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Sky Blue Sky Sandwiches
Category: Restaurants Sandwiches Sandwiches [Edit]
605 Bloor St WToronto, ON M6G 1K5
Neighbourhoods: Koreatown, Palmerston, Seaton Village
(647) 351-7945
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 11 am - 8 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
29 reviews for Sky Blue Sky Sandwiches
Review Highlights
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"The decor is filled with Wilco posters and has cozy little..." In 14 reviews -
"Bread is baked fresh, and there's a breakfast menu as well." In 3 reviews -
"...has "thinly sliced oven roasted turkey with cream cheese..." In 3 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Robbie G.
Toronto, ON
I walked in here one day for a quick bite to eat. Very easy to miss if you aren't looking for it, and hard to tell if they're even open from the exterior. Regardless, well worth walking up those stairs to peek inside!
Once inside, I was greeted by some chill looking guys who seemed friendly. They passed me a menu and made casual conversation. I decided on the "Kingpin" sandwich (pulled pork), and was amazed at how good this $5 sandwich tasted. Seriously....all the sandwiches... $5!! The ingredients, including the bread were fresh. I tossed it back with a rootbeer and went on my way a happy camper.
Considering the product and price, this place is a no brainer. Go to Sky Blue Sky and get yourself a yummy sandwich, there are lots to choose from! -
Review from Brian K.
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dead on a Saturday night, my friend and I stopped by here for a bite. Really, I wasn't even sure it was open looking at it from the street.
The dude manning the shop was extreeeeemely chill. We chatted with him for a bit on our options, and he seemed to know his shit. They only had whole wheat bread available, and he steered us towards sandwiches that worked best with that kind of bread. The menu is long, so some direction was appreciated.
I had the Casino Queen on his recommendation, which was really great. Balsamic, bacon, avocado. A++ WOULD ORDER AGAIN.
We didn't intend on it, but this was the perfect filler while we were waiting to get into Guu. Come here for a cheap, good sandwich, then head to Guu when your number gets called for booze and noise. -
Review from Emma L.
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I may be biased because I can't eat the sandwiches (damn wheat intolerance), but Sky Blue Sky didn't seem special when I was there. Sure, there's the cute Wilco theme and fun sandwich names, but that only counts for so much. When I was there for lunch I grabbed a mint cucumber salad and pulled pork poutine. The salad had no mint flavour whatsoever and tasted like they had used a not very good bottled dressing. The pulled pork "poutine" was more like super saucy pulled pork on top of fries, with a teensy bit of shredded cheese -- definitely not cheese curds. And the worst thing? We ate in, but they still gave us our food in takeout styrofoam containers.
My dad loves the sandwiches here, so maybe one should just always stick to those. Prices seem reasonable and they do have a lot of variety.Listed in: Get outta town, Toronto
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Review from Kent P.
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Go up the stairs. Get a sandwich and play scrabble. It will cost you like 5$.
My sandwich was exactly as described and grilled. I don't know shit about Wilco, so all the song title sandwich names were just sort of weird. Maybe I'll listen to them now that I ate that chicken one with the pear and bacon. It was pretty good. -
Review from Linda N.
Maple, ON
10/5/2011
Definitely a hidden gem on Bloor Street. For months on end I would pass by this place and would never bother walking in until one night my friends and I had trouble deciding on a place to eat it. That's when I finally turn my head, saw the lit place, and checked out the menu.
At first when you walk into the sandwich shop, you're unsure of what to expect. Do you sit yourself or wait to be seated. But once you take a look at your surroundings, you could tell its a casual place. My suggestion, if you're with a few friends, grab an empty booth if you can. It's more private.
Sky Blue Sky is a small cute sandwich shop run by Chad and his wife. There isn't a lot of places to sit at (especially if you come in with a big group) so remember as soon as you get in, grab a menu from the counter and find a seat. Overall service is superb. The owners are very nice and they try to make conversation with you whenever they can (especially if you're a regular).
