This Michigan Sandwich Shop Is Known For The One Sandwich Regulars Never Skip
Detroit’s historic Oakwood Heights neighborhood is home to a culinary landmark where the simple act of unwrapping a tightly bound paper parcel can effectively quiet a room full of hungry people, and that place is the legendary Original Gonella’s.
The shop operates with a brisk, no-nonsense efficiency where the line of customers often snakes toward the front door, yet the atmosphere remains perpetually friendly as the intoxicating scent of freshly baked hard rolls and premium cured meats drifts through the air.
For over seventy-five years, this institution has anchored the community by providing a product that values substance over style, and while the menu offers plenty of variety, the seasoned regulars almost universally swear by one specific thing: the towering Italian sub.
This sandwich is meticulously layered like a well-kept neighborhood secret, featuring a cross-section of meats and cheeses that represents the gold standard for deli construction in Southeast Michigan.
If you want to order with the practiced confidence of someone who has been visiting for decades, you need to understand the subtle nuances of the menu, from the architectural importance of the bread to the precise calculation of the layer count.
These tips are designed to guide you through the process of securing the sandwich regulars never skip, highlighting the small tactical moves that transform a great lunch into a truly transcendent experience.
By the time you reach the register, you will possess a deeper appreciation for the history of the shop and the culinary rhythm of Detroit, ensuring your first bite is as rewarding as those taken by the generations of loyal fans who came before you.
Start With The Hard Roll
The signature hard roll features a golden crust that cracks softly under the pressure of your fingers, providing an audible prelude to the experience before giving way to a surprisingly tender and airy interior crumb.
This specific bread is far more than a simple delivery vehicle for the cold cuts; it serves as a vital piece of edible architecture that keeps anywhere from eight to eighteen layers of meat neatly stacked and remarkably easy to handle.
If you are a diner who prefers a clean, precise bite or if you plan on transporting your sandwich a significant distance, choosing the hard roll ensures that the entire build remains structurally sound until the very last morsel.
The natural sturdiness of the crust acts as a protective barrier that keeps the shredded lettuce and ripe tomatoes from turning into a soggy mess, even if the sandwich sits for an hour before consumption.
Furthermore, the dense texture of the hard roll is designed to highlight the nuances of the house Italian dressing rather than absorbing it too quickly and becoming a saturated sponge of oil and vinegar.
I strongly recommend that you specifically request the hard roll if you are ambitious enough to tackle an eight-layer sub or larger, as it provides the necessary resistance to balance the weight of the fillings.
While the soft roll has its own specific charms for certain moods, it is the hard roll that truly elevates the overall build and ensures that the diverse textures of the sandwich remain perfectly balanced throughout the meal.
Make The Italian Your Baseline
You should always begin your journey at this establishment with the original Italian sub because it serves as the house thesis, representing the core identity of what makes this deli a local legend.
The sandwich features an expertly curated selection of premium cold cuts that are layered with sharp provolone, crisp shredded lettuce, ripe tomatoes, onions, and that quietly addictive, herb-flecked Italian house dressing.
It achieves a magnificent balance of salty, savory, and bright flavors, serving as the definitive reference point against which the regulars measure every other sandwich in the metropolitan Detroit area.
Gonella’s has been refining the proportions of this specific build for more than seven decades, resulting in a flavor profile that feels immensely confident and perfectly tuned to the local palate.
The deli slicers are calibrated to ensure that every weight and slice contribute to a proper, visually stunning cross-section that looks just as good as it tastes when you unwrap it.
An eight-layer version is usually substantial enough to feed two people if you are careful with the distribution, or it can provide a single hungry person with a high-protein lunch that leaves absolutely no room for regrets.
Once you have established this baseline in your memory, subsequent tweaks such as adding extra hot peppers or requesting a specific onion density will feel like calculated improvements rather than mere guesswork.
Respect The Layer Count
In the unique vernacular of this sandwich shop, six layers are considered friendly for a light lunch, eight layers feel genuinely generous, and eighteen layers quickly turn into a collaborative group project for the table.
The layer count is the primary language used to communicate portion size and intensity, so it is essential that you select your number thoughtfully based on your actual hunger and the size of your group.
