Leadbelly Boys - Great Sandwich Adventure - Our ravenous raiders dig in as they search for breaded culinary treasure

• Published in: Dayton daily news (Dayton, Ohio. 1987)
• Main Author: the Leadbelly Boys (Ron Rollins, Ray Marcano and Jim Dillon) Dayton Daily News
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dayton, Ohio Atlanta Journal Constitution, LLC 01.04.2005
• Subjects: Jim, Sez; Marcano, Ray; Ron, Sez
• ISSN: 0897-0920

- We loves us our cheese steaks: The local Submarine House chain, with 10 locations around the area, promises "16 inches of heaven" with its subs, and it doesn't mess around. Cheese steaks there are an art form, packed with "The Works" -- basically every good thing you'd ever want on a sandwich. You can have a cheese steak in myriad formats: Italian, Super Duper, Super Italian, with mushrooms and even with chicken. They're pricey, relative to other sandwiches in the area (a Super Duper runs $9.19 for eight inches, $18.19 for a whole 16-incher), but they're worth it. We also know the cheese steaks at Hooks' Bar-B-Cue (2324 N. Gettysburg Ave., 277-0006) are top of the line, and Brother Ray swears by the cheese steaks at Voltzy's (3578 Kettering Blvd., Kettering, 299-1440). Sez Jim: "I laugh when someone tells me you have to go to Philadelphia to get a great cheese steak. Youse can find dem right in our own back yawd." Brother Ray is very picky about his chicken salad, and spent much of the adventure pouting about not finding much he liked. That changed at Sandwiches Deli and Cafe in Kettering (912 E. Dorothy Lane, 296-1979), which had, by far, the best chicken salad sandwich we tasted. A bit of honey and walnuts made this near nirvana. [Ray Marcano] would have said so, but he scarfed his down like a wildebeest at feeding time, leaving no room for conversation. And he didn't share. How rude. If you're downtown, the chicken salad at the Dug Out Deli, (209 E. First St., 222-6676) will do fine. The owners are proud of their simple, madefrom-scratch salad, and it hits the spot. Try some of their outstanding soups while you're there. Sez Jim: "Loved the atmosphere. Reminded me of an old-timey baseball park vending area." Best place were amazed we'd never heard of: Hands down, this honor goes to Charlie's Import Foods (429 Troy St., 224-3767). From the street, it looks like a simple neighborhood carry-out, but inside it turns out to be a German-speciality import shop full of wines, beers and foods from the Old Country -- plus a superb deli counter. Ron loved the Wild Wilhelm, a double-decker modified club with thousand-island dressing; Jim did the Charlie's Special, which features a surprising helping of soft salami and onions, along with everything else. Ray dug into the Frat, a tantalizing combo of marinated lamb, roast beef and feta-cheese dressing. We couldn't believe somebody hadn't told us about this place before. Sez Ray: "The Frat was the most unique sandwich I've ever had, and that's something from a guy who grew up eating in New York City delis. Sez Jim: "A word to the wise -- avoid salami and onions if you have a hot date after lunch." [Sez Ron]: "Pardon my reach."