Fontano's Subs & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Chicago

My mom and I came to eat at your restaurants yesterday on August 3rd at 7:40P.M. . After finishing my meal, I asked one of the staff members if I could use the restroom. She asked if I was a customer, and I told her yes—I had just eaten there. I also let her know that it felt wrong to be questioned like that, especially after dining at the establishment.

I went downstairs to use the restroom, only to find the door was locked and required a code. When I returned to ask about the bathroom being locked, another staff member again questioned whether I was a customer. At that point, I was clearly frustrated—why was I being asked this repeatedly?

My mom came inside to help clarify that we had just finished eating outside. Then, one of the staff members told her to leave and accused us of being disrespectful, which was completely uncalled for. I stepped outside to de-escalate, but the same staff member followed me out. I tried to calmly explain the situation, but instead of listening, she dismissed my concerns—blaming the crowd from Lollapalooza, claiming that some people lie about being customers, and saying the restroom belonged to another building.

If that’s the case, why was I directed to that restroom in the first place? And why didn’t anyone mention this when I asked?

The most upsetting part is that this same woman was the one who rang up my order and she should’ve told them I’m a customer. She had already seen me pay for my food. Yet she got in my face started yelling at me, and I had to ask her to back off. I was upset—not because I was trying to cause a scene—but because I was a paying customer simply asking to use the restroom. She then called me rude, even though she was the one yelling in my face. Other customers had to step in and ask her to stop.

This entire experience was not only unprofessional—it was humiliating. If I wasn’t a customer, then how did I pay for a deep dish pizza with my card? A gentleman outside even confirmed I was a customer, and still the treatment continued.

Later, I called to report the incident, and unfortunately, the same staff member who confronted me answered the phone. She continued to defend the staff member's behavior. I felt completely disrespected, dismissed, and frankly, discriminated against. I have a medical condition that makes restroom access urgent, which makes the way I was treated even more upsetting. She even sarcastically asked if we wanted to come back and use the restroom again.

This occurred August 3,2025 between 7:40 P.M. and 7:45 P.M. I was wearing a white top and black skirt. If you review your video footage, you will see me making a purchase—and see that this same woman took my payment.

I didn’t come for a confrontation. I came to enjoy a meal with my mom and use the...

I ordered from Fontano's on Michigan for the first time ever.

What a huge disappointment. So much so that I'm doubting that it has any affiliation with the original Fontano's on Polk.

I ordered the Caputo, and I should have been tipped off by the description of the sandwich differing from the Caputo at the Polk Street Fontano's.

Let me tell you it is nothing like the Caputo that is sold at the original Fontano's. The bread is identical to Jimmy John's--it is horrible and nothing like what you'll get at the Polk Street shop. The meat is closer to cheap Oscar Mayer cold cuts than it is to the great meats that are served at the original Fontano's. And no pepperoni--which is the real tip off because the real Fontano's would not change the original Caputo ingredients.

I would give negative stars if I could.

Edit: and due to the putative owner's response I'm going to give this a zero star for service. One I didn't lie. My sandwich sucked so badly that I questioned whether this place was affiliated with the original Fontano's. And the owner should be wondering why it sucked instead of accusing me of lying.

And here's another tip--you've got two sandwiches with identical ingredients on your menu. The Caputo at the original Fontano's on Polk has pepperoni. Yours does not and your menu description does not have it either.

But here's what I will do just in case my memory is failing me because I haven't been to the original Fontano's in 2 months. I will stop by the original store sometime this weekend or during the week and if it is exactly the same as what you served I will come back and edit my post...

Fontano's Subs & Pizzeria, a true staple of Anytown, USA. Walking into this classic deli and pizzeria is like taking a step back in time. The regulars populated the few small tables, engrossed in conversations that have likely continued for decades.

The counter is well-worn but overflowing with options - meats and cheeses for subs calling my name. But it's the smell of bubbling cheese and yeast that had me fixated on the wide array of pies spinning in the brick oven. Fontanos is known for keeping it simple - cheese, pepperoni, veggie. Classics that don't need complication. I decided to grab a slice of each to sample.

As I took my first bite of that flaky crust giving way to molten melty cheese, I understood why this place has been a go-to for Anytown residents young and old for so long. The flavors were pure with nothing extraneous added. With mouth still full, I took in my surroundings more - the familiar faces, black and white photos of the shop through the eras, the well-worn wood paneling. It's clearly more than just a spot to grab a quick lunch. It's a place where community gathers and traditions carry through the generations. I'll have to be back to try some subs next time, but for now this pizza hit the spot in every way. A true...