IT'S A SANDWICH SERIES >>>

In a quest for awesome sandwiches, you should be creative. Delis, cafes, bars - those are obvious choices. If cars could drive by themselves (I think some all ready do), a sandwich command would most likely end at a deli, café or bar. Medi's Pizza & Pasta, with its medium thick pizzas, inexpensive calzones and delicious linguini, doesn't scream sandwiches. But if something good is coming out of the oven - as it often is at Medi's - you just might stumble across this spot anyway, as you follow your nose for the source of those spicy Italian aromas.

Medi's puts as much care into its Italian meatball sandwich as it does with its pizza. Housemade meatballs of pork and beef with Italian seasoning, piled into a freshly-baked hoagie roll, then smothered in fresh marinara sauce - again housemade - and topped with stretchy, gooey mozzarella cheese is how Medi's does it, and does it well.

Bonus: Medi's includes a side cup of its tasty marinara with each sandwich.

Yes, the pizza rocks. That said, order a cold one, a side of chips and hit that accompanying pepperoncini for a guaranteed sweet, spicy and hot sandwich experience.

MEDI'S PIZZA & PASTA, 4-10 P.M., SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY, 11 A.M. TO 11 P.M. THURSDAY, 11 A.M. TO 2 A.M. FRIDAY-SUNDAY, 2710 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.272.2531