Great neighborhood spot. It is a very warm and inviting place with a great beer selection at reasonable prices. The Philly cheesesteak is maybe the best I've had, and the jumbo buffalo wings are incredible (my girlfriend doesn't even like wings but she ate all of them). We will definitely be back! read more

Delicious philly. Get the rocky, just the right amount of kick and very tender steak. The soups are also delicious.

Had some buffalo wings and an authentic 8 inch philly cheese steak. Both exceeded my expectations. I will definitely go back

Brittany was such a terrific server! Very friendly and attentive. She told us all about how their cheesesteak sandwiches are the best in the city ~ bragging like that is only acceptable when you can back it up the way Monti's can! We will definitely be back! read more

As someone that's been to Philly several times and visited both of the "standard" joints (Geno's or Pat's) I can say that this matches them. The rolls are from Philly (met the owner,very warm and clearly knows her stuff !) and just the right combo of chewy & cheesy.I really liked the spicy cheesesteak,and the cocktails are unique. The salted caramel martini perfectly offset my spicy cheesesteak. This is a great place to go with a group of friends & stuff yourselves silly. Also, I LOVE the fact that it isn't pretentious..just a restaurant that wants to serve great food & drinks. read more

Listen....I'm a Chicagoan through and through so Italian Beef's are my THING! When my friends and I discovered this new cheesesteak place in town, (one of them is from The East Coast) and raved about how much he loved Philly Cheesesteaks...well we just had to try it out. Upon arrival to the restaurant, I really didn't know what to expect, however, was pleasantly surprised when I opened the door. I was a cozy sized restaurant, however, the leather chairs and red walls made me feel like I was in a sophisticated downtown in Chicago (believe me...I have been to plenty). We started with the wings and the Healthy starter appetizer plate (which I didn't even know places had that). It had veggies, cheese, hummus and came on grilled pita bread. It was absolutely delicious!! Who knew eating healthier could be so good (esp since I always seem to be on a diet...LOL) I loved the presentation and the waitress was exceptionally nice. Once we consumed the starters in delight, we then decided it was time to get down to the main event. Now remember, I have not had a cheesesteak before so I really didn't know what to expect. Being the daredevil I am, I ended up ordering The Rocky (which is a spicy version of the cheesesteak). Man o man was that thing good!!! It came covered in cheese, onions and peppers! (For those of you that like hot peppers....you won't be disappointed. The best part of the sandwich was the meat! I was so tender and flavorful...no kidding every bite of this sandwich was a delight! This sandwich was hearty enough for two people to share, but that wasn't on the docket for me! One of my friends had the Turkey Grinder and the other had Italian Sausage and a pizza and they all seem very thrilled with their orders. Overall, I was very satisfied with Monti's and give them two thumbs up!! I definately will be back again and again! Thanks Monti's!!!!! read more

This place has the best Philly I've had outside of Gino's in Philadelphia. I had the original with onions and Cheddar Sauce. From the roll to the meat to the onions to the sauce it was all delicious. The fries were really good too. The big plus on the fries were that you could pick any of their pizza toppings and have them added to the fries for free. I'm a hot sauce aficionado and they had Tapitio, Trappey's, Cholula, Habanero Sauce, Salsa Picante and the house buffalo sauce. Plus, A1 and Heinz 57 sauce. They dining room wasn't very big, but it was way nicer than I thought when I heard Philly Cheese Steak restaurant. Dark wood paneling and red curtains and accents. The price is kind of steep. The sandwich was a pretty stuffed 12" for $14, so not too bad. Beer seemed expensive though, so be prepared for that. But for a Philly, definitely come here! read more

Outstanding Best Cheese Steak bar none Definitely one of my Favorites You will not be disappointed

Our son, Jake, and daughter in law, Ali, took us here when we were in Chicago. It was the best food we ate while in Chicago. The cheesesteaks were wonderful, and the pizza was the best I've ever ate! Oh, and the staff was very friendly! Can't wait to go back. read more

