Sandwich restaurants in North America
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A
Salumi
Sure, you’ll have to wait in line. This is Mario Batali’s dad’s place, after all. But the line to get a Salumi sandwich is like its own little community. People chat, compare notes, talk about sandwiches they’ve had and loved…it’s nice. When you finally get in the door of this long, skinny shopfront, you’re further teased by display cases of hanging meats and cheeses. Sandwiches come with any of a dozen types of cured meat and a handful of fresh cheese on a hunk of bread – you can’t go wrong. There’s only a couple of seats, so be prepared to picnic. On Tuesdays, family members hand-roll gnocchi in the window.
reviewed
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B
Bison Witches
Dive into a bread bowl at this lively hangout for college students and the occasional hipster. It's all about the sandwiches; the beef and brie is exactly what it sounds like. The music is boisterous, there are myriad TVs and drinks from the full bar are served till 2am.
reviewed
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C
Cafe Intermezzo
Great for quick, filling meals, Intermezzo holds the title for the biggest and best sandwiches and salads; the bread's homemade too.
reviewed
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D
Empire Grill & Tap Room
The local yuppies favor this lively hangout that got play in Po Bronson's novel The First 20 Million is Always the Hardest. You can get pizza, sandwiches and sturdy meat-and-potato platters on the shady patio and wash it down with something from the 25 taps.
reviewed
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E
Booeymonger
Create your own sandwich or choose one from the big board. Ingredients are fresh and service is quick, which explains why this local institution is often packed at lunchtime.
reviewed
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F
Chef Edward's Bar-b-que
The Piggly Wiggly sandwich at this tiny place is a fabulous treat, and the service is equally sweet.
reviewed
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G
Ba-Le Kona
Everyone gushes about Ba-Le's flavorful Vietnamese fare, like its green-papaya salad topped with shrimp, rice-paper summer rolls and traditional pho noodle soups. Satisfying sandwiches made with freshly baked French bread or croissants, cold rice-noodle salads and rice plates come with your choice of lemongrass chicken, tofu, beef or pork. The dining room is chilly and stark, with the usual florescent-tube lighting, but the food is worth it.
reviewed
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H
Hi-Rise Bread Co
Eating at Hi-Rise feels like somebody invited you over to their house for lunch. The cozy dining room upstairs is crowded with mismatched tables; when the weather is fine, find a seat on the terrace. You’ll be joined by academic types, who frequent this place for steaming soups, well-stuffed sandwiches, crusty loaves and fresh-baked sweets. Everybody agrees it’s overpriced, but somehow they can’t resist.
reviewed
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I
Blue Barn Gourmet
Toss aside thoughts of ordinary salads. Here for $8.50 you can build a mighty mound of organic produce from Sonoma’s Oak Hill Farm, topped with your choice of six fixings: artisan cheeses, caramelized Copra onions, heirloom tomatoes, candied pecans, pomegranate seeds, even Meyer grilled sirloin. For a hot meal, try the toasted panini oozing with Manchego cheese, fig jam and chorizo.
reviewed
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J
All-Star Sandwich Bar
Sandwich-lovers will have a hard time choosing at this Inman Sq sandwich shop, which has declared itself a ‘wrap-free zone’. Fortunately, you can’t really go wrong. The dozens of sandwiches on offer are all prepared with fresh tasty ingredients and just a touch of innovation. Additional perks: fresh-squeezed lemonade, heaping plates of french fries and beers on draft. Cash only.
reviewed
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K
Sentinel
Rebel SF chef Dennis Leary is out to revolutionize lunchtime take-out, taking on the classics with top-notch seasonal ingredients. Tuna salad gets radical with chipotle mayo and the snap of crisp summer vegetables, and roast beef does an about-face with horseradish cream cheese. Menus change daily; come prepared for about a 10-minute wait, since every sandwich is made to order.
reviewed
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L
Volle Nolle
Apparently, volle nolle is Latin for ‘willy-nilly, ’ but there is nothing haphazard about this much-beloved North End sandwich shop. Black-slate tables and pressed-tin walls adorn the simple, small space. The chalkboard menu features fresh salads, delicious flatbread sandwiches and dark rich coffee. A perfect lunchtime stop along the Freedom Trail.
