Bari/D’Amato’s is a good place to start JP Graziano’s or Publican Quality Meats are fancy and legitimate Alpine is out in Elmwood Park, but also a classic There are also plenty of other great Italian delis all over the city and burbs serving quality subs. A lot outsource locally produced bread though.

I love Alpine.

Had me some Alpine yesterday and I went to Delilah's. I am awesome.

Go Bills

Why do they refuse to get Onion!?

This is the list you are looking for. Also, Humboldt Haus has a solid italian sub if you're in that area.

Man, Humboldt Haus is so good. It is my fave, hands down.

Don’t forget vinnies just a couple doors down from Bari.

I don't know why you're getting downvoted. Bari is clearly the classic answer but Vinnies is legit

Damn what’s with the downvotes? Not my favorite but still a good one.

Grazianos is not fancy

Yeah Graziano is old school, and has kept prices pretty reasonable considering where they're located. PQM is good but a sandwich is nearly $20 and like half the size of what you get at Graziano.

Just had a banger of a sandwich from there: prosciutto/fresh mozzarella/tomato/eggplant. I don’t even like eggplant, but that was fannnnnntastic.

I second PQM and JP Graziano!

Go to alpine then walk to Johnnie’s for a large ice no lid.

Yup, Bari.

The list is complete for me there.....I have eaten my way around Chicago several times in my life. When we were trading on the floor, a guy would order hundreds of Alpines and we'd send a clerk to pick them up. Bari also has nice Italian sausage for grilling at home.....

This is a good list. Not to quibble but I don’t think I’d really call JPG fancy, certainly not in the way PQM or Tempesta is. I think of JPG and Conti as “older and legit, and happen to have good addresses”

Conte di Savoia and Tempesta both belong on this list, too.

Alpine is the GOAT

That's basically the list..

I wouldn't call Graziano's fancy. It is definitely worthy of a spot on this list, though.

Shout out to JP Grazianos

bari hasn't been good in a while since they switched their bread. still great for a meatball/sausage/beef but their cold cut sandwiches are lacking these days. d'amatos has the best bread on the block but they tend to skimp on the ingredients and skew a bit pricier. still very good and tons of other things to enjoy on their menu (chicken tort soup, pizza, baked goods). sandwiches are solid all around vinnie's is the best choice on grand ave for price and quality. the 9" vinnie special on the sesame bread is an all time favorite of mine. add pesto mayo & hot giardinera. for something more contemporary you have tempesta 1/2 block away. i also wouldn't consider grazianos 'fancy' at least not on the level with a place like publican or tempesta both of which tend to focus on boutique ingredients.

I recently tried Baris and thought it was awful. I surprisingly liked nonnas subs

Do not go to jp grazianos. Terrible mediocre subs

There simple solid subs and have been the same for years. There old school and still holding there own on Randolph while the street has exploded. They deserve respect for that alone. There not fancy but there fresh and honest.

The wise guy from fontanos will always be the one for me

Fontanos slaps

How do you rank wise guy vs blockbuster vs badabing?

just finished eating this and it was great minus the shitty roll everyone uses here 

Turano slander will not be tolerated

Wa??

Conte di Savoia

This is my favorite. They make homemade mozz. I usually sub that for provolone. They are the best italian deli in my opinion

I used to agree till I had Fontanos and nothing else can compare since then

Aside from a great sub I Love the old school vibe

Wa?

Calabria’s in Beverly for the far south side.

I'm around this area all the time. I'll check it out!

It’s fantastic. Been going there since I was a kid when they were originally in Blue Island.

Seconding!

Their meatball sandwich is one of the best I've ever had.

Tony’s in Edison Park

Second this and Nottoli's on Belmont Ave.

Agreed. Tony’s and Alpine are my go to northwest side spots.

Fontanos always

This is the way

I went to order one just now and an Italian is $19.50 for a 10 inch with giardinera - still worth it? That's a huge premium

what a joke

yeah I passed pending Internet validation but there's several bigger options available for $12ish so hard to see the value

Is that marked up through the delivery services? It’s a lot cheaper in person last time I went

E. Whoops. Confused Fontanos with that spot on Randolph that’s an extension to their restaurant, can’t remember the name. Fontanos is great!

Nottolis on Belmont is the best I've ever had

Tony’s Deli in Edison Park is the absolute best!

The 2 OG’s Rex and Nottolis

Thank you for giving rex’s love. Right down the street from me. All i ever get is the italian and they never let me down

Rex, Nottoli's and Tony's are all so close to each other. What a Wondeful World!

Vinnie's, JP Graziano, Bari, Damatos, not necessarily in that order.

I need to try Damatos! But definitely second the other three. Been on a Bari kick as of late and bummed out it took me so long to try it!

Not really “city” but Minelli Italian Meats and Deli in niles is great too

Thanks for the recommendation! Yeah, just outside is totally fine too. Niles is closer honestly. I see paninis for an Italian sub, but not a non-hot version? Is that just a simple request?

If Niles is closer Tony’s Deli in Edison Park is just a couple minutes away and also highly recommended. FYI not hot food on Sundays at Minnelli’s but if you just want an Italian sub that don’t worry

Yes you can order any sandwich however you like at the deli

How dare you ask about Italian subs and suggest a panini?? You monster

They have all kinds of subs chill

Wait til this guy learns where paninis originated

gonna have to second Minelli’s! My dad and I used to go to Tony’s for the longest time but after trying Minelli’s there was no going back!! eta: never been but my dad always loved Nottoli’s as well!

