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Porchetta & Co.
Category: Restaurants Sandwiches Sandwiches [Edit]
825 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6J
Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods
(647) 352-6611
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 11 am - 9 pm
Sun 11 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for Porchetta & Co.
Review Highlights
"Next time I want to try the truffle sauce."
(in 19 reviews)
"The combo of fatty pork and rapini was just right."
(in 15 reviews)
"...this thing: soft bun, grainy mustard, tender pork, and of..."
(in 8 reviews)
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56 reviews in English
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Review from yyz a.
Toronto, ON
2/6/2012
Saw a write - up in a local publication on this spot and am so glad it has lived up to the hype.
Food here is definitely worth the trek to a slightly out of the way spot. Such a simple idea executed incredibly well. -
Review from Yvonne T.
When I first walked up to Porchetta and saw the same steamy windows that I often see at my house when my mother is cooking up a storm - I knew it would be good!
The huge lineup (about 3 people waiting to dine-in and 2 waiting for take-out) in such a small space is also a sure sign that what I was about to experience would be gastronomical!
Marinated pork shoulder that is wrapped in prosciutto and then wrapped in cured pork belly and baked? Hell yeah! The curing process takes days... I am never a fan of "marinate for 4 hours" - marinate overnight or more!!!
At $20/lb my expectations were nothing short of sky high. When I was carefully watching the staff prep others' dishes, I couldn't help bu think to myself "Gee that looks a lot like Chinese roast pork with the fat and crunchy pork rinds."
I came here today because I saw the Tweet that their daily special was a Porchetta Grilled Cheese (you had me at Cheese!) with Caramelized Onions. You could make that a combo with their Tomato Parmesan (they actually grate fresh Parmesan) for $10.95 but I just opted for the sandwich.
I also ordered a side of the Truffle Sauce - just for kicks.
The first bite I took was surprisingly dry, maybe I just got the odd piece? But every bite after that was succulent, juicy, tender and moist which was complemented by a crispy pork skin and sweet caramelized onions. I don't know what kind of bread they use for their grilled cheese (not their standard bun), but it was mighty good! The bread itself was crunchy and was grilled to a golden brown.
You really don't need any condiments. I felt the Truffle Sauce added nothing to my sandwich and actually detracted away from the natural flavours of the Porchetta. My word of advice, just get the Porchetta and skip the sides!
I did notice however that a lot of people ordered rapini as their side. I think next time, I will just order a Porchetta plate and forego the empty carbs that are otherwise known as buns.
I would definitely recommend coming here if you haven't tried it yet! -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
11/6/2011
VIBE
This tiny Italian sandwich spot is one of the best things to happen to the gentrification of Dundas West and for good reason: their sandwiches are delicious! Though many a hipster may pop in, I see a lot of foodies and local restaurant owners get their fix on the regular. Though there are few stools, they're really comfortable (they have a bit of a back to them) and face the window, obligatory for people watching. In the summer, I highly recommend taking the sandwich to Trinity Bellwoods Park for more people watching; a perfect Toronto afternoon. It is one of my top ten favourite eats in the city.
I EAT/ATE
It's usually one thing and one thing only you can get here (porchetta sandwiches wrapped in prosciutto; their website is pretty detailed on what you can get) and they are at the top of their game. I love the crackling crunchy bits. On another note, their soup is gourmet: I've had mushroom truffle soup and peaches and cream corn soup - both worthy of repeat visits. In the summertime, they also add soft shell crab into the mix. Amazing. Average cost for sandwich and pop with a few fixings: $15.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Porchetta & Co is the stuff sandwich dreams are made of. With a dash of truffle oil. -
Review from Jessie W.
Toronto, ON
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think the reason people got disappointed is because their expectation is extremely high, at least that's what happened to me. I've been looking forward to this sandwich for two weeks, and imagined all sorts of great things that might happen after the first bite of the sandwich, so of course, when I had my first bite for real, it was a bit different from what I expected. But after careful consideration, I have to say it was very good, one thing that I can't deny was that I finished the whole sandwich in less than 5 minutes, for me, that's a record, since it normally takes me an hour to finish one meal, so of course, it was delicious. The bread was crunchy but soft, and it was moised with pork fat, and the meat was well balanced between fatty fat fat and lean. If you want italian pork, this place offers exactly that.
I went on Saturday afternoon, no line-up (I wasn't expecting that at all), and the service was very friendly. I'm giving it a four-star because I really don't recommend eating this on a regular basis, unless you don't care so much about getting a heart attack sooner. -
Review from Mel L.
