Sometimes you just crave an old-school sandwich.

I love all kinds of food. Fancy foods with complex reductions, exotic herbs, and ingredients I may not know how to pronounce properly are always enjoyable experiences. But I also love tasty, affordable food, like freshly made deli-style sandwiches or a thick, juicy burger. And who can forget the club sandwich, in all of its toasty glory? Similar to a BLT, these sandwiches always satisfy.

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Behold, the classic club.

According to Colony Diner Restaurant's synopsis of the history of club sandwiches, there is a longstanding myth the club is an acronym for "Chicken, Lettuce, Under, Bacon." Allegedly the sandwich was first created at the Saratoga Club House in Saratoga Springs, NY in 1894. The sandwich was said to be released to a worldwide audience at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, where it was described as looking like a tower.

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How do you like your club?

Now a staple on most bar and family-style restaurant menus, many chefs take a little liberty on how they make their club. Most use turkey, but some use chicken. Will there be ham or bacon? Probably, but not always. Some of the fancier restaurants around town get creative with special house-made aioli sauce or unique bread.

Michael Foth, TSM
Michael Foth, TSM
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Cut in triangles, with the cute little toothpicks.

A recent post on one of the Billings Community Facebook pages posed the question of who has the best "classic" (i.e. not fancy) club sandwich. We're talking toasted white bread (wheat if you must), mayo, tomato, lettuce, and turkey stacked triple high. The type you'll find at a cafe or diner. The kind that you know it's going to be good because it comes to your table held together with those little toothpicks with the plastic tassel on the end. You know what I'm talking about.

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Out of over 100 comments, here are the top recommendations in Billings.

I scrolled through the lengthy comment section and tabulated the results. Full disclosure, I have not personally tried the club sandwich at all the restaurants mentioned. Most of them are probably very similar. I mean, there are only so many ways to make a club sandwich, right?

  1. Tied for first place according to local suggestions are Tippy Cow Cafe and Western Empire Emporium. Both restaurants got 13 nods for their interpretation of the classic club.
  2. Tied for second place are the Play Inn and 4B's. Both establishments got 11 recommendations. Don't forget a cup of 4B's famous tomato soup.
  3. Rounding out the Top 5 is the Montana Club, with 8 recommendations.

Honorable mentions include CJ's, Fiddler's Green (I always forget about that place!), Perkin's, Stella's, Bernie's Diner, Lisa's Sandwich Den, and Sid's in Laurel.

Got a story idea? I'd love to hear from you. Reach out... Michael@BillingsMix.com

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