When I was a kid it was either Cheese Steak or Italian, and pretty much any gas station or convenience store had a deli/grill and sold one. Not to mention a proliferation of sub shops, pizza stands, etc. Didn’t see a Subway or similar place until the late 90s, I think.
So, anything that comes close to a decent version of those. Even Subway will do in a pinch. Though I remember the first time I went to one and they had never heard of a cheesesteak. I think I settled on a Italian BMT. A local pizza place with terrible pizza does pretty good subs and salads. They have a family meal that includes a pizza, garlic bread, sub, and salad. I’ve also tried Jersey Mikes, Firehouse, Penn Station, and some of those other chains. If they can do one of those 2 decently, I’m not too picky.
Every sub place has some variation of the Italian, and that’s usually what I go for. Something like pepperoni, salami, and provolone, maybe ham. Toppings should include red vinegar, olive oil, oregano, mayo, olives, pickled peppers, and ideally tomatoes if they have them (which they almost never do; usually they just have tomato-shaped objects which bear no resemblance to the real thing and aren’t worth bothering with).
Turkey and bacon with lettuce, tomato and extra mayo. I only like subs from one place, it used to be a Neba Roast Beef chain place, now it’s called Mr. B’s. They still have the delicious roast beef sandwiches though.
French bread, mayo, provolone, ham, turkey, tomatoes, lots of onions. In the summer I’ll get it w/o tomatoes and have a homegrown tomato waiting at my desk to be sliced up and slapped on. I add some Penzey’s Pasta Sprinkle, too.
I’ve had one of these per week for the past three months, since the place opened:
The No. 8 from the New York Deli at Sarona Market, Tel Aviv - roast beef, a fried egg, fried onions and bell peppers, horseradish sauce and date tomatoes. Yum.