The best sandwiches in Lincoln right now

May 26, 2017

One can define a sandwich in a lot of different ways, so here’s how I do it for purposes of this post: first, a sandwich can’t have ground beef, or for the most part any ground protein in patty form. That’s a burger. Sorry patty melt lovers (which are burgers IMHO). A sandwich also needs to have something (that’s not ground beef) between two slices of bread or a bread-like product. Sorry wraps, Runzas and open face sandwiches. The Runza is tough to exclude because if you’re visiting from outside Nebraska, the Runza is sort of our comfort “sandwich” as Runza calls them. They’re awesome in their own way and people who live here love them, but they’re not a sandwich. Also tough to exclude are wraps, mostly because this Food Network article names an awesome wrap at Maggie’s Vegetarian Cafe the best sandwich in Nebraska. I have the wrap often because it is really really good, but it’s a wrap, not a sandwich. Sorry Food Network. Finally, to be named one of the best sandwiches in Lincoln, the sandwich needs to be regularly available. So while getting the special on the menu is one of my favorite things to do when going out to eat, if it isn’t something that is available more than once or twice, it doesn’t make the list.

Now that we have the criteria out of the way, here are the best sandwiches in Lincoln, in a pretty random order. I mean look at these pictures, how can you expect me to pick a favorite?

Ultimate Banh Mi, Banhwich Cafe

So, put a fried egg on top of anything and I’m probably going to like it. I already like all of Banhwich’s sandwiches, but this one takes the cake. French bread, pork belly, cilantro, carrots, jalapeno, etc. It’s a little over the top but completely worth it.
https://www.banhwichcafe.com/

Pub Club, Lazlos

The pub club has always been a favorite of mine. You can get the french fries and honey mustard with about anything else on the menu. But for some reason they just taste better with the club. I crave that combo often.
http://www.lazlosbreweryandgrill.com/

Club Sandwich, Sips & Subs

Not to be outdone by Lazlo’s, Sips & Subs also has a great club. If we’re talking pure club, I think I’d give this one the edge but if you like clubs, these are the two in town you should try first.
http://www.sipsnsubs.com/

Pastrami, Sips & Subs

The person who helped me find this sandwich (I believe it was Jeremy) told me he ate this every day for something like two months straight. I can see why, it was fantastic and one you need to try.
http://www.sipsnsubs.com/

Triple Italian Combo, M&N Sandwich Shop

Many years ago when M&N opened, a co-worker of mine at the time tried to go in and order a sandwich without the au jus. According to him, he was told that he didn’t know how to eat a sandwich and to get out. Throughout the years other stories I’ve heard stand up to that persona. Some may be turned off by that type of service, but I love it. If I spent all sorts of time and expertise coming up with an awesome sandwich, I would be quite frustrated if someone started messing with my creation. If you let people have it their way, are you really serving your awesome sandwich or some  Frankensteined version that the customer created? If you want to pay money to guide someone’s hands to make a sandwich you came up with, go to Subway (Ugh, Subway). Never change, Norm (Kusinski, the owner), never change. Oh, the sandwiches are great too, including the Triple Italian Combo, which has Italian Beef, Pastrami and an Italian sausage link, topped with cheese, peppers and soaked in au jus. Though I should just put all of M&N’s sandwiches on this list, I’m going to list this as the one you should try first.
https://www.facebook.com/MandNSandwichShop/

Beef & Brie, Bison Witches

Bison Witches was my favorite eating establishment in town when I was in college. My tastes have expanded, but Bison Witches still has some good sandwiches and is still cool … or at least it seems like somewhere those hip youngsters like to hang out. When you visit, get the 1/2 sandwich and bread bowl of soup combo with their Beef & Brie, tortilla chips and chili. Brie is an interesting cheese that takes some getting used to if you’ve never had it, but it works perfectly with the roast beef, alfalfa sprouts and Russian mustard.
http://www.bisonwitches.com/

Italian Grinder, Vincenzo’s

Vincenzo’s is, in my opinion, Lincoln’s best value for lunch. A lot of (really good) food at a good price. They’re also my favorite place in Lincoln for Italian. But we’re here to talk about sandwiches. The Italian Grinder is one of my absolute favorite sandwiches in town. It almost sneaks into open face territory, but it does have two slices of bread that you can pick up and eat if you’re careful. It has Italian sausage, sweet roasted peppers, onions and just for those of you from St. Louis, lots of Provel cheese melted on top.
http://www.vincenzos-ne.com/

Pambazo, Copal

According to Copal, a Pambazo is similar to a Torta, with telera bread dipped in red Guajillo pepper sauce, filled with chorizo and potatoes and topped with sour cream, cheese, lettuce. How can you go wrong with any of that? The answer: you can’t, go eat one tonight.
https://www.copallnk.com

