Editor's Note: In this great city of ours, one could eat a different sandwich every day of the year--so that's what we'll do. Here's A Sandwich a Day, our daily look at sandwiches around the Windy City. Got a sandwich we should check out? Let us know

[Photograph: Joe Roy]

Growing up, oven baked grinders were a common weeknight meal, and one I looked forward to. As with most regional sandwich varieties, just what belongs on a grinder garners a fair share of divergent opinions (and let's not even get started on cheesesteaks). But for my money, the Combination Grinder on Garlic Bread ($9.49) from Philly's Best delivers all the childhood nostalgia I could ask for.

"Owner Recommended" (read: upcharge) garlic bread is layered with salami, bologna, ham, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and cheese (my guess is white American). The whole thing is baked, open-faced, in a stone-bottom Blodgett oven until everything is nice and crisp. The bread becomes potato-chip crunchy, the onions and peppers start to blacken around the edges, and the flavor of the three meats remain miraculously distinct. Since this sandwich features bologna, that means extra brownie points from me. A little acidity would put this sandwich over the top, which I'll be adding next time courtesy of some hot peppers.

Philly's Best Greektown

769 W Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60661 (map)
312-715-9800
phillysbest.com