As for the waiting time on your food, depending on how crowded the place is and how much staff is on hand, your wait time might be different every time. To ensure that your sandich comes quick, you can always pre-order it online (I haven't tried this yet but I do know a lot of people order their sandwiches ahead of time to eat in/take out)
Now comes to the food. I LOVE THE SANDWICHES HERE! There's no doubt about it, the sandwiches are not only made fresh to order but are reasonably price, filling, and delicious! I'm the type of person that would never order a sandwich when I go to a restaurant or even have it for breakfast or dinner. I'm not a fan of sandwiches at all because they bore me. Sky Blue Sky on the other hand does not. I have gone to Sky Blue Sky for breakfast, lunch, and dinner before and I'm always satisfied when I leave.
You definitely have to give this a try!
Asides from Sandwiches, they also making splendid soups and potatoe wedges!!!! -
Review from Jen M.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2011
A place you can easily walk pass and miss, but definitely a place worth to try. It's a place that I have been multiple times because of various reason:
1. Sandwich names are unique,
2. Prices are very reasonable,
3. Hearty food quality, and
4. Genuine good service (esp. from the owner)
SBS has just gained a customer for life! =) -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2011
Meh! This place was alright. I'm not into Wilco or schticks and charm can only get you so far, so I review solely on the sandwich, which was the pulled pork, aka The Kingpin. Is that a Wilco song? Should I myspace them?
The pulled pork was lukewarm. Was it even cooked through? It wasn't even saucy. I don't think it was even pork. It was grey in colour and kind of dewy looking. The bread was really doughy and sorta gross. They boasted about how they make the bread fresh every morning. Really, I think they forgot to bake it. And why serve pulled pork between two doughy slices of bread that gets really soggy upon interacting with the meat? What happened to a nice crusty bun? And the cheese was processed cheese. Don't go messin' with processed cheese. I used to throw that up on my ceiling as a kid, watch it stick for a minute then slap down onto the floor. I'd eat this cheese in delight. I wasn't delighted about this cheese though. It was sad and limp.
Thumbs down, man. The folks behind the counter seemed really passionate about what they do though. So, if you're passionate about the sandwich, please do it right. Sorry Wilco fans. I hear Wilco are adult contemporary now. -
Review from Lauren M.
The sandwiches are good, but don't let the fancy names and descriptions fool you. They are made with quite plain ingredients (deli meat, packaged sliced cheese) and they look exactly like something your mom packed in your lunch in grade 4.
I have lived nearby here for awhile but I have never been in. Sandwich shops just do not excite me.
I did have an online coupon which allowed me to buy 2 sandwiches for $5. I stopped in on my way home from work to try it out. Got a soup ($3.49) as well.
It's quite nice inside. The owner is REALLY friendly and chatty. He takes his time making the sandwiches, so I waited a bit as he was preparing some others first.
There are some nice loungy leather couches, a few booths, free books to read and a few board games. Looks like a really good place to veg out for a few hours and read over a coffee and sandwich.
The menu has changed recently and there are new sandwiches (website still shows most of the old ones).
I tried "We're Just Friends" - chicken, swiss cheese, roasted red peppers, red onions and also a new one (with the word "Sea" in it) which was tuna w/ lemon juice, honey mustard, capers and tomatoes.
The first one was quite good, but the tuna one just tasted too much of canned tuna, not enough ingredients added to mask the fishy taste. Wouldn't recommend that one.
The soup was chicken & rice and very average.Listed in: Picky Eaters
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Review from Jonathan M.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Offers a great selection of very good sandwiches made to order. Super-inexpensive, made with love, free wifi. Opens most days at 7am. What's not to love?
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Review from Sarah M.
Toronto, ON
3/11/2011
Hubby and I had a hankering for sandwiches so we decided to give this place a try.
I had the egg salad on wheat, hubby had the cure for loneliness, and we shared the cucumber mint salad and a bowl of Senegalese peanut soup. We ended our meal with peanut butter and chocolate (vegan friendly) cookies.
