Despite what Burger King or Subway would have you believe, there's plenty of flame-broiled goodies hanging out in heat lamps or salad mixes chilling in plastic bags for you to really believe you can have it your way or that you're really eating fresh. At Grandaddy's though, what seems like a football team of line cooks makes each and every sandwich fresh to order and to your specifications.

They do so on fresh Gonnella white loaves with freshly sliced, griddled, toasted or cold meats. Lean corned beef and roast turkey BLTs served on more rustic style thick slice sandwich bread could have come out of a classic NYC deli, while the Italian sub here is maybe as good as Bari on Grand. The Philly – featuring griddled charred steak topped with grilled mushroom, onion, and green pepper and folded up with provolone – oozes peppery juices and may be one of the best examples in Chicago of the regional favorite.

While you wait for your order, there's plenty of eye candy, including vintage posters of the Rolling Stones, Dylan and James Dean that hang in the brick-and-timber confines of the restaurant.

Average cost: <$10

Centerstage Reviewer: Michael Nagrant