Ariete E Toro is the name of the sandwich shop, and the Enzo sandwich perfectly showcases the care, quality ingredients, and pride that go into everything they craft.

The shop is owned by Matt, of Blondie’s Pizza fame, and Faith made our visit absolutely incredible. I had a great chat with Matt and a few fellow food lovers in line about the best sandwich artisans in the city.

This is definitely going to be my midtown sandwich spot. And good news for west end folks, they are planning to open a second location in the coming months.

Their signature sandwich, the Enzo, is something special:

Mortadella di Bologna
Pistachio pesto
Stracciatella cheese
Chopped pistachio
Lemon and basil oil

Every element is crafted and assembled with real care. It’s a feast for the eyes and the belly.

Simply delicious.

Very reasonable prices, great quality and taste. I will definitely go back to test other options. I am a panini person and I make them at home with extra obsession and obviously mine is better 😉 but this was by far the closest to what I make and what I have tasted in Amalfi (Sorento) which will always stay in my pallet.
The only downside is that there’s no sitting area.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Matt from the Ariete e Toro team on our company's corporate event. Words cannot describe the feedback we have recieved via our customers... the taste and authenticity of his product speaks volumes on its own. Freshness and thought put into every bite. Then the service which was received as he knew we were a large group..he took the time to label each sandwich without being told and sent me an email with descriptions of each in case of any question I may have been asked with any allergy concerns... He took true pride in the delivery and the presentation of his products. There is no explanation needed further on taste!!! If you have not had the opertunity to experience what I experienced this week. Make it a stop on your next stroll in the city.. even more so...it is very well priced any corporate or small businesses. This should be on all our suggestions for gatherings or events... no size quantity is to little or to big. They get it done!!! Deliciously and with ALL heart!!! Bravo Matt & the whole Ariete e Toro team. Cannot begin to thank you enough!

Dare anyone to find a better sandwich in Toronto because I'm convinced it doesn't exist. Everything is amazing, the perfectly edited menu, everything is so fresh and flavourful, the bread is amazing, size is beyond generous.

Taste brought me back to a special trip to Italy in such a nostalgic way. Super consistent. Always deliver right on time.

I remember the first time I tried the Enzo I said out loud (alone) "SO good" haha.

I also hosted my family and a few friends to watch the Jays play in the World Series and ordered a full spread of sandwiches, prepared catering style, everyone got to try a few different options. It was such a hit and SO easy. Matt was great to work with on this, it looked great, tasted better and it felt like something a little different for a Game Day. I would for SURE recommend this option for any function/birthday/meeting/event. It was so easy to coordinate.

Support small restaurants!! This one is one of the best in the game.

Sandwich? Ask me about sandwich I’ve been on a quest for it. I saw few shorts and I was salivating, so I took a trip it was far from where I assume it might be. I drove dreaming about the sandwich I would order. I arrived. Wow this spot is super tiny. Okay I have no idea what’s good, so I left it at the faith of the cashier, I told her… you pick. I don’t care and i whispered to my self “you better not blame her”. Ah she selected San Lazzaro… okay I’m not complaining let’s see how it turns out, while waiting I saw the trash cans inside full of perfectly good boxes. I felt bad that the sandwich boxes didn’t have a long life. But as I glanced the kitchen and waiting room, it was spotless.. clean and well lit.
I was day dreaming until I saw my sandwich being prepared. Oh goody

The time has come.. it was ready, I went home with it. I switched on a music, poured a glass of wine and opened the box.. there it was a delicious sandwich cut in two. First bite, I tasted the cured meat and apple. Oh wow this was amazing. But then... the apple. WHO puts crisp, cool, slightly tart apple in a savory masterpiece? GENIUSES, THAT'S WHO! It was the perfect, vibrant counterpoint. It was amazing.

I’m already planning my next pilgrimage. I need to come back. Soon. Very soon. In fact, if you hear a strange, frantic scrabbling sound outside your door right now, don’t worry—it's just me, trying to figure out how to order one telepathically. Or possibly building a tiny, desperate siege engine out of breadsticks.

