Bari

I’ve been thinking about trying Bari for 6 months since I heard they have the #1 meatball sub in the Chi. My dreams came true yesterday as I devoured a 9-​inch meatball. Talk about a Food coma of meatball there must have been 1.5lbs of meatball stuffed in that bread topped with provolone & Mariana. Gd Bless Bari Italian! I will be back to try more subs soon.

Ordered food for delivery to a nearby office. Used the Unilocal app. Placed order about seven hours ahead of time.
Although I requested the delivery for 3:15pm, I received a call from the delivery guy after that time saying he was on his way over and they would need to charge me more for the 20 ounce bottled sodas as they were out of the cans I ordered. I told him to hurry as my meeting was starting at 3:30, I shouldn’t have to pay extra when EAT24 allowed me to order the cans, but we could work it out when the delivery guy arrived.
He politely came into the meeting at 3:40pm with the food, beverages, and repeated apologies. He couldn’t have been nicer. Didn’t ask again for the extra money.
No follow-​up or apology from the store. No offer for any type of credit or refund. The food was good but the lateness and request for extra payment just plain wrong.

If this place isn’t on your bucket list, you’re already dead. Italian sub with hot peppers, can’t find a better one.

I was actually sad after I started eating here, because after a few sandwiches, I realized that this place has achieved the coveted Sandwich Nirvana, or Sandvana, as it’s come to be called. I’ve searched near and far for a better Italian sub, but all other attempts at this perfect blend of crusty french roll, fresh spiced Italian meats, tasty cheese, oil and other toppings seem to fall dramatically short of this ineffable Platonic perfect sandwich form.
Oh, lest we forget their in-​house giardiniera. I’m one of those crazy, reckless people that has an ever-​smoldering pit of flame in my stomach, and my tastebuds sing in harmonic ecstasy with each daring bite of the Superhot Giardiniera. Seriously, the intensity is in the name, and if you can’t handle oil-​packed habanero peppers, steer clear and stick with hot or mild (also good, just not as satisfying for heat-​seekers like me).
I have to keep myself from ordering these affordable masterpieces of flavor, a task which at times seems Sisyphean, but seriously, this is a damn good sandwich.

Do it. Bari is an old time grocery store with a meat counter in the back… Except, they do a more than acceptable Chicago Italian beef sandwich. Go ahead be adventurous, try it. You’ll thank me.

Amazing deli sandwiches in the back of the grocery store. Good prices, huge sandwiches

If you’re in the Chicago area and you’re craving an authentic Italian sub, this is the spot! Served on crispy French bread with capicolla, salami, mortadella, provolone cheese, & hot giardiniera peppers, mmm, mmm, mmm, just mouth watering! This is a typical Chicago establishment; a hole in the wall with delicious food. They also have a delicious Italian style tuna salad sub. Unfortunately, I don’t get a chance to get out this way that often so I haven’t had the opportunity to try any of their other subs. However, after looking at pictures posted by other Unilocalers, I can’t wait to give them a try because they were making me hungry!

Best Italian joint in the city. You get a huge amount of food for what you pay.
The three best items (subs) on the menu:
–Italian with hot giardiniera
–Meatball with provolone and hot giardiniera
–Prosciutto and fresh Moz
There is usually a line, but they work fast. They have a little grocery area in the front of the store and there is a full deli in the back. You can get subs, salads, and all kinds of meat. Their Italian sausage for cooking is excellent too.

Love, love, love Bari’s sandwiches! It’s in a small market where you can pick up the sandwiches at the deli. What’s even better is the price! The sandwiches are such great quality and fresh ingredients with a low price.
We got the Italian sub and prosciutto with mozzarella. I couldn’t decide which sandwich I liked more and kept taking bites of both. The Italian had a good amount of meat and I loved the spicy peppers. The prosciutto with mozzarella was also delicious, although I wished it had as much filling as the Italian. Either way, yum…
Verdict: I want to go back and try all the sandwiches that are available. Grab a bag of chips and a drink in the market on your way out! You can also get one of their great sides.

