Leave the cold cuts in the fridge and take this tour of RI's great sandwiches

Gail Ciampa, Providence Journal
·6 min read

Give me a sandwich for lunch or give me nothing. You can keep your salads for another time. Nothing satisfies in the middle of the day like a sandwich, freshly made on crusty bread and wrapped just for you.

Take all the meats, cheeses and veggies and greens perfectly paired with sauces and dressings. Done well, each one is a work of art.

Call it a grinder, a sub or whatever you want, but call it the lunch of champions.

In Rhode Island, you can find a winning lineup of sandwiches in every city and village. You'll find the classics but you'll also find some unique to the state and nearby environs.

We share the Chow Mein sandwich with the South Coast of Massachusetts. Northern Rhode Island and Blackstone Valley have Dynamites. Soppressata, cured dried sausage and brought here by Italian immigrants from Southern Italy, is a specialty of Westerly and stars in Soupy sandwiches.

The Italian Grinder being built at Sandwich Hut in Providence.
The Italian Grinder being built at Sandwich Hut in Providence.

If there is a king of sandwiches in Rhode Island, it's the Italian Grinder. It features cold cuts in some combination including salami, mortadella, capicola, pepperoni and soppressata. It usually has a layer of provolone cheese, and can include hot peppers or roasted peppers, onions, lettuce and tomato. Most have a drizzle of olive oil but it can also be a balsamic glaze.

You can't go wrong on Providence's Federal Hill at either Tony's Colonial at 311 Atwells Ave. or Venda Ravioli, 275 Atwells Ave. The cold cuts are imported and sliced fresh.

The Italian sandwich board at Venda Ravioli in Providence.
The Italian sandwich board at Venda Ravioli in Providence.

In the West Bay, you'll find excellence at Natale's Deli, 2708 South County Trail, East Greenwich. To the east, the Italian Corner at 10 Boyd Ave., East Providence, never disappoints. Right now they have their own zeppole for sale as well as their pastas. To the north, J's Deli has the classic at 285 George Washington Highway, Smithfield, but they also have many other fun choices including an eggplant with roasted red peppers.

In Providence, don't miss the Sandwich Hut, opened in 1963. They have two locations, the original at 1253 North Main St. and an outpost in at 245 Carpenter St. Their Allitalia Grinder has Prosciutto, Capocollo, Pepperoni and Provolone with tomatoes, pickles, onions, oil, oregano, hot relish and pepperoncini.

Calzone plus

A calzone is an oven-baked sandwich, satisfying when done right, but often more dough than meat.

Little Country Pizza in Exeter has solved that problem with a clever "Samzone," their name for half sandwich and half calzone. They start with a long-fermented dough that makes a light crust. They put it to excellent use to make their Italian Stallion. They bake it, stud it with pepperoni and wrap it around their Italian cold cuts. It's become a viral sensation on social media. It comes in small and large which is big enough to feed a family.

It's a calzone. It's a sandwich. It's the Italian Stallion, called a "samzone" by the owners at Little Country Pizza in Exeter. The Italian cold cuts are sealed inside a calzone topped with pepperoni.
It's a calzone. It's a sandwich. It's the Italian Stallion, called a "samzone" by the owners at Little Country Pizza in Exeter. The Italian cold cuts are sealed inside a calzone topped with pepperoni.

Find the Italian Stallion, pizza, as well as house-made pastrami, at their roadhouse at 349 Nooseneck Hill Rd., Exeter, (401) 397-2500, littlecountrypizza.com.

Soupy

The Soupy Grinder at Westerly Packing in Westerly. Thin-sliced mild soppressata is topped with pickled red onions, extrav virgin olive oil, baby arugula, provolone cheese and served on a baguette.
The Soupy Grinder at Westerly Packing in Westerly. Thin-sliced mild soppressata is topped with pickled red onions, extrav virgin olive oil, baby arugula, provolone cheese and served on a baguette.

For the best soppressata, soupy to most of us, head to Westerly. The Soupy Grinder at Westerly Packing is legend. They make the soupy from old family recipes that made it here from Italy.

A Soupy Grinder starts with their thinly sliced mild soupy variety. The heat goes up to triple hot. They add pickled red onions, extra virgin olive oil, baby arugula and provolone cheese and serve it on a baguette.

You take it to go from Westerly Packing, 15 Springbrook Rd., Westerly, (401) 596-3404, Westerlypacking.com.

Not your mother's roast beef

A Roast Beef Sandwich at Miller's Famous Sandwiches in East Providence. The third generation of family owners run the sandwich shop which also has an outpost in Attleboro.
A Roast Beef Sandwich at Miller's Famous Sandwiches in East Providence. The third generation of family owners run the sandwich shop which also has an outpost in Attleboro.