York, ON
10/28/2011
I'm a huge fan of fat - you will see me picking off my dining companion's plates the fat that they have trimmed off their steaks - so I really liked Porchetta & Co. because there was an abundance of flavourful fat in the meat. I thoroughly enjoyed my porchetta plate with a side of baked romano beans ($10.12 after tax), but I can see how people who typically trim the fat off their steak would not enjoy it as much.
The pork itself was nicely seasoned and not overly salty. The beans had ever so slight a kick and were nicely complemented by the crispy pieces of pork skin sprinkled on tip. In fact, those crispy pork skins were my favourite part of the meal. Is that what a pork rind that didn't come out of a package tastes like??
I think the best way to go into Porchetta & Co. is with no expectations. If you go in with high expectations after hearing so many people rave about it, then you may be disappointed that this sandwich is just a sandwich. I think the selling point for Porchetta & Co. is that there aren't any other places like this in Toronto, so I would definitely still recommend for people to try it out.
Note there is not much seating in the place, just two bars with three stools each. -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
9/14/2011 3 photos
I've read so, so many great reviews on Porchetta & Co that I can't believe how badly it failed to meet my expectations. I really, really thought that I'd love it! I love sandwiches and I love roasted pork, so I thought that the combination must be a winner! In the words of my friends, "It was a complete waste of a Saturday lunch", and I couldn't agree more.
My friend opted for a classic porchetta sandwich without any additions. After one bite, she commented that it tasted exactly like Chinese roasted pork, or siu yuk ().
I added mushrooms to my sandwich for 75 cents, thinking that they would add moisture to the pork. However, after taking my first bite, I couldn't help but agree with my friend- it tasted exactly like Chinese roasted pork, except less fatty (which is not a good thing in my books). Despite the mushrooms, I couldn't get past how dry the overall sandwich was! Where was the juiciness that I read from all the online reviews!?!? Maybe I should've added some sort of sauce instead of mushrooms.
In an attempt to make it "less" Chinese, I added some grainy mustard and Tabasco sauce onto my sandwich. Unfortunately, that didn't really help much. The meat was still really dry...
So after being all hyped up over this porchetta sandwich, my friend and I were utterly disappointed. We really wished that we had had lunch at the food court instead. Subway would've tasted better than this! -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
8/9/2011 1 photo
With a name like Porcetta & Co. one is going to think this is all about the meat. How can you go wrong with pig on a bun and all that crackling to boot? Well it wasn't the pork that brought me and my hunny to P&Co last Saturday afternoon. It was the soft shell crab sammies. That's right, read it again. Soft shell crab sammies being dished up at the pork counter.
I follow P&Co in Tweetland and they often tweet their daily specials or when they run out of what they've been serving. I had been meaning for the longest time to hit up this hub nub of a meat spot and when they tweeted last Saturday morning a pic of their Saturday special they had me. I held up my iPad at my hunny, flashing him a pic of the P&Co food porn and he got this goofy, evil grin. Kinda like when the Grinch ripped off Whoville. An hour later we were on the road, heading in to the city to finally get our maws filled at P&Co.
I've eaten my share of crustacean sammies up and down the eastern seaboard and I have some high expectations. Let me tell you, P&Co didn't disappoint. They use soft, long buns, similar to a hot dog bun, only with a bit more body and texture. It came stuffed with fresh, hot, crispy deep fried soft shell crab, topped with some sort of finely shredded lettuce condiments, a drizzle of dressing and crowned with crumbled bacon bits. Pricy? At $9.95 it wasn't a cheap sammie but worth every single penny because the crab was absolutely fantastic. It pulled apart beautifully. It wasn't rubbery or chewy as overcooked or unfresh shelled seafood can be. This was just plain old food poetry in motion.
Not sure how long the Saturday Soft Shell Crab sammies will be around on Dundas Street. I suspect as long as the proprietor can get these tasty crustaceans they'll be a Saturday staple. My suggestion would be to haul ass down there next weekend and see for yourself. -
Review from Mel C.
9/15/2011
I was so excited to try the Porchetta sandwich since I read so many amazing reviews and all the pictures I saw of the sandwich looked so juicy.
What a disappointment! I read that the pork went through some 24 hour process so I expected something amazing. What did I get instead? Chinese roast pork! I enjoy Chinese roast pork but I didn't expect the Porchetta sandwich to taste exactly like something I grew up eating.
Also, contrary to the many pictures of the sandwich, the sandwich was not juicy at all. It was almost unbearably dry.
So, if you like this place for the meat, just go to Chinatown and get a take out box of Chinese roast pork for $8 or less. -
Review from Tara Z.
