Sandwiches are culinary architecture, with each component providing flavor, texture and stability. When done right, a sandwich is a simple meal that tastes mouth-wateringly complex. Here are the best sandwiches in Scottsdale.
Andreoli Italian Grocer
Scottsdale doesn’t have a Little Italy neighborhood but it does have Andreoli’s. Walk into this family-owned Italian market and it feels like a journey back to a small village above the Mediterranean Sea. Shelves are lined with imported goods. Almost everything else is made in-house, including freshly baked bread, pasta, cannoli, cheeses and meats, even the aged prosciutto, which wowed Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives fame.
Customers order at the counter, then the friendly staff brings out the food. I select the sempronio, an exquisite creation of prosciutto, mozzarella and roasted peppers served on a crusty baguette. The sweet-salty combo of the prosciutto melds perfectly with the supple creaminess of the cheese while highlighting the mild but distinctive peppers. On second thought, Scottsdale does have a Little Italy neighborhood after all.
The Herb Box
When you crave something decadent but still want to eat healthy, head for the Herb Box. Food is fresh, seasonal and locally sourced. That means using cage-free eggs, hormone-free natural meats and organic produce whenever possible. Most importantly, all those socially responsible ingredients create a menu brimming with deliciousness.
They offer a full slate of complex wraps and sandwiches. While the blackened chicken and sage pesto sandwich were tempting, I chose the Herb Box BLT, a twist on the old classic. Along with the nitrate-free smoked bacon, organic spring mix, tomato and basil-garlic aoli, customers choose either buttermilk-fried chicken or blackened salmon to pile on the ciabatta. It’s a beast of a sandwich that practically requires the wait staff to haul it out via wheelbarrow. A very filling and flavorful concoction that breaks apart toward the end. Fortunately, no rule says you can’t polish off your sandwich with a fork.
Daily Dose Kitchen & Bar
This neighborhood nook feels effortlessly hip yet comfortable with an enticing brunch vibe. Daily Dose is known for their elevated breakfast where everything is made from scratch. They offer a piled-high Hangover Sandwich but since I showed up relatively sober, I went a more traditional route.
With its staid appearance and muted colors, the blue crab patty melt may not turn heads, yet it danced across my taste buds. This sandwich is all about balance with melted Swiss cheese wrapping around the delicate richness of the crabmeat, and the grilled onion and red chili sauce adding sweet and spicy notes. It’s served on a dark marbled rye that’s pillowy soft but also sturdy enough to hold everything together until the last bite, which arrives much too soon.
Belle’s Nashville Kitchen
Music spills into the street from Belle’s Nashville Kitchen. Belle’s acts as Old Town’s official honky-tonk, adding a renegade twist to Scottsdale’s famous cowboy vibe. Here the drinks are cold, the chicken is hot, and the music jumps. For some reason chicken tastes better when accompanied by a country twang.
The menu specializes in Southern comfort food and like any respectable eating establishment with Nashville in its name, serves a killer hot chicken sandwich. It’s doused in spices and nestled on a brioche bun with coleslaw and dill pickles. I’ll also vouch for the Naked Chicken sandwich, a tender breast topped with tomato, bacon, pickled onions, and smashed avocado. Don’t miss the Kool-Aid marinated fried pickles, a crunch of southern goodness if ever there was one.
JoJo’s Shake Bar
Every generation needs a fun hangout for friends, dates and family. But JoJo’s Shake Bar takes things to a new level with its gourmet milkshakes and creative diner favorites. This isn’t Fonzie’s malt shop.
Tucked away in Scottsdale Quarter, JoJo’s harkens back to the ‘80s and ‘90s with its vibrant murals and arcade games. In keeping with the nostalgic vibe, I snag a loaded grilled cheese sandwich, a five-cheese blend stuffed with bacon and roasted tomato. It’s an ooey-gooey-cheesy blast from the past paired perfectly with a root beer float.
