Chicago's Best Sandwiches North of the Loop:

It’s not surprising that when people think of great food in Chicago, they think of Chicago-style pizza, or of the fantastic steak houses in the city, like Gibson's or The Chop House. People may even think of Chicago's recent Asian fusion trend, or the uproar of sushi eateries offered throughout the city. But sandwiches??? However, there are places in Chicago that elevate the sandwich to a new level. There is a variety of amazing sandwich shops, each boasting a wide selection of menu times along with fresh ingredients and quick service. And all for the fraction of a typical lunch or dinner on the town. Here are some fantastic sandwich shops on the North and West sides that you’re sure to want to try.

When searching for a great sandwich, one usually thinks of fresh ingredients, a wide array of selection, and something that doesn't take long to receive after ordering. Panes Bread Café (located at 3002 N. Sheffield Avenue) specializes in all of this and much more. Panes is arguably the best deal in Chicago, offering a selection of nearly 20 sandwiches along with 10 salads, pizza, pastas, and more, with most everything right around the $5.00 mark. Yes, just 5 bucks. The menu also features rotating daily specials that include soup and vegetarian meals. Panes bakes their own breads daily, offerings include Tomato Foccacia, Rosemary Olive Oil, and a couple different kinds of Sourdough. Panes' menu has Mediterranean influence, as does their cute décor. You can order food ahead of time, or place an order when you arrive. You’ll wait no more then 10 minutes for your food. There is usually plenty of seating inside, or visit in the spring or summer and enjoy their outdoor seating.

Another solid sandwich shop on the North side of Chicago is Calliope Café. Like Panes, Calliope (located at 2826 N. Lincoln Avenue) is a quick and affordable alternative for local eaters in the Lincoln Park/Lakeview area. Calliope serves up traditional sure-to-please sandwiches like wraps and grinders, but also features a variety of unique sandwiches. Enjoy their “Fat Bastard” steak sandwich, the Buffalo Chicken sandwich, or try the Orange Barbecue Pork Loin. If Calliope’s entrée sandwiches aren’t enough, they also offer soups, salads, and appetizers such as quesadillas and spinach artichoke dip. Calliope also has an outdoor dining area. And, if that’s not enough, Calliope is BYOB, so it makes a great place for a casual date or a night out with a group of friends. For additional info including menus, visit http://www.calliopecafe.com/index.html.

Milk and Honey (located at 1920 W. Division Street) is self described as a “gourmet café”, offering sandwiches and salad, as well as homemade soups and pastries. Milk and Honey’s gourmet sandwiches include the delicious crab cake, grilled portabella mushroom, and the herb crusted roast beef fares. Unlike most of the cafes featured, Milk and Honey is unique as they offer breakfast as well. Opening daily at 8 am, they whip up everything from bagel sandwiches to egg dishes to pancakes. Also served are the traditional sides such as bacon, sausage and toast. A house special worth mentioning is their homemade granola, which is served with fresh fruit and yogurt. On the weekend Milk and Honey serves brunch until 2 pm. For more info, including weekly specials, menus and pricing, go to http://www.milkandhoneycafe.com.

A bit closer to downtown but northwest of the loop you'll find Café Sandwicheria. Café Sandwicheria (located at 455 N. Milwaukee Avenue) is a quaint sandwich shop where you can find a filling, affordable sandwich. Offering cold wraps and sandwich staples such as turkey, ham, and chicken salad, Café Sandwicheria also serves up toasted sandwiches including paninis. They also allow you to substitute and switch around sandwich compliments to your liking. For an added kick I recommend adding the spicy peppers. The only drawback to Café Sandwicheria is that the staff usually consists of only one sandwich maker, so if there are a lot of people there, prepare to wait 15 minutes for your food. They do have newspapers, magazines, as well a TV in their dining area, and there are plenty of meters right outside if you plan on driving here.

The Deli Boutique is a lesser known, but equally fantastic newer edition to the Chicago sandwich scene. The Deli Boutique (located at 2318 N. Clark Street) is infused with Italian influence, offering a variation of fresh sandwiches served on your choice of breads. A must have is their monster sized panino sandwich, served on Turano bread, which they also sell loafs of in store. The Deli Boutique serves cold sandwiches on ciabatta, focaccia and the like. Or try their panini sandwiches, which are stacked with ingredients, then served up warm and crisp. Choose any sandwich of their menu or get one made to order. Along with traditional options, the Deli Boutique serves up olive mixes and Italian meats including prosciutto, or Parma ham, which is dry-cured ham that is a bit saltier and thinner than American ham.

As well as some amazing independently owned sandwich shops, Chicago also boasts some amazing chain restaurants as well. I'm not referring to the Einstein’s Bagels or Panera Bread, but instead sandwich chains that have been locally grown.

If you've lived in Chicago more than a couple of weeks, you've probably eaten at Potbelly's Sandwich Works. Potbelly's, as it's known to customers, is well known for its toasted sandwiches, each custom made in an assembly line style with your choice of toppings. Of course Potbelly’s wouldn’t be a true Chicago sandwich giant without offering gardeniera and spicy mustard for each sandwich! Along with their sandwiches Potbelly’s serves meaty soups, including chili, and salads, and are also known for their shakes and delicious cookies and dessert bars. It’s also worth mentioning that Potbelly’s is extremely affordable, with sandwiches ringing up at around $4 each. Unlike many sandwich places, Potbelly’s is also unique in that they offer delivery virtually anywhere in the city. A true home run in every sense of the phrase, Potbelly's also actively gives back to the city of Chicago through various philanthropic causes. Along with that, Potbelly's employs over 2,000 people at their 16 Chicago area locations. Who ever would have thought this one time antique store would be such a well respected and equally liked Chicago sandwich tradition. Primarily located throughout the upper Midwest and in Texas, it wouldn’t surprise us if Potbelly’s became a national or international phenomenon soon. For more information on Potbelly’s or a location near you, check out http://www.potbelly.com/.

Another Chicago sandwich favorite is Costello Sandwich and Sides. Costello’s, which has two locations (at 4647 N. Lincoln Avenue and at 2015 W. Roscoe), is unique in that they offer over 25 different sandwiches, all at an very affordable price of around $5-$6. You can also make your own sandwich, jazzing it up with unique offerings such as pico de gallo, black olives or pepper rings. Costello’s awesome sides include Chipotle Mac and Cheese, Pineapple Tuna Salad and Red Pepper Rotini Salad. Next time you’re looking for food with friends, try Costello’s box lunches or catering services. Look for more to come from this brother-and-sister creation, which has been around since 1998. For more information on Costello Sandwich and Sides, go to http://costellosandwich.com/.

Offering a variety of Italian style sandwiches, among other items, is what Chicago's Pompei restaurants do best. Pompei is nearly a century old, being first established in 1909 on Taylor Street, which is now in the center of Chicago’s Little Italy district. Unlike many of the sandwich hot spots on our list, Pompei is all encompassing offering a variety of food from pizza, pasta and salads. However, a big draw at Pompei is their Italian and Pizzicotto sandwiches. Pizzicotto is essentially a slice of pizza, squared up in a sandwich form. Pompei’s pizzicotto include chicken fajita, barbecue beef and chicken parmigiana. These Italian-style sandwiches are served with sides of hot peppers and marinara. For information on Pompei’s menu and seven Chicago are locations, check out http://www.pompeipizza.com.

Be sure to enjoy the steaks and pizzas of Chicago. But don’t overlook these little sandwich shops, or you’re sure to miss out on a true slice of Chicago.