8/15/2011
It's the crackling that sells me on the porchetta sandwich. I just love the play of textures in this thing: soft bun, grainy mustard, tender pork, and of course, piles of crackling (hardly a surprise that it shares the same first syllable as crack cocaine).
Mmm. I'm still thinking about that sandwich. It's an indulgence, but well worth it. -
Review from Graham R.
Toronto, ON
8/30/2011
I've been to Porchetta a few times now and am usually pretty happy with my food. Sometimes its a hit or miss, but even when its not the best, its still decent.
The best thing I have had from porchetta was when they did the softshell crab sandwich. Unfortunately because this is a seasonal item its not there all the time.
I like to get the sandwich pretty basic with just hot sauce and both kinds of mustard as some of the toppings can be pricey. -
Review from Daniel O.
8/23/2011 3 photos
One mighty excellent sandwich.
Porchetta & Co. is located on Dundas West, just west of Bathurst on the south side. It's pretty much take-out only, there is a counter in the window with four stools and a long gymnasium-style bench outside (for spring/summer/fall visits).
Went Saturday morning for an early lunch. Happened to get there just before a mini rush. Lucky.
Ordered the Breakfast Sammy which consists of their classic porchetta sandwich (porchetta, crackling, hot sauce on a super fresh, crusty on the outside, soft & fluffy on the inside Portuguese bun) with the addition of a fried over easy egg & smoked gouda. Opted to add truffle sauce as well.
The sandwich was to die for, salty, fatty porchetta mixed with super crispy delicious crackling, smooth creamy eggy and cheesy goodness. I could have eaten two.
It's great to see small restaurants like Porchetta & Co. can exist in Toronto. They only do one thing, but do it perfectly.
A new favourite spot in the city.
NOTE: Porchetta & Co. is cash only! Be sure to hit a bank machine prior to your visit. For those who forget, there is an ATM machine in the 7 Eleven down the street. -
Review from Teresa C.
Toronto, ON
THE SANDWICH
I had the porchetta sandwich with rapini (for an extra 75 cents). The pork was incredibly tender and juicy. It had the perfect amount of fat to it, which added such a wonderful flavour, as fat usually does. I liked the bits of fried belly that they threw in there. It added variety to the texture. The rapini was cooked just right - bright green and crunchy. Nothing worse than soggy, overcooked greens, wouldn't you say? The combo of fatty pork and rapini was just right! I appreciated the freshness against the more heavy flavour/feel of the pork.
My friend topped her sandwich with tomato sauce and truffle sauce and loved it. She said it was like having a nice rose sauce.
There are two types of Kozliks mustards for you to put on your sandwich/meat plate. And boy, they really picked two excellent Kozliks mustards! One was pretty potent and hot; the other was all whole-grains and less pungent. Both were excellent on my sandwich
THE SIDE OF ROASTED POTATO
Great potatoes! Some of the best I've had! They were very simple, but the texture was just right. Add a bit of mustard to that and you've got a great side for your sandwich/meat plate. Oh, and it's a good one to share with one other person!
SEATING
There are six stools in the joint, two by one wall and four by the front window. They are not comfortable stools, but will do if you are just in there for a quick, quick bite.
KITCHEN
looks very clean. Makes the experience even more enjoyable.
SERVICE/STAFF
Friendly staff! I asked them if they were tired of pork yet and they each had something to say about their relationship with the Porchetta pork (which was that they have one every shift, even after seven months of working there...and when they aren't working, they are thinking about the pork). When I went in with my two friends, there weren't other people, so the staff had time to chat with us.
IF YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE MEAT...
You can buy the pork by the half pound or the pound. I asked about it and they say they *pack* the container fulla meat for you. They will also add the crispy pork belly bits for no extra cost.
Excellent little joint. I will certainly be back. -
Review from Brian T.
Toronto, ON
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
A simple review for a simple place.
Menu: Porchetta, served on either a plate or in a sandwich. Toppings ($0.25-$0.75 each) include mozzarella, sauteed mushrooms, rapini, tomato sauce parm, and truffle sauce. Hot sauce and mustard are no charge. Some sides (potatoes, rapini, baked romano beans) available.
Price: about $10-$11 for a sandwich and drink
Verdict: Delicious, succulent, pork-o-rific. Go here. -
Review from Steph L.
5/11/2011 ROTD 11/19/2011
Is there a 12-step program for Porchetta addiction?
At first, I didn't understand how a sandwich could cause so much hype.
All the cool Yelp kids have been flocking here, so I had to see what the fuss was about.
And oh my...
Porchetta, I'll never be the same again.
I can't shake the memory of my first sandwich.
Tender, moist, and juicy pork shoulder, pork belly with crispy skin,
salty prosciutto on a sourdough bun.
