Sandwiches

[Eric Pedersen!]

We mostly all eat lunch, and as a fat guy, I like eating sub sandwiches and telling myself that they aren't bad for me, because they're fresh. Where are your favorite sandwich shops/deli's in Chicago?

As a longtime resident of little Italy, I have had subs from lots and lots of places. For me, the champion of all is Fantano's (1060 w.Polk), specifically, their 'blockbuster sandwich'. Every unhealthy deli meat and their awesome homemade gardinera and their bread is great. Notables are 'Bari sub' on Grand Avenue, and I love captain nemo's because where else can you get a liverwurst sub? No where. Anyone have super secret great places I should know about?

[Monahan]

You can't get a good, real sub sandwich outside of the NY/NJ area. And anyone who suggest Jimmy Johns is a good substitute clearly has shoe leather where their tongue should be.

In Chicago, Potbelly's is the best sandwich place bar none.

You can also get a pretty good NY-style bagel sandwich at The Bagel on Broadway.

[Dave Ries]

Take a trip downtown and go to Perry's on Franklin.
You will more than likely wait in a decent size line if you go at lunch. But you get about a pound of deli meat on your sandwich. If you like corned beef, this is the place to go.
Also, they have a no cell phone policy. You use a cell phone, and an ear piercing alarm goes off until you put it away.

Get the Perry's favorite on rye...and try to eat the sandwich before the bread dissolves.

http://www.perrysdeli.com/

[kelsevinal]

I would also wholeheartedly recommend Manny's Deli, on Jefferson just north of Roosevelt. I grew up on those corned beef sandwiches, and they still taste as good now when I take my dad to lunch as they did when he would take me for lunch (and I could only eat a quarter and would take the rest home).

The pastrami is pretty good, too.

[Chip]

The best sandwiches used to be at Calypso on Lincoln, north of Diversey, before they closed. Now I have no idea.

Come back, Calypso!

[bron]

Second on Bari's and Manny's, both classics. I will add a new place, Piatto Pronto on Clark, just north of Bryn Mawr. A great italian grocery with all kinds of great sandwiches and homemade dishes. One of the best sandwiches around is in Elmwood Park at Alpine Subs on North Ave. If you want an unhealthy feast day, go to Elmwood Park and hit up Johnnie's Beef and Alpine. Then go throw up.

[robbersean]

If someone could point me in the direction of the best Reuben in the city, I would really appreciate it.

[jasonA]

If someone could point me in the direction of the best Reuben in the city, I would really appreciate it.

I like the Ruben at the Brauhause on Lincon.
It's big, with amazing saurkraut and not too much dressing.
If you like a Ruben that's not too wet this is your place.

There will proabably be accordion to serenade you while you eat.

[Schoolyj]

A little bit different is the Duck Ruben at Hopleaf - incredibly delicious.

[nhoj]

'Bari sub' on Grand Avenue

This is my favorite Italian sub in the city. Buy someone Bari for lunch, you got yourself a friend for life.

[nhoj]

If someone could point me in the direction of the best Reuben in the city, I would really appreciate it.

Goddess and Grocer. There's one on Damen, just north of North Ave, in Bucktown, another in the Gold Coast where Cru Wine Bar used to be, and a new one on the 2200 block of Elston. You can get a corned beef, pastrami or turkey reuben, but the original corned beef is the best.

[goody]

Seconded, Ries. Perry's.

Best pastrami I've ever had.

I get the "Perry's Favorite" with pastrami instead of corned beef. It's comes with russian dressing, slaw and Jack cheese. I add horseradish.

They have pre-ripped saran wrap and lunch bags so you can take half of it home for dinner....if yer a lady.

[stetsko]

just went to Cafecito @ 26 E. Congress today, with my food-critic friend. Cuban-style sandwiches. Just superlatively good and reasonably priced.

[Hendo]

Potbelly's? Really?

Go fuck yourself if Potbelly's is your favorite sandwich in Chicago! With a rusty fork!

Perry's is awesome. Fontano's in Little Italy is amazing. You can get a good rueben at The Bagel on Broadway near Belmont. Actually, they've got pretty good deli across the board. Not NYC good, but better than most.

[Monahan]

If you dislike Potbelly's you hate America.

All other sandwiches are knock-offs of stuff done better elsewhere.

Don't hate on something just because they did it well enough to franchise.

[Hendo]

Potbelly's are the refuse of Bush's America. Lazy, tasteless, and don't travel well.

If you love Potbelly's, you're part of the problem. Go ask for a bailout, scumbag!

[Eric Pedersen!]

You can't get a good, real sub sandwich outside of the NY/NJ area.

that's just stupid, or instead of saying that, can you list some places that were 'supposed' to be good and weren't? What do they use the garbage on the side of the street in new york to make magic subs?

[Eric Pedersen!]

If someone could point me in the direction of the best Reuben in the city, I would really appreciate it.

It's not the best, but the Ham Reuben at Captain Nemo's is really really delicious. It's not a real reuben, but it is real good.

Additionally, Potbelly's is not even close to great, but it is better than Jimmy Johns.

To all those that like Bari: go to Fantano's on Polk and Carpenter, it's much better and the same style. (keep in mind, I like Bari a lot).

[Monahan]

that's just stupid, or instead of saying that, can you list some places that were 'supposed' to be good and weren't? What do they use the garbage on the side of the street in new york to make magic subs?

