Cheap Eats: Presti's Bakery

Most of us frequent this Little Italy bakery for its handmade cannoli and cassata cakes, but don’t just indulge in the sweet life here. An impressive cafe menu — full of Italian favorites such as pizza, bruschetta and meatball sub sandwiches — balances that midday sugar rush with plenty of savory options. We dare you to find a better way to fill up on the cheap than Presti’s masterfully crafted stromboli ($3.50). On the menu since 1948, the unaltered recipe boasts a thick stack of capicola, ham, salami, mushrooms and olives melted with provolone inside fresh bread. The crux of this stromboli, though, is the side of house-made marinara (50 cents). The kitchen staff starts making the robust sauce — along with the bread — at 3 a.m. daily. Don’t let all that hard work go to waste — order an extra side to accurately douse each and every bite. Also Try: It wouldn’t be a trip to Little Italy without cavatelli ($8.50), which are hand-rolled and ladled with red sauce. The chicken Marsala ($9.50) bursts with earthy flavors and comes with a side salad, and bread and butter. 12101 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216-421-3060, prestisbakery.com