Topped with mushrooms, mustard, and a rich and creamy truffle sauce...
Sandwich heaven.
Crunchy...soft...chewy... what a wonderful medley of textures...flavorful...
I'm addicted to your delicious sandwich goodness.
All I can think about is when can I have another sandwich.
Now, I just need to think of a medicinal purpose to keep eating Porchetta sandwiches... (and find some magical way to not get fat). -
Review from Senior V.
Scarborough, ON
1/18/2012
Great sandwich! got it to go with nothing else on it. At home I put some kozlik's mustard on a bite or 2 than a little Grace hot sauce and some sauteed onions but I personally think it was perfect with nothing else on it, I mean look how they prepare it. Nice and juicy sandwich and they take the time to make it right and I don't mind waiting. While I was waiting I was offered to sample a delicious cream of mushroom with a mustard cream drizzled on top great on a cold day. Great place check it out!
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Review from Nav A.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2011
The best sandwich in Toronto, at least IMHO.
There is just the right amount of tender pork, fat and crunchy crackling to form what most scientists call 'an amalgam of awesome'. The sourdough bun from Caldense Bakery across the street is great too. Lightly toasted, the crisp exterior helps hold everything in place.
Of the available toppings, the rapini is best, because then you can lie to yourself and say "What? I'm eating healthy."
But generally, there's just something very cool about the ethos of Porchetta & Co. They focus mainly on one thing and do it really well, and as a result are able to offer it at reasonable prices. What's more, unlike a lot of 'gourmet', 'foodie' places, the staff are super friendly and accommodating. -
Review from Andrew B.
Toronto, ON
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
A group of us came across this hole-in-the-wall completely by accident following a successful softball game at Trinity-Bellwoods Park. There was a dozen of us, with significant appetites which Porchetta & Co. sated. A short, simple, yet delicious menu adorns the wall with a single daily special that rotates. Our group was served in good time even considering the place was packed when we arrived. The sandwich is homey, fresh, and delightful to bite into. I've been multiple times and always been pleased.
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Review from Ed S.
11/21/2011
It's A-OK, but I'm a fan because the choices of where to go for a porchetta sandwich are this place and the other place at SLM. It's not the succulent, herbaceous, slightly salty crusted porchetta you had in Italy, but it does the job. Had the sandwich w/ truffle sauce and grainy mustard and a side of rapini to help move things along and the combo made for a tasty and satisfying dinner. I'll have to go back to try the breakfast sammie cuz porchetta, eggs and cheese sound pretty good together.
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Review from sarah l.
3/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This sandwich does not hold a candle to the best porchetta sandwich I have ever had (see: Roli Roti here: http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and that's unfortunate for Porchetta & Co. If I hadn't eaten Roli Roti within 15 days of eating here I might have enjoyed myself more*. I just don't think this is a 5 star sandwich, and Toronto rates it high because it's our only porchetta option. That doesn't make it infallible. This is really a 3 star sandwich but you know what... - 1 for the hype**.
The good:
- The Porchetta here is okay, but it isn't as flavourful as other porchetta. Others have noted the meat was a bit bland and I agree.
- The sandwich is reasonably priced (but comes with no toppings - they're extra)
The not-as-good-as-roli-roti-in-detail-and-how-to-impr ove:
- The bun here was way too big for the sandwich, and IMO not the correct bun for this type of sandwich (while notably still a delicious bun). There was at least 1.5cm of bun around the ENTIRE sandwich that didn't contain porchetta. I would also use a more hardy bun for this type of sandwich as it deteriorated while I was eating. This bun is best used for cold sandwiches (imagine a turkey BLT on it... omg).
- At Roli Roti, they use the bun to sop up the meat juice from the cutting board as they slice the cooked porchetta. P&C should take note of this practice.
- At Roli Roti. the sandwich is more expensive ($8) but it comes with greens and a caramelized onion compote of some sort that brings it to the next level.
The bad:
- I just have to say it: I hate how they weigh the meat for the sandwich.
- It seemed like they were pretty skimpy on the meat (bun size may play into this perception).
- Hardly any seating
In summary, I would eat here again if I were serendipitously in the area and looking for a sandwich, but I would never take the street car across town again specifically to eat here again.
------------------------
*guys, I think my toe is turning either blue or white.
** Shame on all of you for accepting less than the best. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2011 2 photos
Mmmm pork.
Marinated pork shoulder, wrapped in proscuitto, wrapped in pork belly, and baked in the oven.
I have to say the sandwich was really good (i got it with tomato suace, but next time might skip it) i thought it would be too dry without it but maybe the truffle butter would have been more complementing. I tasted too much of the tomato sauce.
