Bobbi’s Italian beef

"No, we’re not claiming to have better Italian Beef than they do in Chicago. We know we don’t, just like they know we have the better pizza. But for the best NYC has to offer, head to Bobbi’s, a casual spot in Cobble Hill where you can sit in a pizza parlor-style booth and experience bread melting in your mouth under the weight of hot, wet, glistening beef. Your week probably can’t get much better than that, unless you go for the Cheesy Beef, which has the same bread and beef, but also hot, thick, melty cheese. The Order: Italian Beef if you appreciate tradition, Cheesy Beef if you’re willing to put it all on the line in the name of a life-altering sandwich. You’re probably also curious about the Chicago Dog. Order it." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick

"Eating at Bobbi’s Italian Beef feels like riding a DeLorean through a wormhole and ending up in the 1980s. Vintage Vienna Beef posters line the walls, old movies loop on the TV, and the booth seating reminds us of going on pizza dates as teenagers. As the name suggests, Italian Beef is the specialty here, and it’s some of the best you can get in New York. They also make great Chicago dogs (prepared according to a strict set of rules laid out in that Vienna Beef diagram on the wall), and both personal-pan and tavern-style pizzas. " - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman

"Cobble Hill’s Bobbi’s Italian Beef is not the first place to attempt cloning the fast food of Chicago — and succeeding admirably. One notable triumph is a Second City dog with the proper combination of toppings. Tater tots are the perfect accompaniment. Polish sausages endorsed by Mike Ditka and Chicago-style tamales are also available." - Robert Sietsema

"The Chicago dogs at Bobbi’s Italian Beef are solid, but the real reason to come to this Cobble Hill spot is the chili cheese dog. Like the Chicago dog, it’s made with Vienna Beef, and it’s messy and well-spiced with cumin. If you want something a little more spicy, the jalapeño cheddar-stuffed dog is a good choice. There are big, roomy booths, and they’re usually playing a good nostalgia movie on the TV. Get a few different dogs and an Italian beef sandwich for a weeknight hang with friends. " - bryan kim, willa moore, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick

"For whatever reason — The Bear? — restaurants selling foods from Chicago have multiplied in recent years. Bobbi’s, a small restaurant with a retro vibe, specializes in wet, gravy-soaked Italian beef sandwiches served with sweet peppers or hot pickled vegetables. The large menu has all sorts of other dishes, too, like Italian sausages, Chicago-style hot dogs, and personal pan pizzas." - Eater Staff