Written by Montreal Food Divas on 18.11.15

When you think of sandwiches you automatically think about peanut butter and jelly, or the ol’ ham and cheese sandwich of your elementary school lunch boxes. But when the Montreal Food Divas talk about sandwiches, we mean gourmet sandwiches bursting with fresh ingredients. Sandwiches don’t need to be boring and a few Montreal restaurants have certainly taken them to the next level.

Schwartz’s Deli

Schwartzs Deli, Montreal Restaurant - Smoked Meat sandwich, montreal food divas

Schwartz’s Deli on the Main is home to THE Montreal sandwich. Their smoked meat sandwich is out of this world. Opened in 1928, this Hebraic delicatessen is known for having the best smoked meat in the city. And they really do. For the full experience, make sure that you order your Schwartz’s Deli smoked meat sandwich with a sour pickle, French fries, and a cherry cola. This deli is open until 2:30am on Saturday nights: a perfect spot for late night eats in Montreal!

3895 Boul St-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1X9
(514) 842-4813

Olive et Gourmando

Olive et Gourmando, Old Montreal Restaurant & Bakery - sandwich, montreal food divas

This popular Old Montreal bakery and bistro is known for their tasty treats. Olive et Gourmando doesn’t take reservations but you can enjoy freshly baked goods at their counter while you wait to be seated. Our favourite is their Cuban sandwich with crispy pancetta and roasted pork that’s smothered in melted gruyere with lime, cilantro, and chipotle, all for that Cuban feel. Pickles in the mayonnaise add a nice texture, acidity, and crunch to the creaminess of the mayo. Olive et Gourmando is a perfect little lunch spot!

351 Rue Saint Paul O, Montréal, QC H2Y 2A7
(514) 350-1083

Dépanneur le Pick-Up  

Dépanneur Le Pickup, Montreal Restaurant - Haloumi grilled cheese sandwich, Montreal Food Divas

Dépanneur Le Pick-Up is both a casual diner and a traditional Quebec dépanneur that provides the usual chips, beer, wine, cigs, soft drinks, etc. Its diner-like counter over an open kitchen has delicious and unique sandwiches, even vegan and vegetarian options! We always order the haloumi grilled cheese at Dépanneur Le Pick-Up. Lightly seared haloumi cheese is paired with plenty of mint coleslaw for this vegetarian sandwich. The bread is toasted, the cheese is slightly melted, and we really can’t think of a better cheese sandwich.

7032 Rue Waverly, Montréal, QC H2S 3J2
(514) 271-8011

Super Truck, Food Truck

Super Truck, Food Truck, Chicken Sandwich, Montreal Food Divas

Summer in Montreal is all about eating at our food trucks. One of our favourite trucks is Super Truck and their Super Sandwich. We always order the Dynamic Trio with the Super Sandwich, their famous fried mac & cheese, and refreshing Verbena Ice Tea.  Their deep fried mac & cheese is delicious, with a hint of lemon in the batter, and spicy mayo on the side.  The Super Sandwich sounds plain, after all it’s just a chicken sandwich with house smoked bacon and spicy mayo. But they cook the chicken sous-vide style which makes all the difference because the chicken remains moist beyond belief. Super Truck is definitely one of our favourite food trucks!

Check Twitter for its Location: @SuperTruckMtl
(514) 282-9790

San Gennaro

San gennaro, Montreal, Restaurant Bakery Pizza - Porchetta pizza sandwich, montreal food divas

It’s no secret that we absolutely worship San Gennaro and their Roman style slab pizza that’s sold by the square. This Little Italy bakery, café, and pizza haven is where we like to spend our Sunday afternoons. Their pizzas change all the time but we’re partial to the dirty good potato lardo pizza. They even make a porchetta pizza sandwich. Two pieces of pizza dough hug the most delicious porchetta and arugula into a panini like pizza. Prepared in-house, the porchetta is perfection and we love this cross between pizza and panini. See you on Sunday at San Gennaro!

