Shrimp Salad - Koco's Pub

Sandwich Contents: Shrimp salad served on a sesame-seed bun with tomato and lettuce.

Kate’s Review: Our first attempt to taste the Shrimp Salad at Koco’s was a complete and utter failure. After dragging two co-workers with us, we discovered Koco’s was sold out of the sandwich which left us in less than a good mood. We were starving and needed food ASAP so we settled for the Greek salad. We learned our lesson and decided to call the next week to ensure they had it before making the hike. When I made the call I was informed that they don’t usually allow for take-out on this sandwich….why will remain a mystery but thankfully I was able to convince them otherwise . The sand looked delectable with large shrimp piled on a fresh bun with a red juicy tomato and lettuce. After the picture was taken, we were ready to dive in after a week of anticipation. Perhaps the buildup was too much because although the sandwich was tasty, I didn’t think it was anything to write home about. Honestly, I was more excited about the tomato. It was swimming in mayo which I think is unnecessary when the ingredients are fresh; no need to mask it with mayo. Don’t get me wrong, I finished every bite but wasn’t overly impressed. I would rate the sandwich with 3 baguettes.


Nicole’s Review: It took two tries to get this sandwich, which was a bit frustrating, but worth it. The first time we went they were sold out. The second time we smartened up and placed our order over the phone for take-out (which apparently they don’t normally do). The sandwich was delicious, albeit a bit messy. The shrimp salad was a little heavy on the mayo, but perfectly flavored with Old Bay which complimented the flavor of the shrimp, not over powering it. The roll was fresh and surprisingly tasty, almost kind of sweet. I think the one thing that I remember the most (I’m writing this a week late) about this sandwich though, is the tomato. It was a vibrant red and so delicious. The sandwich was great, however, I’m not sure it is really worth the $15 we shelled out for it. We’re not grading it on value though, so I’m going to rank this one up at the top of my favorites list.

The Real Italian - DiPasquale's Italian Marketplace & Deli

Sandwich Contents: Mortadella, capicola, salami and prosciuttini. provolone cheese, olive oil and vinegar, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a smattering of hots—served on a Italian roll.

Kate’s Review: Man, Italians sure know how to make an AMAZING sandwich. My favorite one so far is still the Porchetta from Isabella’s, but this is a close second. The meats were incredibly fresh and they added just the right amount of olive oil and parm mix. It didn’t drip out of the sandwich and the crust remained crispy, just the way I like it! The entire experience made me want to hop on a plane and eat my way through Italy. It enticed me enough to want to come back and try their other creations. 5 baguettes!


Nicole’s Review: Yummy. Honestly, what is there at a traditional Italian Market & Deli that isn’t yummy? Sure, it might not be great for the heart or the hips, but on the lips, its amazing! I’ve got to be honest, its been quite a few weeks since we had this sandwich so I don’t exactly remember all the details, but I do remember that it was quite good. The bread was crunchy and soft and although I was worried that the giant pile of meat might give me a migraine, (it didn’t) it would have been worth it. I liked this sandwich and this place so much I’m headed back there this coming week! Definitely a good choice to add to the list and has found a place on my list of favorites.

Greek Veggie - Atwater's

Sandwich Contents: Two slices of kalamata olive bread, layers of marinated cucumbers, Vidalia onions, tomatoes, green-leaf lettuce, and an olive- and-artichoke-heart tapenade.

Kate’s Review: The Greek veggie is not made the same way at Atwater’s now as it is described in the magazine, so we did our best to have them recreate the original. It was a hybrid of the current and former which probably wasn’t the best idea. Too many strong flavors made the sandwich overwhelming. I think the current version without the tapenade would have been just right, but of course we wanted what was in the magazine. I’ve learned my lesson with modifying, so I’ll go straight off of their menu next time. I give it 3 baguettes with our mistake


Nicole’s Review: Not a fan. It wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t a favorite. I think the strong flavor of the tapenade (which I don’t love) overwhelmed everything else the sandwich had to offer. In all fairness, I don’t think we had the exact same sandwich that was written up in Baltimore Magazine. The version of the Greek Veggie they now offer is a bit different and although we tried to alter it, I don’t think we actually got the same thing. It was also a few weeks ago and I don’t remember it that clearly! I do remember that it wasn’t a favorite though…I’m glad I got a cup of soup in addition to the sandwich.

The Land and Sea - Beach Bums

Sandwich Contents: Roast Beef and Shrimp Salad

Kate's Review: This visit to Beach Bum’s Café was a first for me. Depending on the day, reading the description of the “Land and Sea” sandwich either made me salivate or my stomach turn. Thankfully when it came time to try it I was having positive thoughts and the sandwich didn’t disappoint. The sandwich was a double-decker with one side overflowing with shrimp salad and the other loaded with roast beef. My favorite was the shrimp that was very peppery and well balanced by the Rye. The roast beef added a subtle flavor boost. It was a bit messy so I consolidated mine to a one layer sandwich which I destroyed within a matter of minutes. One thing not to skip at Beach Bum’s is their ice cream; they had 4 different flavors that included Peanut Butter (my favorite food ever!) which made it difficult to decide but after sampling 3 I choose the PB Oreo……Scrumptious!!! I rate this sand with 4 baguettes.


