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Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.
So many sandwiches, so little time. Such is a Philadelphian’s lament. Keeping up with the city’s between-bread options gets tougher every year, as new spots open and existing ones ramp up.
Here are five great additions to the Philly sandwich scene you might’ve missed in 2017. There’ll always be a chance to try them next year.
Mini Lobster Roll at Gin & Pop
Just northeast of Eastern State Penitentiary and a block off Ridge Avenue is Gin & Pop, a laid-back pub from brothers Tom and Kris Kwiatkowski.
The small menu is full of interesting takes on bar food — roast pork croquettes with provolone fondue, anyone? — including this mini plate of seafood decadence disguised as a snack. Sweet lobster meat tucked in a potato roll drips with citrus-spiked brown butter. It’s topped with salmon roe for extra pop in each bite.
$7; 1839 Poplar St.
Phoagie at Middle Child
What’s longtime Marigold Kitchen chef Keith Krajewski doing making sandwiches? Matthew Cahn’s pitch for Middle Child, his Wash West shop in the former home of Petit Roti, was that compelling.
Get past the silly portmanteau name of this sandwich (pho + hoagie, get it) and there’s lots going for it. Hoisin-marinated eggplant, avocado, frizzled and thin-sliced raw onions, cilantro and bean sprouts, all charged up with a schmear of sambal chile paste. It’s the flavors of Vietnamese soup in crunchable form.
$9.50; 248 S. 11th St.
Croque Monsieur at Creme Brûlée
This Pennsport newcomer started off mostly as a bakery, and chef-owner Armando Torres and his team still put out an impressive array of pastries, cakes, viennoiserie and loaves of bread. But he’s also fleshed out Creme Brûlée’s sit-down menu, which spans breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
One standout option is this hedonistic French snack, which sees grilled ham in sourdough with provolone cheese and Dijon mustard, adorned with more melted provolone on top.
$12; 1800 S. 4th St.
Fried Chicken Rabe at Stockyard Philly
Chefs Will Lindsay and Mike Metzger’s high-quality neighborhood sandwich joint on Spring Garden has been around over a year now, translating the sustainable and organic sourcing mantras to an accessible level.
This summer, Stockyard’s menu welcomed the addition of a near-heresy: broccoli rabe on a sandwich that’s not roast pork. Instead, the spicy greens act as a foil for crunchy fried chicken, along with smoked pickled peppers and a chicken sausage gravy.
$10; 1541 Spring Garden St.
El Entregado at El Punto
With weekday hours that start at 6 a.m. and a weekend closing time of 5 a.m., this Dominican deli up in Juniata Park has built a devoted following. Those who know head to El Punto’s colorful counter for the specialty of the house: pressed sandwiches.
There’s classic cubanos and excellent egg combos, but one of the most unique options is the “El Entragado.” Stewed ground beef (think spicy sloppy joe) is paired with grilled ham, chopped lettuce, mayo-ketchup mix and lots of cheese. The name means “delivered” and yes, this does the trick.
$6.50; 4460 Whitaker Ave.
