First-time visitors to Beverly and nearby Morgan Park may not notice that all of the bars and restaurants are on the west side of Western Avenue. It’s a vestige of the 1930s, when voters approved a referendum making the east side of Beverly dry. Still, the overall area offers plenty of diverse dining and drinking options. You won’t find the chef of the moment or the newest food fad here, but if you’re looking for good eats with a little history, head straight to the southwest side of Western.
Cafe Luna
This funky little spot offers a broad menu for a coffeehouse–everything from breakfast sandwiches to hot dogs, along with a selection of baked goods. Signature items have “moon” references, like the Full Moon Sub with turkey, ham, salami and Swiss; and the Harvest Moon Wrap with turkey, roasted bell pepper and provolone. Vegetarians will be happy to hear that meat-free sandwiches are also a specialty. The storefront has an eclectic mix of furniture, with comfy couches and leather chairs, and even a piano in the corner. 1742 W. 99th St. 773-239-8990.
Original Rainbow Cone
The oldest business in Beverly has been serving up ice cream to locals for 78 years. The name comes from the signature rainbow cone, a flavor combo with chocolate, pistachio, strawberry and Palmer House (a cherry-nut blend) ice creams, plus orange sherbet, all layered in a cone. 9233 S. Western Ave. 773-238-7075.
Fox’s Beverly Pub
This family-owned pizza and pasta spot has been a neighborhood standby since 1954 and is best known for thin-crust pizza topped with a sweet-yet-spicy tomato sauce. The dark, woodsy restaurant has the cozy feel of a European pub. 9956 S. Western Ave. 773-239-3212.
Top Notch Beefburger Shop
This place feels like a time warp, with its ’50s soda fountain feel. Top Notch opened its doors in 1942 and has been serving delicious half-pound burgers ever since. The patties are made fresh on the premises and the shakes are a must–especially the Oreo cookie version. 2116 W. 95th St. 773-445-7218.
Franconello’s Italian Restaurant
You can picture Sammy, Dean and Frank hanging out at this retro-looking spot. The fare is traditional Italian, with specialties like sausage and peppers, gnocchi, cavatelli and a two-inch-thick pork chop Vesuvio. No store-bought desserts here–the tiramisu is made to order, layered in a specialty martini glass. 10222 S. Western Ave. 773-881-4100.
Janson’s Drive-In
This spot will remind you of “Happy Days,” with the look of a ’50s drive-in minus the carhops. The cheese fries, hot wings, burgers and shakes have kept folks coming back for years. There’s no indoor seating here, only a small stand-up counter for takeout and outdoor tables that fill up in warmer weather. 9900 S. Western Ave. 773-238-3612.
Calabria Imports
This deli has a great selection of imported Italian meats, cheeses, olive oils, pastas and sauces, along with offering made-to-order deli sandwiches, soups, pastas and pizzas. House specialties include Italian beef and sausage sandwiches. 1905 W. 103rd St. 708-388-1500; 773-365-5800.
DiCola’s Seafood
There’s no seating in DiCola’s, but this seafood shop does a brisk carryout business. The family-owned store was established in 1933 and features a wide variety of fresh and frozen fish and fully cooked meals to take home. The display case has a large selection of breaded seafood, including sea scallops, salmon and Dover sole. 10754 S. Western Ave. 773-238-7071.
County Fair
This family-owned grocery store sells corned beef in bulk–fresh from the brine–especially around St. Patrick’s Day. Locals buy it in huge quantities to feed revelers at house parties on parade day. Red potatoes, freshly baked rye and soda breads are hot sellers, and you can’t beat the price of cabbage at nine cents a pound. 10800 S. Western Ave. 773-238-5576.
Beverly boom
New boutiques, art galleries and pubs are changing the face of Beverly. Check out our neighborhood guide on page 30. For more on Beverly, see RedEye’s City Insider in Friday’s issue. Get the scoop on the South Side Irish Parade on page 29.