The General’s Chicken, Single Barrel

If you haven’t watched the documentary on Netflix called “The Search for General Tso,” I highly recommend it. For those of you who have, you’ll know a little backstory about this sandwich. I’ve had plenty of General Tso’s chicken at various Chinese restaurants, but I’ve never seen it in sandwich form. Single Barrel took their rendition, put it on a sandwich and made it awesome. You should probably also try those eggplant chips in the picture to go with it too, I never thought eggplant could taste so good.
http://thesinglebarrel.com/

Irish Club, McFarland & Sons

So if you ask McFarland & Sons, they’ll tell you (either with the “specialties” marks on the menu or from a server) that the Reuben is the best sandwich they have. I beg to differ. Not that the Reuben isn’t really good, but everyone has a “great” Reuben. Every Reuben is made with the same ingredients (or had better be if you’re a Nebraska restaurant calling it a Reuben since the sandwich was invented in Nebraska) and they’re all pretty darn good. So I may be a bit biased toward the type of sandwich that is harder to find over the one that’s on everyone’s menu. Look a little deeper into their menu and McFarland & Sons has one, and it even sort of involves the Reuben. The Irish Club is like Reuben Sandwich meets Club Sandwich. So you almost get the best of both worlds. Get it with the Irish Mac & Cheese as a side.
https://www.facebook.com/McFarland-Sons-Authentic-Irish-Pub-673850786032037/

The Washington, Ground Up Kitchen

This one may be hard to find and is dangerously slipping into the “special” category. As far as I can tell, Ground Up Kitchen is only doing pop-up restaurants at the moment. But the Washington is apparently their original sandwich, so as long as there is a Ground Up Kitchen operating in some capacity, it’s got to be available in some way, at some point. So watch their facebook page to see if you can find it, and when you do, take advantage. It’s probably better than any other pulled pork sandwich you’ve had. Find it, eat it and tell me I’m wrong.
http://grounduprestaurants.com/groundupkitchen.html

 

Squash Banh Mi with Bacon, The Hub Cafe

While I’m not super thrilled with the Hub making the decision to go from one of the best restaurants in Lincoln for dinner with a dynamic, creative menu to just a place that’s open for lunch with a static menu, I still love their food. The Squash Banh Mi (make sure to add the bacon unless you’re going the vegetarian route) is the best of the bunch. Eating tip: the bread is fantastic, but it’s tough and sharp on the outside. So make sure you squash (no pun intended) it down with your hands to break up and soften the bread a bit before eating. After that, the squash, carrot, pickle, house made kim chi, sunflower tahini, and branched oak bacon compliment each other to perfection.
http://www.hubcafelincoln.com/

The “O” Street, Danny’s Downtown Deli

I remember going to Danny’s years ago when they were in the space currently occupied by Bread & Cup and loving it. After a longer that I would like hiatus that I can only chalk up to their current location being a little hard to get to, I’ve been back plenty in the last year or so. It’s a nice local place and Danny is always there to help out, including his recommendation that the “O” Street is the best sandwich on his menu. I agree. It has a great combination of ham, salami, capicola, prosciutto & provolone. I’ll give Danny’s the thumbs up over the chain sandwich joints any day of the week.
https://www.facebook.com/Dannys-Downtown-Deli-274027847736/

Turkey Club, Hickory Road BBQ

An awesome place to get BBQ in south Lincoln is Hickory Road. So of course they also have one of the best sandwiches in Lincoln. I personally wouldn’t call it much of a club, just an awesome smoked turkey sandwich with loads of perfectly smoked turkey bacon, pepper jack, lettuce & mayo. Oh, and get the Brunswick Stew as a side, it’s just good and a perfect compliment to the club.
http://www.hickoryroadbbq.com

The Triple Barrel, Single Barrel

More like the quadruple barrel. I’m assuming the triple is for the Andouille sausage, brisket and pulled pork that are piled high between two buns. But don’t forget the Carolina red slaw! It takes the sandwich from good to great! How can you look at the above picture and not want to run in to get one?
http://thesinglebarrel.com/

The Cornhusker, Phat Jack’s BBQ

Hey, more coleslaw! Phat Jack’s gained some space and a nice building when they moved from their Cornhusker location, but probably lost a little character that came with their old tiny hole-in-the-wall space. Even still, they brought their awesome food with them, including the Cornhusker sandwich. It has their award winning brisket & is topped with slaw. I am a sucker for a good sandwich topped with slaw. I leave wanting to order another one every single time.
http://phatjackslincoln.com/

