On Location: The Original Mr. Beef on FX's THE BEAR

Geek Girl Authority

2 days ago

Welcome to On Location, a weekly feature spotlighting landmarks and establishments seen on screen that viewers can visit IRL. Whether you're seeking a fun selfie, breathtaking vistas, or maybe a show-accurate treat, follow along for some bucket list destinations.
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Every second counts on FX's The Bear. But for Christopher Storer, creator, co-showrunner, writer, and director of the hit show, it all began with his frequent visits to the Original Mr. Beef on Orleans sandwich shop. Friends with Chris Zucchero, the son of the original founder, Storer penned and directed the pilot FX ordered in March 2021. And the rest is history, as The Bear's phenomenal success has also translated to huge growth for the Original Mr. Beef on Orleans sales.
The Original Mr. Beef on Orleans on FX's The Bear
The O.G. Original Mr. Beef started as a beef stand in 1979, established by Joseph Zuccero to serve tasty Italian beef sandwiches to locals and tourists and everyone in between. Today, the sandwich shop still operates at its first location at 666 N. Orleans St. in Chicago. After The Bear premiered, sales for sandwiches went from an average of 250-300 per day to over 800.
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Like Mr. Beef on Orleans, The Bear's Original Beef of Chicagoland serves up a traditional Italian beef sandwich, a dish original to Chicago. Simply, it consists of thin slices of roast beef simmered and served with a thin gravy on French bread. Get it 'hot' with spicy giardiniera or 'sweet' with mild bell peppers.
Unlike The Original Beef, The Original Mr. Beef on Orleans offers a wider selection of menu items. Besides the signature Italian beef sandwich, there's the Italian sausage sandwich (served dry), a BBQ beef sandwich, and a steak sandwich. More standard fare includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs (with chili, cheese, or both). They also have four kinds of sub sandwiches. You can also purchase Italian beef with au jus, Italian sausage, and BBQ beef by the pound or their bread by the loaf.
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After Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) transforms most of The Original Beef space into the high-end The Bear, on-site filming moved to Ever at 1340 W. Fulton St. In a super-meta twist, the fictionalized version of Ever plays a major role in The Bear Season 2 Episode 7, 'Forks,' as well as the Season 3 finale, 'Forever.' It's also the amazing Olivia Colman's entry point in the series as Ever's head chef, Andrea Terry. Unlike its fictionalized counterpart, the real Ever is still going strong.
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Some other Chicago restaurants that play themselves on The Bear include Alpana, Kasama, and Elske. Any one of them would check off a bucket-list dining experience. It's worth taking a look at some of the comprehensive lists of The Bear's culinary references if you're headed that way anytime soon.