Those who love roast beef sandwiches know Miller's Famous Sandwiches is the spot for them. Not only is it cooked medium rare each day – tender, moist and lean – it's less than 350 calories for a quarter pound of meat.

Every sandwich is sliced to order. There is a 3- to 3?-minute turnaround time after a customer chooses their sandwich, toppings, cheese and any special sauce including BBQ, horseradish, classic, townie and chipotle aioli. How can that not be delicious?

Find them at 628 Warren Ave., East Providence, (401) 434-6678, or 734 Newport Ave., Attleboro, (508) 639-5133, millersfamous.com.

Chow Mein Sandwiches

Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts are home to the unique Chow Mein Sandwich. Find yours at Evelyn's Drive-in in Tiverton.
Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts are home to the unique Chow Mein Sandwich. Find yours at Evelyn's Drive-in in Tiverton.

Chow Mein sandwiches originally came from Fall River's Oriental Chow Mein Co., but Rhode Islanders also claim them as their own. They are still sold in Woonsocket at Chan's Fine Oriental Dining and in the summer at Evelyn's Drive-In in Tiverton.

Chan's Fine Oriental Dining, 267 Main St., Woonsocket, (401) 765-1900, chanseggrollsandjazz.com.

Evelyn’s, 2335 Main Rd., Tiverton, (401) 624-3100, evelynsdrivein.com. They open their season Wednesday, May 1 from noon to 8 p.m. Follow them on Instagram for their latest information.

Dynamites

Dynamites have been described as a Sloppy Joe in a torpedo roll. Find them in Woonsocket and nearby towns.
Dynamites have been described as a Sloppy Joe in a torpedo roll. Find them in Woonsocket and nearby towns.

Dynamites are best described as a Sloppy Joe sandwich served in a torpedo roll. You only find them served in the Woonsocket area and unfortunately, a lot of the classic diners and lunch spots that served them are gone.

Find them at New York Lunch, 8 Main St., Woonsocket, (401) 762-9619, on Facebook.

Thanksgiving in a sandwich

New York Style deli The Provisioner in North Kingstown offers selections including the T-Bird which has roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce, melted cheddar and mayo on ciabatta.
New York Style deli The Provisioner in North Kingstown offers selections including the T-Bird which has roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce, melted cheddar and mayo on ciabatta.

The Provisioner New York Deli & Cafe makes a great sandwich and they come in many varieties with fun names. Their T-Bird is a classic gobbler, a Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich with roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce, melted cheddar and mayo on ciabatta.

Want a vegetarian sandwich? Look no further than the classic fried eggplant sandwich at Provisioner. The Port Jeff is layered with their house marinara, mozzarella cheese and a surprise of pesto, served on ciabatta.

Find them at 7669 Post Rd., North Kingstown, (401) 667-0663, provisionerdeli.com.

Falafel

The Falafel Pocket is stuffed with hummus, vegetables and a yogurt-cucumber sauce. Find it at longtime favorite East Side Pockets, 278 Thayer St., Providence, (401) 453-1100, eastsidepocket.com.

Bánh Mì

A close-up of a beef Bánh Mì at Lotus Pepper in Providence. The Vietnamese sandwich is a classic and can be ordered with tofu.
A close-up of a beef Bánh Mì at Lotus Pepper in Providence. The Vietnamese sandwich is a classic and can be ordered with tofu.

Bánh Mì is a Vietnamese baguette filled with homemade mayo, cucumber, carrot and daikon pickles, cilantro and your choice of protein. Beef is the classic choice but tofu is the vegetarian option. Find a great one at Lotus Pepper, 752 Hope St., Providence, (401) 744-0996, lotuspepper.square.site,

Pastrami

Jeffery Ingber finishes preparing a corned beef and pastrami sandwich in the deli at Bubbie's Market and Deli on Hope Street in Providence.
Jeffery Ingber finishes preparing a corned beef and pastrami sandwich in the deli at Bubbie's Market and Deli on Hope Street in Providence.

Many delis in Rhode Island make their own pastrami. At Bubbie's Market & Deli, you'll find a kosher one. Their pastrami and corned beef are beautifully sliced and piled high in sandwiches.

Bubbie's Market & Deli, 727 Hope St., Providence, (401) 272-4835, bubbiesmarket.com.

Lobster Rolls

Quito's restaurant serves a special lobster roll all year long right on Bristol Harbor.
Quito's restaurant serves a special lobster roll all year long right on Bristol Harbor.

Are they sandwiches? They are rolls stuffed with seafood, so yes. You can find a range of great ones at clam shacks around the state. Year-round you can enjoy a great one and water views at Quito’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar, 411 Thames St., Bristol, (401) 253-4500, quitosrestaurant.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island's best sandwiches to try before you die

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next