AOL – Sandwiches are part of everyday American life, but too often the spotlight falls on giant chains like Subway.
The truth is, plenty of smaller, regional brands are serving up sandwiches with more flavor and history.
Here are some of the standouts that deserve a closer look.
Capriotti’s
In Wilmington, Delaware, Capriotti’s built its reputation on one sandwich: the Bobbie. The recipe is simple but memorable: roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo on a roll, a Thanksgiving dinner you can hold in your hands.
Lois and Alan Margolet opened the first shop in 1976, and from that single counter, the chain has grown to more than 175 stores nationwide. The Bobbie even won a 2009 AOL.com poll naming it “The Greatest Sandwich in America.
Primanti Bros.
In Pittsburgh, a sandwich often means fries and coleslaw stacked right on the bread with the meat and cheese. That style began at Primanti Bros. in the 1930s, when a small shop fed truck drivers and late-night workers who wanted a whole meal in one hand.
The idea stuck, and today the chain has spread through Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland, though Pittsburgh still claims it as its own.
Erbert & Gerbert’s
The chain started in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, when Kevin Schippers borrowed names from the bedtime stories his dad used to tell. Sandwiches still carry those oddball titles: Narmer, Boney Billy, and plenty more. One quirk sets the place apart: the bread is hollowed out so the fillings sit better, and the “guts” are handed over in a little bundle on the side.
D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches
The chain started in Dedham, Massachusetts, in 1967 and spread across New England on the strength of its subs. A lobster roll might be the draw in summer, while steak and cheese stays a year-round favorite.
At some shops, the menu still features the Great Divide, a sub stretched to nearly 30 inches …
[OUR VIEW: D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches is the only name on this list our editors have tried. We love their food and their service and would pick them over most national chains any time. – HEADLINE HEALTH]
