I'm not sure how many of you remember, but back in MYYY day (oh lord I'm old), Rax was a legitimate chain, a competitor to Arby's. After many years of the chain struggling, there are very few locations left. This spot in Joliet is basically the only Rax for, like, 500 miles. So that makes it very unique. That also means they're struggling against the odds. The store has clearly not been updated in years and years. (Although the 50s formica tables/chairs are super awesome and spotlessly clean.) The signage on the inside menu board is straight out of 1992, which really tickles me, I gotta say. The staff and the manager clearly do their best to keep this place up. As for the food, it's quite pricey. Their baked potatoes are like four bucks a pop. But you'll see why this place still does good business when you try their BBC - the roast beef, bacon, and cheese. It's phenomenal. And the liquid cheese has a pleasantly sour taste, almost vinegar-y, which pairs beautifully with the beef. The bacon is surprisingly good, too, way better than the typical fast food fare. Speaking of their beef, they cut it alllll day, so what you get on your sandwich has just been sliced - you can watch the process. So basically this is an out-of-place chain restaurant that time forgot. That's why I love it, and that's why I make the drive to Joliet. read more

Rax is an awesome food stop. First off, they have the best baked potato's you'll find at a fast food restaurant. (I'm partial to the broccoli and cheese baked potato, personally.) I've never met anyone that didn't have great things to say about the BBC (beef, bacon, cheddar). The turkey club or ham and swiss are also solid choices. If you're not up to a baked potato they have the best curly fries around in my opinion. If you're eating inside they have a very diverse salad bar with plenty of fresh veggies. Overall this is a can't miss stop for lunch or dinner. The service is great and its clean inside if you care to dine in. read more

Haven't been here in years. Food is still absolutely delicious. The roast beef is super flavorful, the bread is soft and buttery and the curly fries are crispy. I was probably the 6th car in the drive through and it only took like 5 minutes from start to finish. There aren't many Rax left, go while you still can! read more

Good food,good salad bar, and their cheese and broccoli potatoes are great. Just about the only locally owned fast food restaurant around. They just need to take a little more care in mopping the floors, always a little sticky. read more

One of the few remaining. Was a Arby's competitor that actually tasted better. Food is not quite what it was back in the 80's, but still has great tasting beef sandwiches. Interior is dated, but adds to the experience. Staff was friendly, and food was ready quickly. read more

I love Rax. I have loved this restaurant since I was a kid. This gem has survived the 80's. For fast food it's pretty healthy. I love their straight fries. I always get the Big Rax, AKA Rax delux. read more

I would have to admit I have only had one thing on the menu. The turkey bacon club. Definitely right on the money! People I dine with have got other things and really enjoyed it. Definitely a fast food joint worth visiting!! read more

Can't beat the Roast Beef sandwich you get here, also has the the best Chili and salad bar!

I have loved the food from Rax since I was in my teens. As a currier for a delivery service, I did not expect my experience to be an different than the last 10+ years of being a patron. Everything was fine when I let them know that I was picking up an order and they asked me to pull up to the window. After a few minutes the window finally opens and a bag is handed to me without a word and the window closes. The customers bag of food is sealed and I'm unable to check the order. I was not told if my order was complete and this was the only bag. The girl comes back to the window, pulls down her mask slightly and asks me what I need. How am I supposed to know I have everything if you don't tell me it's all there and I cannot open the bag to check it. This is my livelyhood to provide for my family and I rely on my tips. I don't recieve tips for incomplete orders. read more

Get a BBC and you will not be disappointed!!! I love Rax! I drive an hour and a half at least once a year to get my BBC fix.

Super great restaurant and one of the last Rax Restaurants with a salad bar. Definitely worth the drive or stop!!! We loved it!!!!

