So after the scare that Breadline was closing, we happily learned it will reopen later this week it closed to make improvements to the ceiling for the health of patrons.  Washingtonian Twittered it is closed for good and set me all a tizzy as  I would miss the chicken and goat cheese sandwich and the sausage sandwich.  In honor of Breadline I am going to post my top OTHER sandwich selections in our area… so you can deal for a couple days.

1. The Italian Store- known to make a mean Italian sub, less known as a place in our area you can get a muffaletta.  Their best seller is the Milano, but my favorite is the Napoli as it has spicy pepperoni.  Hubby likes the Capri.  I have heard rumors that A. Litteri in NE makes similar goodness, but can’t report back yet.  I get it with everything- lettuce, oil, oregano, sweet and hot peppers.  This place is a legend.

2. PS7- The Primanti Brothers Sandwich is a Pittsburgh legend.  They make one at liberty that has ingredients closer to the real deal, but this one for some reason tastes closer.  For $7.50 you get sopresetta, pepper slaw, gouda, fried egg and french fries.  Washingtonian has a video and recipe on how to make it, but for $7.50 I am going to PS7 and ordering mine with a happy hour $4 glass of wine.

3. Earl’s Sandwiches- situated in an unassuming building in Clarendon this place makes some serious goodness.  The sandwiches and soups are homemade and don’t skimp on the meat.  My favorite is the Roasted Earl.  Juicy, tender slices of pork loin with roasted green peppers and homemade garlic mayonnaise.  It has just the right amount of pork au jus and hint of garlic to create a balanced, but enjoyable fullness in your mouth, and the green pepper gave it good crunch and sweetness.

4. Lost Dog Cafe- There are so many good choices here.  The sandwich list is a couple pages here.  I think they have a good cheesesteak- nice crunch, thin authentic cut of meat, nice cheese, good carmelization on the peppers and onions.  I also like the Republican sandwich.    And they deliver!  I like the warm sandwiches a bit better than the cold, but both are good.  Make sure you get their on tap root beer.  It isn’t over carbonated which makes it smooth and refreshing without being over sweet or tangy.  I don’t drink root beer often, I don’t care for it all that much, but when it is real deal root beer, that I can get into.

5. Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli- located on 17th and H is an often overlooked place.  It was about a block and a half away from Breadline, so the competition was fierce.  But there is something that Heidi’s does better than Breadline- the meatball sub.  I think many of their sandwiches are pretty good. They bake their own bread, slice fresh a lot of the meat.  They clearly warm the meatballs up in the microwave, but they are still awesome.  They are oozey and gooey with lots of sauce and cheese, but the meatballs are very large and meaty more like a homemade meatball than a subway/sheetz meatball.  I love these.  They remind me of the Mom and Pop Americanized Italian places you love.

6. Dicky’s Frozen Custard- I go here for one reason and one reason only: The Cuban Panini.  They will use cuban bread if you ask.  The pork is real roast pork with ham.  The pickles are sliced thin, the mustard isn’t overwhelming.  It tastes crispy and juicy, tangy and spicy and uni all at the same time.  An overwhelmingly good panini.  I don’t know how Ceiba’s will stack up, I need to try theirs as I have serious love for the cuban sandwich, but I think the pressed grilled panini part of the sandwich really does something for me.  And at $7.25 on Monday with chips and a drink, I will take it.  Their frozen yogurt with fresh strawberries is really good this time of year too.

But no one can replace my roast chicken and goat cheese or sausage sandwich.  Good thing it was only a test.  I don’t know if the emergency broadcast system is ready yet for the real deal.

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