Everything was super tasty. The bread on my sandwich was great. It had been grilled/pressed, so it was warm and toasted. The egg salad wasn't innovative, but it was a good egg salad. A simple sandwich, but that's really what I wanted to eat. The hubby really enjoyed his sandwich. I kept hearing "mmmmm" coming from his side of the table.
The cucumber mint salad was really good. It was sweet, vinegary, and crunchy. I've had a lot of disappointing cucumber salads in the past few years, so I was so happy to finally find one that was exactly what I'd been looking for. The peanut soup was also good. Not overly peanuty, but a nice smooth flavor with a good amount of depth. super tasty. The hubby also loved both of these.
Cookies were also very good, but I couldn't finish mine after the feast of the sandwich and sides.
The owner is super nice and was a pleasure to talk to.
So I recommend this place for good, solid, fresh sandwiches. I wouldn't recommend it if you're expecting fancy sandwiches. This just isn't that kind of place. Just good sandwiches made with care from tasty ingredients. -
Review from Cisi Z.
Toronto, ON
8/3/2010
MmmMMmmm, had the Wishful Thinking and Dreamer In My Dream today and it was deeee-lish (my friend and I shared each others). The latter was impeccably flavourful, like WOWzers! Fireworks in my mouth, y'alls. And the former? A more subdued but ever so pleasing to the tastebuds (avocado *heart*).
Chad was incredibly kind and made small talk to us while we paid our tab. We also managed to nab a free scone on the way out, hehe! (It was a slow day, :P.) Yummy. I'd love to come back to try the other sandwiches and definitely a soup!
Sky Blue Sky Sandwiches also looks like a great place to hangout. They've got a fireplace! And couches! And rather secluded compartments if you'd like more privacy. There's a lot of light coming into the space so it's very, very welcoming. You can also people watch, :).
Apparently, if you order online (check out the SBSS website for their menu) there's a 5% discount (this is according to BlogTO). Get at 'em! "Email us your order and the time of pickup at sbs_sandwiches@yahoo.ca and we will have a fresh sandwich waiting for you when you arrive." Does it get any better than that? -
Review from Kat F.
Brace yourselves, hipsters: contrary to the recent press explosion, this place didn't actually just open. It's been around since October 2009.
Yep, all the sandwiches are named after Wilco songs and there are Wilco posters on the wall. But this isn't what brought me here - it was the lure of 17 types of sandwiches on freshly baked bread, 7 of them vegetarian. I've been longing for a strictly sandwich place to open up to tear down Sandwich Box's reign as king of the roost for years now. Ike's Place in San Francisco, which offers 100+ sandwiches and boasts two hour lineups down the block (1888 reviews and counting: http://www.yelp.com/bi...) comes to mind.
I was a loyal Wilco fan for the first four albums straight - but when A Ghost Is Born dropped in 2004 I was no longer interested, and I've certainly never listened to Sky Blue Sky or Wilco ST. But I have always felt a sort of kinship with Jeff Tweedy as a fellow migraineur and fiery soul. If you've never listened to Wilco and want to, may I highly recommend Summerteeth (1999) and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002). The former is where my sandwich of choice "She's A Jar" (almond butter spread on slices of honey-nut whole wheat bread, topped with slices of banana and sprinkled with cinnamon for $4.29) got its inspiration. It's a great song and a bangin' 1-14 sold album of tracks. Acquire it.
Sandwich was tasty but a thick layer of almond butter is tough to eat and I don't recommend it when meeting up with an old friend to catch up. You'll struggle to spit out more than a few words at a time between peeling almond butter from the roof of your mouth. I shall choose another veggie sandwich next time. The tomato & rice soup with parmesan was beyond excellent. You know how I feel about rice in my soup (adore it), and along with a bottled Nestea my lunch was still under $10 (I believe $8.50 was the total).
Ambiance needs some work - it could be cozier in here. Dunno what used to be in this space but I'm thinking Mr. Sub? I was hoping for more of a Green Room/Nirvana (minus the mice) or Tequila Bookworm vibe. Music (Coldplay, Klaxons, Ryan Adams) is pleasant, but please, crank the volume. I like a soundtrack while eating.
Will be back! -
Review from Julianna C.