Terrible. Open kitchen reveals one of the filthy dirtiest cooking and prep area I've ever seen. 3 chicken fingers took nearly 20 minutes to get and we're thrown away after one bite after finding they don't even use a real piece of chicken, but some kind of spongy chicken like substance. Menu is a complete rip off of Arby's, do yourself a favor and go there where they actually employ some kind of sanitation standards. All and all Rax is disgusting! read more

So glad i found Rax life hasnt been the same since and im not even lying here their roast beef tastes JUST like me grandmums baked back in the 80s with special spices and love abound they also have stuffed potatoes JUST like me pappy would bake for me during coldest winter months i think im going to franchise this out west where i live near laguna beach and hope those folks are ready for the RAX experience ya heard? read more

Had the salad bar, I was very disappointed, they have a good beef sandwich, just the salad bar was lacking, many things were empty, others were left way too long, for ten dollars I could have went to Golden Corral, and got a better selection, my mistake read more

They have excellent beef sandwiches, that are far better than Arby's. The service there is generally friendly. There is a gal there named 'Tina', who is always right on the money with your order, and always makes sure you have the extra stuff like napkins and ketchup. read more

This is mine & my family's all time favorite place to eat!!! The best roast beefs in town & curly fries!!!! We won't go anywhere for roast beef sandwiches but Rax!!!! And the cheese baked potatoes are so good & big & yummy! Best in town!!! read more

Awesome sandwiches .I love the mushroom melt and curly fries.They have a nice salad bar,baked potato,beef sandwiches,hot ham and cheese sandwiches.Yum.Great place to eat.And very clean. read more

Ok, if you're going to Rax for the buffet and reviewing them for that it's just not fair. Rax blows Arby's roast beef out of the water. Hand down Rax wins. Mushroom melt is the best. Rax is one of the few things I might even miss about living in the Joliet are. read more

Rax is a Joliet staple. For a quick roast beef sandwich I love the BBC. I used to be a fan of their buffet inside but over the years it's gotten quite gross. Otherwise the service is always nice and somewhat quick, the roast beef is tasty and the prices aren't bad. read more

I've always preferred Rax over Arbys. Their sandwiches are very good and I think the roast beef is better. They have excellent potatoes. I really enjoyed the selection at the salad bar. All the typical salad stuff plus tacos, wings, fruit, desserts. They need to give you a bigger plate since you have to keep going up to the counter to get a new one. The staff was efficient. The place could use a major upgrade in decor. read more

RAX is a good place. I see lots of negative reviews about the salad bar but the last time I was there it looked amazing. a full cake , tons of fresh veggies,peeled eggs, a full taco /chili bar, THE WORKS. The decor has despeartely needed a rehab for at least 20yrs and I avoid eating inside if I don't have to. read more

Been going to Rax since I was a kid and now unfortunately I will not be going there anymore all because the manager with the very short blond hair that day apparently was having a bad day and decided to take it out on me and my 6 year old daughter. First off, as soon as we entered there was a family in front of us so we waited and as they were done we had to wait an additional 2 -3 mins to be waited on as the two cashiers talked to one another and kept looking at us and continuing to talk. Not sure what that was about or if they thought we were with that other family but that alone was not cool. Then when i was finally waited on I ordered the buffet and I was never once informed by the cashier that they were out of soup she just put the empty soup bowl on my tray and i assumed maybe the soup was by the buffet area. When i noticed it wasn't i went back up and asked where do I get the soup, I was then informed by the manager that they were out because they sold a lot of buffets before I came in and it would be a little wait...i said forget the soup bc we were in a hurry and I was just gonna eat really quick and leave..so i gave them the bowl back. Apparently the manager didn't like that because she harassed me in front of my daughter the rest of the time. As me and my daughter were way in the back sun room and I was eating I was approached by the manager stating that since I have two plates and only bought one buffet she insisted that my daughter was eating she also insisted she had proof my daughter was eating. First off my daughter was NOT eating as she just had a root canal done right before we went there and was not allowed to eat and her mouth was numb. Secondly since its a buffet i would assume that yes I would have more than one plate bc at any buffet I've ever eaten at i was allowed more than one plate!! So i WOULD love to see her proof!!!!! Then if that wasn't bad enough as I am getting food, a taco to be exact this manager comes to me yet again and says that I am touching the food with my hand. I was appalled by this accusation insinuating that I am some dirty person that would touch food in the buffet. I would LOVE to see the video on that to because I definitely under NO circumstances would ever do something like that especially in front of my daughter!!! At this point i am so disgusted and embarrassed by her behavior and my daughter is so upset by all of this and her being accused of eating when she is in pain from the dentist i asked for my money back and she said I need to leave immediately and not come back. She did give me my money back and as i asked for her supervisors contact info she insisted she was In charge and there is no one above her but the owner and she would not give me the owners contact contact information not even an email address. So at this point i will just continue with the reviews of my horrible experience because the way she treated me and my daughter that day was unacceptable and something needs to be done! It was harassment!!!! I truly hope that it was worth it to her to to embarrass me in front of all the the customers and harass me in front of my 6 year old daughter and make my daughter upset to where she cried the whole way home and was upset the rest of the night! I really hope it was worth it! read more

