With warmer weather finally upon us, socially-distanced picnic season is back! Rather than making your own sandwiches at home, pack your blanket, load up the cooler and consider grabbing a bite from one of these five spots. These are our picks for some of the best sandwiches in Toronto.
Gold Standard
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Tucked away on Roncesvalles Ave., beside the Reunion Island Coffee Bar, you’ll find what is widely agreed to be one of the best breakfast sandwiches in Toronto. From a humble takeout window, Gold Standard serves up just six different sandwiches, one of which is a savoury breakfast sandwich that locals can’t get enough of. Featuring freshly-cracked scrambled eggs and a slice of cheddar on a toasted English muffin, the all-day Gold Standard Breakfast Sandwich kicks the standard breakfast sandwich combo up a notch with the addition of garlic aioli sauce, hot sauce, pickles and your choice of kale or bacon. Other must-try handhelds on the menu include the Alternative (a vegan patty with micro-sprouts and hummus) and the Bacon Butty.
Flora’s Deli
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If you’re missing your own Nonna’s cooking due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, a quick visit to Flora’s Deli should do the trick. This hidden Italian gem offers four paninis, each with a flavour profile entirely its own. A single vegetarian option, the Norma Gina, features a soft sesame seed bun topped with an eggplant cutlet, smothered in whipped ricotta and dressed with arugula and hot honey. The Uncle Vinny is a meatball sub lover’s dream and features Flo’s meatballs, tomato sauce, sliced provolone, pecorino and fresh basil.
Lambo’s Deli
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A neighbourhood deli serving residents of Trinity Bellwoods and Little Italy, Lambo’s Deli & Grocery offers an impressive selection of sandwiches made in-house. The ham and cheese is a far cry from the kind your mom packed in your lunchbox as a kid, featuring thinly shaved prosciutto cotto, Swiss cheese, bread and butter pickles and whole-grain Dijon mustard. In total, there are 10 sandwiches to choose from, including two vegetarian options.
Illstyl3 Sammies
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If you’re looking for a sandwich spot that doesn’t skimp out on meat, look no further than Illstyl3 Sammies. Specializing in Philly cheesesteaks, this sandwich shop has an extensive menu that also includes a variety of AAA ribeye beef steak sandwiches, chicken steak sandwiches, loaded hoagies served up on a baguette, veggie sandwiches and even breakfast options like the Sunday Morning (scrambled eggs, peppered salami and cheese). The restaurant prides itself on serving 100 per cent halal meat, and also has a mouthwatering variety of sides, like tostones (fried plantain, green onion, queso and garlic aioli), pizza fries, beet and potato salad and much more.
Elm St. Deli
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Located just a few minutes from Yonge-Dundas Square, Elm St. Italian Deli is ready to satisfy any sandwich craving. All elements of every individual sandwich are made in-house – from the artisanal bread loaves that are baked fresh daily to the meats, like sausage and mortadella, which are sliced by hand. There are 14 sandwiches on the menu at Elm St. Deli, including two vegetarian options. All of the sandwiches can be ordered as a half or full. To pair with some of the best sandwiches in Toronto, Elm St. Deli also serves up traditional Italian and not-so Italian sides, including home fries, roasted garlic rapini and salads.