J.P. Graziano Grocery

The next stop on our Italian sub journey brings us to this Chicago institution, J.P. Graziano. I came in on a Friday around lunch and they have this place chugging out sandwiches like Henry Rowengartner fast balls. This place is a well oiled machine. As soon as you step in you put in your order at the counter. Once you're done, you pass a chip rack and beverage cooler to complete your meal before paying at the register in the back. Once you've paid, you whip around and wait for your order to be called. There were about 15-20 people in line waiting for their food when I arrived and we were all served and out the door in like 20 minutes. They do have a couple of tables, but most people were getting their orders to go. I could see it getting a little crammed especially in peak hours.Now the important stuff...the food!We ordered 3 subs: Mr. G, The Italian w/ giard, the Spicy w/ giard. My favorite was the Spicy. It was the perfect combination of meats and the giard really set it off. My wife really like the Mr. G. The contrast of flavors with the sweet balsamic, acidic vinegars and artichoke along with the salt from the meats really set the sandwich off. The Italian was also delicious.I would certainly come back to this place if I was in the area and craving a sub. The ingredients were high quality and the service was great!

Why 4 stars? Because this hit the spot after a long commute. --- --- ---Specifically, that long commute originated in Texas. When I knew I was coming to Chicago, I reached out to a local trusted source for a lunch recommendation. She gave me two top choices - this was one of them and I painstakingly went back and forth trying to decide which place to choose, before ultimately going with JP Graziano. I'm happy with my choice. I ordered a classic Italian sub and it was exactly what I would have expected it to be. High quality cold cuts, plenty of Chicago accents, and the bonus of lemon soda available in the fridge. Of course, I grabbed some salt and vinegar chips too, because that's a requirement.Thanks for the nice "Welcome to Chicago" meal, JPGG!

Hands down, best Italian sandwich shop/deli in the city. Old school Italian mobbed up vibes (that's a good thing = authentic), JP is usually behind the register and slinging sandwiches. Arrive early (before 11:30am) if trying to beat the lunch rush. Awesome ambiance & experience from ordering to checkout window to Chi paraphernalia adorning the wallsPopped in today to order an Italian sandwich + hot giardinera to go. Baguette is flaky/crispy/delicious, meats sliced right there, all ingredients fresh, and the deli selection doesn't eff around, either. Highest of recommendations if Italian deli sandwiches are your jam

Went here on a Friday evening and there was luckily a quick line! The person taking our order at the window Frankie (I believe) was charming and so generous! We ordered our Muffuletta and Italian sub sandwiches, but were having difficulty processing our payment. Frankie was so kind and helpful and we really appreciated his unforgettable service! The sub sandwiches are amazing and so tasty. We will definitely be back!

Hands down the best Italian deli I have stepped food into! This place gets very busy but trust that you're going to get the best and fastest service. The staff here is so friendly and welcoming. I practically inhaled my sandwich, which was massive by the way. There is seating inside and outside. We found a table easily as it seemed a lot of people came here during their lunch break and took it back with them. I can't wait to come back!

J.P. Grazianos has a lot of hype around it, and don't get me wrong it was a good quality sandwich but I don't think it's a special as it's hyped up to be. The bread is simple for a sub roll, and the Mr. G is a pretty classic Italian style sandwich. The one thing that stood out to me was the artichokes which were a nice touch! The portions are large but it was a little underwhelming. If you are in the mood for a classic sub then it's a great spot! But not any super unique flavors.

Glad we swung by the west loop on way out of Chicago. Welcoming atmosphere and staff. All ingredients fresh sliced and delicious. Will come again soon

Just another great visit to JP's. I find it's easier to go ahead and place an order online for same-day pick up. The process is super easy and I use the merchants actual website and not a third-party website. I ordered the same exact sandwich I always get, the Italian, with mild muffaletta topping. No need to add anything else here as the sandwich is perfect as is. Parking can be a little difficult sometimes over there. we generally park or stand in front to run in and get the sandwiches off the table for curbside. Usually pretty busy overall. Good ratio of meat to cheese and bread. I love this place. I wish you were open on Sunday.

These folks are seriously some of the friendliest staff in any place (restaurant, store, etc.) I have been in a while. I think I heard of Graziano a couple years ago when I was looking for some giardinera to send home to my sister, but ended up choosing something else. When down in the West Loop today and parked right in front, I was really excited to get the chance to stop here when I left.Their menu is short but packed with some great stuff. I got a turkey sandwich with hot giardinera added, and for my parter a roast beef sandwich. I wasn't sure where to order at first because there isn't a standard order counter, but the guy right under the menu was all too happy to take my order. In addition to the sandwiches I had to order some tomato cheddar soup because I love soup. The spot to pay is also unconventional--it looks like an office or something so I needed to be pointed in the right direction.The sandwiches were fantastic, and hugely filling. The roast beef sandwich was essentially an entire loaf of ciabatta with sandwich fillings. I swear I have never seen a sandwich this large, and I thought Manny's had large ones. The turkey sandwich was very good, though I'd probably opt for light mayo next time. The giardiniera, which I added so I could taste it in case I do choose to give it as a gift sometime, was a good addition and added some nice flavor to the sandwich. The soup was delicious, like a homemade tomato soup (not chunky, but nice and thick) with some cheese added--makes sense, since a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup is a pretty delicious meal, right? Prices were amazing for the sizes you get, totally reasonable.They also had some specialty pops along with the standard ones. The cherry, dark cream were delicious and I also bought something called pepper soda to try later. I heard the dude at the order station tell some folks that they will be closed for the first two weeks of the year, but I'll definitely be back again.

Fast-paced and a little chaotic, this spot is worth every penny! It's no surprise why it's a busy spot! They take your order at the counter and you line up to pay towards the back. There are a few seats inside and a covered space on the side of the building with additional seating! We got the Mr. G with hot giardiniera and the Spicy. Both were fantastic - the bread was perfect and the giardiniera added the best touch to the sub. Also they're huge subs! If you're ordering for pick-up, they also have order ahead on their website.