Scatchell’s Beef & Pizza

Oh no, I have a terrible news! Rosa J. may be running out of places to «yelp» about one of her favorites: Italian beef sandwiches. Wait a minute! She found another candidate on her Unilocal bookmarks: Scatchell’s near the corner of Cermak and Cicero, in a close proximity to CTA Cicero/​Cermak Pink Line station.
I went with my usual routine: an Italian beef sandwich with hot peppers. I took care Daddy J.‘s order by feeding him a double-​sausage sandwich with hot peppers as well. By the way, money stored in a plastic card isn’t going to work out at Scatchell’s. When cashing your check from work, take out some cash so that you won’t starve!
To be honest, I wasn’t overly crazy about the tenderness of the beef. I thought it could use more au jus. I requested for my beef to be dipped, but it felt dry for some reason.
The four (4) stars were given to their celery-​based hot peppers. Daddy J. and I actually enjoyed the texture and crunch. They weren’t that spicy, but they were still bold on flavors.
The price for these were affordable: $ 13.40, including tax.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t worth the trek to the Village of Cicero for Scatchell’s unless you’re in town for running errands and conducting some other legit businesses.

The food here is GREAT ! Which makes me think they take their costumes for granted ! Costumer service SUCKS ! NoT ONE HELLO OR HI OR THANK YOU!

I couldn’t tell you if the food at this restaurant was good or bad because I never had the opportunity to eat it and I will tell you why. It is the norm when you walk in any business and/​or establishment that provides service to people for the people to be greeted with hello how are you can I help you you stink some type of acknowledgement of your presence. The day that I visited this restaurant there was a young man working may be 18 19 or 20 years old the day that I visited this restaurant there was a young man working maybe 18 19 n you so if you need young black man who seems like she could sit in gay not that that is a factor banana wat is because it seems to promote more attitude. Well would you know it this guy had that attitude when I ask him how much did the pizza cost per slice he gave me the finger, that meaning he pointed his finger at the menu that listed the price of a cheese slice or a slice with meat. When I asked was it that difficult for you to verbally say that and that’s when the attitude licked in and I walked out the door.
Training is so essential to the success of any business especially if you are working with the public. I blame management for not preparing this young man to do his job. The food industry is said to be part of the hospitality industry there was nothing hospitable about my experience at all. That’s nothing to worry about because I will never be back again as well is I will tell is many people as I can about my room them not to go there either.

This was way too over hyped. I’d rather stick with Portillos, the supreme beef of Chicagoland. This beef was the most basic thing I’ve ever eaten and their giardinara was awful. Won’t be returning back here even if it was free.

I recommend the beef and also their pizza is delicious. They only accept cash though :-(

Cash only… no frills. A true Chicago beef stand. I would have stood like in the old days, but there were a few stools as well. Beef was fantastic, staff helpful, and the homemade «giardanaire» was great… made with celery mostly.
If you are touring Chicago beef joints, this should be on the list !!!
Did not order the ice, but portions were huge!

best italian beefs in the world. get it dipped with cheese and extraaa hot peppers. yummmm. and a pickle on the side

Best beef in Chicago! The only problem is they don’t have giardineira but their own «hot peppers». Great taste tho & they do have large cheese or sausage pizzas for $ 10, jus mention the coupon. Open late for the midnight munchies and gotta try their Italian ice flavors. CASH ONLY!

Perhaps I was expecting a lot more from this place, but I was extremely disappointed. The service was rushed and their serves extremely rude. The chili was the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted. It was over priced for the small portion as well. I will not be returning and I will not be recommending it.

There r many places for Italian beef n I’m sure they r alright, but this place here is the shit love there beef

First trip there and maybe I was expecting too much, I had the combo, the sausage was better than the beef. While it was good I might not go out of my way to go there. I would give it 2.5 stars if I could.

Open late, reasonable prices, limited seating (about 6 stools lined up against the window), CASH ONLY!
My partner really enjoyed his italian beef (with cheese and peppers added). I had a few bites and found it juicy and flavorful. I’ll definitely be getting a beef sandwich next time instead of my hot dog, which was fine but just a hot dog, nothing special. The fries were good standard fries, nice and hot, and they gave us plenty.
No frills just good food. And that’s probably what most people are looking for here. My boyfriend is telling me I need to give Scatchell’s 5 stars, so I’ll go ahead and oblige :)

No frills, no doubt Scatchell’s lives up to its motto. I’ve been dreaming of coming to this place ever since I was a kid and we used to do our laundry nearby. Now I understand why my mom always refused to take us here and instead went to Burger King, Subway or Dairy Queen. For such a prounounced, decorative sign, I mean they do they everything to draw you in… this place is so par for the course its disappointing.
I waltzed in and clumsily missed all the «CASH ONLY» signs and ordered 2 slices of pepperoni/​sausage pizza. After realizing it I walked over to the ATM ($ 3 overcharge here we come!) It was about $ 8 for 2 slices + $ 6 ($ 3 atm charge + another $ 3 because of PNC’s bogus double charges when it comes to a non-​PNC atm) so I paid $ 14 for 2 slices of pizza… oh boy.
When he handed me the slices I noticed the pizza felt rather light, and I immediately felt like disappointed, as if I was just bent over a pinball machine. I’ve dreamed of this moment though, this trip has to be worth something! My dreams were shattered as I walked to the train station and ate. Everything had this weird tinge to it, especially the sauce. Its as if they tried to make traditional Italian «Margherita» pizza with all the fresh ingredients, but stopped halfway through and decided to do regular Chicago style. It’s just off putting.
Perhaps one day I’ll try the other items on their menu like the Italian Beef, but for sure the pizza is nowhere worthwhile.

