The subs (as in submarine sandwiches) of Saratoga

I like to take myself out for an occasional lunch. In San Francisco, that meant a variety of Chinese places. Here, more than often it’s a sub. The Capital District’s rich Italian heritage extends far enough north that we have plenty to choose from. Portable, maybe accompanied by a bag of Saratoga chips, these puffy beauties are an especially good choice if you’re headed for the track or a pre-performance picnic at SPAC.

My favorite, and one of the best subs I’ve had anywhere, would be a domestic prosciutto and sharp provolone from Roma’s down on Washington St. I always get oil and vinegar dressing and ask for the crushed hot pepper spread. The delicious smell as soon as you walk in the door is just a bonus.  Warning, closed on Sunday! And though Roma’s is at the top I don’t actually think I have ever had a “bad” sub by my definition in Saratoga. Kelly’s Deli on NY 9, Marino’s on West Circular and Caputo’s in Wilton have all brought the goods at one time or another.

And I will expand the sub category to two choices that just happened to be served on flat rye bread vs an Italian roll. Ben and Bill’s Deli, which is oddly enough located inside the Price Chopper on Ballston Road, has a great deal where you get half a sandwich, a bag of chips, a pickle and cole slaw for $5.99. These are excellent NY-style artery cloggers a la Katz’ or Carnegie Deli and if you really want to do yourself in you can get a slice of authentic Carnegie Deli cheesecake. Note: this place has recently become very miserly with their very good slaw, so you might want to insist they give you a full serving or just buy an extra quarter pound.

Then there’s the pastrami at Max London’s, which is cured in-house and piled high and served with a house salad for $10 or so. This isn’t the super salty pastrami you’re used to but is better to my taste and I think I might just linger in the restaurant, rather than ordering takeout, in order to enjoy it with a draft Adirondack ale. This is only served at lunch, giving you the rest of the afternoon to work it off which is a good thing.