New Downtown Restaurant Brings a Taste of Chicago to Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) — A new restaurant on South Court Street in downtown Montgomery is bringing people together over a shared love of nostalgic Chicago favorites.
Oliver’s, which recently opened its doors, serves up Vienna Beef hot dogs nestled in poppy seed buns and loaded with traditional garnishes, as well as Italian beef sandwiches piled high, dripping with savory au jus, and topped with sweet or spicy peppers.
Ali Bertschy, a new Montgomery resident and Oliver’s customer, says the menu reminds her of home.
“The Italian beef, hands down is the best, and you have to get it dipped because that’s how we do it up north,” Bertschy said. “And the chili cheese fries are fantastic.”
Originally from Wisconsin, Bertschy said the aroma when she walks into Oliver’s brings back special memories.
“I’m from Wisconsin, but we have a lot of Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beefs in that area, especially Milwaukee,” she said. “So this just—it feels like a taste of home. We don’t really have anything else like that in Montgomery, so that’s why it’s been really nice to have it.”
Recent Alabama State University graduate Makayla Cooper was walking downtown when she spotted the Chicago flag flying outside Oliver’s and was immediately drawn in.
“I’ve been craving some food from home forever,” said Cooper, a Chicago native. “I haven’t been home in about a year now, and I just had to get a bite of it.”
Oliver’s owner, Mike Oliver, is originally from Chicago and said he decided to open the restaurant after years of making his favorite Windy City dishes for friends.
“We are getting Vienna hot dogs shipped in from Chicago—100% all-beef, natural casing,” Oliver said. “Italian beef is from Chicago. The rolls are from Chicago. The poppy seed buns are from Chicago. The sausage. I’m bringing as much as I can from Chicago.”
“Everybody has to get a taste of it,” she said. “It’s not just something for Chicagoans. Everybody needs a taste of it for sure,” said Cooper.
Though Oliver’s has only been open for a week, a new tradition is already taking shape.
“A guy came in, and as another guy was walking out, they started talking about their neighborhoods in Chicago,” Oliver said. “That gave me an idea—‘Here, write your name and your cross streets in Chicago on the door.’”
Cooper added her own mark to the wall.
“You get to sign your name, and everybody has been putting the street they’re from,” she said. “I went over there and put ‘75th’ because that’s where I’m from, and I think it’s pretty cool. It’s sentimental. It connects us to the place. It’s really nice.”
More than just a restaurant, Oliver’s is becoming a gathering place where Chicagoans and locals alike can share stories and memories.
“I had two ladies sitting at a table Friday,” Oliver said. “I think they sat there for two hours talking about memories of Chicago, so it’s been really good.”
If you’d like a little taste of Chicago, Oliver’s is located at 31 S. Court Street in Montgomery and is open from 10:30am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday.
