The Best Veal Sandwich in Toronto

The best veal sandwich in Toronto is a matter of very bitterly divided opinion, which might have something to do with how aficionados consume them - either voraciously, to quench their midday lunch hunger, or late at night, to fill up a beer-filled belly after hitting the town.

Halifax has its Donair, Montreal has poutine, and New York its famous pizza, but Toronto's favorite after-midnight food is quite possibly the veal sandwich; served on an Italian bun, drenched in sauce and covered with mushrooms, cheese and peppers (hot or sweet). You can argue about the details - the breading and thickness of the veal, the sweetness of the sauce, and whether hot peppers are essential or pointless - and chances are people will get pretty passionate about their favorite.

Here are the best veal sandwiches in Toronto.

See also:

The best sandwiches in Toronto
The best panini in Toronto
The best Italian hot tables in Toronto

Photo by sharp.photo in the blogTO Flickr pool

California Sandwiches

Here, you’ll find the sandwich in its classic form; breaded and fried veal on a crusty Italian bun, served with the usual toppings of cheese, onions, mushrooms, peppers. Big and well-stuffed, it comes with the sauce on the side, a popular option at this Dufferin lunch spot, probably because you can control the degree of messiness essential to the veal sandwich experience. More »

San Francesco Foods

You'll find more classic sandwich offerings from this Little Italy perennial, with tender veal served in a big Kaiser, the full range of toppings and the optional sauce on the side. It’s a shame that too many folks know the San Francesco sandwich as a late night after-bar snack, since it deserves to be appreciated in the bright light of day. More »

Mustachio

This St. Lawrence Market lunch counter serves the most radical variation on the veal sandwich. It’s served on foccaccia bread with almost no sauce, in a trio of variations. On the high-end “Godfather,” you’ll find both eggplant and parmagiano. It’s a monster of a sandwich, though purists might want to plead for extra sauce. More »

Fusaro's

The most civilized of the veal sandwiches is served by this Spadina eatery on a tidy, oblong bun that’s easy to grip, and almost dainty in its presentation. The sauce is rich and sweet, and the sit-down version comes with a neat side of salad and olives that will almost convince you that you’ve gone for the healthy lunch option. More »

Vinny's Panini

There’s a tart edge to the homemade sauce on the veal sandwich at this Dupont Road lunch counter, and a toothsome crust on the veal. These are the small variations that make veal sandwich eaters rabid in their allegiances, and that’s given Vinny’s a loyal following in this relatively quiet pocket of the Annex. More »

Commisso Bros

Thanks to the massive hot table at this west-end takeout spot, you can get your sandwich topped with anything from grilled veggies and roasted peppers to the usual mushrooms and hot peppers. Commisso’s is a bakery, so as you’d expect, the bun is fresher than you’d otherwise expect. More »

Bitondo Pizzeria

Across the street from San Francesco’s, this well-worn Little Italy standby serves its veal sandwich with a simple, fresh-tasting sauce and a notably crisp corn meal-filled crust on its veal. More »

Nonna's Place

This family-run deli/lunch place in the Junction Triangle serves a big, moist sandwich filled with a pleasingly sweet sauce, layered with crunchy peppers. It helps that they also provide some of the sweetest service around. More »