Opting for a higher count does not simply result in more meat; it fundamentally alters the physical architecture of the sub and dictates how the Italian dressing will distribute itself among the folds of the deli cuts.
Historically, the most dedicated regulars have treated the eight-layer sub as the absolute sweet spot for value and flavor balance, as it fits comfortably in the hand while still feeling like a feast.
This specific size is also the most resilient traveler, meaning it can be sliced cleanly into halves or quarters for sharing at a picnic without the interior ingredients sliding out onto your lap.
The eighteen-layer sub is a magnificent spectacle of culinary engineering that is often reserved for office parties, tailgate gatherings, or long-distance road trips where leftovers are the ultimate goal of the day.
If you find yourself opting for one of the larger builds, be sure to ask the staff for extra butcher paper so that you can rewrap any remaining portions with the same tight precision they use at the counter.
Time Your Visit Like A Local
The lunch rush at this location is a legendary phenomenon that can see a line of hungry customers snaking out toward the door, particularly during the middle of the work week when nearby industrial staff arrive in force.
While the counter staff is famous for moving the line with incredible purpose and speed, timing your arrival can significantly reduce your wait and provide a more relaxed environment for your first visit.
You should aim to arrive in the late morning shortly after they open their doors at 9:00 AM, or perhaps in the mid-afternoon before 4:00 PM when the pace of orders naturally begins to ease.
It is important to remember that this shop is strictly focused on takeaway service with no interior tables, so you should have a plan for where you intend to enjoy your sandwich once it is handed over.
The operating hours are strictly Monday through Friday until 6:00 PM and Saturdays until 5:00 PM, but you must be aware that they are always closed on Sundays to give the staff a well-deserved rest.
Arriving right before the closing bell can sometimes limit the availability of certain deli items, so planning ahead ensures that the slicers are still running and the full array of ingredients is at your disposal.
While phone-in orders are a great way to save time, walking in for the first time allows you to see the fresh breads and diverse pantry items that give the store its unique, lived-in character.
Dial In The Dressing
The famous house Italian dressing is the aromatic glue that ties all the layers together, yet the amount applied can drastically change the experience, making it a detail that requires your direct attention.
Some regulars prefer to ask for a little extra dressing to ensure every bite is bursting with tang, while others keep it light to protect the integrity of the roll from becoming too soft too quickly.
You should always consider your expected drive time and the total layer count of your sandwich when deciding how much oil and vinegar you want the staff to apply to your order.
The dressing itself is oil-forward and beautifully flecked with dried herbs, providing a brightness that enhances the provolone and cold cuts without ever shouting over the quality of the meat.
The finely shredded onions and tomatoes carry this specific tang exceptionally well, acting as a medium that distributes the flavor evenly across the entire surface of the hard or soft roll.
If you find that you prefer a creamier texture to balance the acidity, you can request a side of mayonnaise and add it sparingly yourself after you have taken your first celebratory bites.
I recommend asking the staff to hit the lettuce and onions with the dressing evenly rather than just pouring it on top, a move that prevents the creation of frustrating wet and dry pockets.
Choose Soft Roll When You Want Cozy
Every once in a while, the crisp resistance of a hard roll is too much for the mood, and the plush, forgiving texture of a soft roll is exactly what the culinary doctor ordered for your afternoon.
The bite of a soft roll is remarkably plush, providing the kind of experience where the bread compresses gently under your teeth and hugs the meat and cheese fillings like a warm blanket.
It is a choice that leans heavily toward pure comfort, allowing the various cheeses to bloom slightly against the soft crumb of the bread in a way that feels incredibly integrated and smooth.
This specific roll type is particularly suited for smaller layer counts, such as the six or seven-layer options, and is best enjoyed immediately before the dressing has a chance to fully soak into the bread.
Many families who are splitting a sandwich among younger children tend to prefer this texture because it is easier to chew and provides a more unified flavor profile with every bite.
However, if you are planning a long drive across the city or into the suburbs, you might want to reconsider and pivot back to the hard roll to avoid any potential sogginess during transit.
For those planning a quick lunch on a nearby park bench in Oakwood Heights, the soft roll feels like the perfect choice for a cozy and satisfying meal under the Michigan sun.