Calgary, AB
9/27/2010
I went there today for a late lunch... and it was ballin'. The combination of ingredients in my sandwich was very thoughtful, a little bit quirky but... it worked. Oh man, did it work.
To be totally honest, I'm not familiar with Wilco, or the hipster scene in general. I know, drag me out back and beat me, etc... but I still enjoyed the atmosphere and vibe of the place.
I really dig how they make and press the sammies to order. Hot 'n fresh!Listed in: Quick Bites in The…
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Review from Becca G.
Toronto, ON
1/18/2011
It's not so much the WIlco-themed nature of Sky Blue Sky that attracts me, it's the humble demeanour that the place emits. Though the sandwiches are yummy (if simple), I usually go to catch up with owner Chad Comfort.
I first went to Sky Blue Sky last summer, after returning from exchange in Scotland (I had been eager to check the place out while away). When going up to pay for my sandwich, Chad and I naturally got talking about music, I mentioned a few Scottish bands I got into while I was away, and we discussed NXNE, and just like that, a new friendship was formed. Okay, okay, it took a few visits, but you get the drift. This man is what I like to call a "gentle giant" (did I mention his name is Chad COMFORT?) as he is very kind and caters to the needs of his customers (once allergies came up in conversation and he found out I was allergic to nuts- the next time I came in he confirmed it with me and then promptly cleaned off his knife to make my sandwich- awesome.) What I like most about Chad is that he was the first person to ever acknowledge me as a "regular" at a Toronto establishment.
So, sandwiches. All loaves of bread are baked fresh each morning (call a day ahead if you'd like to order one!) and as a previous poster has mentioned, the ingredients are simple and no-fuss. After all, it usually is just Chad up there whipping these things up, and he's gotta make em quick! My favourite is the Casino Queen (A.M. album) - turkey breast, bacon, grilled onions and avocado toasted on whole wheat bread, consistently delicious so I can always expect it to taste good. I'm kind of lame in the sense that I always order the same sandwich, but altogether there are 10 non-veg and 7 veg sandwiches to choose from. I've tried the basic veg equivalent to the C. Queen, Wishful Thinking (A Ghost is Born) and it's tasty, if you're into portobello mushrooms. But friends who have joined me here have always enjoyed their sandwiches too, be it the Kingpin or the Hoodoo Voodoo.
With the plain decor (Wilco tour posters) and simple seating, this place creates a very non-distracting environment, which is actually perfect for getting a little work done, especially without the obnoxious glow of a Macbook Apple logo haunting you at every turn of your head. Hearty indie tunes are always on loop here too... Arcade Fire... Beirut... and of course, Wilco.
No need to make Reservations here ( Yankee Hotel Foxtrot), just stop by, eat in or take away and perhaps stroll down to Christie Pits. Unwrap that red and white checkered wax paper, and sink your teeth into your Wilco song of choice- Either Way (Sky Blue Sky), you'll be satisfied. It's Just That Simple (A.M.)
BOOYAH (obligatory reference to The Brendan Leonard Show, which introduced me to Wilco in 2004-- those who know what I'm talking about, big props to you.)
Read more about S.B.S. and side projects from two Wilco members in this December '09 article from the Globe and Mail!
http://m.theglobeandma... -
Review from Wendy H.
Toronto, ON
3/2/2010
I was sent a link to this place today; previously I'd never heard of it. Hours later, it's easily become part of my weekly schedule (I can see the future).
Attraction 1: The Wilco theme. Nice, a hook. The sandwiches are named after Wilco songs and there are some Wilco posters on the wall. Otherwise, the decor of the place obviously hasn't changed from whatever used to be in there. Maybe some bright colours on the wall would add a little extra oomph.
Attraction 2: Homemade breads and soups. BIG PLUS FOR ME!! Soup & sandwich may be my favourite meal, and homemade is very important. Brown bread, zesty lemon white, cranberry cream cheese are some of the loaves up for grabs.
