Mr. A`s in Crystal Lake

Old school, consistent quality (it's been here forever with same owners) beef & dog spot. They do it right!

I wish they would return to fresh cut French fries. They were one of the best in the area.

Way overpriced. The owner is stubborn and won't take credit/debit so hope you have cash. They charge you extra for everything, even the marinara for the mozz sticks. Bread was a day old, and beef was tough. Very rude staff (crabby kids who couldn't care less about customer service). Do yourself a favor and go down the street to Tommy's for better food at a more reasonable price!

I have been coming here for sooo long and it will always be a favorite of mine, definitely underrated :(

Very tasty and generous sized portions for the beef sandwiches. A good value and quality ingredients.

There beef sandwich was so delicious. Great portions too. Love it, personal is friendly. Will definitely be back again. There suff is homemade and delicious. If you like spicy food ask for hot gardinera, best gardinera I've had and it's homemade too.

I used to live 1 block from Mr. A's and would eat there at least twice a week which was 40+ years ago. Now every time I get back to Crystal Lake, it is a MUST that I eat their Chicago beef sandwich. I have even taken my kids there just to taste the deliciousness I grew up with. LOVE MR. A's.

This is the one place where they make their beef fresh daily it doesn't come frozen and the bread is brought in daily the hot peppers homemade they could sell it by the jar I love their cheese fries and the shakes r yummy

Great independant fast food place. Some of the best beef sandwiches you can get.

Great beef sandwiches! Love the spicy flavor. If you get your order to go, get the juice on the side so it wont be a soggy mess by the time you get home to eat it.

Best beef around... anywhere

If you're looking for a really juicy Italian beef and you don't have the Chicago favorites around, I would suggest trying these sandwiches. Tender nicely flavored beef. I order them with the sweet peppers though I think the peppers are a bit bitter. But still satisfying. The servers have always offered a small cup of extra sauce which I never refuse.

Great food, mozzarella sticks are fire! Great vibe to the place if your looking for old fashion fast food that is at a cheap price.

I'm from Texas and every time I come the Crystal Lake I've always have to have my mr. Ray's roast beef I love their beef sandwiches we get three or four of them take them back to Texas and enjoy them for another day love Mister A's

Food is fine. Italian beef definitely taste homemade. There sandwich is definitely worthy of being mentioned among Chicagoland eats. Friendly staff and comfortable environment but prices can scare you away. $20 For Italian Beef, Fries and shake is quite steep. There is definitely a gap somewhere in that for just three items. I would give a star rating if prices were more reasonable. Collaborating Italian beef with ice cream and infamous cheese fries from "The freeze" next door should definitely be on everyone's to do list but be prepared to spend some serious fast food Cash 💰.

Great italian beefs here, good food, good prices.

The beef is super good - tastes homemade. The staff is nice as well. Overall good experience.

Best beef sandwich ever.

Their beef is excellent and they don't skimp on the meat. It is loaded. Correct bread and giardiniera is hot

The Italian beefs were excellent! It's their 51st anniversary, same owners.

Great food. Was given a sample of there homemade chili and highly recommended trying it.

What a dive, but hey... My family has been coming here since the 70s. While tastes vary, i've always considered this the best beef sandwich anywhere. I like the fries too. I don't much care for anything else, but damn, that beef sandwich is the bomb. one thing about MR As, it never ever changes, ever.

Best beef anywhere. Looks like a dive to many, but heaven to me. First place I visit in town, have to have it wet, no wonder some say it is dry, bread is dry naturally isn't it? Live in Florida now, have portillos there, still love Mr A's. The chili and dogs are great also, and the egg and pepper sandwich is unique and wonderful on Fridays. Any review about the beef less than 4 stars must be a competitor.

I have never eaten at Mr. A's before. I had the Italian beef and pepper sandwich and I found it to be lukewarm, the peppers tasteless and soggy as well as the bread. I do not care for soggy bread. The fries, however, were excellent, crisp and hot! I found it humorous when the cashier asked if our order was for here or to go and when we said for here, we were told that closing was in 5 minutes! I may try it again only not so close to closing time!

