A Real Submarine Sandwich

[Hughlipton]

I am looking for a place in the San Fernando Valley, not a chain, but a place that makes a dynamite submarine sandwich with fresh product. Appreciate getting any suggestions. The closer to Sherman Oaks the better but I will travel.

[markn]

A little trek from Sherman Oaks but here you go:

Italia Bakery & Deli -Granada Hills (SF Mission and Balboa)
San Carlo Deli - Chatsworth (Mason & Devonshire)

These 2 places make the best Italian subs in SFV. They will ask if you want hard or soft rolls, go with the hard rolls.

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Italia Bakery & Deli
11134 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills, CA 91344

[kevin]

i concur on italia deli and their eggplant parm is especially good, they do it good, and for some reason i think it's much more authentic and delicious than bay cities, et al.

though san carlo i know absolutely nothing about.

[hnsbmg]

Capriotti's is a chain but a very good one -- far above Quizno's, e.g., if my occasional experience with them in Las Vegas is any guide. They've just opened outlets in Beverly Hills and Encino ( http://www.capriottis.com/locations/c... ). Has anyone tried them yet? EDIT: OK, now I see a few chowhound reviews, and most people seem to like the subs. I'll stop by and report back.

[Hughlipton]

Encino is really doable for me. So I Will check them out also. Thanks for the heads up.

[Professor Salt]

Haven't been to the L.A. locations yet, but I get the Bobbie (turkey, stuffing & cranberry sauce w/ a lttle mayo schmear) whenever I'm in Vegas. Great sandwich.

[hnsbmg]

The Bobbie is also my favorite. Except for gravy and Cousin Ralphie, it's Thanksgiving dinner on a roll.

[namstermonster]

ditto. anything w/stuffing is a winner for me :] the one in BH is good, altho i can't compare to the one in LV since i haven't tried it thr. they also sell mini *nothing bundt cakes* thr (white choc. raspberry - drool).

[kevin]

italia deli in granada hills, quite a trek but still good.

[JosephEBacon]

I went to the Beverly Hills Capriotti's on Saturday, and I'm very impressed with their cheesesteaks. I'll definitely be a repeat customer!

[mucho gordo]

Does a Philly Cheese Steak qualify as a 'real sub'?

[Jack Flash]

No; a cheesesteak is a cheesesteak.

[mucho gordo]

EXACTLY!

[mucho gordo]

Matt and Tony's on Sepulveda in Mission Hills near the 118

[granadafan]

I drive by this area several times a week and never knew this was there. Now I have a place to stop. Thanks!

[Moose]

DeFranko's is just OK - their rolls have way to many sesame seeds and the proportion of roll to ingredients is overwhelming. If you want a GREAT sub, you need to go to Antidote on the corner of White Oak & Vanowen in Encino/Reseda. The sub shop is in the back of the liquor store. It's a simple minimalist counter with a few tables in the far rear, but their subs are superb; particularly the Italian sub. They bake their bread fresh on the hour, and are very generous with meat and fresh toppings. The best part is their prices - a foot long fully loaded Italian sub will cost you $6.50 and it's enough for two moderately hungry people.

Antidote
17705 Vanowen St
Reseda, CA 91335

[Hughlipton]

This sounds like a trip worth making.

[Servorg]

Great houndly sleuthing, Moose. I put in a place link and even found a web site. They are a delivery place with groceries and other items besides the sandwiches, so for folks out that way they don't even need to get in their car to satisfy that itch or to get an emergency delivery of vittles. Thanks for posting about this place.

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Antidote Delivery
17705 Vanowen Street, Reseda, CA 91355

[Moose]

Actually, the owner of Antidote was senior management at Pink Dot. Remember them? They were expanding like crazy in the 90's then they went belly up. He told me the owners hired an expensive "marketing consultant" whose strategies drove them into the ground.

Antidote is basically a scaled down Pink Dot, with their own in house deli. And notice the ironic play on the name...if you look at the logo they use for their name, you'll notice: Anti-DOTe

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Pink Dot
13643 Burbank Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401

[Jelly71]

i can't believe i never knew about this place! i drive by there every single day. i know what i am having for dinner tonight!!