I need to come back . Soon. Very soon

it’s nice , I wish they had a card you could fill out and hand back to them with your choices, for the build your own. I do see they offer online ordering although, i like to buy in person, I would say that the staff here is very friendly but a little bit awkward. for the premade sandwich choices, they should have a veggie sandwich included on the list as well. As as much as I would love to eat meat, I am just not a fan of the texture

Ariete e Toro is a true gem—a quaint sandwich shop that proves less is often more. The design is simple and elegant, creating a pleasant, uncluttered atmosphere that's perfect for a quick, satisfying visit.

The focus here is clearly on high-quality, Italian-inspired sandwiches, and it shows. I was particularly impressed with the sourcing of the meats, with fantastic Salamis from various Italian regions and excellent selections from local Ontario producers. This commitment to quality elevates the entire menu, which ranges from staples like Mortadella and porchetta to unique options like smoked turkey. The option to create your own sandwich is a fantastic, customer-friendly feature that I truly appreciated and is a welcome difference from other spots.

On my recent visit, I tried the Enzo Malvagio—Mortadella, pesto Calabrese, Stracciatella cheese, and fresh basil—and it was delicious, well-made, and light. The pesto Calabrese added a perfect, subtle spiciness that tied the whole sandwich together. Overall, the high quality of the ingredients translates into a truly enjoyable eating experience.

Constructive Notes on Presentation
Ariete e Toro excels in almost every way, and I have just a couple of small, constructive observations that could enhance efficiency and the dining-in experience.

The sandwiches are presented in beautifully crafted boxes, which is an attractive, high-end touch. However, since many of these boxes end up being discarded in-house, perhaps they could be reserved exclusively for takeout orders. This might be a simple way to reduce waste in the dining area without sacrificing the elegant presentation for customers on the go.

For those dining in, an optional, small tweak for easier consumption would be to cut the sandwiches in half.

In summary, Ariete e Toro offers delicious, high-quality sandwiches in a beautiful setting and is a worthwhile stop for any Italian sandwich enthusiast. I highly recommend giving them a visit!

Authentic Italian deli sandwich with quality ingredients. Tried their Enzo and San Lazaro both were really good. I personally preferred Enzo. Their packaging is so sturdy. Easy to grab and bring it to picnic or for lunch later and it won’t make a mess. Highly highly recommend and I may say this place was better than some Italian sandwich places in Rome or Florence. Can’t wait to go back and try their other flavours:)

It was our first time trying sandwiches in this place, and it turned out to be the best decision! I keep a personal list of places I’d definitely return to—those that truly impress me with their food—and this Italian sandwich spot is absolutely amazing.

We had two sandwiches: one Enzo and the other Ultimo. My boyfriend absolutely loved his, and I was blown away by the flavors of the pesto and pistachio spread.

Even though there were quite a few people when we arrived, we got our order quickly. Huge thanks to the lovely girl who took our order and the man who prepared it—you're doing an awesome job!

Great service and nice packaging, but I’m not sure it lives up to the hype. At over $19, it felt a bit underwhelming. The portion size was just okay I expected a bit more given the price point. The taste was also not exceptional.

I know it’s not the same type of sandwich, but compared to another well-known spot down the street, theirs are more generously stuffed and cheaper. Overall, it wasn’t bad but I’m not totally convinced it’s worth the premium.

I got the Enzo which is the mortadella sandwich. I thought it was pretty good. I really liked the pistachio pesto along which the chopped pistachio as you can really get bits of pistachio pieces. Cheese was also nice but it may be heavy for some. It’s a good fresh sandwich.

