The Modern Cafe, Pittsburgh

Modern Cafe is an ironic name for an establishment that's been around for more than 80 years, especially since it serves up a menu of such timeless fare. The sandwich-centric selection features classics such as reubens, an award-winning gyro, and tuna melts alongside Mediterranean staples including gyro salads and pita chips with hummus and tzatziki. The noteworthy Spartan sandwich packs in so much steak, gyro meat, veggies, cheeses, and tzatziki sauce that it's wrapped like a gyro rather than folded like a conventional sandwich or jammed inside an after-dinner mint.

Modern Cafe also offers dozens of whiskeys and vodkas and more than 140 types of beer, with varieties from Penn Brewery, Great Lakes, and Bell's frequently among the 12 tap selections. Besides the cafe's allure as a hangout with TVs, a dart machine, and an internet jukebox, it's also a beacon for movie buffs looking to visit one of the filming locations for Wonder Boys.