Add The Onion With Intention
The sharp, freshly sliced onions act as the sub’s metaphorical cymbal crash, providing a necessary wake-up call to the savory layers of meat and the richness of the provolone cheese.
If you are particularly sensitive to the bite of raw onion, you should consider asking for light onion rather than skipping the ingredient entirely, as it provides a vital lift to the house dressing.
The presence of the onion makes the cheese taste significantly creamier by contrast, creating a melodic interplay of flavors that defines the classic Detroit-style Italian submarine sandwich.
Gonella’s uses a very fine shred and thin slicing technique, which ensures that the onion distribution is kind to the palate and doesn’t overwhelm the more delicate flavors of the deli cuts.
The tomatoes are selected for being ripe but not mushy, a small but significant detail that protects the structural integrity of the roll and prevents it from becoming prematurely damp.
To ensure the best possible experience, you can request that the onions be placed directly under the lettuce, a tactical move that uses the greens to anchor the onions and prevent them from sliding out.
By pairing the onions with extra pickles or a side of hot peppers, you can dial in the exact level of heat and acidity that matches your personal preference for a bold lunch.
Mind The Nostalgia, Then Eat
The simple white paper wrap used by the staff functions as a culinary time capsule, crinkling with the same familiar sound as the sandwiches that local parents brought home after a long factory shift decades ago.
The interior of the shop feels deeply lived-in and authentic, featuring shelves stocked with Italian grocery staples and a deli case that reads like a collective memory of the neighborhood’s immigrant roots.
You should allow the ritual of waiting in line and watching the slicers work to build your appetite, rather than rushing through the process of obtaining your meal.
Longtime customers often mention getting their first subs here many decades ago, and they are frequently amazed that the specific taste of the Italian dressing remains unchanged to this very day.
Despite the significant heft and quality of the ingredients, the prices remain remarkably reasonable, which is a major factor in why the local community remains so fiercely loyal to the brand.
The first pause after you unwrap the sub is a small but vital moment, allowing you to appreciate the visual density of the layers and the aroma of the dressing before you commit to the first bite.
Once you finally take that first mouthful, let the combined flavors of the cured meats and the sharp onions announce the main theme of a sandwich that has truly stood the test of time.
Pair With Pantry Finds
You should always look beyond the sandwich counter to the grocery shelves and refrigerated deli pans, where you will find a treasure trove of authentic Italian accompaniments.
Items like marinated olives, house-made antipasto, and zesty pasta salad travel exceptionally well and can easily stretch a single sub into a full-scale multi-course meal for your family.
Grabbing a fresh cannoli from the case for dessert is a master move that often makes the car ride home suspiciously quiet as everyone indulges in the sweet, ricotta-filled treat.
The store does a magnificent job of stocking Michigan-made beverages and snack goods alongside classic Italian staples, creating a charming mix that reflects the dual identity of the neighborhood.
Local workers often have this routine down to a science, picking out a briny side dish like a small tub of olive mix to provide a sharp palate cleanser between the heavy bites of meat.
This practice allows you to reset your taste buds with every few bites, ensuring that the last inch of the sandwich is just as flavorful and exciting as the very first one you consumed.
Finishing your meal with a sweet Italian pastry is the only logical way to conclude the experience, as it allows the nostalgia of the visit to write its final and most satisfying line.
Order With Confidence, Share With Care
The staff behind the counter is remarkably quick and consistently kind, so providing them with clear and concise requests helps them maintain the legendary speed of the house system.
When you reach the front of the line, you should state your desired layer count, your preferred roll type, and your specific toppings in that exact order to ensure a seamless transaction.
If you are planning to share your meal with a friend or colleague, do not hesitate to ask for a clean cut and an extra piece of butcher wrap to keep the individual halves neat.
Even during the peak hours of the day, the line moves with an impressive tempo, and you will soon see how the entire process from slicing to wrapping is a finely tuned machine.
It is a smart move to grab your cold sodas or bags of chips from the coolers before you reach the register, which helps keep the flow of the line moving for the people behind you.
Once you are back at your home or office, you should open the paper wrap with care to ensure that the multiple layers of meat and cheese remain perfectly aligned for the best possible cross-section.
Finally, you should split the sub, trade halves if you ordered different varieties, and compare notes on the flavors just like old friends have been doing at this shop for generations.