Lunch Counter: Quick Bite

Owners Feras Obaideen and Roy Rahal have absconded with a few Chicagoland and Northern delicacies — Italian beef, gyros and Vienna beef hot dogs — to bring their Southern audiences.

Only a small red, neon sign gives notice to Quick Bite's location, though it shouldn't be tough to find. Hearty, filling fare, it's fast-casual and a pretty good bet to become a decent stopover after a night out at the bars.

Added attraction: Robert Epps did the design work, increasing space and adding a half-moon canopy over the patio to help revamp the much-loved Your Place restaurant.

It's nice setting for the beef and lamb gyro ($6.50), made with mashed garlic and butter and wrapped in pita bread. Or the Italian beef sandwich ($6.50), which comes either "dry" or sloppy "wet" with both ends of the sandwich dipped into the beef broth, then kissed with hot Giardiniera peppers.

On the griddle top, Quick Bite cooks up Angus beef burgers ($5.99), and thinly sliced steak, sauteed onions and peppers for Philly cheese steaks ($6.50). Wraps ($6.50) include Caesar, chicken fajita, and the "Tommy" with crispy fried chicken. And the hot dogs ($2.99) come Chicago-style with onions, relish and bell peppers.

Beyond fries ($1.99), Quick Bite carries cheese sticks ($3.99), deep-fried chicken fingers ($5.50) and beer-battered onion rings ($4.99).

Address: 6 N. Market St.

Phone: 577-3010

Hours: 10 a.m.-4 a.m. daily

Question: Ever had a hankering for a big, messy Italian beef sandwich, side order of crinkle-cut french fries, say about 3 a.m. or so?

Your best answer: Quick Bite, an up-all-night eatery just opened on Market Street downtown.