Wow wow wow - all I can say is: the hype is real. And it’s there for a reason. If I could eat this sandwich for lunch everyday I would. I’ve been here twice since originally seeing it online and I am not disappointed in taking a trip mid town for it again and again. When you get there, there’s not much space in the actual restaurant. Just enough to order your sandwich and get out. No complaints there, but note there is no dining area. Everyone working behind the counter has a smile on their face and the young lady at the cash register was delightful to speak with. Ordered the fan favourite Enzo mortadella sandwich and it is fantastic. The portions are huge, so big you could eat it for lunch AND dinner - but you won’t, you’ll eat it in one go because it’s THAT good. The pistachio pesto is an excellent touch and really elevates the flavours. The bread - a masterpiece. Everyone knows the key to a good sandwich is good bread, and they have amazing fresh bread. They build the sandwich in front of you, and pack it in a designer looking box. Not sure how necessary the fancy box is, but I can roll with it. I look forward to coming back and trying out more off of their menu. If you haven’t tried it yet, go right now!!

Delicious sandwiches that reminded us of being in Florence Italy. We went on a weekday around 11:50 AM and there was already a short lineup. It took about 15 minutes to get our two sandwiches. It is well worth the wait though. Meat was delicious and sliced fresh to order. We took the sandwiches home and they were still great by the time we ate them. They were even good the next day! Loved the little touches like the box the sandwiches came in and the branding overall. It is clear a lot of thought and love went into this business. I saw from some other reviews that they had the option to order online. This wasn’t available when we wanted to eat maybe because it was so close to lunchtime. If possible I would recommend ordering ahead. The restaurant is still new so I’m sure they’re working out the kinks. Definitely worth a try, especially if you like a good authentic Italian sandwich.

THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED! From the delicious sandwiches and kind service, to the beautiful branding and space - I honestly highly recommend Ariete E Toro. You can tell so much work, love and thought has gone into this beautiful small business! I have been in person (in a snow storm) and ordered online a few times, and it always hits!!! Can't wait to come back for more very soon :)

Awesome sandwiches, fresh ingredients, and a great team. It’s a wonderful addition to the area, especially since we need more places where we can feel good and be treated with a warm welcome, rather than establishments where the customer is always wrong—unfortunately, those are the majority these days. Definitely recommended.

Let me know if you'd like further refinements!

Fresh mortadella adorns a soft, pillowy focaccia, paired with the creamiest stracciatella cheese. The pesto has a subtle sweetness that perfectly balances the salty mortadella, while fresh basil enhances the overall flavour and freshness. Not gonna lie, this might just be the best sandwich I’ve ever

We had the Enzo, the beef brisket sandwich and the prosciutto. The Sandwiches were fantastic. Well balanced, well sized. Great bread. Clean space.

A bit on the pricey side. $65 for three sandwiches you can’t even sit and eat in is a bit steep.
Service is slow and at times confused, probably because they’re new and still figuring it out.

Great new italian sandwich spot in midtown

I was absolutely blown away by the sandwiches from Ariete e Toro! I ordered one of each through Uber Eats for a dinner party, making sure to place my order just after noon since they tend to sell out by 2 PM. They were an instant hit—everyone kept asking where they were from! I warmed them in the oven for 10 minutes and cut them into six pieces each so we could all sample every sandwich! The bread was perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside, and the flavor combinations were unbelievably delicious—each bite was packed with rich, well-balanced ingredients that tasted like they came straight from a top-tier Italian kitchen. Every sandwich was unique, from the melt-in-your-mouth meats to the fresh, high-quality cheeses and perfectly paired sauces. I highly recommend these, and I’ll definitely be ordering again!

I’ve tried four different sandwiches and all of them have hit the spot, so hard to choose a favourite. Bread is well formed but soft and thin enough not to take away from the meat/cheese/spread combo on each unique sandwich. Melt in your mouth stuff all around.

For a delivery order, it travelled really well and was even better heated up the next day.

This sandwich is insane, it takes me straight back to Florence 🥹! The menu is small, but everything we tried was *chefs kiss*. The ingredients are super fresh, all wrapped in the most delicious schiacciata bread. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside —perfection.
Highly recommend!!!

This sandwich is insane, it takes me straight back to Florence 🥹! The menu is small, but everything we tried was *chefs kiss*. The ingredients are super fresh, all wrapped in the most delicious schiacciata bread. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside —perfection.
Highly recommend!!!