I just can't describe how special the food is at Monti's. Having fought my way past the fabulous cheesesteaks to experience some of the other delectable delights offered on the menu, I have to say that I was not disappointed with any selection. Being a wing & pizza snob, I decided to try both. Starting with the wings, and wanting something with flavor and heat, I decided to go with the nuclear version. Hating what some places do their buffalo sauce to make it nuclear, whether it's adding so much heat that you can't taste anything, or changing the complexion of the sauce so much that you can't even tell you're supposed to be in Buffalo, Monti's does a one step up from the Buffalo sauce, using a GHOST PEPPER puree as their heat. Just amazing what the prudent use of the uber-hot ghost pepper can do. If I hadn't already ordered the pizza, I would have ordered many more wings and kept eating them 'til I exploded! Perfect balance of taste and heat, allowing the front of your taste buds to soak in the flavor with just the right amount of heat following behind. OUTSTANDING Now let's get on to the pizza. Having searched high and low in Chicago to find what I consider a comparable pizza to the Brooklyn/New Haven/East Coast pizza with only limited success, I had just about given up in my quest. Seems like everybody has fresh ingredients to build up the flavor, yet falls short when creating the structural foundation i.e. the crust and the sauce. That bubbly chewy, not too thick, not too thin, you gotta eat every single bite kinda crust, regardless of whether it carries some topping from the middle of the pie, or is on the edge and stands alone on its merit. It all gets eaten and appreciated!! And the sauce. Depth of flavor and richness. Bold but not overpowering, and certainly not over applied. Complimented the Mozzarella/Provolone blend of cheese perfectly. NOTHING LEFT THERE EITHER! Went back a few days later for Monti's special white pizza, but that's another review. SOLID 5 STAR MENU - EVEN WITHOUT THE 6 STAR CHEESESTEAKS! read more

Thank god I found this place. Growing up around Philly I have been craving the cheesesteaks and, let's face it, those super large grinders that the city is also known for. Well imagine my surprise when I come across Monti's. Their grinders and cheesesteaks seriously rock my world. The grinders are no joke; they are packed so full it's almost impossible to close the bread around it, let alone your mouth. And while I love me some carbs, I am actually gluten intolerant (tear). But that isn't a problem at Monti's! You can get gluten-free breads and pizzas here! That's a big win in my book. And the pretzel bits are pretty tasty too (mmm...spicy dijon dip). Another win: Friday's is $5 martinis! Heck yes I'll be there. Their caramel martini rocks my world and the bartender that works on weekends is super nice. This place is a big winner and I'm ready for another weekend filled with Monti's. read more

Finally - a REAL cheesesteak in Chicago. After going to college in Philadelphia I have been looking for something close to the Philly steak for years. Monti's gave me a true "whiz with" - it was phenomenal. Great service and great food. Easily the most authentic cheesesteak in Chicago. The service was great. I spoke to the owner for quite awhile, as she is from Philly (obviously). Philadelphia memorabilia is all over the walls which is a great add (besides the St. Joe's pennant - needs to be replaced with a Villanova). Atmosphere and service are all top notch. For those who are unfamiliar with TastyKakes, make sure to try some out. Also, awesome fries that are similar to Chickie and Pete's crab fries - I highly recommend trying them out! read more

