When we embarked on our readers’ poll for favorite sandwiches, we didn’t expect to be drawn into the age-old foodie debate of the definition of a sandwich.

Is a hot dog a sandwich? Is a taco a sandwich? Or, as the Kelce brothers have pondered, is an Uncrustable a sandwich?

It depends on whom you ask.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a sandwich as “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between” or “one slice of bread covered with food” for an open-faced sandwich.

The federal government definition (USDA and FDA) specifies that a sandwich must have at least “35% meat or poultry,” which would eliminate a grilled cheese or PB&J. And some state laws include burritos and wraps as sandwiches.

Some of our own reader reviews included items which were a little outside of the traditional definition of a sandwich.

Knowing that we would not be the arbiters of this long-standing debate, Local Foodie decided to create our own definition for the purposes of our poll and the resulting reviews.

We abandoned the term sandwich altogether and adopted “Handhelds” as our standard. Our definition is anything you can hold in your hands to eat and is portable (excluding desserts, of course).

This new “Handheld” category also opened us up to include the results of our recent pizza poll to include in this expanded Fall for the Arts special review!

So, let’s start with the Philly classics: cheesesteaks and hoagies.

Cheesesteaks, beyond the traditional

The intersection of Henry Avenue and Wendover Street in Roxborough is the setting for the biggest cheesesteak rivalry in the Northwest: Dalessandro’s versus Chubby’s. These two businesses have co-existed across the street from each other for over 35 years. Dalessandro’s, perennially found on lists of Philly’s best cheesesteak shops, has been serving customers since 1960 and since COVID has added a takeout window and outdoor tables. Chubby’s is the youngster in this battle, offering eat-in seating as well as takeout since 1987.

While these titans have their loyal following, our readers went in a less traditional direction with their recommendations.

The Brisket Cheesesteak from 2 Street Sammies — This locally based food truck is a regular at festivals and breweries throughout the area. The brisket cheesesteak tickled the taste buds of several of our readers:

“2 Street Sammies’ brisket cheesesteak, delicious, tender! fulfilling!!”

— Aubrey from Ambler

“Mouthwatering meats with flavor to savor all jawn long.”

— Anonymous from Pipersville

The Chicken Cheesesteak from McNally’s – Known for the iconic Schmitter, arguably the most famous sandwich in Chestnut Hill, McNally’s, located on the 8600 block of Germantown Avenue, proves that when you’ve been in business for over 100 years, you’re doing more than one thing right.

“McNally’s chicken cheesesteak is insane. Cheesy as hell and the thin onions are incred.”

— Lily from Chestnut Hill

“The first chicken cheesesteak I ever had was down the shore — shaved chicken (just like the ribeye on a regular cheesesteak) with the cheese melting through the meat. Turns out, that’s incredibly hard to find around here. After trying different ones that were more like eating chunks of dry chicken, I just about gave up on ordering them. Then I tried the one at McNally’s. I don’t know what they marinate their chicken in or if it’s the grill, but this sandwich is so juicy and packed with flavor. I’m all in on this one!”

— Chris from Mt. Airy

The hoagie mecca of the Northwest

We’re back to Roxborough for our readers’ choice for hoagies. A few blocks down from the Andorra Shopping Center, at the corner of Ridge and Summit, sits T&F Farmers Pride. There’s nothing in the name that screams hoagies, but this little deli packs a big punch in the local sandwich scene. But don’t bring your phone or a credit card to pay. This is a cash-only establishment – and they do have an ATM if you forget!

“The first time I walked into this store, I was hit by a smell that took me right back to my roots in South Philly. I thought I had died and gone to Italian deli heaven. Their hoagies are without question the best you can find in the Northwest. Fresh local rolls, tons of meat and cheese, choice of peppers (not just hots or sweets) — this hoagie is the champ! They have specialty hoagies on the menu all the time. You can get a wicked roast pork sandwich and crazy-good cutlet sandwiches too! I keep an eye out for their Eagles game day specials – always coming up with new flavor bomb combos. On a 1-10 scale, this place takes it to 11.”

— Joe from Chestnut Hill

More handheld favorites

Kale Chicken Caesar Sandwich from Liberty Kitchen, Market at the Fareway, Chestnut Hill

“Me and my family always get the kale chicken Caesar sandwich because of its amazing taste and large size. One is enough for three people! After trying it a couple times, it is easily one of my favorite foods.”

— Megan from Chestnut Hill

Tacos and burritos from El Limon, 8612 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill

“The Carnitas tacos at El Limon are amazing and so inexpensive! Get the Supreme version, add some sauce and enjoy this mouthwatering meal.”