reviewed
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M
Ramp
Only locals lunch here, in an industrial shipyard on the eastern waterfront. Sit on the docks at umbrella tables and purge your hangover with Bloodies. The food's OK, mostly sandwiches and salads, but the crowd is a cool cross section, and the not-yet gentrified area shows a side of SF few visitors see. Musicians play weekends and the place become a bar.
reviewed
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N
Kona Inn
If you're after a straightforward salad and sandwich lunch or steak and seafood dinner served in a handsome environment, the Kona Inn is your place. The inn opened in 1929 as the Big Island's first hotel, and maintains a historical air. The dining room has koa furnishings and gleaming hardwood floors, and overlooks a lawn and the crashing waves beyond.
reviewed
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O
Taquería Los Patitos
Chow down with the longshoremen at this friendly hole-in-the-wall, where overseer doña Hilaria fills tortas (sandwiches in rolls) and trancas (baguettes stuffed with roast pork) with a variety of scrumptious fillings, such as shark-and-egg salad and salpicón de res (shredded beef salad). Don’t miss the exotic fruit juices.
reviewed
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P
Healthy Bites Grill
Glance at this brightly colored drive-thru, near the Science Explorium, and you'll think it's just another crappy fast-food spot. But a closer inspection reveals the true nature of the South Florida chain: good and good for you. Choose from grilled portobello sandwiches, fresh salads, smoothies and tasty wraps like the tarragon chicken salad.
reviewed
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Q
Boxed Foods
Organic, local, seasonal ingredients make outrageously flavorful lunches, whether you choose the zesty strawberry salad with mixed greens, walnuts and tart goat cheese, or the Boxed BLT with crunchy applewood smoked bacon. Get yours to go to the Transamerica Pyramid & Redwood Park, or grab one of the two-top tables in back.
reviewed
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R
Lisa G Café Wine Bar
Lisa Giungo wanted to have her own restaurant since she was little, and when she opened her café, she hung her childhood portraits on the walls. It adds a fun touch to this sleek and contemporary space serving primarily salads and sandwiches. Even quirkier is the name of her meatball extravaganza - 'Lisa's Bowl of Balls.'
reviewed
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Island Shack
Look for the giant wooden ki'i (Tiki) figure across from Rocky Point north of Waimea. It's open-air picnic style, complete with gravel floor and wobbly plastic tables. Fresh fish plates and veggie sandwiches dominate a menu with a Brazilian touch. 'Ahi tuna with rice and beans. Cash only.
reviewed
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S
Baguette Box
Handy when you just want to grab a quick lunch on the way to the Fremont Troll but don’t want corporate fast food, this sub shop makes a dozen sandwiches on fresh baguettes. The choices range from the decadent drunken chicken or leg of lamb to heart-healthy options like squash and eggplant or crispy tofu.
reviewed
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T
Simon Kitchen & Bar
The newest hard-rockin' option features the eclectic surf-and-turf fare of Kerry Simon, who made an appearance on Iron Chef on a Harley. 'Topless' apple pie, colossal crab cakes with papaya slaw, and wasabi mashed potatoes - they may be foodie fads, but the svelte scene puts it over the top.
reviewed
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U
Bison
At street level this chic restaurant has an upscale deli serving exquisite little sandwiches and other gourmet treats. Upstairs the bright and airy dining room overlooks both the peaks and an open kitchen. Wood-fired pizzas are tops, as are boldly flavored seafood and meat mains. Many specials.
reviewed
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V
Waterfront Deli
Wailea's sole budget option, this deli inside the Whalers General Store serves up sandwiches on bread it bakes fresh. Choices range from mainland standards, like the hot corned-beef Reuben to Maui taro burgers. It's a good stop on the way to the beach - it even boxes up picnic lunches.
reviewed
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W
Café des Artistes
Tour world-class art galleries on Canyon Rd, splurge on original art, then eat on an art-student's budget. These folks serve up delicious sandwiches (around US$6) and French-inspired dishes like a brie-and-berry salad (around US$6) served in a cheerful café or on the sunny patio.
reviewed
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X
Pressed
The simple, straightforward menu features almost 20 different sandwiches, all made on fresh bread and pressed in a heated grill. Our favorite is the Cuban (pork, ham, cheddar and pickles on ciabatta) but there are many authentic Italian options and loads of ideas for vegetarians. Look also for the Seaport District outlet.
reviewed
