Beef Rolls In Joliet, Patch Editor Asks Who's Your Favorite?

JOLIET, IL — This summer marks three years since I returned to the Joliet area after being away for nearly two decades. I still have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to food, but I'm up for the challenge. One thing that I've noticed is that in a lot of places I've lived, the local region is known for a savory stuffed pastry.

People in Wisconsin are proud of their pastys, a stuffed pastry filled with meat and potatoes. It's a staple in many Yoopers' kitchens.

Nebraskans love their Runza sandwiches. A Runza is a pastry pocket filled with ground meat and cabbage. They're a popular option at University of Nebraska Cornhusker football games every fall in Lincoln.

Maybe because I never grew up around Nebraska, I did not fall in love with the mystique surrounding the Runza. Instead, I stuck with what Nebraska was known for: it's awesome steaks. My wife, on the other hand, swears by her grandma's famous Runzas, which she would sell by the dozen to the residents of her small Nebraska town.

On Thursday night, for the first-time at my wife's suggestion, we ordered the mysterious beef roll we keep hearing about on social media. We went with a large beef roll and a large chicken roll from Linda's Pizza Westside near Raynor Avenue.

Our beef roll came with a cup of au jus while the chicken roll came with a cup of marinara sauce.

Our reaction? To say that we liked both of them is an understatement. The Feraks will definitely be on the hunt for beef rolls again.

I realize that a lot of people in Joliet have eaten more than their share of beef rolls, but for those who are unfamiliar, beef rolls are stuffed with layers of thinly sliced meat and cheese surrounded by a chewy yet crispy crust, similar to a pizza crust.

Since we're going to be keeping our eyes out for other great tasting beef rolls in the Joliet area over the summer, where is your favorite place to order beef rolls?

In the meantime, if you're interested in trying a beef roll - or a chicken roll - for the first time, like I experienced, you won't go wrong ordering from Linda's Pizza Westside.