Before NYC’s chicken caesar wrap battles and viral sandwich lines, we had Italian sandwich shops. Some of them are clocking a century at this point—and will hopefully carry on for several more. At these lettuce-strewn counters, crafting the ideal lunch and then calling it something like The Godfather or Johnny Roastbeef is practically second nature. For perfectly fried eggplant and impressively layered meats and cheeses, just follow the breadcrumbs to the 18 shops below.