69 Rue Saint Zotique E, Montréal, QC H2S 1K7
(514) 273-6868

Montreall.com’s Pick: Falafel Avenue

falafel_nov_2015 36

Falafel Avenue is an interesting twist on a long time classic, the falafel sandwich. By interesting, we mean flabbergasting! They blew our minds with falafel favours ranging from roasted peppers to cheese-stuffed goodness. Their most innovative creation yet: the bigFA, a non-fried, oven-baked, crunchy yet soft, falafel sandwich. In all our visits, ingredients were extremely fresh. We’re talking straight from grandma’s garden fresh (non literal comparison). Need we say more? Well, we could, very easily, but we’ll let the Montreal Food Divas try for themselves. We definitely don’t want to steal the spotlight on their own guide… Sorry not sorry.

2020 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, QC H3A 2A5
(514) 842-9494

Hof Kelsten  

Hof Kelsten, Montreal bakery - salmon gravlax sandwich, montreal food divas

Unlike most bakeries, Hof Kelsten doesn’t focus on pastries; this place is all about the bread. Many Montreal restaurants are using Hof Kelsten as their bread provider, so obviously they know how to make a sandwich. Hof Kelsten’s salmon gravlax sandwich with cucumbers and cream cheese is perfectly fresh. We love splitting their gravlax sandwich and their beef sandwich that is packed with red cabbage and apple slices. Of course it helps that these sandwiches are on the best bread in the city! Don’t forget to get a chocolate croissant for dessert.

4524 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2T 1R4
(514) 649-7991

Boucherie Lawrence 

Boucherie Lawrence, Montreal Restaurant & Butcher - Sausage Sandwich, Montreal Food Divas

Boucherie Lawrence is a butcher shop in the Plateau down the road from their restaurant of the same name. They offer local and respectfully raised meat, as well as other products from local producers. We have tried a few of their sandwiches but our favourite is their sausage sandwich. Obviously these guys are going to know their meat! The sausage has a hint of spice and is cooked perfectly. The sourdough bun is also stuffed with vinegary coleslaw which is offset by the hint of mayo for added creaminess. Go to Boucherie Lawrence for a sandwich at lunch, and buy some meat to take home, after all, you’re already there.

5237 Saint Laurent Boulevard, Montreal, Québec H2T 1S1
(514) 277-8880

Café Gentile

Cafe Gentile, Montreal restaurant - steak sandwich, Montreal food divas

Opened in 1959, Café Gentile has been serving paninis in Ahuntsic ever since. We always order their steak and cheese sandwich, although their breaded chicken sandwich is delicious too. The bread of their steak sandwich is oiled up and grilled for added decadence, the steak is cooked to perfection, the caramelized onions are plentiful, and we always ask for extra of their spicy mayo. It may be a little out of the way, but Café Gentile is worth the visit. Make sure that you try their pasta special of the day too!

9299 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H2N 2A2
(514) 389-4393

Sumac

Sumac, Montreal Restaurant - Beef Kefta Sandwich, montreal food divas

Authenticity is key. And while some places boast authentic cuisine from various parts of the world, not many are actually up to par. But that is not the case with Sumac, St. Henri’s new Middle Eastern restaurant. Their kefta pita is cut in two and served upright in a bowl. The soft pita holds an overflow of ingredients that include crunchy white and purple cabbage slaw and pickled turnips for crunch. The out-of-season-but-impressively-fresh chopped salad is also in the pita, along with the customary hummus. Sumac’s beef kefta is full of flavour and tender, and you could taste the smoky char marks.

3618 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Québec H4C 1P5
(514) 935-1444

St-Viateur Bagel

St-Viateur Bagel Shop, Montreal Restaurant & Bakery - Bagel & Smoked Salmon, montreal food divas

Since 1957, St-Viateur Bagel has been a part of Montreal foodie history, open 24 hours / 7 days a week. You can choose amongst sesame, seedless, cinnamon raisin, flax seed, 9 grains, etc bagels. We always stick to the sesame bagels, with Philadelphia cream cheese and smoked salmon. They even have salmon gravlax and arctic char; we like to experiment and try different variations. St-Viateur Bagel even has a little nook with a table where you can stop and prepare your bagels into the traditional bagel and lox sandwich. Of course you can also just show up and take your bagels to enjoy at home, but we love the whole experience of this Montreal institution.

