I suppose that if one function of this space is to tell you about new restaurants on the way, then another is to let you know what to expect from those new restaurants. I can do that today.
Having returned from Thanksgiving, I dined at WiseGuys on Monday night. It opened last week just before the holiday and I had a preview. But the preview didn't give me an absolutely clear picture of WiseGuys.
I met my friend, Dr. Shawn Skeen, at WiseGuys last night and we were both expecting it to be very much like Rosati's. As in a Rosati's that was closer to our houses than the one in Hewitt. Our expectations were as far off as they could be, considering the two places serve many of the same things — Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, etc.
The easiest way for me to explain the difference is that Rosati's is a place where you go to sit down with a group, order from a waiter or waitress, drink a beer, perhaps have more than one course, perhaps including pizza, and sort of make a night of it.
WiseGuys seems to be more of a place to pick up a great Chicago-style Italian sandwich or sandwiches and take it/them home for yourself or friends or family or whoever you might bring sandwiches. It's like a place in Chicago where you could walk in on your way home and grab lunch or dinner to go.
They take your order at the counter and call your name when it's ready in much the same way as Wing Stop.
That's not to say that you can't go to WiseGuys with a group and sit down and hang out. In fact, they have a back room that has great potential for big groups, parties and even live music.
But the general feel is way more casual. Dr. Skeen and I went to dine in last night, yet they gave us our food in a paper sack. Apparently, everyone's food arrives in a brown paper sack. It's tasty sandwiches — a whole section of the menu dedicated to different kinds of cheesesteaks — with tasty sides and good deals, especially at lunch, without much fuss.