The Rax sandwiches are so tender and have so much flavor, but I love their bbq sauce on them. The twisty fries are so good. I cant eat Arbys ever since the day I ate here, years ago. I also enjoy their baked potatoes with my sandwich too. its great comfort food for a rainy day. You wont be disappointed, make sure you stop in when in the area! read more

Best roast beefs in town and they're potatoes. Everything I go to Rad I must get myself a broccoli and cheese potato!! And amazing customer service! read more

Great place. Much better than Arby's, and more old school.

horrible food, it taste like it was sitting there for a while even though i saw it get cut, and the frys were so dry and tasteless. the salad bar was disgusting and it was all over the side and the floor, also the manger was throwing potatos at employees even jokeing that is not how you should do bussnies, and I think one girl that workd there was slow and everyone was like laughing and makeing fun of her. read more

Never thought Rax of all places would have a salad bar and it was really good! Not bad for $8 dollars. Lettuce was fresh, crisp and not wilted, veggies were all good and plenty of to choose from! Nice job guys! read more

I've stopped a couple times at Rax and I gotta say this food is terrible, I can't believe they are allowed to serve this. First of all the service is terrible and the managers are just rude. They need to update their decor and get out of the 80s. All in all its not worth coming here. read more

So sad. When I grew up in the 80's, Rax was a GREAT restaurant with great food and their restaurants were always nice and clean inside. Unfortunately, the Rax in my town ended up closing in the early 90's, along with many other Rax locations (there are currently only 14 remaining restaurants. One of the few remaining Rax locations that's still open is in Joliet, and so as I was coming back from Chicago yesterday, I decided to visit this restaurant just for the nostalgia and because I hadn't eaten at a Rax in 20 years. Oh dear - that's all I can say. The minute I walked into the restaurant, it looked as if they hadn't updated it since it's 80's heyday - chipped painting all over, furniture falling apart, worn decor...the restroom was just sad with it's raggedy stained curtain covering the small window. The customer service was no better - the lady that was the cashier was not very friendly at all. I ordered two roast beef sandwiches, hoping that at least the food would make up for everything else. Sadly, their sandwiches were no better than a roast beef sandwich from Arby's. In the past, Rax used to be far superior, but not anymore unfortunately. After eating my two sandwiches, I left feeling a bit sad. The restaurant chain that was once a great memory from my childhood was now nothing more than a run-down restaurant that lost everything that once made it so great. I would love for Rax to be revamped and for them to try to return to their heyday when it was once a great place, but I wouldn't be surprised if the remaining 14 locations were gone within the next few years at this rate. So, even though this recent trip was a complete disappointment, I'll still have my memories from when it was still a good place in the 80's. read more