Attraction 3: Inventive sandwiches. I have vowed to try every vegetarian option on the menu - there are several. They look scrum-diddly-umptious. Red-Eyed & Blue with mozzarella, tomato and basil leaves? YUP. She's A-Jar with almond butter and banana? I will be eating that.
Today I had the One Wing, which has "thinly sliced oven roasted turkey with cream cheese, cranberry sauce and a hint of stuffing." SOUNDS SPECTACULAR. I regret to inform you that it wasn't as beautiful as I hoped it would be; the bread was easily the best part while the turkey was grocery store variety and the stuffing most likely Stovetop.
The tomato rice soup was the best part of my meal for sure. I've yet to try the pumpkin cookie, which looks divine but I'm too full to eat.
The owner is SO NICE. I had a nice chat with him and he's delightful. I told him about my vow to try every vegetarian sandwich; I hope he took me seriously. The challenge is on.
PS: Keep your eyes open, the place is kind of hidden on the top level of a small plaza thing on Bloor. But it's worth a visit - huge sandwiches and c-h-e-a-p.
PPS: There's a breakfast menu, too. And muffins & scones.Listed in: OK Fine, Maybe College Street…
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Review from Daniel B.
4/6/2010 5 Check-ins Here
An instant favorite.
Now, there's no more need to truck down to Greensboro for Sticks and Stones Pizza. We have our own indie rock fast food shrine.... and it's stellar.
This amazingly friendly shop is tucked in just-out-of-the-field-of-vision on an upper step on the south side around Palmerston and Bloor.
We ordered a variety of sandwiches. My favorite was the "Wishful Thinking".... a wonderfully generous portion of fresh portabello and avacado layed with caramalized onions and served on thickly cut superfresh honey wheat bread. Oh. And it was pressed. (I'm literally salivating as I write this.)
This is enough for a five star review.... but there's more! Not only do they have comfortable seating and secluded booths... they also have free wi-fi, some of Flatstock's best rock posters and a selection of interesting reading material.
Sandwiches are not hard to make, but they're very hard to make well. These guys seem to have a true passion for making sure that every customer who walks in the door is completely satisfied.
I'm going to be back here over and over again, even if they don't have a sandwich named after my favorite Wilco song. (Yet.) -
Review from Tina H.
9/27/2010
Service is really friendly! They make their soups and sandwiches from scratch, which I can appreciate.
Everything--in-house or to go--is served in/on waxed paper and environmentally unfriendly styrofoam. Part of me dies inside when I'm eating soup at a "restaurant" and it's served in a styrofoam bowl with a plastic spoon. This is so wasteful.
Unfortunately, the soup I tried--though it sounded exciting and smelled delicious--lacked in flavour. Definitely didn't impress. It reminds me why I always skip soup at a restaurant.
The sandwich I had was pretty mediocre (Dreamer in My Dream, I think? The beef one). I would've made something much better at home. The bread used isn't that high quality at all, and it's flattened and pressed all funny. Picture Wonder Bread in a panini press where the white part still stays somewhat white and ends up looking stale-like (toasted?) and the grill lines leave much to be desired. It's probably the worst pressed sandwich, visually, complete with random black charred bits. I've had my fair share of pressed sandwiches and this ranks among the worst, visually.
On the plus side, the flavour of the sandwich was pretty good. There was roast beef and corned beef in mine, with cheese. Pretty tasty. Presentation was awful, but it tasted pretty good. For $5 though--same price as Subway--it's hard to choose what I'd rather spend $5 on.
The air also had a faint smell of a mix of paint, beer and urine. Maybe it was the soup. Not sure. I didn't like it. Even someone else asked what the smell was and if it was the soup. It's an odd smell. It doesn't smell good, but not really bad either.
Even though it's cheap, you'll get a much better sandwich experience at a restaurant or at Sandwich Box.
As much as I'd love to love this place because the service is friendly and it's so close, I can't. I won't be coming back here again.
This place would get 2 stars but the guy was so friendly and they make everything from scratch and have fresh bread around, so that definitely works in their favour. -
Review from Chris I.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2012
I had the "Dreamer In My Dreams" roast beef sandwich and the girlfriend had a BLT with ham followed by a scookie (scone+cookie). Everything was delicious, even though my sandwich fell apart before I even took a first bite. Doesn't really matter though because the fresh bread and ingredients tasted great, especially for the price. I think it might be best for take-out to be honest, because it was cold and we sat in one of the wood booths which wasn't very comfortable and felt a little "claustrophobic".
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Review from Maggie G.
10/4/2011
Friends and I were recently in town for the Wilco shows at Massey Hall, so of course we had to make a trip to the sandwich shop whose entire menu is an ode to the band.
The space is small but comfortable, and it was busy when we went in. When we ordered at the counter (and paid), we were told they'd just gotten a lot of take-out orders and that it would probably be 20 minutes or so until our sandwiches were ready. We said it was no problem, since we weren't in any hurry.
We got the last available table and sat down to wait. And wait. And wait. We heard some Wilco. We heard the National. We heard the Avett Brothers. We heard more Wilco. We walked around and looked at all the posters on the walls. We looked at magazines. We finished our drinks. Finally, an hour and a half later, we realized people who came in after us were being served, and twice we were brought food that should've gone to someone else and was immediately taken away from us.
I had to go to the counter to ask about our sandwiches twice, and they seemed thoroughly annoyed both times, even though I told them what time we'd come in and that people who'd ordered after us had already gotten their food, eaten, and left. When we finally got our sandwiches, we'd been there for two hours and we didn't even get an apology.
My friends had the Bull Black Nova and the Dreamer In My Dreams, and I had the Airline to Heaven. The sandwiches were all good, but we could've seen an entire Wilco show in the time we had to wait for them. -
Review from Mason W.
Toronto, ON
3/2/2010 1 photo
There's something about a place with a Wilco theme that makes it irresistible, but luckily Sky Blue Sky is more dedicated to giving you a good sandwich than it is to tickling your hipster bone.
All the sandwiches on the menu have names taken from Wilco songs, and all are made with TLC and a lot of thought, right down to what spreads and what bread would make the sandwich perfect. I had Hell Is Chrome, their deviled egg salad sandwich, on a deliciously sweet, spongy white bread that made it a lot less messy than I feared it would be.
I do have two quibbles, though:
1. everything was served with disposable cups, plates and wax paper. We were told there's no room for a dishwasher in the back, but hopefully that will change.
2. I was in a group of 8, and as a result it took quite awhile to get our food. But if you're prepared for that, grab a soda, take a window seat and watch Bloor Street go by. The sandwich will be worth the wait.
Aside from the menu offerings and a couple framed Wilco posters, there's little indication that the place carries a theme, which allows the food to take the headlining slot. Bread is baked fresh, and there's a breakfast menu as well. The owner of the place is a thoughtful and very kind man with a vision all his own.
I'll be heading back this week, and again and again in the future. -
Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
4/8/2010
Sky Blue Sky is a sandwich shop, or is it a restaurant, or is it a cafe? See, I'm a bit confused because my experience there could have been oh so many things, well, everything except encouraging.
On the recommendation of yelp, weeklies and hipster friends alike, my boyfriend and I decided to enjoy some Wilco-sandwich loving on a rainy afternoon. What better than a restaurant called Sky Blue Sky on a day that is all grey?
Well, first things first. If you're going to have a sandwich shop where people pay up front for food, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the food would be served within maybe a 10-15 minute window at most.
If instead you decide to be a restaurant, it might be prudent to reflect on the customer service aspect of a restaurant and mention to customers that the sandwich they ordered would take over half an hour to make due to a backlog of sandwiches.
If in these situations you do neither, and I sit there for over 15 minutes with my order not called, have to ask the staff member (still ringing up new orders and NOT informing any customers of the delay or even the customers still waiting) when mine is expected, and then having them forget also the soup I ordered which took about 20 seconds to ladle from a pot, you should probably rethink the organization of the establishment.
All in all I waited over 30 minutes for my sandwich, 15 for the soup when I realized that they weren't going to get it for me and that I was in here for the long haul.
