DiBella’s Old Fashioned Submarines
Various locations
dibellas.com
A “Best of Rochester” guideline says we avoid tipping our hat to chain businesses. But there are exceptions to every rule, especially when the chain was born in our backyard. DiBella’s has expanded rapidly in the last 20 years to more than 40 locations in five states. But it began in Rochester in 1918 as a family-owned Italian import store and deli, and its sandwiches have been a local favorite ever since. Subs are the focus, and the rolls are one reason DiBella’s remains so beloved. The company says its dough is aged at least 16 hours before baking, and that sub rolls are baked at least twice a day. That means every roll is no more than a few hours out of the oven by the time you top it with your choice of meats, cheeses, and veggies. There are two dozen subs on the menu, but the one that made DiBella’s famous is the classic Italian cold cut “The Godfather.”
Calabresella’s | Rubino’s | Wegmans
Not so fast . . . Lacagnina’s Subs
1332 Lyell Ave. | 585-254-4620
Lacagnina’s Subs is not much to look at on the outside or the inside. Situated between a nail salon and a discount clothing store in the strip mall at the corner of Lyell Avenue and Mt. Read Boulevard, Lacagnina’s is a literal hole in the wall without the ambience of a traditional Italian deli. There are no blocks of cheese or cured meats hanging from the ceiling. But what it lacks in atmosphere it makes up for in the quality of its cold and hot deli sandwiches. The fare is standard: Italian cold cuts, roast beef, veggies, chicken or egg salad, Cubans, fried bologna, grilled pastrami, you get the picture. But topped with a signature Italian dressing that is out of this world and hand-crafted with love by the staff, these sandwiches transport taste buds to the Old Country. Also worth checking out is the restaurant’s rotating menu of homemade soups. They are a hot item in the cold months and they tend to sell out daily, so arrive early. Waiting for you will be friendly and patient servers and reasonable prices. — DAVID ANDREATTA
