Panino Brothers, Apple Valley

Legend has it that Deano and Eddie Panino worked for a family in the Bronx that may have been connected to the mob. Wanting to transition to a business where "sleeping with the fishes" meant nodding off next to a tuna melt, the two eventually opened a sandwich shop. Inspired by pizza and traditional Italian sandwiches, the brothers combined the two to create their restaurant's namesake offering: a panino.

With each panino, toppings decorate a flatbread, which is then baked and rolled up. The options for fillings are endless, ranging from hot dogs and chili in the Chicago Overcoat to chicken, three cheeses, and dressing in the Caesar Cardini. On the menu, they enjoy the company of burgers, pizza, wings, and steak.

But diners don't just congregate at the restaurant for the food; the welcoming atmosphere also draws them in. Flat-screen TVs cast the evening's game, and arcade games like Golden Tee keep people entertained. Tables can be pushed together to allow for games of poker, and happy-hour specials run during both daytime and nighttime hours.