J.P. Graziano's - Chicago, IL, Subs and Stuff on the Road

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Born out of Ry Will’s triumphant return to the East Coast, Subs and Stuff owes much of its illustrious history to the City of Chicago.  During his days in the Windy City, Ry frequented several of the finest meat purveyors throughout the Hog Butcher for the World. J.P. Graziano Grocery and Sub Shop is a no-frills, fourth-generation family-owned Italian Grocery situated in the West Loop and puts out the best Italian subs in Chicago. Mr. Williams himself returned to the Bean touting this establishment and its rendition of the Will’s Special, which adds hot sopressata, prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella to the regular Italian ($7.25). However, I have a poor brain for idiots, and I forgot this recommendation; I ordered the regular Italian with their very own hot giardiniera.

This Italian is the second-best Italian I have ever eaten second to Monica's when they lost control of the meat slicer. Each city's behemoth varies in its degrees of excellence. The Graziano Italian features beautifully-sliced, quality meats and cheese along with an adequate amount of crisp lettuce. Yet where Monica offers a chewier bread with a spectacular crust, Graziano's bread is very soft enveloped in a magically crispy crust. Their oil and vinegar dressing atop the lettuce is well-balanced and tangy, but the star of the show is the hot giardiniera. Chicago's iconic accoutrement of pickled vegetables is spicy, tart, crunchy and a delicious cousin of the hots we know here in Boston. Each bite of the sub was spectacular, and I left satisfied, impressed, and proud of the Italian immigrants who ended up in the bleak, midwest to slang submarine sunshine to those living in the Land of Big Shoulders.

J.P. Graziano Grocery & Sub Shop
901 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL, 60607
https://www.jpgraziano.com
9.4/10