Centre Street Deli Bay Street
Centre Street Deli, a beloved establishment that first opened its doors in Thornhill in 1998, has expanded the scope by inaugurating their first Toronto location.
Renowned for their iconic Montreal-style smoked beef sandwiches, the restaurant changed owners a number of years ago but they're still consistently delivering the traditional Jewish deli food they've always been known for.
The colourful wall mural behind the seating area at their Bay Street location vividly depicts the brand's history and the growth of the team across generations.
Shelves are thoughtfully organized with an assortment flavours of mustard, from classic yellow and the sweeter honey mustard to the sharper Dijon.
You can also explore a range of packaged food and convenient ready-to-eat meals ideal for a speedy lunch or to take home.
Don't leave here without grabbing a pack of their famous cheese blintzes.
For dining in, the signature Sam's Speciality Greek Salad ($18.25) comes with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber slices, a hard-boiled egg and abundant feta cheese, accompanied by their homemade dressing served on the side.
Its generous portion is a good option for those seeking a healthy and satisfying light lunch.
Each deli sandwich is crafted by hand, with meat freshly sliced to order.
Cold cuts like their nitrate-free, house-baked turkey breast, chicken and salami sausages, and pepperoni sticks (karnatzel) are also available.
I tried their classic corned beef sandwich ($12.75), featuring layers of cured beef stacked between two pieces of airy rye bread delicately coated with yellow mustard.
The slow-cooking method imparts a smooth and firm texture, regardless of the predominant lean meat content.
We also tried the Regular Centre Street Deli Special ($19.95) that come sith your choice of meat, fries, coleslaw, and pickles.
My personal favorite is the Old Fashioned sandwich that comes with both fat and lean meat. To me, this one has the most flavour.
Beyond salads and sandwiches, you can also find a variety of appetizers, deep-fried offerings, soup and dessert.
The Potato Latke ($5.50) is a simple and satisfying snack with a starchy and bread-like consistency, all encased in a golden-brown crust.
They also do a Vegetable Latkes ($5.75), a lively variation of the o the classic latke with green onions and zucchini.
The oval-shaped Chicken Knish ($7.25) is a combination of mild minced chicken and velvety mashed potatoes served with a side of sour cream for dipping.
But my favourite knish is definitely the Beef Knish ($7.25) which I recommend getting smothered in gravy ($2). The spices within the beef evoke a curry-like flavor to the overall taste.
Centre Street Deli is located at 995 Bay St.
Fareen Karim
