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The Five Seed Salmon at Bludorn showcases fresh ingredients and French technique.

Openings and Closings: White Elm Bakery Opens, Bludorn Debuts Next Week

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Aug 14, 2020

Bludorn, 807 Taft, is slated to open August 21. The new dining destination comes from Chef Aaron Bludorn and wife Victoria Pappas, daughter of one of the Houston restaurateurs behind the prolific Pappas Family Restaurants. Chef Aaron and Victoria met while working at famed Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud's Dinex Group...

Plenty of cheese options for your quarantine sandwich.

A Killer Quarantine Sandwich With Local Ingredients

By Jeff Balke

Apr 14, 2020

One of the wonderful things about sandwiches is that they are extremely takeout friendly. This is particularly important during the era of the coronavirus. But with the constraints of social distancing and stay-at-home orders, getting a fresh sandwich every day isn't always possible. And in a quarantine, why not just...

The Menage a Trois at Ike's is a fantastic way to blow over 1,000 calories.

Trying Out Ike's Love and Sandwiches

By Jeff Balke

Mar 10, 2020

While I am generally loathe to consider sandwiches from national chains for the best sandwiches in Houston list, I still want to try out any place that makes a point of crafting great hoagies. The California chain, Ike's Love and Sandwiches, is the second such place that has opened in...

Mountains of prepped cubanos and a press full of them at West Tampa Sandwich Shop.

Exploring the Sandwiches of Florida's Central Gulf Coast

By Jeff Balke

Mar 4, 2020

Tampa stakes a claim as the home of the cubano, the Cuban pressed pork sandwich that is an obsession for some (yours truly included). The origin story here is that the sandwiches were made to serve a growing population of Cuban immigrants, particularly low wage workers. There are those who...

Four Days, Four Sandwich Shops in Austin

By Jeff Balke

Feb 25, 2020

Austin is an interesting food town. It's short on diversity but long on craft with plenty of interesting and unique restaurants — along with a whole mess of barbecue and taco joints. While visiting friends and relatives recently, I wondered how their sandwiches stack up. In Houston, the list is...

When you can have pizza in a hoagie, you can have pizza anytime.

Trying Out the Riel-Antone's Pizza Sub

By Jeff Balke

Feb 12, 2020

Every month, Antone's has been pairing with a local celebrity or chef to create a dish that is not only unique but provides money for local charities. So far, every one has been a winner from Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus's heavy-handed Hangover to Bun B's chicken wing spectacular. For February,...

The fasolada at Antone's is perfect for a winter's day.

Openings and Closings: Antone's Opens, Theo's, Belden's, Yauatcha and Hupcap Grill Close

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jan 3, 2020

Antone's Famous Po'boys, 6618 Fannin, opened in the Medical Towers Building at Fannin and Dryden. The buildout of the new 1,960 square foot space was overseen by Construction Concepts and the updated interior design was done by Gin Braverman Design Group. Two upcoming locations will also feature the new design...

Please keep Onion Creek in business if only for this sandwich.

My Five Favorite Sandwich Spots of 2019

By Jeff Balke

Dec 31, 2019

Eating as many sandwiches as I did over the course of the last year, I found a few spots that I absolutely love. While I do tend to stick with my favorite hoagies at these spots, they all have multiple subs worth sampling and as we close out 2019, it...

Five Sandwich Resolutions for a Happy 2020

By Jeff Balke

Dec 25, 2019

For nearly two years, I've been writing about sandwiches, which isn't all that big of a deal when you consider I've been consuming them for far longer. But as we roll into a new decade, I thought I would once again jot down my resolutions for making 2020 happy, prosperous...

Common Bond will fulfill your carb-filled fantasies.

Openings and Closings: Common Bond Heights Open, International Smoke Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 13, 2019

Common Bond Cafe and Bakery, 449 W. 19th, opened December 5. This is the third location for the European-style bakery in Houston. The first opened in Montrose in 2014 followed by a location in the Texas Medical Center in March 2019. There is also a planned location for Understory food...

Revival Market's spicy riff on the club sandwich delivers big on flavor and charcuterie.