Beef Drip, Art & Soul

Art & Soul has the benefit of being in the same building as the beer hall for the best brewery in town, the Zipline. Together they’re a potently wonderful combination. But even without pairing it with a cold, tasty Black IPA, the Beef Drip stands up with the best sandwiches in Lincoln on its own. Braised beef, provolone, mozzarella, ciabatta bread, drip sauce. MMM. But the beer helps.
https://www.lincolnartandsoul.com/

Prime Rib Melt, Misty’s

What is Misty’s known for? Awesome prime rib. If you take that and put it in sandwich form, would it be good? Of course, duh. The melt is a little hard to take bites out of because you’re teeth are trying to tear small pieces out of a cut of prime rib. But would you rather have a sandwich that is easy to eat or one with a thick piece of the best mid-rare prime rib in town in the middle? I’ll take the latter.
http://www.mistyslincoln.com/

French Dip, Wilderness Ridge

You can’t beat sitting outside on a nice day at Wilderness Ridge. You also can’t beat their French dip. Though the dip with prime rib, mushrooms, red onion marmalade, provolone and horseradish. The dip part isn’t your traditional au jus, which was a little strange, but I’ll won’t hold that against them since the sandwich was still really good.
http://www.wildernessridgegolf.com/-restaurant

The French Connection, Green Gateau

Sticking with the French dip theme, here we have shaved roast beef broiled with bacon butter, do I need to say anything else? Probably not, but the sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, bacon and Swiss cheese can’t hurt. This is one good sandwich. I wanted to go back as soon as was finished eating.
http://www.greengateau.com/

Melty Mac & Ham, LuLu’s Lunchery

Ham? Good. Mac & Cheese? Good. Why wouldn’t they go perfectly together? LuLu’s also has a great setting in the Lincoln Community Foundation Gardens if it’s nice outside to eat your sandwich. If you time your visit right, there’s even some fun entertainment while you eat.
https://www.facebook.com/SerendipitiesCCs/

Reuben, Toast

OK, so in spite of my mini rant earlier about not including Reuben’s on this list, I feel like I need to include one. So I chose the Reuben from Toast. Like all Reubens, it’s pretty darn good. But Toast does do theirs better than most, so they get the prize for the place you should go in Lincoln for your Reuben craving.
https://gettoasty.com/

Uncured NY Strip Pastrami Reuben, Venue

Did I say one Reuben? I actually meant two. The Venue gets to sneak this one in there because of their House-made pastrami. It’s quite tasty and just different enough from a traditional Reuben (but at the same time still a Reuben) that it’s also somewhere you should go for your Reuben fix.
https://www.yourvenue.net/

Madame Piedmont, Piedmont Bistro

I love this sandwich. I mean love. It has everything I love, an egg on top, lots of melty gooey runniness and some blow you out of the water taste. But I’m probably venturing into dangerous territory here with a breakfast sandwich. I love breakfast sandwiches and there are some good ones around town, but let’s maintain some lunch focus here. So take it for what it’s worth that the Madame Piedmont stands out enough that it grabs a spot on a list that a breakfast sandwich has no business being on.
http://piedmontbistro.com/

Cheddar, apple, bacon, tomato and mayo grilled cheese, Bread and cup

Back to Bread & Cup, one of my favorite places in town. They typically have some really good special sandwiches, including one of the best chicken salad sandwiches I’ve ever had a couple weeks ago. But I can’t include those specials since they may never be available again. But venture to their mainstays on the menu and you’ll see that they have a few grilled cheese options. I really like the cheddar, apple, bacon & tomato version.
http://breadandcup.com/

Italian Grilled Cheese, Art & Soul

Sticking with the grilled cheeses, Art & Soul does a really nice Italian-style grilled cheese with tomato, mozzarella, provolone, pesto, balsamic glaze & ciabatta bread. Throw in a cup of tomato bisque and pair it with a Zipline lime gose aged in tequila barrels (but hurry, it’s a limited run beer) and you will be happy for the rest of your day.
https://www.lincolnartandsoul.com/

Beef Charles, Cottonwood

Cottonwood is a pretty neat location with a lot of places to relax with a cup of coffee, get some work done, play a board game or two with friends, etc. They also have some good food to eat while you’re doing all of that, including the Beef Charles. Shaved roast beef, topped with caramelized onions, and lots of smoked Gouda with a red pepper mayo make a great combo.
http://www.thecottonwoodcafe.com/

So there you have it, the best sandwiches in Lincoln right now. A list that is sure to change, so get out there and eat fast. The first person to try each one and send me all of the pictures as proof gets the “Friend of Lincoln by Mouth” award. Which comes with a free lunch of your favorite sandwich on the list. No joke, but don’t get too excited, you have to have lunch with me to get it. It’s really just a ploy to get to eat and talk sandwiches with a fellow sandwich lover.

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