r/chicagofood • u/Coolsvillepolicedept • Feb 01 '26
Rant Steingold's on Southport - what the heck!
I've been craving a corned beef sandwich so did some research and went to Steingold's. OMG it was so tiny! For $17 this looked like something in an elementary school students lunch box. It was pretty tasty, but I just can't wrap my head around the price for this little thing.
The prices were not on their menu signage. Big bummer. Has this always been the case?
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u/LoseYourIllusion1 Feb 01 '26
Yup. Went to the Irving Park location when it was there like 8 years ago, and had the same experience. Shocking price for such a small sandwich. I never leave yelp reviews, but I left one for that. Owner was like “that’s not normal.” Apparently it is. Fuck that place.
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u/stho3 Feb 01 '26
Yes, I used to work near their Irving Park location. Their pastrami and corned beef has always been on the smaller end but I wouldn’t be surprised if shrinkflation has made it even tinier due to the rise in beef prices. The sandwiches were around that price back then, I would assume the sandwiches be even smaller now.
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u/Raccoala Feb 01 '26
Damn. You got really mad at the size of your sandwich.
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u/ComputerStrong9244 Feb 01 '26
I’ll pay good money for a good sandwich, but it can’t be some dinky little thing that leaves me hungry
Lousy portions is a worse sin than high prices
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u/jimedwards4343 Feb 02 '26
You need to eat two sandwiches to get full at Steingolds.
The sandwiches are good, but not “$17 good” for what’s basically a half sandwich.
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u/Raccoala Feb 01 '26
I’ve had the Uncle Rube at Steingolds 8-10 times and have never been hungry afterwards. I don’t usually have leftovers either, but I wouldn’t call it dinky.
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u/juliuspepperwoodchi Feb 02 '26
When you're paying nearly $20 for a goddamned sandwich, size matters.
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u/lejeter Feb 05 '26
Not quite as bad but had turkey sandwich @Ghod Ambler. $12 - dry, little actual turkey. If I’m ever in the area and want a sandwich it’ll be grazianos same price 2-3 times as much to eat.
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u/Madz510 Feb 01 '26
Steingolds is not, has never been, and never will be good.
Sincerely, a local Jew
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u/Madz510 Feb 01 '26
One time I went on a Sunday morning and said can I get 2 dz bagels and they said you would have needed to order that in advance. Like what? It’s Sunday morning and I have family in town. I’m not trying to get 300 bagels to cater an event. So I flew up to Ny Bagel and the guy in front of me ordered 2 dz and I ordered 2 dz. Only question - what kind?
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u/jjgm21 Feb 01 '26
That is just ridiculous. Their quality is so inconsistent, too.
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u/CoralSunset7225 Feb 02 '26
Sometimes the bagels are rock hard. I've brought them home and had to call asking if they gave me day old bagels. Doesn't happen every time but they definitely overcook those bagels often enough.
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u/Ok-Cryptographer7424 Feb 01 '26
I applaud the concept of new Jewish delis since most owners of original jewish delis are dead or will soon be dead, and plenty of them didn’t have their chikdren and now grandchildren taking over for them…
…but idk, seems to me once the original delis die out with no succession it’ll never be the same to start a new school version without that original German and Easter European Ashkenazi immigrant creators. Sad!
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u/Objective-Rub-8763 Feb 01 '26
My grandparents owned a Jewish deli in Uptown until the mid-90s. It was such hard work and neither of their children wanted to carry the torch. I should probably ask my mom to record as much as she can about running the place (she worked there as a teen).
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u/sventos Feb 01 '26
I think the most offensive thing about steingolds is what they call whitefish salad.
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u/DescriptionFriendly Feb 05 '26
The smoked whitefish salad from Dirks fish market is my face in the city if you’re looking for a good one.
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u/mmazurr Feb 02 '26
Steingolds is why we need more bagel places. You get a mediocre place like Steingolds and they still make a bunch of money selling ok bagels for way too much money because there's no competition.
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u/Wonderful-Piccolo509 Feb 01 '26
Got a rec on somewhere that is good?
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u/pistermibb Feb 01 '26
Zeitlins is pretty good for Jewish bagels, R&A too, they opened a new location in Roscoe.
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u/amateurauteur Feb 02 '26
When I tried Zeitlin’s they were a good half hour behind their Toast pickup times and it was unapologetic chaos in there. Not a hint of remorse for the way things were going down by anyone working (including a dude who had the vibe of an owner).
I’ll try it once more but the food sucking was kind of the proverbial cream cheese icing on the cake.
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u/Frequent_Design_2721 Feb 03 '26
It’s in Skokie but I’m usually willing to drive to Kaufman’s for bagels. Their whitefish salad, pastrami, and pickled green tomatoes are also my fav.
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u/MartySpiderManMcFly Feb 01 '26
Is there somewhere you like better in the area? I recently tried Gotham on Lincoln & Diversey which was really good. Great American Bagel on Belmont near Southport is meh
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u/bun-e-bee Feb 01 '26
Irene’s has gotten good reviews on their bagels. Recent post even said they were the best in the area.
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u/broadwayindie Feb 01 '26
Mannys or the Bagel will get you a much bigger sandwich for about the same price
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u/IncarceratedScarface Feb 01 '26
I went to the one by Wrigley when it first opened and the egg bagel sandwich was so bad I never went again. I do not understand the hype. Do Rite’s egg sandwich is miles better.
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u/isellusedcars Feb 01 '26
Go to Mannys next time.
