Toronto chef behind larger-than-life sandwich concept opening new restaurant

A Toronto chef is teaming up with a sommelier and hospitality professional to bring a droolworthy new sandwich shop to the city in just a matter of days.

Sandwich shops are like potato chips: you can't have just one. And, in the lucky case of Toronto, we've got more than our fill. Still, you'll never catch me complaining about a new one opening up.

In 2025, Toronto welcomed an onslaught of new sandwich shops, from the bigger-than-your-head creations at Alfie's to Uncle Pete's fluffy focaccia numbers, and it looks like we're about to get one more before the year is out.

This time, it's Leslieville's turn to get its share of the love, as Hot Mess Sandwich & Pantry prepares to open its doors on Gerrard East.

The sandwich shop is the first permanent venture from If I May Hospitality, helmed by sommelier Lee Stein, who is also half of the force behind wine-forward fine dining pop-up Caveau.

Joining Lee on the project is Chef Steven Kasprowicz, the force behind takeout and catering venture The Eat Locker.

Most recently, the duo teamed up to totally overhaul the food program at Leslieville's Dive Shop, and now they've set their sights just down the road on a venture entirely their own.

While the finer details about what we can expect from the menu at Hot Mess are under wraps for now, if Kasprowicz's track record at The Eat Locker can offer any guidance, we can expect some truly droolworthy takes on classic sandwiches.

Lee tells blogTO, "We're putting final touches on the space this week and looking to soft launch just after Christmas," so, at the very least, Toronto won't have to wait much longer to sample the city's latest sandwich creations.

Hot Mess will be located at 1027 Gerrard St. E.