A native Chicagoan told me this place had the best Italian sub sandwich in town. She wasn’t kidding. This quaint, authentic Italian grocer and sandwich shop resides in the heart of Chicago’s Italian neighborhood. Here you can find every type of pasta, sauce, and deli item you could possibly crave. From fresh mozzarella and Sicilian olives to veal chops, this place has it all. They pack a lot of items into a space that’s not much bigger than your kitchen and dining room so I could see it getting a bit snug in there during peak hours. However, it’s worth it. When you step up to the counter, treat yourself to an order of the Italian sub. The 9-​inch is priced to sell. You’ll be hard-​pressed to find a better sub for about $ 5. For a $ 1.50 more you can get the 12-​inch and have an extra meal. It comes in mild, medium, and hot. Get the mild if you’re not keen on spicy sandwiches. This place is a must try for anyone wanting a quality sandwich that will leave you full without breaking the bank.

I used to live in Hoboken and became rather spoiled by the Italian delis. I’m a sucker for fresh mutz and good bread. After reading the reviews on Bari, I had to give it a try to see how it stacked up compared to the East Coast competition. I got the Prosciutto and Fresh Mozzarella. On the whole, it was good, but not outstanding: the bread was crusty, but the fillings were limited (really kind of light on the mutz and the prosciutto). Although there was Italian seasoning and oil, I found the taste somewhat bland. I think balsamic would make for a nice addition here.
Delivery is quick though there is a $ 3 charge.

This place is about as Chicago Italian as they come and they have some great stuff inside. On this visit during X-​Mas week, we came for sandwiches. Wonderful, wonderful Bari sandwiches.
I cannot get Italian beef sandwiches in LA, where I have lived since 2002, and so that it is what I ordered… excellent. I also bought some of their house-​made giardiniera for my suitcase. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks amazing.
An excellent neighborhood deli.

A great little Italian grocery and deli. Must try their homemade sausage. Delicious, flavorful and not greasy with fat. Be sure to order a sub– the meatball was excellent– tender meatballs and a homemade tasting sauce. The bread is just right. Check out the Italian sub –with the hot peppers, if you’re so inclined. Their shelves are stocked floor to ceiling (well, almost) with all things Italian. Sure to bring a tear to any Italian who grew up with an Italian deli in their life… I opened the door to my past when I stepped inside. Olives and cheeses stink up the place just right. We couldn’t leave without some capacolla (sp?) and Gorgonzola.

With a killer combination of capocollo, genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, lettuce, tomato, and spicy giardiniera, Bari Foods in Chicago’s West Town has perfected the sandwich, any sandwich. Go!

The best sandwiches in the city! My husband and daughter stumbled upon this place by accident last year, and I’m so glad they did! They got me a sandwich, and I just had to know where it came from.
Bari is a small Italian grocer that carries a lot of specialty items and has a meat counter in the back. There they take orders for any cuts you like, how you like, and they custom make sandwiches, in three sizes The Italian, which my daughter loves, is said to be the best in the city. I love their tuna! The sandwiches come on french bread with lettuce, tomato, onion, and/​or any other toppings you’d like. They have a variety of cheeses and if you like spicy, their Gardinera is delicious.
They seem to always be busy, but they get you in and out fairly quickly, and everyone is super nice. We are definitely fans!

It’s very seldom that you will see me give a place five stars. I stumbled on to Bari Subs and Italian foods, last yr as I was lost looking for something else. But I am from Kansas City, and I think we have the best Italian food in the country. But to my surprise Bari, is by far (at least) when it comes to sandwiches and Italian meats and cheese and the best I’ve eaten. Keep up the good work Bari, I’ll be dropping by a lot when I’m in the neighborhood.

Great food, great price, great delivery!
They don’t really pay attention to the notes when ordering from eat24, but the sandwiches are good as is. Will definitely keep ordering, just may have to call in the special requests such as sides of dressing, or other extra condiments.

