Call it American perceived value at its finest, ordering a sandwich stacked to the skies so tall that its creator wraps half of it up before you even sit down. Or at least any NYC deli, of which Perry's has always strived to be since 1982, at its original Franklin Street locale, even nailing the gruff attitude a la Seinfeld's Soup Nazi. Perry the man would literally kick cell phone users out of his joint. And he wasn't afraid to do so while yelling.

Perry's gone nowadays, selling off the brand back in 2003 to two partners who have had so much luck keeping the business alive that they've opened this University Village second coming. The menu is entirely the same, loaded with a little farm full of sliced meats and veggies ready for smooshin' between loaves of rye and Kaiser, tagged with requisite quirky names (Toot's Temptation, Fred McSchnauzer's Cold Meat Loaf, etc.), and still stuff two stomachs for under $10. But frequented and operated by UIC students, no one's going to kick you out for using a phone.

Average cost: $10-$20

Centerstage Reviewer: Gavin Paul