Leslie's Sandwich Room: What's the vibe
New restaurants seem to open every week in Toronto, but the advent of an excellent new sandwich shop piques my interest like nothing else. There has been a lull since the pandemic sandwich craze, which saw a flurry of sub-based openings spring up in Toronto, like Lambo's Deli. Now, Leslie's Sandwich Room has filled a bread-based hole in Leslieville, bringing exciting sammie flavours nestled between some of the most perfect focaccia we've ever had the pleasure of scoffing.
The space at the corner of Carlaw and Queen was previously Simply Samosas but has been transformed into a chic spot where you can catch up with friends over a hearty lunch (and under some decorative green foliage). When we arrive on a Wednesday afternoon, Leslie's Sandwich Room is bustling and almost every pastel green stool is spoken for. We snag a spot in the last window seat, ready to eat and chat with one of the owners behind this charming spot.
"This opportunity came up, and I could not turn it down," says Katherine McCallum, who also owns Palmer Coffee in Bloor West Village. She, partner Danny McCallum, and chef Nora Beckett-Smith knew they wanted to create a relatively small menu, focusing on great sandwiches with fillings ranging from classic deli to more adventurous, plus a few salads and desserts to round things out.
Leslie's Sandwich Room: What's on the menu
The one thread found throughout the menu is their heavenly bread. "We bake it in-house. Just the one kind: a focaccia bun," says McCallum. It's airy and light so that The Bloat won't halt you, yet sturdy enough (definitely a two-hander) to hold all ingredients and juices without losing structural integrity.
Actually Tuna is unlike any sandwich I've ever seen, packed with raw sushi-grade tuna tartare, tomato mayonnaise and an olive and preserved lemon dressing. "It was inspired by a trip I took to Italy. I just thought it would be perfect on a bun."
La Morta has all the hallmarks of an Italian deli sammie — mortadella, fior de latte, pistachio — but the cilantro- and nut-free pesto gives the sandwich a fun little twist. It's so satisfying, and despite its size, you absolutely will not want to share.
Though it goes in waves, McCallum's current favourite is La Boeuf, a roast beef sandwich with horseradish and a rose marie sauce. "It is topped with crispy shallots to modernize it a little bit, plus a nice aged cheddar on there."
NOLA is named after the birthplace of the classic muffuletta sandwich, New Orleans. Packed as it is with olive salad, white anchovy, provolone and an "array of deli meats" (soppressata, pepperoni, capicola, coppa), it could be your lunch and dinner.
The one sammie that diverges from the focaccia bun is the striking 7 E 11. "It's inspired by the amazing egg-salad sandwiches in Japan," says McCallum. "It's on super soft bread, it's very rich and then — as our twist — we surrounded it with green onions on the side and have our housemade togarashi [a Japanese seven-spice powder]."
Leslie's Sandwich Room: What else
If bread is not your vibe, Leslie's Sandwich Room also offers three classic salads (Grain, Chopped and Mediterranean). Plus, there are snacks and goodies, like chips in classic flavours (ketchup, salt and malt vinegar), plus some oddball ones for good measure (peanut butter and vanilla). Guests can grab a couple of combo meal options, adding a drink, snacks and a salad to your sammie order.
Plus, you haven't seen the last of the sandwich menu options. "We just opened," says McCallum. "We wanted to start with a base menu, but we are going to love doing specials and changing the menu often. With sandwiches, the options are endless."
Open from 11 a.m–7 p.m; lesliessandwichrooms.com
