MANAYUNK

Originally Published in Manayunk.com Magazine

It’s curious that a universal nap time is not observed in the middle of the afternoon in Manayunk, like in Spain. Wander down Main Street or any one of its beckoning tributaries around lunchtime and you’ll be left lacking only in decisiveness. To better prepare you for that inevitable moment, we compiled a field guide to the 11 most mouth-watering sandwiches around town. Staying awake after devouring any of them is squarely on you. —Caitlin Maloney

The sandwich Roast Italian Pulled Pork. ($8) Broccoli rabe and a mild provolone are layered on top of a thick bed of pulled pork and then pressed into a panino, the soft inside of the roll melding with its contents. Where to get it Greg’s Kitchen, 4460 Main Street; 215-482-4734. The pickle Sandwiches aren’t kids, which is why owner Greg Gillan shows no hesitation in claiming it as his favorite sandwich on a menu full of candidates.

The sandwich Italian Hoagie. ($6) A classic iteration with all the fixings: provolone, cooked salami, hard salami, hot capicola, lettuce, tomato, onions, salt, pepper, oregano, oil and vinegar. Where to get it Sorrentino’s Deli, 4361 Cresson St.; 215-487-0559. The pickle Patsy Westerfer makes this hoagie exactly the same way her father did when he opened the deli in 1980.

The sandwich Reuben. ($6.29) Its followers are devout, and for good reason: hot corned beef or pastrami—your pick—piled tall with melted Swiss, sauerkraut and ranch between two spongy but firm slices of rye. Where to get it Palm Tree Market, 4366 Cresson St.; 215-621-6765. The pickle Come for the reuben, but kill your grocery list while you wait. The Asian-influenced market is loaded with gourmet finds, like sea kelp chips, organic pasta and a deep cheese inventory, along with the nuts and bolts.

The sandwich Smoked Salmon. ($8.75) From bottom to top: mayo, tomato, smoked salmon, arugula and pancetta on Baker Street sourdough, pressed into a panino. Where to get it Volo Coffeehouse, 4360 Main St.; volocoffeehouse.com. The pickle Owner Akos Racz and his staff started with a crate of ingredients and played around with combinations of its contents. This gem, among others, soon emerged. The tradition continues, and the menu, in turn, is always morphing.

The sandwich Beef Gyro. ($7) Spit-roasted beef, thinly-sliced and drizzled with tzatziki sauce, then rolled up with romaine, tomato, red onion, parsley and pickles in a lightly-grilled pita. Where to get it Smiley’s Café, 110 Cotton St.; smileyscafemanayunk.com. The pickle If devouring this gyro doesn’t make you feel warm and tingly all over, let owner Smiley work his magic. For starters, the guy can thank you in 39 different languages.

The sandwich Avocado BLT. ($12) The simplicity of a mouth-watering combo: fresh avocado and crisp bacon. A little red-leaf lettuce and a tomato thrown in, all of it sandwiched between lightly-toasted multigrain bread smothered with roasted-garlic mayo and served with housemade chips and a thick-cut pickle. Where to get it Winnie’s LeBus Manayunk, 4266 Main St.; lebusmanayunk.com. The pickle Thanks in large part to this sandwich, Winnie’s goes through up to eight cases of avocados in a week.

The sandwich Grilled Cheese. ($10) This is not your mom’s grilled cheese. It’s a heaping mix of good cheese with arugula and tomato for acidity served on housemade wheat focaccia and paired with a creamy tomato bisque. ($10) Where to get it The Couch Tomato Café, 102 Rector St.; manayunktomato.com. The pickle This beauty has been on the menu since the restaurant’s opening in November 2007. Last year alone, more than 2,500 of them were ordered. And the bisque won City Paper’s People’s Choice Award for the best soup in Philly.

The sandwich Bayou Buffalo Chicken. ($7) Consider this you new guilty pleasure. Chicken tenders are doused in a housemade buffalo sauce, then stacked on top of a bed of tomato and lettuce and covered in bleu cheese, all of wedged neatly into an Italian roll. Where to get it The Bayou Bar & Grill, 4245 Main St.; bayoubar.com. The pickle The buffalo sauce, a closely-guarded secret, includes cayenne pepper sauce, melted butter, a drizzle of honey and various spices. It earned Bayou’s wings Best of Philly honors.

The sandwich The Breakfast Burger. ($11.50) You eat pizza for breakfast, so don’t pretend a burger’s out of bounds. Especially this one. A thick beef patty’s piled with a fried egg and country sausage between two slices Texas toast French toast. A cup of warm maple syrup comes on the side, naturally. It’s a McGriddle on steroids. Where to get it Lucky’s Last Chance, 4421 Main St.; luckyslastchance.com. The pickle The day owner Chris Barnes’s butcher showed off a special breakfast sausage was, in fact, our last chance at preserving our dignity until lunchtime.

The sandwich Crab Grilled Cheese. ($12) Lump crabmeat and grilled asparagus smothered in melted muenster between two buttery, crispy slabs of Texas toast. A cup of tomato bisque on the side for a hit of acidity. Where to get it The Manayunk Tavern, 4247 Main St.; manayunktavern.com. The pickle The tavern opened in November 2007, and this sandwich is the lone remaining dish from the original menu. Last year alone, more than 2,500 of them were ordered.

The sandwich The E.U. Burger. ($12) A hearty onion roll houses a sturdy beef patty layered with melted Swiss and cheddar, a fried egg, rashers, lettuce, tomato and onion. It’s not, of course, intended for the faint of appetite. Where to get it Kildare’s Irish Pub, 4417 Main St.; manayunk.kildaresirishpub.com. The pickle The rashers, an Irish favorite, and the Swiss work together much better than the actual European Union.