Order: Italian combo sub, everything on it$12–17
The benchmark Italian sub in San Diego, from a deli counter that has been doing it for generations.
Mona Lisa slices its own meat, uses bread with enough structure to survive oil and vinegar, and builds the sandwich in the correct order. Nothing here is reinvented; everything is done properly. It is the sandwich other San Diego shops are measured against.
Local tip: Order at the deli counter in the back, not the restaurant side — it's faster and cheaper.
90
Taste
94
Consistency
92
Value
88
Atmosphere
80
Uniqueness
88