And yet, this all might have been rectified if the sandwich was any good. But unfortunately, the bread (which IS fantastic) completely overwhelms the One Wing sandwich. I had no idea the 'Thinly sliced oven roasted turkey' was really just bland deli meat, while the cream cheese on the bread was barely a whiff and the stuffing pretty much nonexistent. If I wanted the bread alone I would have bought a loaf, but the sandwich was really disappointing. The 'We're Just Friends' was also extremely bland, the panini was flavourless, and again, the smoked chicken was really just bland deli meat with a tiny hint of roasted red peppers. No seasoning, nothing.
The carrot soup was delicious, thank goodness so I didn't feel like I wasted an entire trip, but definitely not good enough to return to. -
Review from Lora K.
Toronto, ON
4/29/2010
There are a bunch of really awesome things about Sky Blue Sky. First off, I love Wilco, and the Wilco kitchiness does it for me it some strange ways. Second, the sandwiches are OMG-good. My favourite right now is the One Wing, which is like a full turkey dinner on a sandwich.
If you're really into bread, you will enjoy SBS. The bread is fresh every day. If you come in early in the lunch rush, loaves of bread are all over the counter, up and down the walls, and the place has that fresh-bread smell (something enjoyable on the new-car level, but definitely more edible). The sandwiches are huge and have some incredibly tasty things on them, like steaklike portabello mushrooms, pears, avacado, and all sorts of other cool things. On top of that, most of the sandwiches are $4-5, so it's a cheap lunch on top of that.
I've heard great things about the soups, but only had one myself (tomato parsnip). It was pretty decent, but I feel like it needed some salt. If I could have located a salt shaker, I would have been happy, but no luck today (of course, I didn't ask).
I regularly spend half my lunch hour taking the subway 3 stops to visit Sky Blue Sky. If you follow them on Twitter (sbssandwiches, I think), they tweet the day's soups. You can also email in your order and they'll have it ready when you arrive (handy if you're on a time budget and don't have time to wait for a hand-crafted sandwich to be hand-crafted).
A couple of extras - they have all the good flavours of Vitamin Water - the pineapple one, and the peach mango. I haven't seen them anywhere else in Canada. And they have awesome gigantic chocolate chip scones, which, I overheard, have Ghiradelli chocolate chips imported directly from San Francisco. Quite delicious.
To sum it up - they're my go-to place right now when I need excellent/comfort/tasty food. They're really friendly, so you should go give them a shot. -
Review from Joe D.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
I hate hipsters. I'll say it.
But Sky Blue Sky isn't just about the hipsters. It's about silly-cheap sandwiches and really great soups. The sandwiches aren't gourmet -- one of my coworkers described them as sandwiches like you'd make at home -- but there's not one over $5. The bread's homemade and fresh. And the soups - they are so good, inventive, and tasty, and only $2 with a sandwich. That's less than $10 for a stupid-filling sandwich, often pressed and hot and wonderful.
It's not all amazing news, though. The space is uninspiring, and there's not very much room for groups. We regularly have to steal chairs from other tables, and tables from inside booths. And it can take a while for your sandwiches to be prepared, especially if you're with a large group.
In the end, though, you get tasty sandwiches for ridiculously cheap prices, and have to deal with only a smattering of hipsters to do it. Definitely worth a look! -
Review from Robbie E.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2010
Delicious sandwiches. Super nice staff. Amazing prices.
This is my favorite sandwich store in Toronto. The owner is so nice, and takes such great care with every sandwich. It's not fast, but it's worth the wait. The sandwiches and bread are delicious. Interesting, but not overcomplicated. The prices are amazing with every sandwich at $5ish or less. I also love their soups and salads. I recommend this to anyone who likes to pay reasonable prices for things that are delicious. -
Review from Mike C.
Toronto, ON
12/23/2010
Really good soup and sandwich place. The Flu Chaser soup is full-on flavour, and really great. Ignore the hipster overtones, and just rock the tasty food for a great price.
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Review from Amy J.
