Consider the REUBEN, that wonderfully sloppy construction of sauerkraut, russian dressing, swiss cheese, and corned beef on grilled rye. The sandwich has long been deemed the invention of Arnold Reuben, a Manhattan deli owner, and yet convincing evidence suggests that Reuben Kolakofsky, a wholesale grocer in Omaha, Nebraska, in the 1920s may have been the father of the dish.

We also love modern renditions of old favorites, like the urbane, creamy-crunchy CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH from the New York–based sandwich emporium 'Wichcraft. It includes walnuts, roasted tomatoes, pickled red onions, and frisée served on multigrain bread.

By contrast, the BOSTON BAKED BEAN SANDWICH is nothing if not traditional. The beloved open-face sandwich consists of beans mashed with sweet applesauce, spread on buttered brown bread, and covered with a vegetable relish, cold cuts, and cheese.

Our all-time favorite may be the MUFFULETTA, an Italian-American New Orleans classic: provolone, mortadella, and soppressata layered inside a round loaf of bread on top of an olive-and-marinated-vegetable relish. Man, is it good.