Houston's Best Sandwiches: Italian Club at Revival Market

By Jeff Balke

Dec 10, 2019

Revival Market's spicy riff on the club sandwich delivers big on flavor and charcuterie. We are in search of Houston's best sandwiches because we love sandwiches and we love Houston!

Is the Popeye's Chicken Sandwich Worth the Hype?

By Jeff Balke

Nov 26, 2019

I have spent nearly two years reviewing Houston's sandwiches, yet I found myself resistant to the most popular sandwich in the country. Why? Maybe it's because it is fast food and I was looking for more unique, Houston-centric options. Also, I wasn't going to consider it for "best sandwiches" because...

Get ready for Thanksgiving with these amazing turkey sandwiches.

5 Killer Local Turkey Sandwiches to Get You Ready for Thanksgiving Leftovers

By Jeff Balke

Nov 19, 2019

Turkey has suffered from lesser poultry status for too long. Unlike its ubiquitous cousin, the chicken, it is typically too large to cook every day and not fatty enough to satisfy certain cravings. Duck and quail are fancier and thus given sway in any argument that revolves around the best...

The Texas de Cuba at Eatsie Boys puts a spicy Houston spin on the Cubano.

Houston's Best Sandwiches: Texas de Cubano at Eatsie Boys

By Jeff Balke

Nov 12, 2019

The Texas de Cuba at Eatsie Boys puts a spicy Houston spin on the Cubano. We are in search of Houston's best sandwiches because we love sandwiches and we love Houston!

Torta fans, there's a new kid in town, the R.I.P. at Antone's and it's legit.

Houston's Best Sandwiches: The R.I.P. at Antone's

By Jeff Balke

Nov 5, 2019

Torta fans, there's a new kid in town, the R.I.P. at Antone's and it's legit. We are in search of Houston's best sandwiches because we love sandwiches and we love Houston!

Mendocino Farms offers fresh and healthy choices.

Openings and Closings: Mendocino Farms Downtown Will Open, El Real and Decatur Have Closed

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Nov 1, 2019

Mendocino Farms, 609 Main, will open in Downtown Houston November 7. This will make the third location in the Houston area for the California-based sandwich and salad restaurant. The most recent opened in Uptown Park October 3. The concept was created in 2003 by husband and wife Mario Del Pero...

Mendocino Farms Embraces Foodie Sandwich Trends

By Jeff Balke

Oct 22, 2019

The humble sandwich is experiencing a moment. What has long been considered a grab-and-go fast food option for providing fuel for the body quickly and efficiently is slowly finding a new audience among food lovers. Perhaps this is an extension of the explosion of casual gourmet proliferated by food trucks...

Yes, that is a pool of syrup underneath the beautiful mess that is the Antone's Hangover.

Houston's Best Sandwiches: The Hangover at Antone's

By Jeff Balke

Oct 15, 2019

There is a pool of syrup underneath the beautiful mess that is the Antone's Hangover. We are in search of Houston's best sandwiches because we love sandwiches and we love Houston!

First Friday Lobster Rolls at Bernie's Burger Bus are near perfection with one exception: You're gonna need a bigger boat.

Houston's Best Sandwiches: First Friday Lobster Roll at Bernie's Burger Bus

By Jeff Balke

Oct 8, 2019

First Friday Lobster Rolls at Bernie's Burger Bus are near perfection with one exception: You're gonna need a bigger boat. We are in search of Houston's best sandwiches because we love sandwiches and we love Houston!

Stacks and stacks and racks and racks of po' boy rolls at Royal Bakery.

Royal Bakery: The Unofficial Sandwich Bread of Houston

By Jeff Balke

Oct 1, 2019

It's been pretty well established that Houston has an incredible food scene and where there is great fine dining, there will also be incredible cheap eats. For people like me, that means sandwiches. Thank God, Houston has no shortage of those, many of which I have documented and will continue...

Sandwiches

Openings and Closings: Casa Nomad Heights, Rosalie Returns

Openings and Closings: Fegen's Debuts, Acme Oyster House Opens

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