5/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
I had to go here because it's named after a Wilco album and they're one of my favourite bands. The sandwiches are all less than $5 CAD and they're served on unique, freshly made breads. Named after Wilco tunes and other songs, the large menu has everything from meat filled sandwiches to vegan choices. I ordered the We're Just Friends and the BF got the Casino Queen. I got mine with a spicy bread that give it a nice little kick to it. The decor is filled with Wilco posters and has cozy little booths. I would definitely seek this place out if I were in Toronto again.
Listed in: It's all about the music
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Review from Melanie H.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2011
this is a sandwich place based on wilco songs i think. the first thing that struck me was the mess when i walked in. eeek. the service was really casual, almost too casual, it was like going into someone who loves wilco's messy apartment. My pulled pork sandwich was served "half-warm", and it turned my stomach upside down for a few hours. the ingredients they use are not very good or exciting. I did not feel good afterwards. I asked for a side of pickles which i never got, and my coffee came at the end of the meal, and terrible, cold, blergh. when i left the cashier was handling money with the gloves they were using to make sandwiches with. I ran out.
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Review from Meaghan B.
Toronto, ON
5/1/2010
It was okay, but the way people talk about it I was expecting more. I thought that it would be like... real turkey, not cold-cuts. The service was really nice, and albeit, it's not too pricey for what it is... but I feel I would make a sandwich at home before spending twice as much on something similar.
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Review from Dave M.
Toronto, ON
5/11/2011
To get the griping out of the way: it really isn't made clear if it's table service or not; my companion and I were told (very kindly I might add) to take a couple menus and choose a seat, and from then on we sort of tersely waited, unsure of whether to go up to order, or start playing Clue or chess until someone decided to come over (the small bookshelf was pretty well-stocked also). So, not a full table-service place, but more a sandwich shop with places to sit that does a little something extra.
Hang on a tic. It's a SANDWICH SHOP. Ergo, graded on its sandwiches above all else, and they are outstanding. The entire menu will run you from $3.50 to $5.50 at the most, for in-house bread baked daily and great ingredients tied together with a thematic flair. I've given up on remembering the names (I love Wilco but not nearly as much as these guys do); my sandwich had avocado, bacon, roasted turkey, and the best balsamic-tossed sweet onions I've ever had, on fresh whole wheat. Excellent. My companion had what amounts to a salad nicoise sans lettuce on a three-cheese white bread which the owner spent an excited minute or two explaining WAS the best bread pairing they had. Bread pairing; he used that phrase. Gotta love the passion. And the sandwich was incredible, if a bit worrying on the sodium-content front. We almost ordered a second to share; my jaw was actually on the floor after she graciously gave me a bite. And stealing a second and third when she wasn't looking.
I'm a firm believer that Carla was the worst technical contestant on Top Chef, period, but somehow she made the final episode by 'putting love in' as her secret ingredient. Minds out of the gutter, folks. Having enthusiasm about what you're putting in people's mouths....ok I'm not making this gutter thing any easier. Being excited about the food you're creating makes a difference. It adds to the level of care in execution, and the sense of failure when it doesn't hit; these guys care about their sandwiches very, very much, and it seems they want everyone to walk through the door to have the absolute best they can offer. It's refreshing and well executed and probably the best place to get a sandwich in Toronto. There, I said it.
For trivialities; the space is clean and inviting, wood paneling prevails. The booths are of the high, private, and cozy variety and the lowered 'lounge' area has amazingly comfortable chairs. They have books and board games for those planning to stay awhile (no doubt inspired by Snakes and Lattes just down the street), and one of the best indie-cred playlists I've ever heard, avoiding being pretentious, which is definitely difficult. The 'table service' is rudimentary at best and it's easy to tell they're not equipped for it (by which I mean glasses, plates, and placesettings; they DO have tables, duh), but I think this serves to add to the cozy, relaxed mood. 20% of what goes in the tip jar goes to charity; it doesn't say which one but I'd assume it's something Wilco advocates.
When you get down to it, this is an awesome place to get a very well-made sandwich from people who really care about the sandwiches and don't really care about making money.
