BEAR Steak Sandwiches has finally found a home in Little Italy after years of operating as a pop-up and pick-up only business during the pandemic lockdowns.

Specializing in a thick juicy steak sandwich, the business has garnered attention for their signature stack, which friends Ricardo Barrientos and Aki Erenberg first began selling from Barrientos' mother's backyard.

They were inspired to put together a single product they felt was completely unique to the city, telling blogTO, "We couldn't find a sandwich like this anywhere, so we just decided to make it ourselves." 

The name comes from a combination of the letters of their names, and the duo have tapped popular designer Ben Silverstein to helm their branding to create a world that feels nostalgic and retro. 

There are a few new welcome additions to the menu — but rest assured, you'll still be able to find the Original Steak Sandwich ($18) here.

The shop goes through 100 lbs. of flank steak a day. The steaks spend two hours in a sous vide before being thrown onto a grill at a perfect medium-rare for each order. 

Generous cuts of meat are layered with a housemade chimichurri that has been perfected over the years. It's herb-forward, especially on parsley and dripping in a fragrant olive oil. 

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The colossal sandwich is rounded out by pillowy Papo Seco Portugese rolls from Golden Wheat Bakery down the street.

If there's one rule here, it's to trust the product and enjoy it the way it's served. That means the steak will never be made well-done or ketchup be provided for your fries.

"We put the most forethought into our products and stick to this rule to make sure the quality that's being delivered is consistent," the pair explain.

The fries ($6) are made in-house using Russet potatoes and go through a process of blanching and being fried twice in beef fat to achieve a crispy beautiful texture.

Their newest item is the Roast Pork Sandwich ($16), which is a first for the duo who travelled to New York City and L.A. to do field research. 

They eventually landed on a South Philly-style pork shoulder that's slow-cooked for 12 hours. It comes with Provolone slices and a serving of au jus to dip your roll in.

I personally think the au jus complements the Steak Sandwich perfectly, so if you're ordering both items, definitely try cross dipping it.

There are also plans to offer a dessert, with whispers of ice cream, custard, and cookies in the works. 

You can feel the energy and passion in the product and store when you visit. "We love what we do. We have fun and get to hang out with our friends while working — it's guys just being dudes," Barrientos and Erenberg laugh.

BEAR Steak Sandwiches is located at 550A College St.