Bay Cities Italian Deli blends bustling ambiance with overstuffed sandwiches and gourmet groceries, all wrapped up in famously fresh, delicious bread.
"We're not sure the exact moment it happened—maybe it was always the case—but at some point, LA became a hotbed for big, oversized Italian sandwiches. In recent years, places like Lorenzo California, Tre Mani, Bread Head, All’Antico Vinaio, and Mamie have all thrown their hats into the Great Focaccia Ring (trademark pending) and continue to have lines that snake out the door. It’s fair to wonder if there’s still room for a place like Bay Cities, an old-school, family-owned Italian deli in Santa Monica that dates back to 1925 that's home to one of the most recognizable sandwiches in the city. We're here to tell you that the answer is still, unequivocally, yes. We don’t need to overexplain the Godmother. This cold-cut behemoth is arguably as synonymous with the Westside as palm trees and traffic on the 405. If you’re at Bay Cities, you’re almost certainly getting one. But there are some important tips to know before you unwrap. For starters, always order online and bypass the line. Second, always order your sandwich with “The Works” (dressing, hot peppers, mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions). And finally, don’t worry about eating your sandwich right away—in fact, we find this particular sandwich benefits from a little “aging.” Bay Cities’ dense, chewy Italian rolls, while flavorful, can be a bit tough, but after stewing in the sub's juices for a half-hour or so, the peppers and dressing ever so slightly soak into the bread and produce a more harmonious sandwich. That’s why ordering “The Works” is key. photo credit: Benji Dell Bay Cities is more than just the Godmother, though. There are nearly 50 other sandwiches on the menu, many of which have their own loyal following, like the bologna-topped Poorboy or the Little Don Lorenzo with prosciutto and roasted tomatoes. It’s also a great specialty market in general. Even if you order online, give yourself a few minutes to browse the cheese counter, wine area, and aisles of imported goods. Don’t be surprised when you walk out with three sandwiches and some hand-painted dinner plates under your arm. Food Rundown photo credit: Kim Fox Godmother Stacked with prosciutto, mortadella, capicola, salami, ham, and provolone, this Italian cold-cut combo isn’t necessarily vastly different from what you’d find at other old-school delis around town, but’s its superior in one crucial way: “The Works.” It’s the messy, drippy combination of hot pickled peppers and various condiments that elevate this icon from being just another sandwich, to being the sandwich. photo credit: Brant Cox Poorboy The biggest argument around Bay Cities isn’t whether or not the Godmother is the best sandwich. It’s the best sandwich after the Godmother. For us, it’s the Poorboy. The mix of fluffy, slighty sweet thin-sliced bologna with pickled hot peppers is simple perfection. photo credit: Benji Dell Chicken Salad Sandwich “There’s too much mayonnaise on this chicken salad.” If you ever hear someone say that, start running, because you aren’t safe. And then run right to Bay Cities' counter and order this hearty, mayo-enriched version packed with chicken. It never disappoints. photo credit: Benji Dell Caprese This is a solid caprese, but sometimes the ingredients are a bit skimpy and it feels like you’re just eating a loaf of olive-oil-slicked bread. Upgrade by adding the burrata to plump up the interior a bit. photo credit: Benji Dell Little Don Lorenzo This combo of prosciutto di parma, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, olive oil, and basil is a balanced winner. It’s like a caprese that used to be vegetarian, then started eating meat again. The use of roasted tomatoes in lieu of standard raw is crucial, too. photo credit: Benji Dell Turkey Pesto Bay Cities has six turkey sandwiches on the menu, and you don’t need any of them. They’re not bad, but there’s no reason to venture into the heart of Santa Monica to eat a turkey sandwich you could find at any respectable sub shop." - Brant Cox
"This Italian deli offers what could be the most iconic sandwich in all of Los Angeles: the Godmother. Bay Cities’ signature sub is filled with prosciutto, ham, capicola, mortadella, Genoa salami, and provolone cheese, all contained in a crusty Italian-style filone roll. Its other sandwiches meet the needs of those who don’t want the archetypal experience, with various cold cuts and hot protein options. A sleeper hit on the menu is the chicken parm sandwich, the tomato sauce soaking into the excellent house-baked roll. The market side of the shop is as impressively composed as the deli." - Matthew Kang, Mona Holmes, Rebecca Roland
"Tell anyone in the LA area that you’re eating in Santa Monica and they’ll be like, “Oh sh*t, can you bring me a Godmother?” And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that they’re not asking you for a new family member—they’re asking you for Bay Cities’ most famous sandwich. The Godmother stacks meats (prosciutto, ham, salami, mortadella, and capocollo), cheeses, and peppers on crunchy bread. If you're looking for another sandwich to tack onto your order, there's a very good chicken parm sub." - arden shore, brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins
"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
"Tell anyone in the LA area that you’re eating in Santa Monica and they’ll be like, “Please bring me a Godmother.” And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that they’re not asking you for a new family member, they’re asking you for Bay Cities’ most famous sandwich: a stack of meats (prosciutto, ham, salami, mortadella, and capicola), cheeses, and peppers on delightfully crackly bread. This family-run Italian deli makes plenty of good sandwiches besides The Godmother, too—like their chicken parm sub and a standard turkey option—but if we're picking one, it's going to be the meatball." - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins
