Monti's, Chicago

Making a Philly cheesesteak without an Amoroso Roll would be like making a Chicago dog without a poppy-seed bun—heresy. Philadelphia natives Chef James Gottwald and Jennifer Monti ship the chewy, crunchy rolls from the 100-year-old Amoroso bakery in Pennsylvania four times a week to their cozy Lincoln Square restaurant. Each roll is topped with lean, juicy black angus ribeye steak, fresh-grilled onions, and high-quality cheese, including french fries tossed with a dusting of celery salt. Monti's skill with these classic flavors earned praise from Chicago Reader scribe Mike Sula and led Thrillist to name their version one of the Best Cheesesteaks Not Made in Philly. The laid-back, full-service bar offers an ever-changing list of craft beers that often include Chicago breweries such as Half Acre, Revolution, and Metropolitan.