— Ellen from Mt. Airy

“You don’t get cheated with an El Limon burrito! You can do half for lunch and the other half for dinner or a late-night snack. My favorite is chorizo with mole sauce – perfect combo of spicy with a little hint of sweet from the sauce.”

— Dawn from Lafayette Hill

Weavers Way sandwiches, locations in Ambler, Chestnut Hill, Germantown and Mt. Airy

“I like the chicken gyro (with extra tzatziki on the side) and either the shrimp or oyster po boy. My mom gets a custom sandwich: turkey, crisp bacon, tomato, pickle, reduced fat cheese, light mayo on a hoagie roll.”

— Tina from Facebook

The tofu banh mi from Das Good Café, 322 W. Chelten Ave. in Germantown, is recommended by Shannon from Germantown.

Bacon cheeseburger from McNally’s, Chestnut Hill

“In a spot with so many great sandwiches on the menu, it’s easy to overlook the burgers at McNally’s. A juicy, flavorful burger, some of the best bacon I’ve ever had on a sandwich and a hearty brioche bun — it’s nothing flashy — just what a great burger should taste like!”

— Mike from Flourtown

Breakfast sandwiches

Our readers pointed out that sandwiches aren’t just for lunch. Here are recommendations for sandwiches at three local coffee shops to start your day.

Ultimo Coffee, Wayne & Rittenhouse in Germantown

“Early birds who can appreciate a breakfast sandwich that thinks outside the box should make their way to Ultimo Coffee on Wayne Avenue. The sandwich itself is simple: over easy egg and pesto served on focaccia, with bacon added at an extra charge. The bright, herby pesto balances out the saltiness of the focaccia and the runny, savory egg. The fresh-made bacon brings smokiness and some crisp texture to the equation that is not to be missed. Once they sell out, they are out for the day, so be sure to set your alarm.”

— Will from Mt. Airy

Potheads, 7620 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough

“We love the Jimbo and Hungry Moe sandwiches,” proclaimed Charlie from Roxborough. The Jimbo is double bacon, pork roll, egg with house made pimento cheese, served on a pretzel roll. The Hungry Moe doubles and triples down with double egg, double cheese, and three meats: pork roll, sausage and bacon.

Locals, 800 E. Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor

Anne from Wyndmoor recommends Scotts Favorite — a sesame bagel with chicken sausage, egg, cheese and veggie cream cheese, and the Wyndmoor Veggie — a pumpernickel bagel with hummus, tomato and cucumber.

Pizza: Yes, it’s a Handheld

Pizza, like sandwiches, has its perennial debates. What style pizza is the best? Traditional or artisan? Does pineapple really belong on a pizza? Is dessert pizza really a thing or just pastry with good marketing?

As complicated as it can get, it really comes down to a very simple formula. Judge a good pizza by its three basic components: crust, sauce and cheese. If any of the three fundamentals are off, it doesn’t matter what you put on top.

Here are our reader recommendations:

Terra Nova Woodfired Pizza and Grill, 1010 E. Willow Grove Avenue, Wyndmoor

“Great Neapolitan style wood-fired oven pizza with a slight “char” on the bottom of the crust. Toppings are good quality and creative and usually generous. Staff is friendly in this take-out only tiny place.”

— Jim from Chestnut Hill

Cosimos Pizza Café, 8624 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill

“When I go in for a slice, I like all of the options you have to choose from. Traditional Italian options and some very different combos. The BTR (bacon, tomato and ranch) is a nice change of pace. The pinwheels are a great bite when you’re looking for a quick snack or a little something extra to go with a salad.”

— Teresa from Chestnut Hill

Tony’s Pizza City, 901 E. Willow Grove Ave., Wyndmoor

“Best way to judge a pizza is to try a basic slice — maybe one topping. Tony’s has great tasting sauce, cheesy and the crust is thin with just the right amount of crispiness. Usually, at the end of a pizza, you see a bunch of uneaten crusts in the box. This crust has great flavor and it’s definitely worth finishing the entire slice. If you are buying by the slice, the ones at Tony’s are HUGE!”

— Diane from Glenside

Chestnut Hill Brewing Company, 8221 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill

“Great pizza. Great beer. Love the outdoor dining. The Jersey Girl with pepperoni and hot honey and the White pizza are my favorites. My friends really appreciate the variety of vegan options offered.”

— Beth from Fort Washington

Keep watching the Local Foodie page for more reader reviews and your chance to submit your own review. This week’s topic is bakeries and cafes.