One Of The Best Italian Subs In The US Is From This 130-Year-Old California Deli

A classic Italian sub is a distinctly American creation that originated after waves of Italian immigrants arrived in the early 20th century. Its key elements are thinly sliced Italian meats like salami, capicola, pepperoni, mortadella, or ham, provolone cheese, and toppings like mayo and mustard (used regionally), sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, thin slices of onion, and spicy Italian peppers. Served on a white bread roll, the combination of meats and toppings is finished off with a drizzle of vinegar and olive oil that gives the sandwich a mouth-puckering punch. 

The best Italian subs are layered with flavor and the right combo can make an unforgettable and noteworthy meal. On that note, many of the places serving the most memorable Italian subs have been around for decades. One of them is Molinari's, which opened in San Francisco in 1896 and has stood the test of time as one of the oldest sandwich shops in America. P.G. Molinari came to the city from the Piedmont region of Italy in 1885 and opened a salumeria ad deli around 10 years later. Today, P.G. Molinari & Sons is operated by Frank Giorgi, P.G.'s great-grandson, who makes the meats used to prepare Molinari's Italian subs still today.

After losing everything in the catastrophic earthquake and fires of 1906, P.G. Molinari rebuilt his business on Columbus Avenue. In 1962, Molinari moved his salumeria to the Bayview District and the Columbus Ave location was (and still is) operated strictly as a deli. The same year, the deli was bought by the Mastrelli family, who still runs it today. Molinari Delicatessen was so well-known that it was frequented by Hollywood royalty, and Baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, a North Beach native, even wrote in his will that Molinari's should cater his wake. Today, it still reigns supreme as one of the best Italian delis in the U.S. according to customers.

Today, Molinari Salame provides the cold cuts served in the deli, while the deli makes its pastas in house and imports items like olive oil, cheese, and wine from Italy. The Molinari Special Italian Combo — with all the classic ingredients and your choice of cheese on a soft roll — is the deli's most popular sandwich, followed by the Luciano Special, made with Prosciutto di Parma, sweet or hot capicola, fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, onions, and lettuce on grilled focaccia bread. Molinari Delicatessen has been beloved for decades, but it continues to make an impression on locals and visitors alike. "Truly it's one of the most well-balanced Italian sandwich[es] I've ever tasted, everything is of such great quality the experience is nearly symphonic," says one Instagrammer.