Nicole's Review: The combination of shrimp salad and roast beef isn't something I would probably have put together, but I was rather excited to try this sandwich. I was definitely not disappointed! The sandwich was huge, a double decker with a slice of bread (we chose rye) serving as a divider between the roast beef and the salad. The shrimp salad was delicious. It was more peppery than I've had, but I think thats what made it so good. The sauce from the salad also help to moisten up the roast beef and make it a bit more exciting. I was surprised that the sandwich wasn't very messy. A couple stray shrimp fell to my plate, but nothing like some of the sandwiches in the past. I think the addition of the rye bread rather than white just made the combination of flavors that much more exciting. I highly recommend this sandwich and hope to return for another. Don't forget to get some ice cream after your sandwich. I couldn't resist a black and white milkshake!

Beef Brisket - Miller's Delicatessen

Sandwich Contents: A mound of meat and gravy and thick-cut fries.

Kate's Review: This place is a little overwhelming during lunch rush hour even when you know what you have to order: I recommend coming for a later lunch if you dare. Apparently we should have requested the Beef Brisket “Platter” because just ordering the beef brisket gets you bread with some beef on it…no gravy or fries. We were able to get the gravy on the side but it wasn’t the big production I was expecting. Of course my first bite was fatty which turned me off to eating the rest. I guess if I was a huge beef fan I may have felt differently but for me this was nothing to rave about. Thankfully I ordered a Greek salad which was a generous portion and the dressing was excellent with tons of feta piled on top. I rate the sandwich with 1 baguette.


Nicole's Review: This is one of those places where you feel like you must have your ordered rehearsed in order to not be yelled at by the counter staff. The menu is huge (not to mention in a terrible location – behind where people stand in line) and we weren’t sure which beef brisket to get – the platter or the sandwich. I think we chose wrong since ours didn’t come with gravy or fries. We did ask for a side of the gravy when we realized the error. The sandwich was pretty good. The rye bread really helped it along. There was plenty of beef and the gravy was really good. I can only imagine how fries would have tasted in that gravy. I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say its one of Baltimore’s best sandwiches, to me it was a little boring. If you venture to Millers, I highly suggest not wearing anything that requires dry cleaning as you may notice later in the day you smell a bit like a grease fryer.

Lobster Roll - Crossroads Restaurant

Sandwich Contents: Lobster, diced and tossed in lemon aioli on a buttery, toasted roll.

Kate's Review: The priciest sandwich on the list did not disappoint. The lobster chunks were plump and big with crisp bites of peppers and other veggies to add the crunch. Served on a butter potato roll which was the perfect bread choice although the bottom part became soggy quickly because of the aioli. I would suggest serving on the side so you could put on the bread each bite. An added bonus was the tranquil outdoor seating area. With light music and chirping of the birds this was a very relaxing lunch which was perfect for a Friday work getaway. Shhh; don’t tell anyone, we want to keep this all to ourselves.


Thanks to Missy Martin, the best HR director EVER for sponsoring this delicious sandwich.

Nicole's Review: What a hidden gem! I fell in love with this place. The atmosphere and food were great and I can’t wait to go back! The sandwich was great. This was my first lobster roll and I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was delicious. Not too much mayo and the chunks of lobster were huge. The addition of red bell pepper was nice and the buttered roll was very yummy. I ate this open face since it was a little tough to split, so I can only imagine how much better it would be between 2 pieces of buttered roll. I highly recommend Crossroads, if not for the Lobster Roll, but for the atmosphere!

The 98 Rock Hercules - Pickles & Chips

Sandwich Contents: Ham, bacon, Swiss, mayo, tomato, hot peppers, Old Bay, and pickle slices on pumpernickel.

Kate's Review: Surprisingly tasty. I’m not a fan of hot peppers or mayo but combined with the ham and sweet pumpernickel I really enjoyed it. They were generous with their ham portion which was thinly sliced…just how I like it. I could have done without the bacon which was rubbery and seemed a bit raw so after the first bite it was removed. To add back the crisp I expected from the bacon I piled on the home made potatoes chips which where the perfect compliment. Thank goodness they aren’t bottomless or I could have downed a pound or two.


Nicole's Review: Surprisingly good. This sandwich definitely consisted of things I would not normally eat on a sandwich, particularly pickles and hot peppers but I was pleasantly surprised with how delicious it was. In fact, since eating this sandwich I’ve been adding pickles to sandwiches! I don’t recall seeing any cheese on this sandwich, which was fine with me since I’m not a fan of Swiss. How great that I was able to enjoy a sandwich without cheese! While I think this sandwich is a bit overpriced ($7.59), its nice to know they donate $.25 per signature sandwich to charity. Oh and you do get some delicious potato chips.