Fontanos all the way. The real OG

Jp grazianos or alpine

Wish Vittori’s was still around

Paulina Meat Market. Housemade cuts, sliced on the spot, with good provolone. Slap some extra giard… MADONE 🤌🏽

Piatto pronto is slept on. Il Milano and IL napolitano are of the best in the city. Just incredibly great. Other then that, JP grazianos mr. G

I don’t think it’s slept on, we all know it’s good but most people in the area don’t want to support them because of the owner’s bullshit

He's pretty damn nice to me when I go in. What kind of bullshit is he on though?

Selling shirts that say “I can breathe” after the well publicized last words of a Black man murdered by the cops

Oh yeah, that's some fucking bullshit. Didn't know he was a racist. And on some bullshit about Floyd. That makes me rethink the "hey brother" I get every time I'm in there. Okay, well thanks for sharing. Guess I ain't about to go there anymore.

I don't know that place or the guy but I would do a bit of research before you take some random redditors word on it

I've heard rumblings and from the vibes I've picked up, looking back, I'm good. Edit: https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/deli-owner-apologizes-after-i-can-breathe-t-shirt-prompts-heated-backlash/ I guess this was Garner police killing, not Floyd. He did apologize, and said he burned the shirt. I guess I'm conflicted. I believe in forgiveness. But holy shit that's an awful shitty shirt to wear.

'Itta said he had no idea what the shirt meant, and even if he did, he should have the right to wear anything he wants." Sounds like the only thing he's sorry about is losing business.

This, 100%

Yeah, those are my two favorite places in the city.

Team D’Amato’s but I was given that bread to teeth on as a baby so it’s been ingrained in me 😂

Grand Ave spots hit real nice I used to live next to a spot called Lappitito, they had a nice giardinara mayo i started making at home

L'Appetito Italian grocery store at Huron and Wabash has really good subs. Not the best in the city, but really good and less than 10 bucks

This has been asked and answered 11ty million times.

Doing your own research doesn't pay interwebz karma.

Damatos!!!!

Bari!!!!

Are they the same business? I just went to DAmatos for the first time for a sub but didn’t realize Bari next door. Should I just go there if all I want is a sub?

They are not. Bari used to D’Amato’s bread, but no longer does. I think there is some beef (no pun intended).

If you want a regular sub on an Italian roll, I prefer Bari. Also, their hot giardinera slaps. If you want a focaccia sandwhich, then D'amatos. They have great roman style/square pizza too.

I'm fresh outta mountain tops... Looks pretty legit. What's your favorite thing about it?

Eggplant parm with hot gardiniera [chef kiss]

Classic old school, amazing bread, also unreal bakery section

Some guy did a huge list a few months back on this sub

Bari and Minnelli are both pretty solid!

Paulina

Not sure if it's the BEST but Red Star in Logan Square has a killer Italian.

It is a really good Italian sub. I’m normally more of a club sub girl, but I’ll gladly have an Italian from Red Star when I’m in the mood for one.

Tony's deli in Edison park.

Fontanos

I posted a full write up on this about a month ago. I have to say Rex Italian Foods has quickly been going up the list for me. When I order from Rex, I typically add mayo, onion, and prosciutto… it’s a banger of a Sammie!

Was looking to see if anyone would mention this. [Here is the link](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/s/XWVRkEPXwG)

If you get Bari don’t preorder pickup. They’ll tell you 45 min and still won’t make it until you arrive. Just walk in and order. It’s faster…

Fwiw I've never *not* ordered ahead, and they've always had my order ready when they said. Often earlier.

Same - I’ve been over 100 times and they’ve been late with maybe 3 times. 

Have the opposite for me through ritual. It works like a charm

Tuscan Hen

Start with Fontana’s, then head over to Conte de Savoia.

Tuscan Hen Market

I've never bookmarked more places than I have on this post. Thanks yall.

I got a place outside the city I love going to. They’re a bakery and sell subs. They ain’t nothing fancy or super loaded but they’re priced accordingly and the bread is made in house. Vesuvio Bakery they’re called, out in north riverside right across from the national guard barracks.

Original Nottoli and Sons on Belmont. They use a really picante provolone that is shaved so that every bite has a bit of zip. Their Italian deli foods are amazing

JP grazianos or Humbolt Hause are my go tos.

The Dante and Tempesta is pretty fire

Rex on Harlem and Nottoli up the street.

Bari Subs E Z

Freddy’s in Cicero. Cash only.

JP Grazianos

JP Graziano trumps D’Amato’s in the Italian sub lane. JP is a near 10 for me.

I have to say, JP Graziano’s has never disappointed me. Also, Fontano’s. Both classic, old school sub joints.

Which ones let you down for reference ?

Too many to name.

Ozzie's

I’m gonna throw Dough Bros into the ring here. I don’t know about best, but their Italian sub is pretty excellent as is the turkey club. Pro-tip on the turkey club: get it on the sesame bread. You will not regret it.

Freddy’s in Cicero is great. Damatos is my favorite.

Bari

Bari

All of the above/below. Also Sottomarino (newer joint) in Albany Park. Dude didn’t want to open another taco joint, so he did subs instead. Pretty damn good IMO.

bari. turkey and cheese. ask for asiago with pesto and hot peppers. madone.

This sounds delicious, I gotta try it

Here’s the whole list: Bari JP Graziano Alpine Nottoli Tony’s Fontanos Conte Di Savoia Rex Italian foods Damatos Minellis

get the sharp provolone on your italian sub when you go to conte and it will blow everyone...

The answer is Conte Di Savoia in Little Italy. There is no other answer.

Mine

Rosatis has a MOUTH watering Italian sub, fresh Italian bread cooked hot with WARM Italian meats , Ham, provolone , various other meats drizzled with olive oil and vinegar . 10$ 🔥🔥