263 Rue Saint Viateur O, Montréal, QC H2V 1Y1
(514) 276-8044

Dinette Triple Crown

Dinette Triple Crown, Montreal Restaurant - Big Nasty & brisket sandwich, Montreal Food Divas

Dinette Triple Crown has picnics down to a science. You can eat in the restaurant or, weather permitting, take a picnic basket to go and eat in the park across the street. Their brisket sandwich is made up of juicy tender brisket with coleslaw that’s barely held together by a bun. The Big Nasty Sandwich is fried chicken and melted cheddar on a biscuit with gravy.  The chicken is moist, the gravy is heavenly, and the biscuit is flaky and crumbly. Dinette Triple Crown offers you a perfect southern picnic in Saint Édouard.

6704 Rue Clark, Montréal, QC H2S 3E9
(514) 272-2617

Nostos

Nostos Grill, Montreal restaurant - gyro pita, montreal food divas

When you think of Greek food you don’t usually think of sandwiches. Nostos is known for its grilled chicken, but its gyro pita is the best in Montreal. The succulent pork is perfectly juicy and freshly cut down from the vertical spit in the front of the restaurant. If you order your pita all dressed, it is packed with their delicious tzatziki, red onions, and tomatoes. If you’re a real connoisseur, you ask for some French fries thrown in the pita, as well as on the side, like they do in Athens. Order the pikilia platter to start, and a Greek salad on the side. Nostos will provide you with a true Greek tavern experience.

9530 Boulevard de l’Acadie, Montréal, QC H4N 1L8
(514) 388-1981

Café Milano

Café Milano, Montreal Coffee - Veal Cultet Sandwich, Montreal Food Divas

Opened in 1971, Café Milano has been serving St-Leonard coffee aficionados for years. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it’s worth the drive to the east end. Their sausage sandwich used to be our favourite until we tried their veal cutlet. Breaded veal is grilled and placed in a sub with marinated Italian eggplants, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, and marinated spicy peppers. We always opt to remove the lettuce and tomato to truly enjoy this Italian panini with minimal interference. Café Milano is a serious Italian café and panini shop.

5188 Rue Jarry Est, Saint-Léonard, QC H1R 1Y4
(514) 328-0561

Chez Benny Express

Chez Benny Express, Montreal Kosher Restaurant - Falafel Laffa, Montreal Food Divas

Chez Benny Express is a kosher restaurant in Ville St-Laurent that is known for its pita and laffa sandwiches that are packed full of ingredients. They have some of the freshest salads to stuff into your sandwich or to eat on the side. Pickled cucumber, carrots, and a chickpea salad are amongst the delicious options at Chez Benny Express. Their falafel laffa is a beast of a sandwich. Laffa is a Hebraic flatbread that is very thick and bready. This sandwich is absolutely delicious but it is massive, with 10 mini falafels in one sandwich. Their falafels are absolutely delicious, deep fried ground chickpeas with spices. This is easily one of our favourite Middle Eastern dishes.

2075 Rue Saint Louis, Saint Laurent, QC H4M 1P1
(514) 507-2020

Satay Brothers

Satay Brother, Montreal Restaurant - Pork belly steam bun, montreal food divas

Satay Brothers serves authentic South Asian cuisine and vegetarian options for all. The steam buns are a must and you can order one or two per order. Made with a thick slice of tender pork belly, each bite is better than the last. The bun itself has a nice texture and is very light, dressed simply with crisp, fresh cucumber, cilantro, and a faint drizzle of hoisin sauce. With two locations in St-Henri and the Atwater Market, Satay Brothers is a diva-favourite. Make sure that you start with the green papaya salad and then order a few steam buns.

3721 Notre Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H4C 1P8
(514) 933-3507

138 Avenue Atwater, Montréal, QC H4C 2H6
(514) 937-7754

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