Jodie and I are on an absolute heater when it comes to finding amazing sandwiches on the Westside.

A few weeks ago, we had a borderline euphoric experience at Sam's Supper Club. Then Wednesday, we were cruising down Lorain Ave on a whim and stumbled upon Tripi Italian Specialties like an oasis after a week lost in the desert.

Located at 3928 Lorain Ave in Cleveland's Ohio City–adjacent stretch, Tripi is the kind of place that makes you feel like you're about to throw down an epic "sengwich" at Nona and Papa's house. It's a no-frills Italian deli and specialty shop — the kind of spot that's been quietly perfecting the basics while the rest of us chase trends.

Now, full disclosure: Jodie may have incepted my brain a few weeks back when she declared, out of nowhere, that she was craving a chicken cutlet sandwich. So naturally, my eyes locked onto the Chicken Cutlet & Prosciutto. Jodie went rogue with the Roast Beef. Both were massive, and at $14 each, a steal.

The cutlet sandwich? Freakin' phenomenal. The cutlet is lightly battered and freshly fried, then layered with salty prosciutto and a perfect blanket of mozzarella, all tucked into crispy focaccia painted with red pepper aioli. It's the kind of sandwich that ruins other sandwiches for you.

Jodie's roast beef was excellent in its own right — piled high and tender — but it's no wonder the Cutlet & Prosciutto is their top seller, judging by how many times she "just wanted one more bite" of mine. Check out the whole menu here

If you're hunting for the best Italian sandwich on Cleveland's westside, do yourself a favor and pull over at Tripi. Tell Nona and Papa the Briggses sent you.

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