Little Joe's Italian Beef, Sarasota

Joe Morgese and his family opened their Little Joe's Italian Beef stand as a way to bring authentic Chicago-style sandwiches and dogs to the Sunshine State. Their namesake dish comes layered onto a toasted, 6-inch Cuban-style roll and can be ordered dry, dipped, or swimming on a slip 'n' slide of au jus. The eggplant-parmesan sandwich layers crisp eggplant, fresh mozzarella, and basil atop grilled italian bread, and hand-rolled meatball subs round out the sandwich offerings, which diners can pair with hand-cut fries or beer-battered onion rings.