or salad) that was mighty tasty (with black olives in the mix). Breakfast is decent and a bit more homemade then the other usual suspects in the area. I just wish they'd have more healthy offerings so I don't get in trouble every time I walk through their door. read more

I just got back from having lunch here, and lets just be serious....im still thinking out the awesome Chicken Tortellini salad i just had. The dressing was perfect, the salad was huge, and it was just a great lunch! It looks to have a pretty good selection of sandwiches, pizza and some fantastic looking deserts. Everything is resonably priced. My lunch (salad and a fountain drink) cost less than $8 I'll def be going here again! read more

Great breakfast and lunch place right by the train station. The people who work here are super nice and they have typical-Italian sandwiches and food along with daily specials to keep it interesting. I would reccomend the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich that they have on Tuesdays. I am also a big fan of the pesto chicken or the pesto pasta - very garlicky but oh so good. read more

I give them a 5 on the bread and everything else goes downhill from there. I had lunch here with a couple of my college buddies who work close by. I got the Italian sub heated with hot peppers. I also got the smallest side of pesto pasta I have ever seen. Both were pretty tasty, but for the price of almost 10 bucks (including a small drink) I feel like I was a bit shorted for what I got. Oh yeah, and it was crowded as ever! We were there at prime time lunch hour on a Friday, but the seating arrangements make it very tough to get around in the place when it's busy. Claustrophobics beware! read more

This place is great. I've brought a couple people here for a bite to eat when they go to Union Station during the day and no one has ever been disappointed. I must say that I am becoming addicted to the Meat Lasagna special that they do on Tuesdays. The proprietors are in fact very friendly and the service is always quick. Highly recommended. Oh, and make sure to get a chocolate chip brownie one fo these days, they are really good. read more

Oh my. The menu looked great, it really did. Splitting a caesar salad, soup and pizza with the husband while on my lunch break, what could be better!? The clam chowder was good, it really was. However, the soup and pizza were blech. No flavors whatsoever. It honestly didn't taste like anything. Both of us were completely underwhelmed with it. We even got an oreo brownie for dessert and didn't even eat half of it. Yet again, not good. The workers were really pleasant and gave us a punch card which I was excited about, but threw it away since we won't be back. read more

If your tired of Starbucks, panda express, and big chain sandwich shops, those that work in the West Loop should try venturing here. Open early for breakfast. Their coffee is mediocre but their bagel and croissants are pretty good. I come here more for lunch. Service is pretty fast so if your on a time crunch or look to pic up carry out , this place is what you are looking for. If you're planning to sit down, I must warn you, it can get crowded. But because of their speedy service there is a chance you'll be able to grab a table. It's not guaranteed but you're chances aren't that bad. Aside from their yummy-licious bagel sandwiches, my top choice pick from Arturo Express is their Italian Beef sandwich known as the "Tuscany". Just picture this... A buttload of juicy, thinly sliced, Italian beef smothered in your choice of cheese (I recommend a white cheese) accompanied by an assortment of more than compatible spices, all on top of a crispy yet doughy yet crispy piece of bread. read more

I love this place. It is one of my favorite lunch spots. I would have the say the spinach lasagna is my absolute favorite. Sometimes I take a salad from home and split the lasagna in two servings so I can have it twice during the week. Also that much lasagna can be a bit heavy and would probably make me sleepy if I ate the whole thing! They also serve breakfast which is quite reasonably priced. I usually get a bagel with their chive cream cheese- delicious. read more

This is exactly the kind of place that you want to have near your office. They offer a decent variety of sandwiches, salads, and warm entrees....all at a reasonable price (especially by loop standards). Possibly the best thing about this place is the service. Always quick and with a smile. For anyone looking for a great mom & pop stop in the loop, look no further. read more

I work right across the street from Arturo's... Every time i go into this place for lunch I tell myself I am going to try something new... and every time I inevitably order the Italian Beef/Sausage combo sandwich. It might be the greatest sandwich on the planet. The pesto pasta salad is fantastic also although the portions are not that hearty... But hey, when your sandwich weighs 20 pounds, who needs a big pasta salad side? read more

