Best sandwich shop: Mile End Sandwich

RECOMMENDED: Food & Drink Awards 2013

Other Nominees: Aamanns–Copenhagen, the Brooklyn Sandwich Society, Rocket Pig

New York’s sandwich wars heated up this year, but even in the face of Danish insurgents (Aamanns–Copenhagen) and brick-and-mortar outposts of renegade supper clubs (the Brooklyn Sandwich Society), you named Mile End Sandwich best in show. The new-world delicatessen, a Noho spin-off of the Brooklyn flagship, moves the new-Jewish compass well beyond the tarted-up, appetizing standards that made owners Noah and Rae Bernamoff into food-scene superstars. Here there are North African flavors (smoky lamb sausage layered with harissa) and nods to regional foodstuffs (a reverent rendition of Buffalo, New York’s beef on weck). And while malty rye is the coin of the realm at most classic delis, the Bernamoffs also boldly pile their fillings between halves of onion-speckled rolls, fluffy pitas, and challah bread so cottony and ethereal it may be the greatest thing since…well, you know. Mile End Sandwich, 53 Bond St between Bowery and Lafayette St (212-529-2990, mileenddeli.com)