The bun was amazing, soft and crunchy.
I felt like I didn't taste enough pork and was disappointed a little.
Still really good for a lunch time place in the area. we were there before 12 and was able to sit in the 4 stools in the place. After about 1pm the place was packed with a line up outside!
I would come back for a quite bite if I was in the area.Listed in: Thanks Yelp!
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Review from Eleni D.
Toronto, ON
7/14/2011
This place is definitely not for vegetarians or vegans. Porchetta & Co serves up a fantastic, pork sandwich - more like heart attack on a plate, but what a lovely way to go.
With just the right amount of salty and chewy meat in a soft, fresh bun, it was love at first bite for me. I tried their standard toppings on the pork, grainy mustard and hot sauce. Next time I might add the truffle oil, which I hear is a fan favourite. The service was friendly and I appreciated their spic and span kitchen. Just lovely. -
Review from jocelyn l.
5/2/2011
Really delish Porchetta sandwich...but sorry, doesn't beat Roli Roti in San Francisco...which is still the most amazing porchetta sandwich (and seriously ANY sandwich) EVER. You have to taste that to believe its amazingness.
Anyway.
Back to Porchetta & Co.
Friendly service, fairly quick prep (definitely a PLUS compared to Roli Roti, which is an average 60 min wait).
I got the sandwich with truffle sauce and some hot sauce. The truffle sauce added a smoky layer to the porchetta. The place has pretty much NO seating space. When i was there, this couple shared a sandwich...and when they were done, I thought they'd leave, but NO, they decided to get another one. WTF.
There're 2 of you...this is a porchetta sandwich. Why did you think you 2 could share ONE sandwich? So annoying. Get 2 sandwiches at the same time, wolf it down and get your butts out the door so others can EAT. They were probably vegetarians who were cheating on their diets. Amateurs.
OK, back to the sandwich.
Juicy, tasty meat, Awesome crunchy bits of skin. MmMmMmMm. SO good. Slight smoky taste. The only thing i'd say is that the buns...could have been wiped with porchetta juices instead of butter/oil. I think that's what makes the Roli Roti sandwich a step above.
And yea, I live for the crunchy bits, so it'd have been even more amazing with more crunchy bits...MMMm
But yeah...porchetta sandwiches ROCK and Porchetta & Co. has a good product going on... -
Review from T Y.
Toronto, ON
11/6/2011
Had the pork sandwich and pork plate with roasted potato. Had choice of hot sauce and 2 types of mustard on sandwich, I did not get any additional toppings. The pork was nice and tender but the sandwich was a bit dry.
Price was fairly decent - $5.75 for sandwich and $8.95 for the plate. Joint accepts cash only. There are only about 5 seats but a nice spot for people watch out the window.
Would come back if I have cravings for roasted pork -
Review from Chris P.
You know it's going to be good when you can smell the place a block away.
It was a brisk Sunday morning when I met two fellow Yelpers for lunch. The windows were steamy and Porchetta was just gearing up for a busy lunch. The place is small but it is bursting at the seams with love for their craft.
Coming here for the first time was a fantastic experience. The staff were really friendly and were more than helpful making suggestions on what I should try on my first of many more trips to come. I had the Porchetta sandwich with rapini and truffle sauce along with their soup of the day, a prochetta chowder.
Both the chowder and sandwich were amazing. There were so many flavours mixed into the chowder and they were all so well blended. I'll warn you that even the small bowl of soup is quite filling. The sandwich just melted in my mouth. The soft, moist meat mixed with the odd crispy bite keeps you on your toes.
DO NOT SKIP THE TRUFFLE SAUCE!
You might as well stay home if that's your plan.
If you haven't been here yet, drop everything your doing right now and go. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
I've been here twice and I can say, hands down, that Porchetta and Co.'s serves one of the best pork sandwiches ever.
The pork meat is succulent and flavourful. Each bite is different: from soft and moist meat to crunchy crackling. I don't mind if I bite into a piece of fat. It's meat that's been marinated for 24 hours so that the piece of fat is full of flavour.
You can get different toppings to go with your pork sandwich like mozzarella, rappini, tomato sauce, mushrooms, and the decadently flavourful, truffle sauce. They range from $0.25 to $0.75. Get the truffle sauce with your sandwich, it is to die for.
As for the sides, you can try their rappini or roasted potatoes but get the soup, especially if it's the Porchetta special. This medley includes porchetta bits, bacon, prosciutto, white kidney beans, rappini, potato and truffle sauce. It's dense, heavy and absolutely delicious. But save it for last, otherwise you won't have room to finish your sandwich.
