Portillo's Hot Dogs - Naperville, IL Review

Used to be that Portillos was synonomous with Italian beef sandwiches, the standard by which all other beef sandwiches were judged.  Recently, I ate at the Portillos newer location in Oswego, IL, having also eaten at both Naperville locations as well as the Batavia, IL location.  In any event, I am left with the conclusion that as the chain expands and gets larger, the quality is lost and the food tastes like most fast food places -pre -packaged, pre-digested, non descript.  The beef has not specific taste and the gravy which used to elevate the bread to a delicacy all in itself is pretty bland-colored salty water at best.  On our most recent visit, , my daughter successfully lobbied for us to order and split the Barnelli's rib dinner.  We elected to have the onion rings instead of fries which was probably the best choice of the meal.  While the meat was properly cooked, moist, tender and falling off the bones....the famous sauce was almost non-existent and lacking in any sort of distinctive barbeque flavor.  It was bland in the extreme as was the cole slaw.  And I got smacked about $20 for the one meal and one large drink which is pricey for fast food.  I was most disappointed and am now looking for neighborhood italian places (which is how Portillos began back in the Chicago area) to enjoy my Italian beef fix.  As for barbeque ribs....well, it is confirmed that nothing beats Carson's.