Tempesta Market - Chicago

Loved the vibe of this shop. Not the biggest, but plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Decided to split two sandwiches: one hot and one cold. Starting with the Yo Vincenzo, I was so disappointed. Chicken parms are some of my favorite sandwiches, but this missed. The chicken was finely breaded and the mozzarella was melted on top, but there wasn’t much flavor in the chicken. The biggest issue with this was the baguette which must have been baked and sitting out for a week. It was terrible and ruined the entire sandwich. The other sandwich was the B Franklin. This unlike the “Yo Vincenzo” was a hit. The sourdough was great and had a nice aioli spread on it. Good amount of turkey, really tasty cheese, creamy avocado, and nice amount of acidity from the pickled fresnos and red onions (wish they gave more). I thought all the components worked very well together. I wish sandwiches didn’t cost this much in general but with a few more interesting options like the meatball, I’ll be back.

B. Franklin is as advertised. Great little spot and would highly recommend

Tempesta is arguably one of the best sandwich shops in the city. They make a lot of their meats in house and use high quality ingredients so you know you’re getting the good stuff. Not only can you get a great sandwich, you can purchase most of their meats to go as well as other small artisanal grocery items. I have tried almost every sandwich they have on the menu but my top two choices would be the #1 The Dante and the #2 Yo! Vincenzo! The Dante is their version of a classic Italian sandwich but a bit on the spicier side. The Yo Vincenzo is a chicken parm and I personally think it’s the best chicken parm sandwich in the city. The chicken is perfectly crispy, and they use just the right amount of sauce where it doesn’t get soggy. Both of these sandwiches come on their fresh baguette which helps set them apart from other sandwich spots in Chicago just because of how good it is. The B Franklin is also a great option, and if you’re starving get the Wagyu Pastrami but be warned it is a very heavy sandwich because of that Wagyu. The last pro tip I’ll add in here is order your sandwich ahead of time if you’re doing takeout. This is a very popular spot and is always busy during the lunch rush so if you wait to order until you arrive you may need to wait for 10-15 minutes. That should speak to how good this place is because it’s in such high demand, so if you’re in Chicago make sure you stop in!

I've been going here on and off for the past 4 years and the portion has decreased significantly (I've had two stems of sprouts in my turkey sandwich) despite increases in prices. And it's a 50/50 whether there is something missing in my order. I've had fruit forgotten several times, sprouts or pickled onions missing from my sandwich (which I never modify to begin with). The last straw was they thought it was acceptable to sell rice krispie treats dated 2 weeks ago. Won't be going back until they demonstrate some quality control.

Don’t miss their weekend specials. This is easily my favorite sando spot nearby. Everything is gourmet, flavors on point, 10/10. This is on my list of places to recommend to hungry friends especially if you want to blow their minds.