Things to keep in mind:
- It's cash only
- Limited seating (5 stools in total)
- The staff is awesome
- You leave Porchetta's smelling like meat -
Review from Jess W.
Toronto, ON
5/20/2011 3 photos
I came by on Mother's day since I assumed most brunch spots would be packed. After seeing the sign outside their restaurant for their Porchetta breakfast Sammy (porchetta, baked egg, crackling and smoked gouda), I was sold! The bread it was served on was the same bread they use for their regular sandwiches. The combination of the meat with the egg and smoked gouda was amazing... What I really liked about Porchetta was that they ensure each sandwich has a bit of crackling on it. Despite how bad it is for you, I could eat crackling like chips... yum!
My boyfriend got the regular porchetta sandwich and added mushrooms and rapini. He didn't want to add any of the extra sauces (truffle/tomato) because he really wanted to taste the meat. I found that the sandwich didn't really need any condiments, but I'm not sure this would be the case if we hadn't added the extra toppings. Next time I want to try the truffle sauce! We both really enjoyed this sandwich as well.. the meat was very moist and flavourful.
Things to keep in mind:
- the place is really tiny (about 5-6 stools max), so it's really catered to take-out
- cash only (we almost didn't have enough cash for our meal!)
- toppings cost extra ($0.25 to $0.95 each)Listed in: Artery-clogging goodness
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Review from Jay W.
Markham, ON
3/28/2011
I came in here with high expectations of Porchetta NYC but left a little disappointed. The porchetta smells good, looks good, and tastes good, but it wasn't blow your mind great. Like other reviewers stated, it reminded me of Chinese roasted pork, which you can get a full take-out box of for the same price. What I mean by this comparison is that it didn't have much flavour. Porchetta usually should have hints of herbs or smoky/salty proscuitto... but the Porchetta here just tasted like unseasoned roasted pork.
What really irked me though was how the person at the front weighs the meat per sandwich prior to making your sandwich like it was made of sturgeon caviar, white truffles, and saffron. If it's "overweight", he/she will meticulously pick out that sliver of meat. That to me just screamed cheap.
I did however, like how they ensured that every sandwich had a bit of crackling with it. If they didn't cheap out on the meat, I'd probably give them another star. -
Review from Jen C.
Everybody is losing their minds over Porchetta & Co, a tiny sandwich shop on Dundas West. With a limited menu (guess what they serve?) done well, it's no surprise.
Though Porchetta & Co. isn't anywhere close to my roaming range for lunch, I decided to make the trek out and see what all the fuss was about. The buzz had been strong since they opened and the waves of main-stream media coverage had just begun. At the time of my first visit, eye magazine had just pushed their review out the door, Globe & Mail was slated for the Saturday, and NOW Magazine was on deck. Despite all this, I pretty much went in with no expectations. It helped that I hadn't had a proper porchetta sandwich before.
Given my greenness, I decided that the basics were in order and opted for their plain porchetta sandwich. Nice bits of crackling, charred and caramelized fatty bits, a little olive oil on the bun, and all that lovely porky goodness. It's an excellent sandwich, but I didn't think it was worth the insanity. Except I kept thinking about it. That taste. The textures. And when I could make my next visit?
Two days later, I found myself at their door again. I didn't think I'd be back so soon, but the memory of my first sandwich lingered and thoughts of my next sandwich compelled me. This time, I took the recommendation of rapini and truffle sauce. To be honest, I thought the bite of the rapini distracted from the delicious nuances of porchetta and that the truffle sauce got lost in it all. Not bad, but the plain sandwich was better to me. Luckily, you can get the rapini on the side, which is perfect, I think.
And speaking of sides, I tried the potatoes. While okay, I don't really need to supplement my sandwich with anything, so these spuds are off my re-order list.
Also on offer is a soup of the day. Their creamy cabbage soup with smoked bacon was quite nice, not too salty, and had a liberal dose of grainy mustard. Very chowder-like and fortifying against the cold. With the sandwich, a small soup was a bit much for lunch. I managed not to fall into a food coma when I got back to work.
Despite the distance travelled, I didn't have to wait long to get my food - maybe 5 minutes at off-peak hours - and I managed to snag one of the few stools in the small space both times as well. But I can imagine that during the lunch-hour rush, you'd be out of luck. While I still maintain that this is a bit too far out of my lunchtime grazing area, it doesn't really matter. Count me in as one who's lost her mind too. Happily.
(x-posted from the blog, foodpr0n) -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
1/30/2011 3 photos
My first ever experience with Porchetta, and yummmmy!!
