Looking for new spots to try? During Dining Month, Lori Fredrich is dishing out must-tries in 20 different dining categories, from brunch to BBQ and everything in between. Here's what she's recommended so far!

Some days nothing hits the spot like a really great sandwich. But what makes that sandwich great? The best of the best (even the simple ones) are as well thought-out as a fine dining dish.

It starts with high quality ingredients; and that applies from the bread right down to the condiments. It’s also about balance. A badly built sandwich offers little in the way of texture; its flavors are muddy and it provides little in the way of a true "wow" factor.

Fortunately, Milwaukee’s sandwich game is pretty solid. And these five spots serve up hand-held treasures that are more than just good.

Bavette La Boucherie

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217 N. Broadway, (414) 273-3375
bavettelaboucherie.com
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Bavette has been one of my top sandwich picks for years, and it’s because their offerings are truly tough to beat. And the selection of sandwiches available at lunch has only grown since their move from Menomonee Street to Broadway where a new kitchen has allowed them to branch out considerably.

I’ve raved before about one of Bavette’s OG sandwiches: the phenomenal beef tongue Reuben. It’s among the best renditions of the sandwich I've ever tried thanks to house-corned beef tongue and details like their housemade pickled mustard seed aioli. And I’d say the same about their Pork Belly Banh Mi which features indulgently tender pork belly, miso sriracha aioli and crisp pickled carrot and cucumber.

But if you’re craving fried chicken, its tough to beat their rendition, which comes basted in hot honey butter atop tender, flavorful collard greens (which I'd gladly eat on their own), housemade garlic pickles and pimento cheese.  It's simply an edible work of art.

Meat & Co.

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Zocalo Food Park, 636 S. 6th St., (262) 357-1308
facebook.com/meat.co.mke
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Zocalo Food Park is a great spot for folks who love variety. After all, there are food trucks serving up excellent dishes from Venezuelan arepas and tacos to Filipino food and pizza.  But thanks to Meat & Co., it’s also a can’t-lose spot for well-executed sandwiches including Nashville Hot Chicken, Cuban Sandwich and smash burgers.

But for those craving something more deli-style, there’s also The Lunch Box, a substantial sandwich featuring griddled mortadella, white cheddar, Duke’s mayo, Zapp’s Voodoo chips and fresh vinegar-based slaw served up on thick-cut toasted white bread. It’s a textural wonder that brings on all the good deli sandwich feelings.

You’ll also find one of the city’s only Chopped Cheeses. This East Coast classic features seared ground beef that’s chopped, layered with melty cheese and topped with cheese, shaved onion, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and Duke's mayo.  It's a glorious mess of burger-esque deliciousness.

There’s even something for the veggie crowd thanks to the delicious Veg & Co. featuring crisp panko-crusted eggplant topped with house pomodoro sauce, kalamata olives, fresh mozzarella and basil served up on a tender roll spread with garlic confit. It’s fresh and comforting all at the same time.  

The National Cafe

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839 W. National Ave., (414) 431-6551
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For years, The National Cafe has been a repeat pick for my lists of top-rated spots. That’s partially due to the cafe’s cozy welcoming vibe. But it’s also about the food, which is inventive, eclectic and – when it all comes down to it – comforting. 

That applies to their OG sandwiches, like the Turkey Bacon & Brie, a simple sandwich (which has been around for at least the past 10 years) that delivers texture, heartiness and ooey-gooey cheesiness all in one package. 

But it also applies to newer menu items like the Vietnamese Baguette, a take on the banh mi made with chicken or tofu and the Vegan Chorizo Joe featuring soy chorizo, peppers and onions bathed in a smoky chipotle sauce with vegan garlic mayo, avocado and pico de gallo. It’s a sandwich that offers up all the comfort of the classic sloppy joe in a perfectly meat-free package.

Riley’s Sandwich Co.

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4473 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood, (414) 616-1811
148 N. Milwaukee St.,  (414) 231-3628
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I have a love-hate relationship with steak sandwiches, which can run the gamut between tender and flavorful to tough, gristley and mealy. Such is not the case at Riley’s, a take-out only shop where beef filet is treated to a sous vide bath, ensuring tender mid-rare meat that’s consistent every time. You can find the tender beef on numerous sandwiches, from Philly-style sandwiches to over-the-top options like “Terrible City” topped with mozzarella, onions, dill pickle potato chips and slaw.

But if you’re looking for a good classic option, grab the Steak Kensington, which is gussied up with roasted mushrooms and onions, melted mozzarella and creamy horseradish spread (the Oakland Style version subs out garlic for the horseradish). 

The sous-vide treatment is also used on Riley’s organic chicken breast sandwiches, which can be ordered in variations from bbq and taco dip  to jerk chicken, Nashville hot or “wannabe banh mi”; I’ve not yet tried them all, but their chicken parmesan option is a solid choice topped with garlic bread crumbs, a tasty marinara sauce and melted mozzarella. Trust me when I suggest adding the spicy giardiniera; it ramps everything up a notch.

If you don’t eat meat, there’s a nice selection of veggie-based sandwiches as well, including Buffalo and Nashville Hot Cauliflower, Italian Veggie and more.

Visit their Third Ward location and you can even enjoy your sandwich inside their dog-friendly gathering place, Riley's Social House, where they've got a full bar, including over 20 craft brews on tap.

Sully’s Sandwiches

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9211 W. Center St., (414) 399-0037
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Put “sandwich” in the name of your restaurant and there’s definitely pressure to perform on that front. Fortunately for Sully’s, which features a laundry list of sandwiches made with local and housemade ingredients, including Breadsmith baguettes, quality is at the top of the list.

While Sully’s is among the newest sandwich spots on the block, recent lunch trips have already led me to a couple of sandwiches I’ve enjoyed, including the Beef & Bleu featuring slow-roasted shredded beef, bleu cheese, roasted onion aioli, tomato, and arugula. The meat is tender and the flavors are balanced, and I love the texture the crisp exterior of the baguette adds to the package. There’s also plenty to love about the Cubano, which features tender housemade mojo-style pulled pork, sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and dijon mustard. It’s not pressed like a traditional Cuban, but all the flavors are there and you get plenty of crunch from the sturdy baguette.

Sully’s sandwiches are substantial enough that two people could easily share one; so you definitely won’t leave hungry. But if you’d prefer not to share, or take home leftovers, you’re in luck. Sully’s also introduced Shorties, half-sized sandwiches that can be ordered on their own or paired up with housemade soup. Don’t love the crunch of a baguette? Sully’s also has wraps which use levash as their base.

Note: Sully’s is a family-friendly fast-casual spot that offers efficient service with the help of self-service ordering kiosks which work best with credit cards. That said, if you only have cash on hand, just ask an employee to convert your cash into a gift card; they’ll happily oblige.