"History can be hard to come by in Santa Monica—we still miss the old dinosaur topiary at The Promenade—and that’s exactly why Bay Cities is so essential. This century-old grocery is a cultural touchpoint for the entire Westside, and home to a deli counter that sells one of the greatest sandwiches in existence: The Godmother. Prosciutto, mortadella, salami, and provolone are laid out on the freshest, crunchiest Italian bread this side of the Jersey turnpike. Lines can get extreme, so order ahead of time online or grab a pre-made sandwich up front to bypass the line of mostly locals that show up daily. Also, if you don’t order your sandwich with “the works” (choose hot or mild peppers), you can’t actually say you’ve eaten it. Rules are rules." - brant cox, nikko duren, garrett snyder, sylvio martins
