Buona Beef Opens Wednesday In Oak Lawn

OAK LAWN, IL -- Buona, The Original Italian Beef, will throw open its doors on Wednesday, Dec. 6, of its 21st restaurant in Oak Lawn. Buona at 6235 W. 95th St. will officially open at 10 a.m. Anyone lined up outside before the restaurant opens on Wednesday will get a free Italian beef sandwich.

The family-owned, fast casual chain serves its signature Italian beef, concocted by matriarch Peggy Buonavolanto, with some help from Carl “Uncle Junior” Buonavolanto, proprietor of another Chicago icon Mr. Beef. Other Chicago classics featured on the Buona menu include Italian sausage, beef and sausage combo, meatball and pepper and egg sandwiches, alongside fresh, scratch-made pizza, salads and more. The menu also features Chicago-style hot dogs, seasonal shakes, sandwiches and more.

The Oak Lawn location recalls Chicago’s meatpacking district, where the exterior is covered in turn-of-the-20th-century style brick. The interior features an exposed ceiling, with polished concrete floors and subway tile throughout. There is also a seasonal outdoor seating area. Buona is said to be the last of the 100-percent, family-owned restaurant groups serving Chicago’s original Italian beef. Oak Lawn is the third Buona Beef restaurant to open in the Chicago area in 2017. Five more Buona restaurants are planned for 2018. The Oak Lawn location represents a $4 million investment in the village by the Buonavolanto family

As with every Buona location, the Oak Lawn restaurant offers dine-in, carry out and delivery services, along with catering options that include ready-made sandwiches, heat-and-eat options and platters of Italian favorites such as mostaccioli and lemon chicken. Customers can place orders and have food delivered to their home or workplace through Buona delivery partners Door Dash, Uber Eats Chicago, Grubhub and Postmates. Store hours for the Oak Lawn location are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Photo: Mayor Sandra Bury, Tr. Terry Vorderer and Village Clerk Jane Quinlan cut the ceremonial beef sandwich opening the new Buona Beef in Oak Lawn. | Lorraine Swanson, Patch Editor