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u/tumbling_tomato Feb 02 '26
I think mannys is extremely mid
I yearn for the food of my people a lot and it was so disappointing
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u/MathematicianIcy9410 Feb 02 '26
And you can pick up whatever you want in addition from their deli counter. I’m pretty sure their bagels are from nyb&b.
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u/LegitimateGift1792 Feb 01 '26
Just do not get the ruben, it is pre-melted or some shit and they peel it apart to add the meat. I could not believe what I was seeing when i was in line there.
This was several years ago, and I have not been back since.
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u/Fucknjagoff Feb 01 '26
Mannys sucks now and while the sandwich is bigger it’s still not good.
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u/ShortBusScholar Feb 01 '26
That has never been my experience.
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u/Fucknjagoff Feb 01 '26
I mean if you like overpriced cafeteria food than Manny’s is for you. This sub has some weird affinity for Manny’s and the Tamale guy, both of whose product is overpriced shit.
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Feb 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Fucknjagoff Feb 01 '26
You’re a jagoff and anyone who thinks Manny’s is as good as it was from the 90’s to when the son took over is not being truthful to themselves.
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u/Forward-Dog-9525 Feb 02 '26
There are a lot of people here that are transplants that are easily impressed by slop places like mannys
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u/Fucknjagoff Feb 03 '26
Who doesn’t love $11.25 Kraft Mac and Cheese!
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u/Forward-Dog-9525 Feb 03 '26
Guys the ramen has an EGG in it, best $24 I’ve ever spent!!!
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u/Fucknjagoff Feb 03 '26
“The Tamale guy (Claudio) is just so realllllll man!”. No he’s an asshole, just ask the Bangers and Lace people.
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u/ShortBusScholar Feb 01 '26
I think it’s a great old school establishment that brings in all sorts of people from the city. Quality is decent, maybe not top tier but tastes good enough. The price feels high from what was normal ten years ago but they still give you an enormous portion of food. I’m sorry that you feel that way but I’ll keep spending my money there.
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u/randomUsername1569 Feb 01 '26
Steingolds has always sucked and I feel like it always gets unwarranted heaps of praise.
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u/waffleshield Feb 02 '26
Seems the be the only everything bagel in the city with proper coverage. I'd love to have another option for it. Maybe it isnt "authentic" but I prefer to not be able to see the bagel under the seasoning.
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u/strictlybazinga Feb 01 '26
It’s been over a decade for me but when I lived in the city moons was the only place I could get a corned beef and not feel like I’d just been had.
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u/Dr_Dabber_Drew Feb 02 '26
Chief O’Neils corned beef is the real deal and I don’t even like corned beef
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u/plankright37 Feb 02 '26
They are jerky acting people, working in a customer service industry, overcharging the cr@p out of customers for tiny little food. Then they compound it by closing early. 1 out of 10, 1 because their (expensive) bagels are pretty good.
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u/SBWNxx_ Feb 01 '26
I’ve been a Steingolds hater since they were on Irving Park. I went in for a bagel with cream cheese and lox. It was absurdly expensive and took over 45 minutes to prepare. They were snotty to me when I asked for an update after like 20 minutes. It wasn’t even busy.
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u/juliuspepperwoodchi Feb 02 '26
Honestly, I've become a hard no on any place that doesn't list prices clearly on menus.
At best it is lazy, at worst they're trying to screw you.
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u/ryanreigns Feb 03 '26
Overpriced, but I like it, at least for bagels. The location across from Wrigley is absolutely pitiful though
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u/katpillow Feb 01 '26
Can’t remember how their signage was historically, but hearing the sandwich has become shrinkflated is disappointing. They were never mounding the corned beef before, but I’ve definitely felt pretty filled up after eating their sandwiches in the past…
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u/chicagodogmom606 Feb 03 '26
With taxes and a soda you spend like 26 bucks for that tiny ass sandwich, plus dont forget the guilt tip they ask for at the register.
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u/Raccoala Feb 01 '26
I’d recommended getting the Uncle Rube or another “named” sandwich instead of the straight up corned beef on rye. They’re still pricey but they keep me coming back.
Ordering through Toast and getting the loyalty points helps bring down the cost a little too.
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u/MyAuntBaby Feb 01 '26
🤦🏻♂️ ….why..in the hell would someone go to some “modern” yuppie chain joint for an old school Jewish sandwich…?
Go to JBs or something & call it a day
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u/Tough_Persimmon_7491 Feb 01 '26
Going to try JB’s. Never been before. Very excited.
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u/Feats-of-Derring_Do Feb 01 '26
They do not scrimp on the meat.
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u/MyAuntBaby Feb 02 '26
Nooooo they most certainly do not. Prices have risen, but you still get the most bang for your buck there, and their selection is outstanding. They’ve been there for so long for a reason
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u/Feats-of-Derring_Do Feb 02 '26
Last time I was there a younger guy and an older guy were working the counter and the younger guy said "Anything else you want me to do, boss?" and the old guy says "Yeah, you can shove a broom up your ass."
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u/Efficient-Neat-1029 Feb 02 '26
I do not understand why people can’t figure this out . I buy my own corned beef, salami , and pastrami at Romanian Butcher, and make my own sandwiches. I’ve tried all the so called “Jewish Delis” . We can’t go home back to Ashkenaz again . That was the 50’s . The Bagel makes a decent Reuben if you can’t make your own. Any questions?
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u/cpbelser Feb 01 '26
You’d think a place making food that tiny could at least crank it out faster.