Tasty’s Chicago Grill serves up dogs, gyros and more in Belleville

For months before it opened, the sign out front of Tasty’s Chicago Grill in Belleville read “Almost done.”

On Monday morning, Bill Kaiser, of Belleville, was at the drive-up window.

“I kept waiting and waiting for it to open,” he said, laughing. “I drive by here every day anyway and when I heard I could get Polish sausage, I was like, ‘All right!’ I’ve probably come through three times since they opened.” He left with the Maxwell Street Polish, with grilled onions, mustard, sport peppers and a pickle spear ($4.13).

Mirvat Naser understands his anticipation. “‘Almost done’ took a couple months!” she said of the sign put up to let passersby know the restaurant was close to opening. “We know people were waiting, but we wanted to do everything right.”

All the renovations and rebuilding necessary to open the restaurant took more than eight months, from a new kitchen and restrooms inside to the bright yellow roof and green pillars outside.

Mirvat’s husband, Mike Naser, and his cousin, Jamal Naser, opened Tasty’s Chicago Grill in Belleville at the beginning of March, occupying the former Arby’s on West Main Street. The partners also own two other Tasty’s Chicago Grills, in Decatur and Peoria.

Mike’s family, which settled in Chicago, is originally from Jordan. Mirvat, 35, was born in Lebanon and came to the United States when she married Mike, 52, almost 14 years ago. The couple now live in Belleville with their two school-age children.

Mirvat was there to open the eatery Monday morning. With hours 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily — and possibly later in the summer — it’s not surprising to see customers arrive as the doors open. On a recent weekday, the lunchtime crowd took up almost every table inside by noon. Once the weather warms up, diners can sit on the covered patio out front, too. And, of course, there’s carryout and the drive-up window.

Mike and Jamal have found success with a South Side Chicago-style menu that seems to appeal to a lot of people.

“The most popular are Italian Beef, Philly Cheesesteak and the gyro,” Mirvat said. They cook the meat and make their own au jus for the thinly sliced beef sandwich on french bread ($6.17/$8.72 with drink and fries). Fries are hand-cut. Get your Philly with either chopped steak or chicken, mozzarella cheese, mayo, diced pepper and onion, and banana pepper ($6.32/$8.76). For the gyro, warm pita bread is filled with sliced meat that is 85 percent beef and 15 percent lamb. On top is a special gyro sauce, onions and tomatoes for $6.17/$8.72.

You’ll also find Italian sausage, six kinds of burgers and Vienna all-beef hot dogs. The Original Chicago Dog is topped with mustard, relish, celery salt, onions tomatoes, sport peppers and a pickle spear for $2.55/$4.87.

There is also a kids menu, onion rings, chili cheese fries, three big salads — Mirvat says the Greek is delicious — and baklava ($1.83) to finish off the meal.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 3:45 AM with the headline "Tasty’s Chicago Grill serves up dogs, gyros and more in Belleville."