YUM! We've used Montis for catering a small birthday celebraton and have gotten takeout but last night was our first visit.......we'll be back. This former Philadelphian is so glad somebody got it right and finally brought real cheesesteaks and hoagies to Chicago........it's the bread, flown in from Philly and so worth it! The rest of the ingredients are really fresh and very high quality. The pork loin sandwich is outstanding too. Our server was quick, attentive and really helpful. The pretzel nuggets are addictive and the calamari was absolutely delicious, light and cooked with lemon, nothing like the greasy, overbreaded stuff you get at so many places. We stuck with Tastykakes for dessert, my Chicago born daughter is now a convert, and we even stocked up on some for this week's school lunches. Our salads were really fresh, the ceaser was crisp and had just the right amount of dressing. I can see where some people might think the prices are high, but it depends on perspective. Though sandwiches, comparing Montis prices to a deli sandwich is inaccurate. It is not the Philly equivalent of a Chicago hot dog stand. Montis is using really high quality ingredients, and it is evident in the product. The restaurant is small and very welcoming, a perfect place for a casual family dinner on a chilly night. The service was outstanding and we thought it was actually a pretty good value given the quality of the ingredients. Our check would have been about the same, or even more, for a comparable meal at other casual neighborhood restaurants in Lincoln Square or Andersonville. Definitely use them for catering. The packages are a great value, Jen is really helpful and a pleasure to work with. The perfect choice for a teenage party or a bowl game or even your next corporate lunch if you want to try something different. Now, if I could just get a Yuengling to go with my cheesesteak............................ read more

LOVE this place! Cute atmosphere and DELICIOUS food! I had the Authentic Philly Cheesesteak with American Cheese one time and the South Side Johnny the next. Both SO good. I think I liked the Authentic just a little better. My girlfriend is a vegetarian. You can get any sandwich with soy sausage instead of real meat. It was also delicious. The fries were really good too. You can tell they were fresh cut. I hope that everyone tries this place. You will not be sorry! We need restaurants like this in the hood. I just hope that enough people support them so they are able to stay open. read more

I have been to Monti's a couple times on Friday evenings when they have $5 martini's and have definitely enjoyed my drinks, the service and the atmosphere. My roommate and I decided to go by yesterday (on a Tuesday) evening for a martini. I did not think to ask there martini prices on a regular night, since I assumed it would be no more than $10. We were shocked when our bill came out listing that our martini's were $11.75 each. While we obviously should have checked on the price before ordering (as they are not listed in the menu), paying almost $12 for what is listed on the recipe as "Rasp Stoli". I mean, if you're going to charge me $12 at least don't tell me you also gave me the cheapest vodka out there. I'm sure I'll return (though probably not as frequently), but I definitely won't be ordering the martini's any other night than Friday. read more

Delicious vegetarian cheesesteak and fries. Very prompt and polite service. Nice beer selection. I'm definitely a fan.

I'll try this again, since for some reason Yelp thought this review wasn't worthy of staying posted. I am always searching for a great cheesesteak. It is easier said than done. That being said, Monti's is a great cheesesteak. The bread is great, the meat is great, the cheese is great. I love the french fries. I love that I can get a good beer with my cheesesteak. The owners are both friendly and passionate people. I have been here at least five or six times since it opened and I plan on continuing to visit regularly. It's a cozy spot, so you might want to head over on a weeknight. read more

Great place for cheesesteaks. My husband and I are from the Mid-Atlantic region having been to Philadelphia a number of times for authentic Philly cheesesteaks and he's taken more than 1 drive specifically just for them, so we were searching for a cheesesteak here in Chicago and had yet to find a quality one, but the search has finally been successful. Easy street parking, yes, the one-way streets might make it a little tricky to get there your first time but Google Maps was on the spot. Really good wings, love the crunchy exterior. I got the Authentic Philly with Provolone and onions, he got the Philly hoagie and we were both pleased. Impressive beer list - I had the Original Sin cider, perfect for an 80+ degree April day. Would definitely come again and recommend to friends. read more

pretzels nuggets were yummy. love the spicy mustard & cheese dipping sauces. fries were fresh cooked perfectly. philly sandwich. roll was excellent, steak wit onion and provolone were good just wish they had a bit more flavor, was looking for that pop sensation but it was missing. that being said I don't think I've had a better philly in Chicago. read more

