Summer may be winding down, but warm beach days are far from over. And few things are as special as beach day sandwiches. While you can’t go wrong with a Pub sub, there are also plenty of local shops and restaurants specializing in really great sandwiches, perfect for fueling your next outdoor adventure.
Whether you’re playing hooky on a weekday or battling the crowds on a busy weekend afternoon, we’ve got the best spots to hit up for grab-and-go beach sandwiches.
Bodega Mt. Pleasant specializes in big sammies (breakfast and otherwise) and its location right off of Coleman Blvd. is super convenient for those headed out to Sullivan’s Island. Order takeout or head through the drive-thru to grab sandwiches like The Cow, made with double bacon, egg, white American cheese and home fries or The Gropfather, made with chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella, provolone, pesto and nduja on Ciabatta.
Bodega Mount Pleasant’s drive-thru is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
Head to chef Michael Toscano’s da Toscano Porchetta Shop downtown before making your way to any area beach. Every sandwich is served on housemade focaccia. Breakfast selections include the Porchetta, with a sunny side up egg, rotisserie fennel and rosemary whole hog, crackling, provolone dolce and salsa verde. During lunch guests can peruse a lengthier sandwich list with options like the Mortadella, with arugula, shaved red onion, whipped ricotta and pickled cherry peppers.
Da Toscano Porchetta Shop is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Diners can order from the breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m. and from the lunch menu from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
While a Maserati took out part of Anthony Marini’s downtown sandwich shop, The Pass, earlier this year, the artisan deli and market is still open for to-go orders (and construction to fix the building recently started). Order from a variety of Italian-inspired sandwiches like the classic, Such a Nice Italian Boy, with Mortadella (with pistachio), hot and sweet Soppressata, burrata, greens, tomatoes, red onion, housemade Italian vinaigrette, sharp provolone, pickled calabrian chili relish on ciabatta or the veg-friendly, cheekily named The V-Card, with avocado, white bean purée, roasted red peppers, greens, vincotto and benne seed crunch on a Pinsa flatbread.
The Pass is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
You can’t talk about to-go sandwiches in Charleston without mentioning cult-favorite spot, Cold Shoulder Gourmet. Located in West Ashley, this is the place for early beach go-ers to grab some grub; CSG sells out almost daily with an appropriate tagline, “Don’t be mad … be early.” Order from a limited, seasonal menu, with goods like the Gourmet, made with whole muscle, black truffle cream, hydroponic greens, shaved parm and truffle honey or the Spicy 2.0, with Capocollo di Dorman, nduja, black truffle cream, hydroponic greens, shaved parmesan and truffled hot sauce.
Cold Shoulder Gourmet is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, and keep in mind, the sandwiches often sell out early.
James Island’s specialty shop, Wisconsin Meat & Cheese, serves a variety of to-go sandwiches (as well as charcuterie boards and party platters if you’re really trying to throw down on the beach). Order from options like the Feelin’ Peachy, a summer special with sweet peaches, brie, prosciutto, sweet honey and mixed greens on a freshly baked baguette or the Classic Wisconsin, with Usinger’s summer sausage, brick cheese, fresh mixed greens, tomato, mayo and whole grain mustard, on toasted sourdough bread.
Wisconsin Meat & Cheese’s kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
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