The pork that served here really remind me of Chinese Roasted Pork..but way more tender, tasty and moist!!
My sandwich has a mixture of lean meat, fat and skin (crunchy skin!!). The bun itself is really light, crusty and perfect pairing to the pork!! This sandwich is one I would say worth every single calories and fat content!!
The seating here is tight..but it feels really homey and warm. There are now 7 seatings...and not too many people eating in...
For $5.99, Porchetta sandwich.here is great as a snack, not as a meal itself. I will suggest to skip the adds on.. since the sandwich does taste good as it is... -
Review from Dale M.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2011
This is dangerous.
I've just discovered fresh, high-grade, hand-made porchetta inside a five-minute walking radius of home. Bye-bye girlish figure. Bye-bye home-cooked meals. And hello to one of Toronto's newest and fastest-rising niche-market nooks.
That this little piggy-pusher has been under my nose for months without a visit is beyond me. Now that I know what I've been missing, I suspect it'll rival Caplansky's for a quick, convenient meat fix (though Toronto's sultan of smoked meat will always be my main man when I'm craving kosher).
While there are a few other options on the menu, Porchetta & Co. is essentially a porchetta sandwich shop. They make it fresh, from pork shoulder, prosciutto and - oh yes - pork belly, serving it up hot in both the "sandwich" and "plate" form factors well-known to barbeque and shawarma enthusiasts alike.
I'm glad I got take-out. Something told me that my first time would be special, and it was - I ate at home in solitude, moaning "oh, god" occasionally as I devoured every last bite and licked the wrapper clean of mushroom juice and truffle sauce drippings. The sandwich had a little bit of everything to it, including a moderate dose of crackling adding a nice crunch once in a while, and the grainy mustard broke the fattiness with a bit of zing (thanks, Stephanie C.). I did think the sandwich was a bit small; perhaps a "large" size would be a good option.
About the only thing better right now would be a crackling sandwich. Anyone know where to get one? -
Review from Jason K.
Updated - 5/15/2011
- decided to give them a second chance because i was a) hungry like a dinosaur and b) ready to try a porchetta sandwich with some toppings
- as part of b), my first time out, i got the sandwich "au naturelle", and it was bland and dry as hell
- this time, i got sauteed mushrooms and some tomato sauce, and it was pretty dang tasty.
- the meat was still a little dry, but once you sauce that bad boy up, a transformation occurs.
- congrats porchetta, you won me over.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/13/2011
- i dont understand what the hype is all about. sorry to say.
- perhaps because i grew up eating… Read more »
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Review from Goose K.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2011
Porchette & Co. induces what I call the full Moon Effect. At least once a month (slowly moving to a bi-weekly schedule) I turn into a ravenous werewolf with an insatiable urge for crispy pork flesh!
I bike down to Dundas with purpose, suck back the drool, step in and politely ask for my sandwich accompanied with truffle sauce and dijon mustard. In the meantime, I feel for any growth on my incisors and resist the temptation to bite the person next to me.
Once I get my fix I'll slowly make my way home in contentment all the while anticipating the next full moon. -
Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Definitely a tasty Porchetta sandwich! Here is what I love about the place:
- great porchetta with crispy skin left on
- amazing bun...I swear the bread is almost as good as the porchetta
- grey poupon mustard (the thick seedy one)
- simply menu, they know what they do well and stick to it!
Go here! So far, this is the only place that serves proper porchetta in downtown Toronto. -
Review from Pavel B.
Toronto, ON
6/13/2011 1 photo
Pork, wrapped in pork, wrapped in more pork... it is absolutely drool-worthy! The seedy mustard and truffle sauce are an amazing addition.
These guys only serve one thing - porschetta, and they do that wonderfully! Certainly not something you can have too often, but an occasional lunch here is a little slice of heaven.
Very highly recommended. -
Review from Aaron B.
Toronto, ON
2/10/2011
What's up, bland meat ?
Just when you though Toronto is going BBQ Bonanza, Porchetta and Co opens. It is all about the pig. Meat, Skin, Fat.
We had pork sandwich and pork plate.
Gotta say - I don't like places that weigh your food.
The pros should weigh by the eye, and always give the client a feeling that he's getting "that little extra shtickle" rather than lab approach to food.
The meat is ok - but I've had better. Any REAL deli that respects itself sells meat with more taste, aroma and texture. Mine needed a lot of mustard.
The fact that the tastiest part was the crispy skin makes the whole experience skin-deep and makes me grunt for Drake's BBQ sloppy sandwich.
it's all about the packaging, because I'm sure the neighboring Portuguese butchers sell better meat and tastier sandwiches.