Again in awe of their Italian beef and Italian sub — amazing house made hot giardiniera — they just enough to meld with the flavors. The market has everything I’m looking for in an Italian grocer. The bread is from Damato’s next door, the best canvas for a masterpiece. I’ve tried other beef in good faith, but in the end I find myself racing to Bari to get a few bites (or more) to replace the taste lingering in my mouth.

You just have to go here and check it out. Words can’t do Bari justice. It’s like being teleported back to a 1930s grocery store. The deli is amazing, get an Italian sandwich. It’s huge and delicious!

Oh Bari, how do you do it?! Consistently great subs. I’ve had the classic italian, meatball, and prosciutto and mozzarella –all fantastic. Unlike some other places, I know I can count on what they deliver hitting the spot with little to no customization. They serve up flavorful meats and cheeses, and I’ve never had any complaints over the bread (though I tend to like my sammies on a chewier roll). My boyfriend and I almost always get a sub for now and one for later.
A+ for service. We ordered two 3 footers for a Super Bowl party to be picked up just before they closed that day (I believe around 4 pm). By 11:30 that morning, the snow was laying it on thick. We called to see if it was possible to move up pick up so we could get over there and get back before the roads were too nasty. We had the delicious subs in the car, slipping and sliding back home in less than an hour.
The parking hunt can be annoying, but that’s really the flavor of the neighborhood.

Bari is a pretty good although I expected to be a bit more impressed with all the rave reviews. I ordered the Italian sub because that is what you should do. First, it is a huge sandwich and just over $ 5. The meat on it was very good and fresh. The bread I found was just okay and was too much for the sandwich and the sandwich was a bit over dressed.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. We also took some deli home and a few things from the Italian market. For a small store they have a decent selection. The deli was very, very good. It was also pretty cheap for everything we got.

What a great place in a great location. Bari has a wide selection of fantastic deli foods, canned goods, Italian cookies, and my favorite giardiniera ever. They have a deli counter with a great selection of sandwiches and subs, with different specials every day. We had the Italian beef with giardiniera sauce, and it was a real bargain, at $ 9 for a gigantic foot long sandwich. It was served up on a wheat roll with a gigantic pile of tender, juicy, thin sliced Italian beef. BTW, you have to be sure to request the giardiniera when ordering. Maybe we just caught them on an off day, but I would have liked a little more (ok, a lot more) giardiniera on the sandwich than the 5 – 6 pieces of veggies we got. Overall, the sandwich was delicious, but I hope to get more giardiniera next time. Bring it on!

For a neighborhood grocer/​deli, they sure do a brisk business around the lunch hour! Although it was a great spot to pick up some grub after a morning at the Shedd, parking was pretty non-​existent and we had to park 3 blocks away! Oh well, we had meatballs on the brain so we had to commit.
When facing the deli counter, you order at the L side – the line kind of queues that way, there is no number system so just ask the person in front of you if they are in ‘the line’.
I’ve had the regular Italian sub here and was less than impressed. There was just something about the bread that seemed «off». Please don’t tell me that you served me day old bread, it didn’t seem as fresh as I thought Italian bread should be. The meat? excellent.
We went back to try the hot subs and shared the sausage sub and a meatball sub. Now I felt those were much better than the cold sub. The bread on both sandwiches was so much better. Fresh and chewy soft. Both the meatball and sausage were flavorful, but I really liked the sausage more – the flavor was bolder and heartier.
There are tons of different chips to round out your meal, a cooler of their house made sauces (yum!), cheeses, staples like pasta and olive oils, small selection of fresh veggies. lots of items packed in the small store. Deli guys are abrupt, but the cashier ladies are always kind and chatty. I love how they dote on my son.

I’ll keep this nice and simple… Bari subs are a gem in Chicago and despite some recent price increases still an absolute bargain.
You can get a delicious and authentic sub made from truly quality ingredients on freshly baked bread for the same general price as a junky chain like Jimmy John’s… why would you even debate this choice?
Walk to the back of the store to the butcher counter. There you will be greeted by a platoon of guys working diligently to make subs for what is often a sizeable line at lunchtime. Go for the traditional Italian first but also try to mix it up with a custom order using the Italian meats they have or try a house made sausage. Don’t bother with generic stuff like turkey; Bari shines with the authentic Italian meats.
When you are done stop by D’Amato’s next door and grab some cookies… this is among the best lunches you can have in the city and it will cost you well under 10 bucks all in. you really can’t beat it.