Sure... places that make crappy sub-style sandwiches:

- Jimmy Johns
- Subway
- Costello's
- ToGo's

I've heard folks sing the praises of all of those. False prophets, all of them.

Most of the sandwich shops in Chicago are not sub shops.

What they do at the good sub shops in NY/NJ is to actually cook the roast beef or turkey breast in house, then slice it to order. Pre-cooked Boars Head is for the suck.

Also, hot sandwiches are not designed to travel. Don't ask it to do things it's not designed to, Hendo. Don't claim a plasma TV sucks just because it's not comfortable to sit on.

[Derek]

If someone could point me in the direction of the best Reuben in the city, I would really appreciate it.

It's not the best, but the Ham Reuben at Captain Nemo's is really really delicious. It's not a real reuben, but it is real good.

Dude, not the best not-real Reuben? I mean, come on...

[Chip]

Is this a Reuben-only thread?

[DG5]

If someone could point me in the direction of the best Reuben in the city, I would really appreciate it.

Brett's Kitchen under the Chicago Brown Line has the best ruben, possibly ever. It is kind of greasy, so be prepared. Plus, the place has got a little bit of that NY attitude which is oddly refreshing.

[goody]

You know, if you're in a jam, Eat-a-Pita has a decent Reuben. But they always asked me if I want mayo, mustard or 1000 island on it? Come on Eat-a-Pita?!@

I would also like to know where the best Reuben is. Most of the diners I frequent in the loop's Reubens are alright: Poag's, Cardoza's, The Marquette, Elephant y Castle. But I couldn't tell you who's is the best. I could tell you the worst: that diner on LaSalle and Randolph. I can't remember the name or maybe I'm blocking it. I thought that place looked rough and knew I should have never given them a chance. Soft, wet bread, cold thick pre-purchased corned beef served with broke ass steak fries.

The rest of this thread has already be settled. Perry's is the best sammich in town.

[Gilley]

I like to eat a Potbellys when two and a half men comes on. Fuckin' best.

[Gilley]

HAHA seriously tho.

Go to Cap'n Nemo's and get a cold beef and cheese, muenster, no onion.

Or go here:

http://www.stevesdeli.com/home/

[Rich]

Haven't had one in a year probably, but I still sometimes dream about a Toasted Nueske Ham and Gruyere Cheese on Black bread from the Hopleaf.

[bhite]

L'appetito. great Italian sandwiches. Apparently there is one in the John Hancock, I wouldn't recommend that one--never been. I used to frequent the one at 30 E Huron.

[Eric Pedersen!]

Sure... places that make crappy sub-style sandwiches:

- Jimmy Johns
- Subway
- Costello's
- ToGo's


These are chains, not local "chicago stops", making them not pertinent to what we're discussing. If someone said that Jimmy Johns or Subway was good, they probably get their burgers well done too. I'll eat those places, but because it's a 5 dollar footlong and it's fast, it isn't good.

[Eric Pedersen!]

Dude, not the best not-real Reuben? I mean, come on...

it IS the best non-real Reuben. It's just not the best Reuben, because it isn't actually a Reuben, it's spectacular

[cosmicpowers]

Not sure if they have a Reuben.

Not sub-like at all.

But delicious frickin sammiches.

Panes Bread Cafe on Sheffield and Wellington (kittycorner from Pompeii).

Yummers.

[Chip]

L'appetito. great Italian sandwiches. Apparently there is one in the John Hancock, I wouldn't recommend that one--never been. I used to frequent the one at 30 E Huron.

It's not so much "in" the John Hancock but in the little plaza of shops in front of the Hancock. Basically opposite of the Cheesecake Factory, if you know where that is.

I've eaten there once and remember liking it. Seemed pretty authentically Italian as far as the choices offered.

[Monahan]

These are chains, not local "chicago stops", making them not pertinent to what we're discussing. If someone said that Jimmy Johns or Subway was good, they probably get their burgers well done too. I'll eat those places, but because it's a 5 dollar footlong and it's fast, it isn't good.

There aren't any real sub shops in Chicago is my point.

As far as regular sandwiches, Eppy's deli has decent meat and uses alot of it. Not as much as The Bagel uses, but the meat at Eppy's is better quality.

[Hendo]

There aren't any real sub shops in Chicago is my point.

I will fight you in the street.

[Chip]

I will spread my opinions on a nice french bread, slathered in hometown pride sauce. You will all love it!

[nhoj]

There aren't any real sub shops in Chicago is my point.

In the 60657? Probably correct. In the Loop, South Loop, River West, and on/off of Taylor? This is blasphemy.

[Monahan]

In the 60657? Probably correct. In the Loop, South Loop, River West, and on/off of Taylor? This is blasphemy.

Such accusations were made of Galileo, but he was right.

[Dave Ries]

Fontano's makes a decent sub sandwich. Tough Italian bread to hold in the juice from hot peppers.

Luke's on Chicago has a great Meatball sandwich...add their crispy shoestring french fries, and it's a perfect unhealthy combo.

If you want an imitation Primanti Brothers Sandwich (one of the few things from Pittsburgh that I'm a fan of), go to Lucky's on Clark. For those from the Cleveland area, you might know of these sandwiches from Panini's Bar. However, sadly...they originated in Pittsburgh.

Perry's is still the best overall sandwich place. The more that Goody and I say it, the more people will start to believe it.