Sandwiches: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Few people have properly paid homage to sandwiches like Canadian musician and children’s entertainer Fred Penner did in his popular children’s song, “Sandwiches” like so:

Sandwiches are beautiful,
sandwiches are fine; I like sandwiches, I eat them
all the time; I eat them for my supper and
I eat them for my lunch; If I had a hundred sandwiches,
I’d eat them all at once.

That may seem extreme, but really, what other dish brings together the best of all worlds quite like a sandwich? There’s the chewy, crusty crunch of bread, the tender bites of protein and an endless amount of refreshing fillings and tangy sauces to bring it all together. Penner knew what he was talking about.

Calgary staples like Alumni and Spolumbo’s will never go out of style. But, when it comes to great sandwich shops, the more the merrier. The days of boring bologna are long gone — sandwiches are having a moment right now. Check out some of the new sandwich shops in town that deliver on style and flavour.

Bonjour Sandwich Shop

Most popular sandwich:
The Turkey Move on the French menu and the Hot & Cheeky on the Italian menu

Most underrated sandwich:
The Mama Mia!

After moving from Paris to Calgary, François Mion had difficulty finding the European-style sandwiches he used to enjoy back home. So, he decided to bring a taste of Europe to Calgary with Bonjour Sandwich Shop.

“From … my experience in France and Europe in general, I’ve had some of the best sandwiches that I’ve ever had [there]. And it doesn’t need to have a whole load of sauce or a whole load of ingredients for it to be really tasty. Just simple, great ingredients are the key for a good sandwich, and this is really what I’ve tried to do here,” says Mion.

Decked out in cheerful red-and-white checkered decor, Bonjour’s menu is split into French-inspired sandwiches served on baguettes and Italian-inspired sandwiches served on schiacciata, a Tuscan flatbread. There’s also a “build-your-own” sandwich option.

Mion says many of the sandwiches embody classic European flavours, from the Parisian sandwich with cultured butter and Paris ham to the Green & Groovy, Bonjour’s take on a popular Italian sandwich filled with burrata, mortadella, honey, roasted pistachios and handmade basil pesto.

While the breads and some meats are sourced locally, many ingredients like the cheeses and other meats are imported from Europe to make the experience more authentic. The result is a sandwich that will have you saying “merci” from the very first bite.

1909 34 Ave. S.W., @bonjoursandwich.yyc

Super Variety

Most popular sandwich:
Turkey Bacon Club

Most underrated sandwich:
The Buckin’ Brocc

Sister businesses Super Variety, a new sandwich shop facing the main Inglewood strip, and Business & Pleasure (B&P), a small and sophisticated bar and restaurant in the space directly behind it, have a symbiotic relationship.

In February 2025, owner Brett McDermott (who is also behind spots like Our Daily Brett, Neighbour Coffee and Actually Pretty Good) and his team transformed Neighbour’s Inglewood location into Super Variety. “We wanted to do sandwiches that you wouldn’t necessarily make at home — more like chef-driven sandwiches,” says McDermott. When Super Variety closes for the day on weekends and selected weeknights, B&P expands its operations into its dining space.

As the name indicates, there’s a great variety on Super Variety’s menu, from the prosciutto and fig sandwich to the Sunday Sub with beef meatballs. Many of the sandwiches feature focaccia made in Our Daily Brett’s production kitchen. They can all be paired with one of the many creative cocktails created by B&P’s bartenders, wine, beer or alcohol-free drinks.

And, for those who miss popping into the former coffee shop in the morning, don’t worry — you can still get a breakfast club sandwich and cup of espresso here.

1327A 9 Ave. S.E., 403-300-1566, supervariety.ca

My Piknic Sandwich Café

Most popular sandwich:
The Seoulful Bulgogi

Most underrated sandwich:
The Savory Sunrise

Sandwiches are a picnic must-have, so it makes sense that this idea is at the heart of one of Calgary’s newest sandwich shops.

Co-owners Yong Shin and Min Bang started operating Piknic Café out of a shared kitchen in 2023 with catering, delivery and wholesale services. In October 2024, they opened their bright, plant-filled café storefront in Brentwood. “We wanted to have something more like a picnic environment. Especially during the winter in Calgary, it’s hard to go out for a picnic or any outdoor activities, so we just wanted to bring [a] green environment into our place,” says Shin.

The shop specializes in picnic-inspired sandwiches that are bursting with colourful fillings. The convenient wrapping makes them easy to take on the go — like for a picnic in the park.

The team has incorporated Korean ingredients into the offerings with flavours like the Seoulful Bulgogi sandwich made with beef bulgogi. Packed with protein and veggies, additional sandwich options include the spicy Crabby Catch, a BBQ beef galbi and the vegetarian Carrot Crunch. Pair with one of Piknic Cafe’s enticing salads and baked goods and you have all the makings of a satisfying lunch, no matter the weather.

255 Brentwood Pl. N.W., 403-999-5530, mypiknic.ca

Scozzafava’s Deli

Most popular sandwich:
The Italian Combo

Most underrated sandwich:
The Eggplant Parm

Growing up in Niagara Falls, Nick Scozzafava frequently dined at classic, family-run Italian delis. After moving to Calgary as an adult, the opening of Uncle Paulie’s Deli in Los Angeles caught his eye, and he was drawn to visit the contemporary sandwich shop for himself. “It was just kind of the first modern Italian deli, and ever since then I was just so fascinated with it,” says Scozzafava.

The experience stuck with him, and he eventually started doing sandwich pop-ups before opening Scozzafava’s Deli on 17th Avenue S.W. in September 2024. The result? Calgary’s own modern Italian deli that is still consistently drawing crowds (and often selling out) a year later.

The small, yet mighty menu boasts only nine sandwiches (plus a rotating special), but each one is memorable.

Hot sandwiches like a fried-to-order chicken parm and cold staples like the hoagie stuffed with meats like salami, mortadella and capicollo all make an appearance alongside veggie-forward sandwiches like the Beltline Veg and eggplant parm.

And it’s not just the menu that’s attracting attention. The deli also regularly hosts weekend DJ nights that keep the space bumpin’ until late. “I’m just trying to keep it fun,” says Scozzafava.

1004 17 Ave. S.W., scozzafavasdeli.com

The post Sandwiches: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread appeared first on Avenue Calgary.