For as long as I've loved sandwiches, never have I witnessed one with such a storied history and loyal fan base. The original home to the Bacon Loretta sandwich is Sarkis Cafe in Evanston, but the owners of this 55 year old establishment finally decided expand to Lincoln park in the summer of 2009. It would be sacrilegious to write a sandwich blog and not pay homage to what is widely considered the most popular sandwich in the north shore burbs of Chicago. On to the review!
Bacon Loretta
(Bacon, mozzarella cheese, mayo, diced tomatoes, green peppers, and onions on a french baguette)
Bacon? Check. Warm baguette? Check. Heart attack waiting to happen? Check. Most delicious breakfast sandwich ever created? Absolutely. Don't let the simplicity of the ingredients throw you off...it's a the-whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts type of sandwich. Kind of like the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons. The crisp and generous serving of bacon acts as the crux to the sandwich, while everything else just kind of gets lost in a sea of cheesy deliciousness. To maximize your experience, order a side of cheesy hash and a Sunkist (the traditional north shore combo)...you won't regret it. While the Loretta is intended to be a breakfast sandwich, it's just as good for brunch or late lunch.
A word of advice - don't plan on running or exercising the same day you consume a Bacon Loretta. You're setting yourself up for misery (I know from experience).
