How cool, I used to eat at the original (I think) Cap’n Nemos in Rogers Park in the early to mid '70’s when I lived on North Wayne St. Loved it then, wanted to go there during a visit in December but got to busy to make it up to the North side. Glad to hear he’s still there.
I live in Las Vegas yo and I can testify that Capriotti’s is da bomb yo ya know what I’m sayin’?
I ate at Capriotti’s a couple times. It was ok. Jasons Deli is better.
However, the last time I ate at Capriotti’s, well let me 'splain.
I was at work and went out and picked up the order for the office. I got back to my desk, unwrap the sandwich and take a big bite and started chewing. A few seconds in I felt something drip on my hand. I looked down and there was a big ol splotch of blood.
I went HUH?
I checked my nose, it was fine. I checked my lip and it was way bloody. I went into the bathroom to look and sure enough, there was a big ol hole in my bottom lip.
Since I had just taken a bite of the sandwich, I opened it up. Inside, to my surprise, was a giant hunk of glass. I dig around in the sandwich a little more and, lo and behold, I hit the glass jackpot.
Seriously, there were like 5 chunks of glass in the sandwich.
I called the store and told them. They offered free food. I told them no, but you guys need to toss all your food NOW.
I suspect that they didn’t toss out the food. However, it stopped being my problem as I will never eat there again. Had I swallowed one of the pieces of glass, I would have been screwed.
Edited to add, Sammy’s L.A. Pastrami & Burgers in Vegas is pretty damned good. Dinky little place but massive and tasty sandwiches.
Slee
Kenny & Zuke’s sucks. I had to throw out the last pastrami I had there, and their matzoh soup is tasteless. I wrote them a nice one-star review.
I’ve been to Katz, and I don’t understand the comment above about ‘gimmicky’. I don’t think it’s changed since it opened in 1888. If the sandwiches are larger, it’s because they have to compete, but their pastrami is about the only pastrami in NYC that’s still made exclusively from navel, and it’s amazing. My wife said the matzoh soup was rich and flavorful.
I would add the White Spot Cafe in Anchorage, AK to the list. Best goddamn halibut sandwich on the planet.
I’ve been to the original Jerry’s and it was ok.
The location on Clark St. in Andersonville is a shithole of crap food and attitude.
Capn’ Nemos is pretty good.
BTW, I haven’t been to or heard of any of these other sandwich shops but the fact Jerry’s is on the list makes them all suspect to me.
I’ve only been to Snarf’s. It’s a chain now and I’ve been to both the original and a couple of the newer stores around Denver.
It’s good and I’m always happy when someone else suggests it but I don’t think it’s any better then Which Witch or some other nicer national chains.
Just Katz’s. I live in New York City, so that’s not too hard. Last time was December. Still salivating thinking of that pastrami! And the size! Coworker and I split one and I was STUFFED from half of one.
Attman’s Deli in Baltimore has great sandwiches. I ate at Katz’s so long ago I can’t remember it.
Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh is, IMO, a joke. Who the hell wants french fries and cole slaw on a sandwich? They are called “sides” for a reason.
The only one I’ve been to is Busboys and Poets. Which is the best damn café in the world. Having frequented Busboys & Poets in its prime, I don’t feel any need to go to any of the rest, because the cool-café slot on my bucket list is already fulfilled.
I’ve been to Primanti Bros. It belongs on a list of places to avoid. Their sandwiches are made from ingredients of no better than mediocre quality. Shoving a handful of greasy french fries and a scoop of vinegar slaw inside each sandwich does nothing to improve the final product. Virtually everybody I know who claims to like Primanti Bros. mentions alcohol somewhere in the conversation. Usually, it is a variation on going to Primant Bros. half-to-three-quarters lit after the bars close at 2:15AM. I will simply note that that is also when there is a sudden uptick in demand for roller dogs at convenience stores in Primanti-free areas. Drunks will eat almost anything at that hour.
The only one I’ve even heard of (including the one here in AZ) is Katz’s, and that’s probably because pop culture thinks NYC is the only place in the world that matters.
I have this theory that lists like these are made by the gubmint to distract us. We all end up debating which sandwich shop is best, like it is even theoretically possible to rank them, and we forget to worry about the important things.
That, or they are drivers for website ad money.
The only thing I can figure is that the owners of Primanti’s have pictures of Bob Tuchman blowing a goat or something similar. Otherwise the place wouldn’t be featured on Food Network every 15 minutes.
Melt is hella popular here in Cleveland. There’s always a wait to eat. I’ve only ever gotten take-out, I wouldn’t want to wait in line. They also have like 5 locations now.
They have some interesting concoctions but I’ve only ever tried four sandwiches. Their peanut butter banana sandwich (cheese = cream cheese) is my go-to as it is on their regular menu.
The other three I’ve tried have been specials. They have monthly specials and then specials that only last 3 days. I have had the macaroni & cheese sandwich (quite good), the six degrees of kevin bacon (also quite good - there are 6 bacon ingredients on it) and then some kind of Wookie sandwich for a Star Wars promotion that IIRC was dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with coconut. It sounded way better than it actually was.
Anyway, I don’t go there often because I can’t keep paying all that money for a peanut butter sandwich. The rest of the menu is not my style - everything else is spicy or BBQ. That drives me nuts! But clearly I am in the minority because people are lining up in droves to get these sandwiches. Well they also have very good hand-cut fries and I think a popular beer selection. There’s a whole atmosphere around it.
And if you get a Melt tattoo, you get 25% off for life.
Anyway, it’s pretty fun. Pretty good sandwiches, or at least unique stuff to eat. I can see why it made the list.
I’ve been to Alvin Ord’s in San Marcos. Good bread, but precious little else to recommend it. It’s like Schlotsky’s with extra second hand smoke and an equally stale faux hipster vibe.
No Grease Truck?
Dammit! We were in Vegas for Christmas and passed it several times. Off of Decatur and Flamingo, right? I kept thinking, “Huh…I wonder if that place is any good?” but never bothered.
Next trip!
I grew up in the Bay Area and I’ve never heard of Ike’s. Tommy’s Joynt is much more commonly-known as the place to go.
Not that I’ve been there…
Because upon hearing about my dissatisfaction, people would say “oh you need to go to this other location”, or “It’s always good when I go there, you must have gone on an off day or something”. I kept wondering why so many people raved about what I thought was one of the worst steak sandwiches I have ever had.
ETA: this thread is literally the only criticism of Primanti’s that I’ve ever heard. It’s good to know I’m not the only one.
I’ve been to none of these places and heard of only a few, and despite having spent a good amount of time in LA and Seattle I never heard of either of their nominations.
Honestly, if you’re visiting Seattle, a sandwich is the last kind of food you should be hunting down when we’ve got twelve-egg omelets, clam chowder, ramen, and psycho biscuits & gravy to choose from.
Or is it Coles?
http://213nightlife.com/colesfrenchdip
I suggest spending a week trying one then the other…
One or the other must be on the list. Period.
But I have eaten at Ikes and it’s not that great. Dont get me wrong, it’s fine, but there are better.
In San Jose, it has to be Freshly Baked Eatery in Downtown.