Alidoro

This old-school Italian sub shop—a Soho institution since 1986—was known as Melampo before an ownership change in 2001. Of the 40 plus-size grinders, crowd favorites include the Romeo: smoked chicken breast on Italian bread, slathered with Bel Paese (a semisoft Italian cheese) and hot-pepper dressing. Former owner Alessandro Gualandi was famous for his temper, and a bit of Gotham tude still prevails: A posted sign delineates the things you may not ask for (coffee, tomato sauce and bathrooms, among them), and regulars know to order their selections by name.