National Sandwich Month: 8 Place in Downtown Pittsburgh to Get Hearty, Stacked Sandwiches
By Olivia Miller
August is National Sandwich Month and there is no better place to celebrate it than in The Golden Triangle. Whether you’re an office worker looking for a hearty lunch, a student looking for a study snack, or are just craving a sandwich piled high with meat, cheese, and veggies, we have compiled a list of 8 Downtown spots to satisfy any sandwich craving.
Primo Hoagies
Primo Hoagies is Downtown’s newest and hottest hoagie spot. Since its opening in the early summer, it has been churning out fresh, Italian-inspired sandwiches. Feel free to order from their menu of hoagie flavor combos or substitute ingredients to make it your own. Also, don’t overlook their selection of sides like potato salad, marinated mozzarella, and pepper shooters.
We recommend their meatball hoagie. There is nothing more classic than a meatball sub and Primo Hoagies does it right. Toasted, fresh bread meets tender pork and beef meatballs covered in a savory sauce and topped with melted cheese.
Primanti Bros
No list of iconic Pittsburgh sandwiches is complete without mentioning Primanti Brothers. The restaurant opened in 1933 and has since put Pittsburgh and its residents on the map for preferring fries and coleslaw on their sandwiches instead of on the side. Though the restaurant offers other bar classics like pizza and wings, nothing can rival the original Primanti’s sandwich.
We recommend Primanti’s Almost Famous Sandwich. Your choice of meat meets homemade Italian bread, provolone cheese, sweet and sour coleslaw, fries, and tomatoes.
Ritual House
Though known for their eclectic cocktail menu and extravagant desserts, Ritual House also has an impressive lunch menu. During the afternoon, soups like their creamy she-crab bisque as well as sandwiches and burgers are on display.The experience of chowing down on one of the restaurant’s dishes is enhanced by simply sitting in their dining room with its glittering chandeliers, colorful mural, and printed wallpaper.
We recommend their triple stacked salmon sandwich which features two levels of deliciousness surrounded by toasted, seeded bread. The first level consists of tender salmon lox and savory yet sweet candied bacon. This is just the beginning; the second level follows with onions, tomato, lettuce, and herb shallot mayo.
The Apollo Cafe
If you’re looking for a filling lunch that won’t break the bank, Apollo Cafe has got you covered. A popular spot amongst Downtown’s office workers, the restaurant offers a selection of fresh soups, cold salads, sandwiches, and Mediterranean goodies like gyros and baklava. Be sure to stop at an ATM before chowing down though as they are cash only.
We recommend their chicken salad sandwich. This dish features fresh, fluffy Italian bread stuffed with flavorful chicken salad topped with almonds for a sweet crunch. We recommend adding a slice of American cheese to enhance the creaminess of the chicken salad.
Weiner World
Is a hotdog a sandwich? For the sake of this article, we say yes. Weiner World has been serving franks to the people of Downtown since 1965 and has just been getting better every year. As the name may suggest, the restaurant is famous for their hotdogs and fries; but they also offer fish, chicken, and steak sandwiches.
We recommend taking a trip to the Midwest without even booking a flight with their Chicago hotdog. This dish features one of their beef hotdogs with the works: ketchup, mustard, tomato, onion, pickles, sport pepper, and celery salt.
The Yard
With multiple locations in and around the city, the restaurant has come to be known as Market Square’s best gastropub. More than anything, The Yard is famous for their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches which are served with their warm tomato soup. With unique add-ins like an over-easy egg, fried green tomatoes, fish, and mac and cheese, the only limit to fulfilling your grilled cheese craving is your imagination.
We recommend their Buffy the Mac Attack Slayer grilled cheese. Cheddar cheese is just a start for this spicy sandwich; homemade buffalo mac and cheese and buffalo chicken are the real stars of the show.
Forbes Tavern
Forbes Tavern is a quaint pub to get a drink and unwind with your coworkers after a long week. However, they also have a not so quaint food menu with an array of appetizers, salads, and flatbreads. But nothing quite beats their sandwich menu which has a tasty option for everyone from carnivores to vegetarians and every diet in between.
We recommend the turkey club. The restaurant’s take on this classic sandwich starts with a fresh Pullman loaf piled high with smoked turkey and salty bacon. It also features both swiss and american cheese as well as lettuce, tomato, a tangy honey aioli, and a fruity cranberry relish.
Boulevard Deli
Located on Smithfield Street, Boulevard Deli has an extensive menu of deli classics with a uniquely Pittsburgh twist. If you work in The Golden Triangle, feel free to stop in before work to enjoy one of their breakfast sandwiches then again on your lunch break for one of their sandwiches, hot dogs, or salads. All of their specialty sandwiches and hot dogs are named after iconic Pittsburgh towns and areas.
Our recommendation, though it may seem obvious, is The Downtowner. Perfect for the Downtown crowd, this hot sammie features roast beef and tender sauteed onions with melty provolone cheese all between a fluffy hoagie bun.
