Quick, easy and undeniably delicious, sandwiches are understandably the most popular of lunch fare. From cheeseburgers to sprouts on wheat, there's a sandwich out there for everyone. The Daily Cardinal Food staff wants to help you find your match and so we offer you a run-down of the best in town, in an effort to save you time and money during the lunch hour.
For your quick viewing, each restaurant is rated on a scale of three sandwiches, three being the best and tastiest. Enjoy!
414 W. Gilman St.
255-8172
Amy's Caf??'s Gilman Street location and high quality food separates it from the neighboring State Street competitors. The specials board dares customers to try something new, such as the Jalapeno BLT special ($4). This sandwich consists of spicy bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise served on cracked pepper or Jewish rye bread, accompanied by fries.
Along with the specials, Amy's Caf?? has an assortment of sandwiches on the menu. A good example is the Frances ($5.50). Ample amounts of ham and turkey are placed with a slice of either swiss or cheddar cheese on fresh-tasting bread.
After an order is placed and paid for, patrons can sit either in a back dining area or outside. The round metal picnic tables outside slant slightly towards the street, but provide an opportunity to people watch.
Inside, customers find additional seating along with a bar. Wooden tables, soft rock (Paul Simon) and newly-painted wall murals depicting Madison produce a timeless dining atmosphere. Amy's Caf?? strolls past competition to become one of Madison's best sandwich places.
546 State St.
663-8806
A sandwich is just a sandwich and seems like nothing special: Two slices of bread stuffed with other food. So why do there seem to be more sandwich places in Madison than liquor stores? Each has its gimmick, but there is always one restaurant that stands out in the crowd, because they really are bringing something unique to the sandwich world.
Bialy Brown's Delicatessen, located just a few steps from Urban Outfitters, offers ""kosher-style"" sandwiches that will impress even the sternest sandwich critic. With a wide variety of breads, fresh meats and signature sandwiches, there is something for every taste.
And the goodness doesn't stop there. Choose any beverage from wine to Yoo-hoo, and anything from a knish to bagel chips to accompany your sandwich. All this is brought to you on a real plate with a fresh kosher pickle.
So the next time you think you might die if you don't have a sandwich (which will probably be tomorrow), check out Bialy Brown's. Your taste buds will thank you.
231 State St.
256-1200
Well, the results are in: This rye really is radical. The Radical Rye, a popular sandwich shop on State Street, is named for its bread for good reason. Whether you choose rye, honey oatmeal, wheat or seven grain, it's bound to be the highlight of the meal. It's so good you may not even want to bother with the rest of the sandwich.
The Radical Rye offers a large selection of hot and cold sandwiches, from Corned Beef to Cajun Chicken to Veggie Reuben. Among the most popular are the BLT Turkey and the Reuben.
The Radical Rye also has plenty of extras to top off the sandwich. Their unique menu allows you to create a sandwich all your own, so go a little nuts with it. Perhaps the best part about the sandwiches is their enormous proportions. The combination of a great sandwich and a casual atmosphere makes The Radical Rye a must-eat for any Madisonian.
106 King St.
441-9364
As you walk into Dog Eat Dog, the Chicago-esque hot dog stand located at 106 King St., a single word pops into your mind: metal. This describes the d??cor, the seating, and unfortunately, the music. Not that a good dose of metal isn't welcome on occasion. It just doesn't do much for the digestion.
Luckily, the food helps overcome this atmospheric faux pax. The menu is classic Chicago hot dog stand, with a small dose of Madison to balance things out. Charred Polish Sausages stand heartily, though possibly a little uncomfortably, next to Veggie Dogs.
The menu's highlight is the Chicago Dog, which tastes like it could just as easily have come from a gritty store front under the El as from a college-town restaurant on a trendy street. Get an order of the crisp, though slightly too greasy, fries'which can come with cheese and/or chili and a cold tap beer or Sprecher root beer to round out the meal.
Just don't hope to get these things too quickly. The service is, well, serviceable. Not necessarily unfriendly, but definitely a little to slow for what, basically, is upper-end fast food.
117 E Mifflin St.
255-8624
Located just two doors down from Caf?? Montmartre and kitty-corner to The Blue Marlin, Mercury Deli is rubbing shoulders with some pretty good company. And it is acquitting itself quite well. With a menu of sandwiches that are as innovative as they are delicious, Mercury Deli and its friendly, attentive staff are rivaling the Radical Rye for Madison's sandwich crown.
Everything on the menu is worthy, but the Rare Roast Beef, stuffed with decadently pink roast beef and topped with garlic and herb cream cheese, is a standout. The Mercury Club is also a fine choice, as are the various vegetarian options, such as the Antipasto sandwich.
And for those of you looking to indulge your inner, or outer, child, the Peanut Butter and Whatever sandwich will make you long for a luke-warm carton of lunch-room milk'in a good way. Mercury Deli also offers coffee and various teas, as well as pastry and bakery items, making it a viable breakfast, as well as lunch, stop. But the sandwiches are what really make Mercury Deli one of the truly great additions to the Madison restaurant scene to come about in years.