In my opinion, Bari unequivocally makes the best «Italian» sub in the city. I’ve been coming here for years, and even though they may not know my real name, they call me «Chuck Norris» (guess they think I look like the old boy ! !) Although making a sub sandwich isn’t rocket science, a noteworthy version can only be the sum of the freshest and best quality ingredients. My checklist would include the following. The bread should have a thin, crispy crust and soft crumb. The meats & cheeses, lettuce & tomato must be both flavorful and freshly sliced. And last, but not least, the giardiniera needs just the right amount of crunchy & soft veggies, herbs, and olive oil. Bari meets all these standards. (In addition, Bari makes its own giardiniera, and sells it in jars too)
Its no wonder the small place is always packed with customers. Service is always prompt, but at prime time, you might need to wait a few minutes. Its a small price to pay for a terrific sub. From Chicago cops and office workers to Italians from Harlem/​Belmont, Brideport, or Elmwood Park, Bari is what the Italian-​American sub is all about.
If you happen to be looking for Italian groceries, they carry an ample selection of oils, canned tomato products, pasta, canned fish, and homemade condiments. They also have fresh meats, homemade sausages, cheeses, and a wide selection of deli meats/​salads. If you don’t enjoy cooking, checkout their prepared pastas and sauces. (Currently, there are a few parking spaces just 2 – 3 doors South which are for customers shopping at Bari)

BIG fan of the italian beef and their italian sandwich on Focaccia bread! Large subs are VERY generous and prices can’t be beat for the type of quality you’re getting.
The beef is not too thin and is delicious. Their homemade giardiniera pairs very well with the beef. The times i have gotten the beef I didnt request for a dip… i drive about 30 minutes to get home and by that time the bread has soaked up the juices so there’s no need!
The focaccia is great as well. Meats are fresh. Friendly service.
TIP: hold your ground at the deli counter… people will cut… but karma will get them if so…

One of the all-​time great sandwich spots in the city. The meatball sub with atomic giardiniera alone secures Bari’s permanent perch in the top five best sandwiches of Chicago.
This place gets wicked busy for lunch, with a line from the deli counter to the door. Or so I’ve heard: my experiences are always at off hours when I can peruse the fancy imported groceries and spend my well earned money.
In particular, I like their selection of soda and sparkling water, their many kinds of angel wings and ornate Italian cookies, and the homemade pasta and olive salads. Delivery to my apartment in the neighborhood is always hot and fresh!

Best Spicy Italian sub in Chicago.
The extra spicy giardiniera is really spicy and really good.
The pepper jack cheese actually has a pepper jack taste.
You taste every part of the sandwich in every bite.
So good.

Bari you broke my heart, you broke my heart!
If this was the Godfather Bari would have to go. An utter dissapointment. After reading a columnist from Serious Eats claim that Bari’s might be the best beef he ever had and Thrillist list it as its #6 beef, I just had to try it… I couldnt wait, even if it wasnt the best beef Ive ever had it would be damn close.
My first bite chomp chomp, swallow a bit, roll the flavors around. What the… Roast beefy… A step above Arby’s but «possibly the best beef ive ever had» really guy from Serious Eats? Is he from California or something?! No flavors were popping in my mouth, nothing dancing… Mr. Beef, those flavors are like a sassy, hot Latina taking over the dance floor in my mouth. Bari’s, a middle aged white man trying to jusr stay on his feet… Where is the Oregeno?
The bread was pretty darn good… But what good is it if the beef sucks… Its like a cool take home box but if you put dog turds in their I really dont want the box now… Get my point!
To be honest they seem to crank out sandwiches left and right and Ive heard great things about their cold cut subs so I probably will meander back in someday. Its an old school joint that seems to have good quality meat. Therefore I know they can do better, thats why two stars… Just stay away from their Italian Beef!