Disgusting! The beef tasted like bad meat and the cheeseburgers were not real meat. I would never ever go again. Yuck. What happened to this place.

Best Beefs! Love the onion rings too! Definately recomend you try them out 🙂

Tasty Italian beef and fries. Great service by friendly staff

The customer service is regularly speedy, awesome character, welcoming staff. I will visit here again when I get here.

All I know is one thing when I walked in there I knew what I wanted I got what I wanted Italian beef hot peppers sweet peppers to see and it was fantastic is I always have them cut it in half for me and a large Coke I ate the whole damn thing and I was happy I give him 5 stars

Extraordinary atmosphere and very affable service. The menu was fresh and enchanting. Will absolutely recommend this place to friends. Reasonable prices and generous meals. Good job.

Best Italian beef in Illinois (and I come from St. Louis every year to enjoy it).

Great beef and great staff

Been going here for 30+ years..there beefs arw wonderful! Pizza puffs..tamales..fries.. all great..if you haven't tried them. I encourage you to!

I'm sorry to say, but the food didn't impress me!

Excellent food very fast efficient at a good price keep up the good work everyone should try it I'll be back again and again thank you for your services

Best Italian Beefs in THE WORLD! No. I'm being serious. They really are. I have traveled across the country and around the world. I have been to 49 states and almost every major city in the US. People are always telling me, "have you tried this? Or that?" I'm telling you, nothing compares to Mr A's Italian Beef sandwiches. I usually get the combo with beef and sausage, wet. Sometimes just the beef. It's amazing. If you haven't tried it yet, add it to your bucket list. You won't be disappointed. And I guarantee you will be back.

It's just OK. Very dirty inside and I've been inside of some dirty places.

I've had Italian beefs at a lot of places and none as good as Mr. A's...I get mine dipped so it's so juicy, then topped with giardiniera. I've been going there since the 1970's. They're the best! By the way, they now take credit cards.

The person in charge here is a total maniac. My friend went here and ordered two beefs that came out UNCOOKED and FROZEN and when she asked for a refund the owner or manager or resident psychopath, whatever he goes by, came up to her, grabbed the food, and CHUCKED IT AT THE WALL. Holy cow! What a disgrace to the food industry.

Staff was great, can't talk about the beef, we had a taste for hot dogs. They were good.

It's Mr A's. What else do you want to know?

Italian Beefs are prepared upon request (Dry or Wet), while the Fries comparible to that of McDonald's!

Beef rating: B-Giardiniera: BFries: DCleanliness: DStaff: AOverall: C+

Tasty hotdogs.

I am so confused how this place is still in business. I love supporting local small businesses, and maybe experience may vary by day or time, but I wouldn’t go back to test that theory, I paid over what I would at Portillo’s for a sandwich of regret, wishing I went to Portillo’s. The beef was bland and over cooked. “Cheddar” is the fake cheese sauce that you get on ballpark nachos. The fried mushrooms were fine... I supposed it’s hard to mess those up.They don’t take credit card, so add the ATM fee to your overpriced bill. I’m not sure why they even have a website; there’s no menu on it. Also weird layout in the place, there’s 2 menus hanging. One off to the side that I wasn’t able to see initially. I’m going to stick to what I know is good... long lines for a good sandwich is a worthy trade off in comparison to this place.

Wasn't pleased at all.

Staff was friendly, service was fast and the bread on my beef was fresh. However, the place was not as clean as most other quick service places. The person I was with ordered a brat... it came deep fried. The oil it was cooked in was old and it caused the brat to have a burnt flavor. I had not been here since I was a little boy. I might not ever return. I really want to like this place as I once did... However I honestly can't recommend it at all.

Awesome food, great people, first time eating there, highly recommended.

Good food good prices nice place to eat

Great shakes and cheese frys!