Italian-style sandwiches are all the rage in Toronto these days, with new shops popping up on the reg, but these are the ones you can’t miss.
Let’s face it: this city has always loved its sandwiches.
Perhaps it’s the on-the-go nature of the downtown core that makes portable, size-effective meals extra appealing, or maybe it’s just because the sandwich is a near-perfect food, but Toronto just can’t get enough of them.
Case in point, the absolute deluge of new Italian sandwich shops that have graced the city’s culinary landscape in recent months, which, despite ample competition, have all somehow managed to earn themselves a fanatical fan base.
We’re firm believers that even a sandwich that’s just okay is better than no sandwich at all, so, ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of them, but here are a few new sandwich shops in Toronto you absolutely have to try.
Okay, we know what you’re thinking. $27 for a sandwich is kind of criminal (although, for what it’s worth, only one sandwich on their menu boasts such a price, while the rest fall around the $20 mark), but, as one Dished Toronto video team member remarked upon his first bite, “heaven couldn’t be closer.”
It also helps that these sandwiches are absolutely enormous and served loaded with tissue-thin slices of cured meats, fresh cheeses, and flavourful sauces served within a pizza dough-esque bread pocket.
Your wallet may give you some serious side-eye after picking up a sando at this instant Baldwin Village staple, but take our word for it, you won’t regret it.
Address: 36 Baldwin St.
Phone: 416-260-8080
If you’re anywhere near as food-driven as we are, this Queen West sandwich shop might just bring a tear to your eye.
Each sandwich is served on handcrafted Schiacciata bread (somewhere between ciabatta and focaccia) and loaded with generous helpings of carefully curated toppings. They have a variety of different sandos to choose from, but if you want a truly Italian experience, the Gabagool is the only way to go.
Address: 477 Queen St. W.
Phone: 647-699-3022
Downtown Toronto tends to hog the limelight when it comes to the food scene, but this new Upper Beaches Italian eatery is redirecting attention toward the east end, primarily due to its larger-than-life panuozzos.
Served inside a pizza dough-based bread, this restaurant serves up a full suite of Italian classics, from Mortadella with pistachio cream and pepperoncini relish to Prosciutto Cotto with truffle ricotta, artichoke, arugula, and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.
Address: 998 Kingston Rd.
Phone: 416-661-1991
Speaking of the outer reaches of the city, this cafe, bakery, and restaurant serves up some major Amalfi vibes from the Etobicoke waterfront.
There’s a little bit of everything on the menu here, depending on what time of day you swing by, but their panuozzos are truly one-of-a-kind. La Numero 5, with parmesan cream, roasted porchetta, potato truffle cream and arugula, needs to be tasted to be believed.
Address: 110 Marine Parade Dr.
Talk about hot off the press. This new Kensington hot spot just opened for business on Aug. 30, and people are already raving about it, likely thanks to the evangelical fanbase it had accrued from operating as a pop-up before opening shop.
Focaccia-based sandwiches are the name of the game here, all served on the titular Pete’s signature rosemary bread, so a stale sandwich is the least of your worries. You may find yourself needing to walk away with a loaf for home, though.
Address: 161 Baldwin St.
At the end of the day, a sandwich is just a sandwich, except for when it’s something a little different. No, we’re not talking about hot dogs (that debate isn’t a can of worms we’re willing to open today). We’re actually talking about piadina.
This Moss Park shop is the first in Toronto to serve these sandwiches, crafted on a chewy type of flatbread that feels somewhere between naan and a flour tortilla, with simple, quality ingredients.
Sometimes less truly is more.
Address: 60 Richmond St. E.
Phone: 416-363-0777
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Dining and Cooking