A Toronto sandwich shop that was especially admired for its almost-too-good-to-be-true falafel has shut down permanently, but something new is already brewing.
As something of a sandwich connoisseur around Toronto, I like to think I know a good shop when I see it, and the city certainly has no shortage of good ones.
Lambo’s, Vilda’s, La Salumeria; I’ve tried ’em all, and I’ve loved them all, but sometimes a true favourite arises, not from the hype that the rest of the Toronto sandwich community is giving it, but simply from how damn good it is.
That favourite, for me, was Fattoush Sandwich Club.
First opened in 2021, the Cabbagetown sandwich shop served up Levantine delicacies, frequently all tucked into a pita, but sometimes on a bun or English muffin, including grilled halloumi, chicken shawarma and the best falafel in Toronto, according to Toronto.
From crisp pickled turnips to creamy, herby dressings, every bite of a Fattoush Sandwich Club sandwich was, in my opinion, sheer, perfect bliss — which is why I was not only confused but utterly distraught to learn that the shop had shut down at the end of March.
“This month will be our last service,” the caption of an Instagram post made on March 4 reads. “We want to thank you for the support and loyalty for the years since we opened our little shop in [Cabbagetown].”
Fattoush Sandwich Club’s time may have officially drawn to a close, but, mercifully, this is far from the end for the team who started the shop up.
In a later post, the Fattoush Sandwich Club crew announces Atomic Burger, their latest venture, which is apparently “landing in Spring 2025.”
There aren’t many details available about Atomic Burger quite yet, including whether it’ll take over the same space that Fattoush used to occupy and when exactly it’ll be open, but posts on the burger shop’s Instagram seem to point to an old-school retrofuturist vibe.
At the time of publication, Fattoush Sandwich Club/Atomic Burger has not responded to requests for comment on their reasons for closing down the sandwich shop or further information on Atomic Burger.
If there’s one thing that can be said for sure, though, it’s that anything made by the Fattoush Sandwich Club team is guaranteed to hit the mark, and if there’s one thing Toronto (maybe) loves more than sandwiches, it’s burgers, so this might just prove to be a master-level move.
Fattoush Sandwich Club was located at 253 Gerrard East.
