A sub is just a sandwich on a long roll, cut lengthwise and filled with meats, cheeses, vegetables and condiments, right?
Oh, if only it were that simple … According to our readers, there’s much more to this beloved torpedo-shaped, on-the-go meal.
In their nomination forms for the July edition of our Best of South Florida Dining series, they get wrapped up in all the details — everything from having bread that’s soft on the inside and crusty on the outside to signature sauces and spices to the way the sliced-to-order meat and cheese is folded over the toppings and packed into the roll.
These sub connoisseurs know what they like, and that’s why we turned to them to find out who makes the best ones in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
After receiving hundreds of submissions during a two-week nomination window, we’re ready to announce the Top five finalists, in alphabetical order:
What fans say
Jimmy’s NY Italian and Geena’s Chicken Parm were the most raved-about subs by fans of Capitini’s.
In her nomination form, Boynton Beach resident Madeline Viton lauded the “crusty Italian bread that is to die for” and meats so heavily stacked that the sub “barely even fits in your mouth.”
“Fresh toppings, sub sauce. Yumm. The sub altogether is mouth watering and will make you second guess every time you buy a sub somewhere else,” she wrote, adding that “every single thing on the menu [is] fantastic … Most importantly it’s made with love!”
Pompano Beach resident Charlie Siegel said he likes to order a mini untoasted turkey and provolone sub at Jersey Mike’s and praised the chain’s mastery of the basics: “The food is freshly sliced, the bread is freshly baked, the spices/seasonings are excellent and the subs are easily customizable.”
Several Jersey Mike’s customers also name-dropped the Hot Chopped Pepper Relish, the shop’s signature mix of pickled red and green peppers.
When Fort Lauderdale resident Marci Lindemann stops in at Laspada’s, she orders the classic Italian Special — no need to toast it.
“The sandwich makers at Laspada’s create the most delicious subs around. The many meats sliced on the slicer allow each customer to choose from an extensive menu. High-quality cheese, fresh veggies and breads baked fresh daily are displayed on the assembly line,” she wrote.
“The sandwich makers work together, juggling squeeze bottles of vinegar and oil like Tom Cruise in ‘Cocktail’ and tossing meats from the slicers right onto the sandwich, reminiscent of the fishmongers in Seattle’s Pike [Place] Market. Happy workers create a delicious masterpiece for each delighted customer. Laspada’s really has ‘the best damn hoagies in town!’ ”
There’s only one thing Boca Raton resident Michael Ross would change about V&S Italian Deli: “I just wish the line wasn’t always out the door at lunch time.”
Ross said he orders the Italian Combo because they’re “made on real freshly baked Italian bread — that sets them apart. … They layer the cold cuts in the traditional manner that you would get in an Italian or German deli up in the NYC Metro area. They are the real thing with all the traditional meats, cheeses, hot items and condiments a former NYer would expect.”
Finally, what’s up with What’Sub? At this spot, customers start by choosing their bread with seeds or no seeds, or the fan-favorite focaccia bread.
Boca Raton resident Alexis Jarriel called the flavors “amazing, delicious and beyond authentic” in her nomination form. Her favorite is the Buto Hot Sandwich with chicken cutlets, pink sauce, pesto and fresh mozzarella.
But “the hospitality is the best part, and the fresh-made bread,” she wrote. “I eat there more than I eat at my house. It’s that good!”
Now that you’ve heard from the fans, are you ready to choose a winner? Cast your vote by using the form below through Tuesday, July 22. (If you can’t see it, click here).