When executed well, the hot sandwich is a hearty, flavor-layered comfort of culinary beauty. Join us as we unhinge our jaws for some of the finest Northern Michigan’s hot sandwich creations.
Frenchies Famous
619 Randolph Street, Traverse City 231.944.1228
French Clements hustles like a culinary octopus, simultaneously whisking omelets on the small commercial range, shaving pastrami and teasing crema from his La Mazocca espresso machine while scribbling orders and greeting patrons at Frenchies Famous, Traverse City’s cultiest cafe. The ochre walls, hammered copper accents and busy clatter have a literary, Parisian spirit that is manifest in the savory crepes, airy omelets and café au lait that are Frenchies breakfast signatures. The pièce de résistance, however, is the pastrami. Frenchies corns and cures the brisket in house, yielding some of the finest pastrami this side of the five boroughs, which is served slathered with honey mustard and melted Swiss on salty focaccia. Iron Chef and foodie icon Mario Batali named Frenchies one of his nine favorite restaurants on the planet.
The Garwood
Lakeside Charlie’s 301 S. Lk Mitchell Drive, Cadillac 231.775.5332
A proprietary mouthful of shaved hard salami, smoked turkey, gouda, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pepperoncini and housemade thyme mayo grilled on crusty French bread.
Safety First
Lake Street Market 306 South Lake Street, Boyne City 231.582.4450Â
Invoke warmer climes with this caprese-inspired stack of tomato, fresh mozzarella and housemade pesto grilled on baguette.
Perch Stack
Stafford’s Weathervane 106 Pine River Lane, Charlevoix 231.547.4311
Lightly battered lake perch swimming under lettuce, tomato and punchy remoulade on a cottage dill roll.
Pit Ham
Ham Bonz 1108 East Eighth Street, Traverse City 231.929.9228
Whole Dearborn hams smoke for hours in Ham Bonz’s cast iron pit out back before being thick-sliced and served on a crusty grilled kaiser roll with piquant honey mustard.
Carolina Reuben
Folgarelli’s 424 West Front Street, Traverse City 231.941.7651Â
Revel in the Carolina Reuben, a transcendental combination of house-smoked pork loin, cole slaw, spicy mustard and, if you ask nicely, liver paté grilled on crusty rye bread.
Italian Ghostrider
’Swiches 415 Cass Street, Traverse City 231.947.9424
Please your inner mob boss with this toasted synergy of ham, pepperoni, salami, peppers and spicy pepperjack cheese. A fiery foil to January’s frigid lunch hour.
Teriyaki Steak Sandwich
Sleeping Bear Inn 231 Main Street, Frankfort 231.352.8090
Sleeping Bear Inn Japanimates the classic Philly Cheese steak with some teriyaki love. Bite into sweet and salty beef tenderloin on a bed of sautéed onions, peppers and melty provolone cheese on chewy ciabatta.
Baja Shrimp Wrap
The Roadhouse 1058 Michigan Avenue, Benzonia 231.882.9631Â
Grilled achiote shrimp and veggies with black bean corn relish, cheese, tomatoes and creamy cilantro dressing folded in a flour tortilla. Olé!
Satch’s Cuban
Cormack’s Deli 2569 Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey 231.347.7570
Memphis-style barbecue pulled pork, honey ham, Tony Packo’s sweet-hot pickles, melted cheddar and spicy brown mustard on a grilled onion roll.
Grilled Ham & Brie
Julienne Tomatoes 421 East Howard Street, Petoskey 231.439.9250Â
Smoked ham, brie and tart honey mustard: one of the world’s great threesomes made better with crunchy romaine and grilled seed bread from Crooked Tree Breadworks.
Big Brutus
Brutus Camp Deli 4086 U.S. 31 North, Brutus 231.529.2222 Â
Jaw exercises may be a pre-requisite for this lumberjack-sized hot stack of corned beef, Canadian bacon, smoked turkey, cheese and thousand island dressing on a sub bun.