Choosing the Best Chicken Sandwich: Chowdown Showdown

It's pretty rare to go to a family restaurant, bar or quick stop spot and not see a chicken sandwich on the menu. Most places have them and it's typically hit or miss as to whether it will be the best taste to tickle your tongue on a given day.

For this week's Chowdown Showdown, I visited three reader-recommended restaurants in Chicago Heights and Homewood, and tried three versions of the classic sandwich.

I judge these sandwiches based on the meat quality, ratio of chicken to everything else, combination of flavors and bread choice. Here's what I came back with.

- Homewood

Tom's served up a broiled chicken breast on a gourmet wheat roll. It was topped with a tomato and lettuce and came with a soup.

The chicken was well cooked and came in a big, beautifully-presented portion. The sandwich wasn't overloaded with toppings, making it a manageable meal without slipping into the skimpy realm of fastfood sandwiches.

There was really nothing that made the sandwich truly unique and special, but the quality and taste make for a nice lunchtime treat.

- Chicago Heights

Our recommendation for Marnell's was a chicken parmesan sandwich.

Less of a sit-down restaurant and more of a quick stop eatery, Marnell's didn't attempt to make its sandwich aesthetically appealing. But do looks matter when you've got taste on your side? The chicken parmesan was tasty, pulling together the delicious flavors of mozzarella, tomato sauce and a breaded chicken patty on a french roll.

The only blaring problem with Marnell's was the size of the patty. In comparison to the submarine-style bread and massive amounts of cheese and sauce, I felt a little short-changed on actual meat.

- Homewood

Highly recommended for its use of freshly cooked bacon, Bogart's brought an awesome Cajun chicken sandwich to the table. It was topped with lettuce, cheese, red onions, a tomato and bacon.

Let me start off by saying this is one huge sandwich, not for the light eater. That said, every element of the sandwich combines for a meaty and flavorful experience. Bogart's was generous with the bacon and combining it with the spicy kick of the grilled chicken breast – along with the fresh veggies – made for a contender.

The only problem may have been the overwhelming size of the sandwich, which makes it a little difficult to eat comfortably.

The Winner - Bogart's

Tom's may have had the more traditional and manageable sandwich, but Bogart's dominated in the taste department. Bacon and chicken aren't always immediately paired together, but Bogart's brought an abundance of both to one sandwich.

Wonderfully done, and congrats to all three restaurants on being touted as awesome chicken sandwich joints.

Looking for local eats? Start with your local Patch Places food and dining directory. Please post a review on your favorite restaurant's profile page.

• For establishments in Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields
• For establishments in Homewood and Flossmoor