I went to Monti;s for the second time a few weeks ago. Since everyone was working during the day, my wife asked what I was going to do on my birthday. I immediately responded, heading to Monti's". My second visit there was as good as the first. The bartender/server at that time was Tiffanie, who was very nice. James stopped over and asked what brought me there. After I told him, he had Tiffanie bring me an ice cream sandwich creation that could have easily fed three people dessert. Everyone I've met there has been wonderful. Great cheesesteaks. I have to rate them the best I've had, and I've been to Philly many time and tried all the big names. My only complaint is that Monti's is a pretty good drive for me. According to James though, that should change in the future, as they're opening more locations in the area. Great atmosphere, great employees, and best of all, great cheesesteaks! Their beer selection isn't too shabby either. Great restaurant/bar! Keep up the good work Jennifer and James. read more

Best Phili Chesse steak sandwiches in Chicago so far.

Mont's Cheesesteaks are delicious! The sandwiches melt in your mouth and make you really wanting more! The atmosphere is comfortable yet modern and Chic. The service was attentive and ready to refill, replace, or add to whatever I needed. I can't wait to go back! read more

Monti's came highly recommended, and I was worries it wouldn't live up to the expectations. I never had a Philly cheese steak and didn't know if I'd like it. What a ridiculous worry, Monti's sandwiches were pure bliss, so savory and salty with high grade meat. I walked out the door wishing I had places an order to go, I've been dreaming of it ever since. Good selection of beers too. Staff was great, they even gave us free shots! read more

Very good place to get a quality cheesesteak. We had the traditional philly and the hoagie and both were very good! Almost as good as Pat's... read more

Monti's is as good as a restaurant gets! Me and GF used a Groupon today and were very happy with the results! I had a South Side Jimmy and she had an original. I asked to have mine upsized to 12" and it was no problem, but I couldn't finish it. They boxed it up no problem! Olivia was our server and was fantastic! Always have a great time when we come here, and this time was no exception! If you want a good Philly Cheesesteak, you need to be here! They also have a great beer/cider selection if you're into that! read more

I've been here a number of times and after visiting Philly this past weekend and I must say, Monti's has it going on - it's the real deal. The people at Monti's clearly have taken the best elements of the sandwich and presented here in Chicago with some stellar and delicious variations. I like the Rocky best, since it packs a punch. Highly recommend this place for lunch; only downside is that you'll wish you didn't have to go back to work. read more

Super yummy, authentic, cheesesteak. The only reason I give it 4 instead of 5 stars is the price. A little too expensive to be a regular!

Oh my.... I already need another Cheesesteak...it's salty, cheesey, oniony, happiness on a fantastic (and authentic, from what I hear....though I haven't been to Philly) roll. I'm totally craving it! I split the Cheesesteak and a pizza with my friend. I was really impressed with both, and I could tell the pizza was hand-crafted. The pretzel nuggets were fun and super tasty. I did try a couple of the specialty cocktails, and they were darn good :-) All in all, for stumbling into a restaurant (on what turned out to be their opening night!) I was SO incredibly happy with the outcome! Folks, it's time to head west of Western and experience some REALLY good eats. Great job, Monti's! read more

Checked this place out the other day. Cheesesteak was salty, but delicious. I could eat the pretzel bites all day long. A bit pricey, but worth it overall. Staff was amazingly friendly - always a huge plus. All in all, highly suggested and I will return. read more

The absolute best cheese steaks in all of Chicago. I love this place and can't get enough of the chicken cheese steak. My daughter and I go here almost every other weekend and its one of our favorites. The wait staff could not be friendlier and the food is pretty affordable. The classic rock playing in the background and the hockey games on TV make this an awesome spot to dine in at. My one and only gripe is that they need to provide mustard in the same type of bottles that ketchup comes in, cause mustard packets are too big of a messy hassle. read more

This place kicks ass and never disappoints. The people are friendly and the food is super delicious. Dining inside is cozy, take out is easy, and catering is a great choice if you want to be popular and liked by others. Thanks Monti for making the best cheesesteak around. read more