But hey, they don't have a nice logo on the window or friends in Now magazines that can lure in the hipster clientele.
Two Oinks was all I could render. -
Review from Chris G.
Toronto, ON
6/26/2011
There is only one item on the menu, and it is very good!
The place is small, so it's ideal for take-out. The service is quick and friendly. The sourdough bread for the sandwich is incredibly fresh!
All around, a good place for a delicious, quick pork sandwich -
Review from andrew a.
1/21/2011
your all nuts or incredibly deprived. The sandwich is OK, the meat cutter weighing out and making sure she didnt go over 5 ounces of meat for my meat plate was obscene. there was a teeny bit of skin, meh. not worth going back unless im at dundas and bathurst and really want to eat. Now, the SOUP is bananas (i had the split pea), worth returning to during the winter for the soup. I tried the rapini, which was absolutely horrible, just horrible.
Once again, if you want amazing pork go to HO HO BBQ in scarberia, that dude knows what the F**** is up.. -
Review from Giuliana B.
SCARBOROUGH, ON
1/12/2011
***3.5 ***
I love Porchetta and I've had it a quite a few times, but it had been a while since the last time I'd had some, so this was definitely a treat I was looking forward to. The menu offers one thing and one thing only - Porchetta. You can have it on a sandwich or as a platter with a side for a few bucks extra, oh - and they also have a soup of the day.
We both decided on the sandwich and added some extras (sauteed mushrooms and truffle sauce). They also have cheese,tomato sauce and rappini as possible extras to add to your sandwich. These extras will cost you anywhere from .25 cents to .75 cents.
The sandwich was delicious - I got some cracklings,tender meat,and some fatty parts which all added up to a delicious experience. The mushrooms were good, but I couldn't really taste the truffle sauce so I don't know that it enhanced my sandwich in any way. Oh - and the bun on this sandwich is great. Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. Just perfect.
My only complaint would be that for $5.99 I was hoping My sandwich would be bigger. I was fairly satisfied with my sandwich, but could have definitely have had more. My companion is a guy and he was left hungry. I would think that most guys with a healthy appetite would need two of these to feel satisfied.
Our 2 sandwiches with our extras came to $15.99 tax included - and remember! CASH ONLY!!!!! -
Review from Joe H.
This is one of those places that you would pass by in a second if you didn't already know where it is. I mean, the whole store front is as big as 2 TTC booths in the subway. Saying that, it always seems to be rammed... hmmmm... interesting.
Speaking of that... there is probably a total of 4 stools in the place and they're all on the wall/window (hah, to the window, to the wall). It gets pretty packed in there and I can't imaging ordering a soup and having nowhere to eat it. Kinda sucks that way.
The menu is drop dead simple. Sandwich of Porchetta or plate of it? What toppings did you want on it? Done. From reading some of the earlier reviews, I ordered one plain, straight up to see how this bad boy would taste. From there they would weigh the meat and then put it on a a fresh bun.
First of all, the bun was amazing. Crusty, but not so crusty that it cut your mouth; but still soft, chewy with a bit of olive oil on it. Between that was the Porchetta. Let me explain what porchetta is (according to the website). It's pork shoulder, wrapped in procuitto, wrapped in pork belly. Yup... amazing. Then, they take the skin on the pork belly and crumble it on top like croutons (if croutons were amazing this is what they'd be).
I actually found the sandwich kinda dry. The problem I think is that they cut the porchetta into a little "serving dish" before and then pick some of it out to weigh when you order a sandwich. Mine probably didn't have enough fat or something. Don't get me wrong, I had a couple of bites that were just amazing, but it wasn't exactly every bite. I kinda had to give in and slather it with a bit of mustard to moisten it a tiny bit.
All in all, give this place a try. I was pleasantly surprised when I came here.
PS. there are no bathrooms... so... yah. -
Review from Antonia W.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011
So I was actually on my way to The Hoof Cafe with Danny W. when I literally arm-barred him. Reason? I saw the sign for Porchetta & Co. on the window and HAD to try it after hearing so many great things about it :)
We ordered one porchetta sandwich to share since we still fully intended to go to Hoof Cafe. So for those who don't know, the basic sandwich is literally meat piled on a sourdough bun. The bun comes from across the street, Caldense Bakery. The meat inside was super moist.. there were some fatty bits which don't appeal to me, but I can totally see that it's necessary to get the meat so juicy. I love the crunchy bits of skin. That was always my favorite part when eating roasted pork chinese-style. We had shrooms and the grainy mustard to go with it. Came out to 8 bucks. I would definitely consider stopping by again if I was in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. If you want a super-quick sandwich to go and love pork, this is for you!
