Buona, The Original Italian Beef, has set a date of Dec. 6 for the long-awaited opening of its Oak Lawn restaurant. The restaurant at 6235 W. 95th St. will officially open at 10 a.m. Anyone lined up outside before the restaurant opens on Wednesday will get a free Italian beef sandwich.

The family-owned, fast casual chain serves its signature Italian beef, concocted by matriarch Peggy Buonavolanto, with some help from Carl "Uncle Junior" Buonavolanto, proprietor of another Chicago icon Mr. Beef.