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Sandwiches are nothing new in the lexicon of New York City dining. But to anyone closely observing the city’s restaurant scene, it’s clear that diners are demanding — and chefs are delivering — updated, upscale, and unexpected twists on familiar favorites. While there’s nothing to fault with a classic bodega chopped cheese or bagel with schmear, these spots around the boroughs are pressing and layering memorable sandwiches with a hint of nostalgia. If you have a hankering for an unforgettable pastrami sandwich, a killer torta, or even a sweet ice cream-stuffed treat to finish a meal, here’s where you need to book a table.
Houseman Hudson Square
French Onion Sandwich
This genius marriage between two beloved dishes started as a way to finish up a pile of caramelized onions during staff meal at Houseman. Needless to say, it was a hit. The gooey sandwich is a mainstay on the lunch menu, complete with an oozy filling of raclette, tangy whole-grain mustard, and crispy, Parmesan-coated brioche.
Saigon Social Lower East Side
Saigon Brisket Dip
Helen Nguyen, chef and owner of Saigon Social in the Lower East Side, uses her classic French culinary training to expertly create soul-warming Vietnamese comfort food. Her Saigon Brisket Dip, served for brunch, showcases tender brisket braised in pho, a heap of caramelized onions, a dollop of basil aioli, and crispy basil to top it off. Though no one would call this sandwich dry, you’ll also get a cup of deeply savory pho broth on the side for dunking.
Golden Diner Chinatown/LES
Vegetalian Hero
You might head to Golden Diner for the saucer-like pancakes served morning, noon, and night, but you’ll need something savory on the side, and the sandwich menu offers excellent options. The Vegetalian Hero will satisfy every vegetarian’s (and yes, even omnivore’s) hankering for a classic NYC deli sandwich. The bologna-like bite comes from yuba (tofu skin) marinated in Italian dressing. The sandwich is finished with a hot pickled cherry pepper sauce and a creamy spread to balance some of the heat, served on a sesame hero from Parisi Bakery around the corner on Mott Street.
Bonnie's Williamsburg
Cha Siu BkRib
Bonnie’s serves intensely flavorful Cantonese American dishes with a hint of whimsy, and the ever-popular BkRib is a great example of chef and owner Calvin Eng’s playful culinary approach. His over-the-top (in the best way possible) take on the familiar fast food order features steamed, boneless spareribs coated in a sweet and savory glaze on a sesame-topped milk bun with piquant Chinese mustard and plenty of bread and butter pickles.
Boni & Mott Soho Nolita
Merguez & Msemen Wrap
Buttery, homemade msemen wrapped around merguez makes this brunch-only item at Nolita’s Boni & Mott a must-try. The rich lamb sausage is complemented by the tang of housemade pickles and gets a kick from harissa aioli.
The Coop at Double Chicken Please Lower East Side
Bolognese Grilled Cheese
The grilled cheese at Double Chicken Please challenges any preconceived notions of the classic sandwich. While the dish looks more like a Georgian khachapuri than a pressed sandwich, it has all the right components: a pool of melty mozzarella flavored with salty Pecorino Romano, a deeply savory marinara-coated filling, and crisp-crusted bread to hold everything together.
Shalom Japan Williamsburg
Wagyu Pastrami Sando
There’s no shortage of pastrami sandwiches in NYC, but the wagyu version from Jewish Japanese restaurant Shalom Japan stands on its own. It might not look like the kind of impossible-to-get-your-mouth-around sandwich that often makes headlines, but that’s the beauty. It’s a simple stack of neatly sliced Japanese milk bread smeared with nothing but mustard sandwiching a reasonable layer of thick-cut Wagyu pastrami smoked in-house.
Rose Marie Williamsburg
Photo courtesy of Rose Marie
Patty Melt
A good patty melt is a thing of beauty, and the team at Rose Marie in Williamsburg is painting a very compelling picture. The incredibly fluffy housemade pullman bread is a head-turner on its own. Inside, you’ll find an incredibly juicy patty made with beef from The Meat Hook, gooey and sharp Vermont cheddar, and a smattering of nicely griddled onions.
Photo courtesy of Rose Marie
gertrude's Prospect Heights
Hy’s Melt
The city is filled with quality bagels, but most are ordered on the fly at a counter. Gertrude’s in Prospect Heights elevates the typical bagel experience with two open-faced sandwiches served on bagels from their sister cafe, Gertie’s. The Hy’s Melt features a not-too-mayo-y whitefish salad blanketed in melted Swiss cheese with juicy sliced tomato, sharp onion spears, and fresh dill.
Cafe Mado Prospect Heights
The Tony
Designed by chef and owner Nico Russell as an ode to Anthony Bourdain, this cheese-and-meat-packed masterpiece is a standout on Cafe Mado’s brief lunch menu. The mortadella is folded into meaty pockets and layered with melted cheese and a generous drizzle of dijonnaise, then served on a soft sesame bun with a snappy pickle.
Superiority Burger East Village
Collard Greens Sandwich
While you might expect the golden, crisp-edged, housemade focaccia to steal the show in this vegetarian sandwich, you’re in for a surprise. The lacy layers of well-seasoned, wilted greens are paired with just enough sharp cheddar to impart a luscious, creamy binder that holds everything together.
Casa Enrique Long Island City
Housemade Chorizo Torta
While the ingredients in this loaded torta from Michelin-starred Casa Enrique in Long Island City might lean towards breakfast, it’s a worthy order any time of day. A fluffy bolillo is stuffed with juicy and just-spicy-enough housemade chorizo, lightly scrambled eggs, and meaty refried beans. Fresh jalapeños, a handful of crisp lettuce, onion, avocado, and tangy Mexican mayo round things out.
The Dining Room at Chateau Royale Greenwich Village
Hot Dog
New York City is hot dog proud, but none are as high-flying as the cheekily-named Chien Chaud on the downstairs bar menu at Chateau Royale in Greenwich Village. Inspired (in a meta way) by the Parisian restaurant Harry’s New York, the sausage is nestled into a truffle aioli–glazed bun and topped with sunchoke and celeriac relish and delicate wisps of crispy artichokes. And yes, a hot dog is a sandwich.
Penny East Village
Brioche Ice Cream Sandwich
Penny is an East Village seafood destination where you’ll want to leave room for dessert. The brioche ice cream sandwich is one of two sweet options, and it’s not made for sharing. The sesame brioche is made daily in-house, and the ice cream filling changes seasonally. Summer brings sweet corn ice cream swirled with mixed berry jam and crunchy chunks of honeycomb.
Smithereens East Village
Lobster Roll
If you’re craving great New England fare, head to Smithereens. The lobster roll settles the long-standing conflict between team butter and team mayo: barely poached cubes of meat are coated in both condiments, which are infused with flavor from the lobster shells. The bun is generously buttered and speared through with a proud Massachusetts state flag.
Shuka Soho
Egg Sandwich
Shuka’s brunch offerings are made for sharing: colorful dips, crispy fried mezze, and an excellent selection of Mediterranean entrees, including the one-of-a-kind Shuka Egg Sandwich. This hefty handheld is prepared on a feta-stuffed boureka filled with eggplant, turmeric egg, tomato, dill, and mixed greens.
