Duke’s is alive and well and even winning beefy awards.
After it closed in 2019 after a 44-year run in Bridgeview, Duke’s was gone for a little while but re-surfaced three years ago in Mokena and another one opened in Sauk Trail.
Luke Lally, an Oak Lawn native who resides in Orland Park, is at the helm of both Duke’s eateries and recently the business beat out 63 other Chicago-area restaurants for the area’s best Italian beef sandwich in a WGN Radio contest.
Life is good for the 34-year-old Lally. His family owned the Great American Bagel stores in Hometown and Oak Lawn and he was a fixture at both places growing up.
Seven years ago, he brought the bagel franchise to Mokena in an area that houses Gas N’ Wash at 19990 S. LaGrange Road. Three years ago, he opened Duke’s in that facility.
The first six years of being a business owner had its challenges, but the seventh year had been much better.
“I think there is a vision of a future goal,” Lally said. “It’s not so much about the now. This year has been a really good year. I can start to see the freedoms and advantages of owning your own business. The last six years, I didn’t see any of that. We had good times and bad times. But if we keep doing the things we’re doing, it will be good for everyone here.”
That includes getting some great publicity from the beef contest, which wrapped up June 26.
The format was similar to NCAA Tournament brackets where restaurants had to advance each round. Restaurants were pitted against each other and the popular vote determined the winner each round.
“I didn’t think we had a shot at first, but when I looked at the bracket, I thought we could win one or two rounds,” Lally said. “By the time we got to the final eight, I was thinking ‘maybe we could win it.’’’
Duke’s had to knock out defending champion Bob-O’s Hot Dogs of Chicago in the quarterfinals. Duke’s then beat Johnnie’s of Elmwood Park in the finals.
Lally was happy that friends and family voted in each round but he is also proud that so many others from outside the area cast votes Duke’s way.
What makes Duke’s beef so special?
“There is a method, there is a recipe and there is a process,” Lally said. “It’s the same process all the time but it’s a very important process.”
He said the beef has a little heat to it but is not overwhelming. There are challenges in making a top-notch product because beef can be unpredictable.
“Every cut of beef is different,” Lally said. “You try to do your best with the cooking and slicing processes to keep on par.
“We have passionate loyal customers who let us know if it’s not good. We have a routine structured process and it’s pretty darn good.”
Lally graduated from Oak Lawn and is married to Marissa and has three children — Lanie (6), Tommy (4) and Elsie (3).
“A lot has happened the last seven years,” Luke said. We have the businesses and started a family. But this year, things are going well and I’m able to spend a lot more time with my family than I did the first six years.”
Went to Dukes Monday early afternoon 6 of us in line no body behind the counter no one has ordered yet the crew playing grab ass at American Bagel walked out been going there since Bridgeview not good.