[Jelly71]

i went last night and got the Italian sub. it's very, very good, but i don't think i would go far out of my way to get it.

they put a ton of meat on it, almost too much in my opinion. and the baguette is narrow, so tons of the meat is just hanging off the bread. i don't like having to take these huge bites of just meat to make the sandwich neater.

i did like that the mustard they put on it was a hearty, deli type. i am not a fan of yellow mustard, so this was a pleasant surprise.

i do want to go back and try their Morning Delight sandwich. it's a baguette with tomato, onion, mayo and sliced hard boiled eggs. that sounds like a perfect sandwich for me.

[mucho gordo]

MUSTARD ON A SUB!!! I was practically raised by Italians back east and using mustard was unheard of. Real subs were dressed with oil and vinegar seasoned with oregano.

[Hughlipton]

Bravo!!!! No one puts mustard on a submarine. It's like putting ketchup on a Chicago dog. Absolutely unheard of. When desparate I will actually go to a Subway and when they try to put mustard on mine I tell them if they do they can keep it.

[Moose]

Really? Mustard is a standard ingredient on the Godmother at Bay Cities...you can always have them put whatever you want or don't want on the sub.

[Jack Flash]

Hugh is correct. Mustard and/or mayo on a sub sandwich is blasphemous. It's supposed to have oil & vinegar/Italian dressing ONLY.

[Servorg]

Just call me "Old Blasphemous" in that case... lol

[Hughlipton]

Hi Old Blasphemous. Do you put mayo on you deli pastrami sandwiches too? Always like your reviews and comments.

[Servorg]

When I get some of the sandwiches at Junior's on Westwood Blvd. (such as a salami sandwich) I will add mayo. I've never added it to my pastrami, but it would not cause me apoplexy to see someone else do so.

"OB" ;-D>

[ChinoWayne]

There are four acceptable ways to eat a pastrami sandwich:

1. With mustard on good corn rye.
2. With chopped liver on good corn rye.
3. With coleslaw and russian dressing (no cheese) on good corn rye.
4. Dipped with mustard and sweet pickle chips on a french roll.

Anything else is a crime against nature.

[reality check]

I'm glad you are playing the role of Father Nature.

[Servorg]

Does this mean I have to stop putting the fudge sauce on mine (the guy at 26 Beach restaurant said it was okay)?

[mrhooks]

Not a fan of Langer's #19 then?

[kevin]

these are all kosher add ons by the way and glad you mentioned no cheese b/c then it wouldn't be kosher.

numbers 1 to 3 are good for deli pastrami.

the fourth one i'd only get from a janky, fast food, bad pastrami joint (though good in a bad way i mean).

[kevin]

not cause apoplexy, funny stuff, about a serious issue.

anyhow, i do agree that if you are getting an authentic sub from an italian subbe shop there should be oil vinegar oregano and/or italian dressing but most definitely there should not be mayo, and usually not mustard, though i like mustard on my deli sandwiches even subs but never mayo.

[monku]

Agree with you only Italian dressing on a sub (oil, vinegar & oregano). At Mario's Deli in Glendale they dress their sandwiches with a mayo/mustard spread. I always say leave it off and give me Italian dressing.

[wutzizname]

Yeah, I went to Mario's for the first time the other day. When I ordered the Itlaian combo, the woman asked if I wanted everything on it. I said "yes," but as she turned to start making it I added, "wait, you don't put mayo and mustard on them, do you?" She told me they did. But when I shook my head and said, "no, just oil & vinegar," she seemed to smile in appreciation, like she was glad I knew how the world was supposed to work, even if her bosses didn't.

[Jack Flash]

A close friend of mine with East Coast roots swears by Cricca's. Alas, it's all the way out in Woodland Hills. On Topanga, near Dumetz.

[ozhead]

Even though Ron Cricca has retired and sold the store to newbies, they made the wise move of not changing the guy who actually makes the sandwiches -- so they are just as good now as before. My impression is that the menu has shrunk a bit, but there are still a whole lot of choices. Try the "Destroyer" or the "Belly Buster." And Jack, what do you mean by "alas"? "All the way out in Woodland Hills" is just fine for those of us who live out that way (e.g., in Topanga Canyon).

[Jack Flash]

Alas for the OP, who was asking for something closer to Sherman Oaks (obviously a hurrah for people like you). But glad to hear that it's still going strong.

[Hughlipton]

On a clear freeway (do those ever happen anymore) it is 17 minutes from Studio city.

[monku]

Defranco's Subs near the Van Nuys Airport.