13 places for a panini

In Italy, the panini reigns supreme. These grilled, pressed sandwiches are thin, but bursting with flavor. A panini starts with quality bread, such as a ciabatta roll, focaccia or baguette, sliced open and filled with vegetables, cheese or meats. Then it's placed in a two-sided cooking press that compresses and grills the sandwich until hot and toasted.

Here is a sampling of Valley eateries that serve these Italian classics.

EAST VALLEY

Spicy Pickle
3235 West Ray Road, Chandler
480- 786-4483
A long list of panini offerings on focaccia, from turkey, artichoke hearts, feta and sun-dried tomato to corned beef, Swiss, coleslaw and thousand island dressing.

Nello's Pizza
2950 S. Alma School Road, Mesa
480-820-5995
Enjoy the roasted eggplant panini, an oven-roasted eggplant with roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, and basil. drizzled with Nello's house dressing and parmesan cheese. served on a fresh homemade panini bread.

Einstein Bros. Bagels
899 N. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert
480-632-8196
Fill up on paninis loaded with ingredients, from an Italian chicken with chicken, pepperoni, pesto spinach, roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese to a roast beef with roasted garlic horseradish spread, caramelized onions and Italian cheeses. Both are served on ciabatta bread.

NORTHEAST VALLEY

Grazie Pizzeria Winebar
6952 E. Main St., Scottsdale
480-663-9797
Offers interesting combinations of paninis on focaccia bread, from Mortadella, provolone and sliced tomato to a rich and creamy all-cheese version with provolone, fontina, mozzarella, asiago and gorgonzola. The first-rate, all-Italian wine list is another bonus.

The Grille at Eagle Mountain
14915 E. Eagle Mountain Parkway, Fountain Hills
480- 816-1248
Enjoy an Italian panini - salami, pepperoni, provolone, red pepper, tomato and onion - or BLT, with bacon, heirloom tomato and lettuce, while enjoying a view of the mountains and the Valley sprawl past the huge windows of the clubhouse restaurant.

Armitage Wine Lounge Café
20751 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
480-502-1641
Pair wine with one of the many panini offerings, from sliced roast beef, three cheese, tomato and basil to a beer brat panini with a honey Dijon sauce.

PHOENIX

Bomberos Café and Wine Bar
8801 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-687-8466
Choose from seven paninis that include Spanish chorizo, salami, red pepper, tomato, manchego cheese, pesto to a simpler brie and apple. Sample paninis with wine on the outdoor patio.

Carly's Bistro
128 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix
602-262-2759
This downtown bistro offers panini by the country: Greek, Italian, Cuban, American and Ex-Patriot. The panini can also be ordered on vegan bread and splitting one $1.50 more.

Delux Bar & Grill
3146 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix
602-522-2288
Known more for its Harris Ranch beef all natural, hormone-free, antiobiotic-free hamburgers, Delux also serves a vegetable panini of grilled zucchini, roasted red bell pepper, oven roasted tomatoes, mozzarella, arugala and pesto-mayo. (There's a chicken version too.)

WEST VALLEY

Sweet O Wine and Chocolate Lounge
9380 W. Westgate Blvd., Glendale
623-877-3898
A marinated salmon panini comes with lemon crème fraiche and a traditional ham and cheese panini is made with fontini cheese, Speck ham and fresh tomatoes.

Sauce Norterra
2470 W. Happy Valley Road, Phoenix
623-414-4866
Share a turkey/fontina/pesto aioli panini sandwich with soup or one of the chopped salads. The grilled cheese features a blend of melted fontina, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.

Ground Control
14140 W. Indian School Road, Goodyear
623-935-2604
Fresh roasted coffee, wine, gelato and a selection of paninis that include turkey, salami and cheese.

Bravi
5940 W. Union Hills Road, Glendale
602-588-3000
Italian sausage, onions, peppers, provolone and sauce in a panini served with soup or salad. Bravi's also offers a turkey breast, chicken and artichoke and roasted vegetable paninis.

A panini at Spicy Pickle Restaurant in Chandler.