CASH only. A take-​out place with chairs for waiting. Strictly in-​neighborhood hot spot. Unworthy of trek. I appreciate the effort to provide value for $$.
6″ Italian Beef (less than $ 6) — automatically dipped that had to be wrapped in aluminum foil and 4 sheets of paper. Heavy. Thin slices of pure beef that makes it dry and chompy no matter how soggy the bread becomes.
Housemade Giardinara — overrated. Just celery and chili flakes.
Lemonade — unavailable by 8 pm, even though it closes by 1 am.

Beef sandwich dipped with giardenera very good. Fries piping hot out of fryer.
Excellent for lunch.

One of the last few places to get a proper beef. Always enjoy, every time been coming since I was a lil dude. The pizza and Italian ice are on point too a Westside landmark. Staff friendly but also no nonsense, place your order pay and enjoy 1 of the top ten beefs in all Chicago.

Eat Here Today!
I come here at least once a week, the beefs are good tender thin sliced beef awesome gravy, the hot peppers could use more pepper and less celery but other than that the place is awesome, the counter girl who makes my food is so nice and happy even when its busy. Pizza is good also. Keep up the good work ladies and gentlemen.

No, no, and NO.
I went in to this place with high expectations after reading the reviews left here by the others below me.
I was sorely disappointed.
It really makes me wonder if anyone that eats food ACTUALLY has any kind of standards, or even knows what standards are.
I ordered their 16 inch half pepperoni and half sausage pizza.
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Presentation wise: It looked ok. Good even. The crust was not burned, the cheese wasn’t charred, and the peperroni and sausage were arranged with care.
Taste Wise: Horrible.
The sauce tasted like it was straight out of a can. It had a very metallic after taste. Not too high in sodium (salt) and not too high/​no sugar in the sauce.
The bread itself was the worst part of the pizza.
It tasted like cheap store bought dough with the cheapest ingredients.
They laced it with butter to try and hide the God-​Awful fakeness of the frozen dough bread.
But anyone who ACTUALLY has standards and DOESN’T have the pallet of a cow’s backside can taste what a terrible excuse for bread Scatchell’s Pizza uses.
The cheese was actually the best part of the pizza, it actually tasted fresh.
However, it was so laced with black pepper and a spice additive that it overpowered the flavor of the Mozzarella cheese, giving me an upset stomach and heart burn.
It was too spicy for my taste.
Overall, would NOT go there again.
The Scatchell’s of today is a FARCRY from the Scatchell’s of the 1990’s.
FAIL.
Go here at your own risk.
You’ve been warned.

Was in the area and decided to grab lunch here. We ordered and opted to eat in the car.
Italian Beef with Hot Giardiniera — I only took like 2 bites. It wasn’t bad, but definitely had a kick to it.
Sausage Pizza — Very greasy with cheap cheese, but the sausage had good flavor.
Hot dog with fries — Hot dog was good, but fries were meh.
If you want to get your windows washed or «New released» DVDs… eat in your car as «salesmen» will come by.

Tried this place on a whim, when I was about to go back into the city. And after years of seeing this place from infrequently passing through the Cermak/​Cicero intersection via car, or seeing it from (infrequently) when I’ve ridden the Pink Line to and from 54^th/​Cermak, the curiousity bug finally bit me, and I tried this out. Fearing the pizza would probably not be the thing to get here on a first visit (glancing at the hot pizza display, and having disappointing experiences at other places with similar pizza slice holders), I think I made the right choice in thinking this place would probably do a better job of making a beef sandwich.
The italian combo (sausage and italian beef, for those who aren’t familiar with italian beef stand lingo) sandwich I got wasn’t bad, but I was really disappointed with their fries. I really wish they could get a better fry recipe, personally. The italian iced lemon I got was fine, but I felt Johnnie’s (Elmwood Park and Arlington Heights) is better. Finally, I felt it was overpriced more than I thought they should’ve charged for what I got (iced lemon, italian combo sandwich, and fries).
Much as I hate to say it, I wouldn’t feel inclined to return anytime soon, though it wasn’t so terrible I wouldn’t return. They’re open very late (till I think 1am everyday), so maybe much later I might come back and try one of the other italian ice flavors? Can’t help but admit after going here, it really makes me jones for returning to Johnnie’s.
*Note: cash only*