After arriving in Union Station extremely hungry and ready to try Chicago's famous foods, I looked on Yelp and decided to try the Italian Beef here. The sandwich was definitely filling and I liked how they melted the cheese without making the sandwich greasy. However, I didn't think the sandwich was anything special. I had initially contemplated getting pizza, but it looked pretty unappetizing. Service was okay though it was loud, which made ordering food over the counter difficult. Arturo's is a decent spot to check out if you're looking to grab something quick before catching a train or bus. read more

I think Arturo's does a great job. Their meatball san is top notch and the Pizzas are pretty good too. Never tried the pasta special, but they always look good too. And the price is righ. read more

This place is a hidden gem! Really nice change from the typical chain place for lunch. I am obsessed with the Napoli (it might be my favorite sandwich of all time, which is really quite a statement! LOL) They have pizzas, pastas, salads, sammies, pasta salads, soup, etc etc. It just seems like a well run place with quality ingredients. Definitely check it out if you get a chance! read more

Stopped in here during lunchtime based on the reviews. While I was there, I noticed there wasn't any letup in customers. They kept streaming through the front door. The special ran around 6 and change including the sandwich, chips and drink. I had the Italian beef with hot peppers, chips and drink and it came to a few dollars more. The beef was tender (always a good thing and tough Italian beef is terrible) and the hots made it spicy. Not to the level I love but to the level I like. The flavor was good. All in all, for the price, well worth it. The staff was polite and cheerful the whole time I was there. Most people took takeout but I think there were enough tables had most stayed. They appeared to have a wide assortment of sandwiches and pizzas to accommodate most tastes. It was enjoyable. read more

Arturo Express - Italian beef - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decent lunch spot. One thing I don't like is you're kind of thrown right in the fire as the door leads directly to the line. No great place to stand out of the way and peruse options. The daily special was spaghetti, salad and a drink for $6. Solid deal, but I went for a grilled sandwich since I didn't want spaghetti. With drink, my meal was $10...a bit excessive. My turkey/bacon grilled sandwich wasn't bad. Would like to come back and try some pizza. read more

There are many options in the Loop for lunch, but I have no idea of any of them especially near Wacker and the west end. His suggestion so I didn't know what to expect. So it's Italian. I assumed Mexican by the name alone. We walked in right around 1215p and it was organized chaos. It's that cafeteria style service that often trips people up. But no matter. We cruised down the line after a 10 minute wait in the queue. I noticed a great, limited selection of Italian treats and many options for sandwiches. They have salads and and actual dinner meals (think Sbarro without the pizza). I decided on the lasagna with some extra meat sauce. It was very nice. Not the best, but tasty. I also got myself a brownie. All told, $12 is a bit steep as everything is an option. If you're coming for lunch, be sure to get here a tad early or a tad late. You might not get a seat otherwise. People are courteous and don't take up more space than they need. read more

Visited twice. First visit over a month ago so all I can tell you is whatever it was it was standard because I remember great and horrible. Second visit we tried meatball sandwich and chili. Didnt care for the chili and loved the meatball sandwiches. i will venture back to try more of their menu and maybe a breakfast. There needs to be better signage because no one is sure where to pick what up and and who waits on what section. read more

One of my favorite loop lunch spots. I usually grab one of their flat bread pizzas, though the pasta and sandwiches have proved tasty as well. They use extremely fresh ingredients and have excellent customer service. I recommend showing up in the 11:30 or 1 range to avoid a pretty serious rush. Prices are a bit higher... more like the range of Cosi or Corner Bakery -- so I can't say I'm a regular. read more

I used to come to Arturo's a lot for lunch, but I've slowed down recently. The rest of my lunch crew pointed out that the quality may not be good enough to justify the price, and while I tried arguing the point for awhile, I ultimately had to concede. The brownies and other desserts are particularly expensive for a fast-dining / take-out place. My favorites here are the muffalatto and the Italian beef sandwiches. The staff has been consistently friendly, and will go out of their way to remember your name if you're a semi-frequent diner (I don't think I ever went more often than once every couple of weeks). read more

They have loyalty cards where they give you a free entree after X amount of visits. Well I used to keep them with my Metra pass and it got stolen. So the next time I visit I'm waiting in line to pay the cashier I casually tell the owner of what had happened, and how dissapointed I was since I had a fully stamped card. He gave me the benefit of the doubt and gave me another card with half of the card stamped out saying that he will meet me half way. I thought it was a good gesture, something he didn't have to do at all. Their Cran-Turkey salad is awesome with their homemade dressing and I also enjoy their personal pizzas. Sometimes the service is inconsistant but the customers need to speak up bit because it gets very loud in there. read more

