Trend Alert: Sandwich Shops Move Up the Food Chain

Takeateasy at Night

By Olga Boikess

Sandwiches have come a long way since the eponymous Earl reputedly called for bread to encase his meat. Artisanal loaves, spreads and fillings, creative updates of regional and ethnic specialties, local sourcing - all these food trends have transformed the local sandwich trade. Taylor Gourmet with its industrial settings in upcoming neighborhoods, Philadelphia-inspired hoagies and late-night hours, put this humble foodstuff on the foodie radar screen. Meanwhile, DGS Delicatessen’s gourmet take on Jewish classics, cool, modern digs and serious cocktail, wine and beer program set new parameters for the genre.

This month, three new sandwich venues arrived, adding new twists to ‘wich world.

Bub and Pops: The homey name and atmosphere (family photos of the owner’s grandparents) belies this Dupont storefront’s serious resolve to offer locally sourced versions of the classics - hoagies, housemade chips and onion dip - as well as brick-oven pizzas, for daytime diners as well as night owls (open until 3 AM on weekends; 1815 M St. NW; 202-457-1111).

Carving Room Kitchen and Bar: Sandwich shops aren’t necessarily simple grab-and-go operations anymore.This new entry east of Chinatown ups the game with house-cured meats and pickled vegetables, fancy cocktails and craft brews. The industrial mod premises feature a long bar, tables and counter seating near large windows and amenities like table service after 4 PM and on weekends (300 Massachusetts Ave. NW; 202-525-2116).

Takeateasy: Scoring late-night eats just got easier, now that this Latin American bistro from former Fast Gourmet vets brings the hefty Chivito sandwich, along with tapas, and a full bar, to dark, mod Golden Triangle digs. A grey-and-black color scheme and an interestingly distorted photo montage, backdrop day-to-dawn (on weekends) fare that includes evening entrees of fish, steak and pasta (1990 M St. NW; 202-290-2440).