Taylor Gourmet's Killer Sandwiches | Washington D.C.

Philadelphians take their food heritage seriously.

But even the staunchest defenders of the city's chicken cutlets have fallen for Taylor Gourmet's sandwich spread. The thick, meaty sandwiches lure long lines at lunch and as pre-gaming dinner food.

Now, the chainlet's 14th Street outpost is cracking eggs and greeting the day with earlier hours and a breakfast menu ideally suited to hoagie-hungry Washingtonians.

Each breakfast option ($7) is available for delivery and starts with two eggs on Taylor's signature thick, crusty rolls. The Queen Lane adds pleasantly greasy sausage, the garlicky snap of broccoli rabe and sharp Provolone. The Aramingo packs a classic meaty breakfast into a handheld loaf. The thick concoction layers sausage, crisp bacon, American cheese, hash browns and eggs together with mustardy, house-made beer-cheese sauce.

But the best find may be the breakfast risotto balls ($5.50). Navy Yard, the morning version of Taylor's rice fritters, packs chopped bits of sausage, bacon and Pennsylvania's classic Taylor Pork Roll into one hefty bite. Completed with a plunge into the accompanying beer-cheese dipping sauce, these risotto balls are a new badge of honor for Philadelphia expats.

Taylor Gourmet, 1908 14th St. NW (at T St.); 202-588-7117 or taylorgourmet.com