CHICAGO — Claudia Dietrich and Ross Lloyd boarded a bus bound for the hottest tourist spot in the River North neighborhood. While their guide rattled off Chicago trivia, the couple snapped photos from every angle — even the alley. They weren’t deterred by the winding line out the front door.
“This is something that brought us to Chicago, there’s no doubt about that,” said Dietrich, a 72-year-old Milwaukee resident. Their destination? Mr. Beef, the no-frills sandwich joint featured on Hulu’s smash hit, “The Bear.
” It’s the first stop on their guided food tour inspired by the series. A traditional Chicago sandwich shop may seem like an unconventional excursion. But since “The Bear” debuted, tourists have flocked in droves to Mr.
Beef , which opened in River North in 1963. Ahead of Season 3’s release, its cult following is surging with renewed enthusiasm. Just ask one of the food tour’s 30 patrons, who were bused to six restaurants in River North, the West Loop and Logan Square recently.
Many of the restaurants on the tour served as filming locations for the series. “I just think the show is so authentic,” Dietrich said after sampling an Italian beef sandwich with giardiniera. “And you can practically taste the food when you watch.
” “The Bear” follows Carmy, a young gourmet chef who seeks to transform his late brother’s sandwich shop into a fine dining establishment. There, he clashes with the diverse, unpretentious staff in often anxiet.