Sandwiches, Pizza, Salads, or Pastas?? It's your choice. They have a wide variety of options for you to consume. They have daily specials to which I typically take full advantage of as it's such an awesome purchase. You can dine in our take out. They always have a 'buy 9 items, get 10th item free' card to use as well - if you're going to dine their alot, you might as well enjoy free! Be mindful that lunch time is lunch time. It is a somewhat popular spot at noon, but on the good side they keep the line moving :) All in all, this is on my Loop Lunch list and I'll continue to visit this local spot. Cheers. read more

This place is right near my work and we go their often. Laurie and Jim make a point to learn your name and what you like. They will customize your sandwich in any way their ingredients allow (and they remember our favorite combos). Their cookies are tasty, and I really like the chicken-salad salad. The spinach lasagna is great--the tomato sauce tastes fresh. Do split it with someone or make it two meals. Be happy if you forget your breakfast at home--the bagels and croissants are excellent. read more

The best cheese sub I ever had:) The bread is fresh and crispy french bread with a lot of taste. Cheese was amazing..Everything. It felt like something I would make at home. There is always something missing from subs you get from quiznos, subway, jimmy johns, etc. The breads feel like sponge and tasteless, and most of the time you dont even taste the cheese in the sandwich. I have new sub to-go place now!! I am still licking my fingers..Ok that's kind of unsanitary as I am typing, but this sub(Napoli) was that good. And to top it all we got a smile as we were ordering, as we were paying and as we were leaving! read more

This place serves the expected italian fare, but their food is awesome - This isn't a sit down place, although once you get your food, there is ample seating - The subs and pizza are great - I have had the Spicy italian and also the Veggie Pizza - both were everything you could expect out of that dish Arturo is convenient, speedy, and their food is really good italian food fast read more

Just found out about Arturo's today from a fellow Yelper and I must say, their Chicken Pesto is truly a hit! (So much so, they brought me out of my review writer's block). I called them five minutes before closing and managed to get them to take my order. 10 minutes later, I'm there, greeted by the manager. I told him I heard about Arturo's Chicken Pesto on Yelp, and he actually gave me a taste of the Pesto Pasta to go with my sandwich... Okay, let's get to the nitty gritty :: Their Chicken Pesto is awesome because the chicken itself is pulled (think chicken salad style) and mixed with the pesto sauce rather than it simply having pesto sauce on top of a chicken breast. This really brings the flavor home and makes all the other pesto sandwich makers look stingy. The bread is nicely toasted and the roasted peppers are the perfect accent. Bottom line :: Great service, great Chicken Pesto sandwich. Pesto Pasta could've had more pep, but I'm excited to see what other sandwiches they have. My sandwich card should help with that... Update:: Warning! Addictive! read more

The absolute best sandwich shop in the area! I keep coming back for the Napoli (almost every week!) Everything tastes so fresh and you can tell they put a lot of care into everything they do. It is a great place for a casual lunch with a coworker, or pick it up and take it back to your desk. I have not tried any of the pizza/pasta yet - but they all look great! read more

Ate here in a hurry in between trains. The service was fast and friendly. Ordered the Italian Steak Sandwich. The food wasn't anything special. They used pickled peppers despite the lady telling me otherwise. I don't like pickled peppers and would have ordered something else if I'd have known it had them. read more

I just started a new job last month at a building that is next door to Arturo's. In addition to it being a great job...this place is one of the best perks about my work week. It is an AWESOME lunch spot if you like Italian. I've tried several different items (meatball sandwich, Italian beef, chicken chili, chicken Caesar sandwich) , and they've all been very, very good. To top that off it's prices are right in line, if not below, other lunch spots around me. Last but not least, they have great service! I'm always greeted by a smiling employee and they're very quick getting people through the line. Highly recommended! read more

I had Arturo's for lunch and while at work, during the afternoon, I was tempted to give into my food coma so that I could dream about having more Arturo's. I recommend the Milano, my first love over there at Arturo's. read more

Great place, good food at a reasonable price. Stop by while waiting for Amtrak train. Thanks to yelp for the good reviews so we decided to stop by. read more