by John Stookey
This is an ode to the sandwich. You’re always there for me, baby. Whether I’m waking up hungover as fuck or fiending for you after class, you help me get through my day. But not all sandwiches are created equal. Just like people, some are too cheesy, too dry, not meaty or not meaty enough. Ya’ll know what I’m saying: You are what you eat. So, NUcomment sent me out on the sandwich beat to evaluate the best E-town has to offer. I’m gonna give you the lowdown on Al’s Deli, Potbelly’s, D&D, Rollin’to Go and Jimmy John’s.
#1: Al’s Deli, aka Al’s Deezy (off the heezy fo’ sheezy my dizzl)
If you don’t know, now you know!! This is the Snoop Dogg of all delis! My main men, John and Bob spread serious love with their homemade sandwiches, soups and cookies. And when I say homemade, I mean homemade: they bake their own bread and cookies and create delectable soups from scratch.
I recommend only ordering half a sandwich and saving room for 
soup or a butter cookie. Even on my best day, I haven’t made it all the way through their mammoth full sandwich. On this day, I ordered a turkey sandwich just to keep it fair for the other joints and had the option of French bread, croissant, dark or light rye or multi-grain, all homemade. Then, I had to decide between grainy mustard, mayo, bernaisse (mayo w/ white wine and shallots) or aioli (garlic infused mayo).
I wasn’t fucking around, right? These are sandwiches for the serious gourmet. Even the crisp and colorful lettuce and tomatoes and pickles deserve mention. They don’t just serve up a sandwich-- they serve up THE sandwich. I’m talking the archetypal sandwich. All others are mere imitations.
#2: D&D
The number two contender came as quite a surprise. It’s easy to forget that this sleepy, little family-owned grocery store makes such a mean sandwich. Whereas Al’s is fancy and a little expensive, D&D serves up an honest sandwich for $3.99 like mom (or Dagwood) would make.
Granted, the bread isn’t homemade, but it is fresh and they stack it 
with two layers of meat and two layers of cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and spicy mustard. The cheese, a sharp, dry cheddar, really brought it together. Another advantage to D&D is you have a fully stocked deli to construct your sandwiches from. If unconventional selections like headcheese and Jarlsberg on rye are your thing, D&D is the place for you. Bottom line: when Al’s isn’t open on Wednesdays, don’t forget to cross the street and head over to D&D.
#3: Potbelly’s
It’s with a good deal of reluctance that I rank Potbelly’s number three. As a former employee, I know some of their shady corporate tricks. Like the “homemade” soup? That shit ain’t homemade! They pour it out of a bag and add some carrots. Ooops!
Anyway, I have to admit they do serve up a pretty tasty, toasty sandwich. That’s the one thing that saves them: on cold winter days, sometimes you just gotta have a hot sandwich with t
he cheese all melted. I also like the hot giardinera (spicy pepper mix), which you can add and should add. If you’re a hot-sauce freak like me, other sandwich places can leave you feeling a little bored, but Potbelly’s hooks it up. Their sandwiches are, however, a little small: One’s too little and two’s WAY too much. Also, if you don’t eat it right away, a cold Potbelly’s is about as appealing as swimming in Lake Michigan in March.
#4: Rollin’ To Go
I really don’t have much love for this place. They rolled in right next to Al’s like true biters. Therefore, I give them the Puffy Combs 
Award: not much flavor or substance, but plenty of frontin’. They serve up mediocre sandwiches with trendy-ass condiments like chipotle or pesto mayo; the décor makes me feel like they should be selling quiche to soccer moms; and, for some reason, they take forever to make the damn things. They do, however, serve all their sandwiches with really bomb, homemade Parmesan potato chips. And, to give credit where credit’s due, they make a darn good panini, but they simply can’t expect to move in next to Al’s and make it on chipotle mayo.
#5: Jimmy John’s
There are two advantages to this place: They’re open late and they deliver. So, if you’re hungry and too wasted to drive 
anywhere, this is the place for you. Plus, if you’re wasted enough, you might not even mind the fact that the bread is hella dry or that they put sprouts on everything. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the sandwiches (they’re typical college-fare and pretty cheap), but when you have options like Al’s and D&D, why settle for less?
John Stookey is a really big turkey sandwich. Extra meat, no veggies. Contact him at j-stookey@northwestern.edu.
