I have always been envious of people living in the city for their easy access to any number of cafes with delicious deli sandwiches albeit a club sandwich, Italian or meatball sub, maybe even a good ole’ hot Reuben or the classic favorite – steak & cheese. It was this envy that has sparked my desire to find out if any of those sandwiches were available nearby. While Quiznos, Subway, and many other chain delicatessens have reasonably good sandwiches, my search is for the less famous sandwich places in town. I am not talking about dives or places hidden down the back alley ways, I simply wanted to find the ones that are worthy in their own right but are not backed by a name and therefore do not have the advantage of corporate advertising or name recognition per se. This criterion therefore rules out King’s. Yes I know they are consistently good; they are also everywhere and are close to being if not are a household name in the panhandle. I believe my quest has uncovered some possibly lesser known locales. Take a look below. You quite possibly know of some not mentioned here and I’m willing to add to this list so be sure to let me in on your secret sandwich shops.

Ed’s Sandwich Shop, Queen St. Downtown Martinsburg – noticeable green awning out front. I know I hinted that I was on the hunt for good sandwiches but I must say up front, Ed makes the MOST delicious soups and with the cold snap we are having, a bowl of this goodness would be my recommendation. And yes, Ed’s sandwiches are also delicious - mountains of meat ooze out the sides of your bread of choice. It’s the wonderfully unique flavoring that makes Ed’s food memorable. Well worth the visit if you are ANYWHERE near downtown. Honestly, Ed’s is even worth a trip into town.

Barney’s Restaurant, Route 11, Spring Mills – Even with the Subway in Walmart and new McDonald’s, Barney’s is still a local favorite. Maybe it’s because the atmosphere makes one feel as though they’re going home for lunch. Fast, friendly service, affordable prices and the bread selection includes a fresh croissant which goes very nicely with the tuna salad. Barney’s is an old fashioned alternative to McD’s.

Reeds Coffee Café, Route 11, Spring Mills inside the new Reeds Pharmacy – this place will surprise you. It has already stolen a few of Barney’s lunchtime regulars though the area is growing so much I think both will still thrive. This quaint little café is spoken very highly of by a rather critical crowd and they’re very sensibly priced so I’d suggest you give them a try.

Tony’s Butcher Block – Route 522 just south of Berkeley Springs. Now Tony is a butcher so need I say more? Who better is there to get good meat from than the butcher? This quaint little place has just about everything including seafood, Amish chicken and wine. We are on the subject of sandwiches however and yes, Tony’s subs are marvelous. The cheese selection is by far the best I’ve ever seen and his Italian Subs are loaded with all the right stuff! It’s the Italian Sub my husband has been in search of since we moved to the area. Note Tony’s is a take out only. It’s ideal for an outing just down the road at Cacapon State Park. It’s also a good choice any other time. Trust me.

Philly Steak Sub Plus, Route 9, Hedgesville. My Pennsylvania born and bred neighbors say these Philly Cheese steaks are the real deal. I prefer the chicken myself. Both are piled high with grilled meat, onions and cheese. And they honor any competitor coupon to boot.

Pizza Oven, Eagle Plaza, Route 9, Hedgesville. I have to mention this one as their California Chicken sub was suggested to me a long time ago and after trying plenty of sandwiches since then, it continues to rank among my favorites.

Blue Moon Café, High Street, Shepherdstown. It’s all good at the Blue Moon! So good in fact, I find it hard to choose. There are almost too many fantastic options. The Blue Moon also offers a quaint outdoor seating area weather permitting. Just give yourself time to first, read the menu and second, enjoy the atmosphere here. This is a café to linger in the company of old friends while chatting about the latest.

That’s the list for now. I will head down south and go east to the Virginia border very soon to see what else I can find. As I said earlier, let me know if there is somewhere you feel is worthy of mention.

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