Great cheese steaks (and pretzel nuggets). Reasonably priced drinks. Really good place for families. I live close by and have frequented it often. Monti, the owner, is also super friendly. read more

I can't believe all the rave reviews about their Cheese steak here. A friend and I love going to Philly's Best and everyone compares this to them or say it's one of the best. We went in on a very slow Sunday afternoon, there was only one other couple sitting at the bar and the restaurant was empty. I got a classic philly cheese steak. What I received was a crumbling piece of bread with dry beef bits and very little cheese. This place isn't worth the time or money. read more

Rokey I couldn't agree more with you, I've seen this on a tv show and I guess that they wouldn't say the place was bad when it is. I went in there and I have to say that I loved the layout of the place and thought it would be a great local bar if I lived around there. The staff that were working were extremely friendly and I could see having drinks there and talking to the staff and customer's. But that's where the nice comments end. I unfortunately ordered the Philly cheese steak and they came with the fries. Unfortunately I ordered mine to go other wise I would of said something to the owner even though I don't think they could of corrected anything. I live in the northwest suburbs (luckily I was in the area for monties other wise they might not of gotten the 1 star for me driving out of my way). I couldn't even finish the sandwich or the fries and the smell was making me sick and I had to pull over to throw out the garbage (food) before I got to the highway. Going there for drinks would be ok if I was in the area and everyone was friendly but I don't think I could stomach the food. It was a real shame seeing how this tv show rated how good it was and it definitely seemed to have been their speciality. There is a greek restaraunt in Palatine named Chiggy's that have great philly cheese steak sandwiches and that's not even their speciality. Sorry to the owners but your food is not worth the trip or write home about, but you guy's were friendly... read more

First visit yesterday. After reading some good reviews, bought a Chicago Reader Deal and drove 12 miles to try it out. It's near where I run every weekend so I was excited about finding a possible new post-run place for my gang to eat. Just in the door I realized I forgot to print out my coupon. Pulled it up on my phone and asked if they could take it, and the owner said no, she needed the hard copy. I totally understand that. She was sitting at the bar with an ipad and I asked if I could email it to her and she print it for me. She first said yes, but then had trouble printing it. I asked if she could just screen shot it and print it from that, and her comment was "That's a lot of trouble for me to go to". Hey, ya know what? It was also a lot of trouble for me to drive 12 miles to check out your restaurant. Sandwich was pretty good. Bread was great. Decent beer selection. But I would expect a little more customer-oriented attitude from the owner. Also, don't go if you don't like cheesesteaks, there's not much else to eat there. read more

Holy crap! Never had I had a sandwich or place live up to it's billing like that before. Amazing. Best Philly I have ever had, I have not even tried the specialty one's yet. Makes me think overall a Philly is even better than an Italian beef, it is that good. I can't wait to dine in, have a beer, and enjoy more of this place. read more

Been looking for authentic Philadelphia food and finally found it! The cheesesteaks at Monti's we're amazing. We were there on a Saturday night at 5:30 for an early dinner. Cute restaurant with lots of Philly decor. Service was outstanding and beer on tap was great too! We will be back! read more

This place is fantastic! I don't eat beef but the vegetarian sub is unreal!!! It is so delicious! The fries are to die for! The Friday's drinks specials are awesome. Had the mai tai, the bar tender is so cool! Great atmosphere! Comfortable and chill zone. I'm in all the way and happy I'm in the neighbourhood :) read more

Variations of Philly cheesestakes. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Plenty of much better options around.

First time trying the place and it was delicious! I had the wings and the Authentic Cheesesteak. Yummy! The server was really nice and you could tell the food is made after the order is placed. I'm always skeptical of places that have your meal ready as soon as you place the order, so I'm glad Monti's has fresh food. I definitely will be back! read more