Cleveland is full of a wide variety of dining options, ranging from opulent five-star restaurants to mouthwatering late night food trucks. But at the end of the day, nothing hits the spot quite like a good sandwich. From over-the-top takes on old favorites to sandwiches that can't be found anywhere but Cleveland, these are some of the best picks to give your lunch break an upgrade.
1. An open-faced sandwich at Byte Cafe (3615 Superior Ave)
You might think a sandwich served with both sides up is simply lazy preparation, but the presentation at Byte Cafe goes deeper than looks. You've never had a sandwich right until you've been able to slap it together yourself, keeping the crisp veggies and cool dressing separate from the hot meat and melty cheese.
2. A pressed sub at La Bodega (869 Jefferson Ave)
The sandwiches at La Bodega are practically stuffed with fantastic flavor, then pressed down into a more manageable size with a crisp and delicious seared finish.
3. A sandwich with the house relish at Cleveland Pickle (850 Euclid Ave)
If the name wasn't any indication, this sandwich shop specializes in all things pickle. Their signature spicy relish is a very different kind of condiment than you might be used to, and adds a briny kick to your favorite sandwich.
4. The "Hey Dave" at Dave's Cosmic Subs (1842 Coventry Rd)
There's no shortage of artisan sub shops around the Forest City, but Dave's is the original and best. Their signature sandwich comes laden with turkey, veggies, and cheese, as well as a healthy smear of the all-important Dave's Cosmic Sauce on top.
5. A gyro at Cafe Bon Appetit (2767 Euclid Heights Blvd)
This upscale, stylish eatery takes their sandwiches seriously. In the case of their unique take on a classic Greek gyro, they take it so seriously that you'll have a hard time closing the wrap up properly.
6. A corned beef sandwich at Slyman's (3106 Saint Clair Ave NE)
There is possibly no sandwich so quintessentially Cleveland as the monstrous piles of freshly sliced corned beef available at the historic Slyman's sandwich shop. You might struggle to fit the whole thing in your mouth, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better corned beef sandwich in the Forest City.
7. A grilled cheese at Melt Bar And Grilled (14718 Detroit Ave
Lakewood)
One of the simplest comfort foods around, everyone finds themselves craving a good grilled cheese sandwich once in a while. Melt takes that craving to a whole new level, serving up the largest and most extravagant grilled cheese you'll ever have.
8. A Polish Boy from Seti's Polish Boys (roaming)
The most famous Cleveland sandwich of all is stretching the definition of "sandwich" a little, but every true Clevelander has an undying love for this amazing combination of hot kielbasa, creamy coleslaw, crispy French fries, and tangy barbecue sauce. As long as there are napkins on hand, of course.
9. Any sandwich with Stadium Mustard
This one might be cheating, but we would be remiss to overlook the most beloved and widespread condiment in all of Cleveland. This spicy brown mustard is worth its weight in gold here, and a sandwich isn't complete without a sizable squeeze of mustard fresh from Progressive Field.
Are there any amazing sandwiches unique to Cleveland that we left out? Tell us about them in the comments.
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