This place has tongue
Yes, you read that right. This is one of the few places in Toronto that has tongue on its regular menu. Beef offal is difficult to prepare correctly and can easily end up tough and rubbery. Also, parts like tongue and heart have a strong beef taste that can be a turn off. I, for one, am thrilled that FAMO is gutsy enough to offer it and make it palatable to the masses.
I’ve been babbling about tongue so far but that’s not really FAMO’s key strength. Their mission is to craft creative sandwiches. Their fillings are certainly not run-of-the-mill ones like BLT or cold cuts. Unconventional as they are, the combinations work.
The food
FAMO has 10 sandwiches (give or take some specials) running the gamut from vegan to fish, beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. Each of them has a cute name and a unique taste; it’s not just slapping a different protein on the same sandwich. You can’t go wrong with any of them but here are the most popular ones for reference.
The East Ender goes slightly Indian with curry mayo, mango slaw, and pulled chicken. All slaws in FAMO’s sandwiches are served in the sandwich, not on the side. The mango slaw was more tangy than sweet. It could have used more punch. The curry component was not spicy at all; it was like a light Japanese curry emulsion. It harmonized well with the slaw and chicken. The pulled chicken was soft and seasoned lightly, leaching most of its flavour from the condiments. 8/10.
I liked the dusting of flour on the ciabatta. FAMO is no slouch when it comes to breads. It was satisfyingly chewy and not too dense. An excellent, neutral base to showcase the fillings.
The Six is the infamous sandwich with the beef tongue. It comes with an arugula red onion slaw and truffle mayo. It’s neo-Italian.
They were generous with the slices of beef tongue. I got 4 or 5 of them. They were tender and had an overwhelming beef taste. The braising liquid was adequate but could be stronger. The arugula and red onion slaw tasted exactly as one might imagine. They delivered a gentle kick to the sinuses. Unfortunately, the truffle mayo was a lingering phantom over them. Personally, I don’t like truffle oil unless it is used in minute amounts or with less than three ingredients. It is difficult to utilize truffle oil effectively because of its unique odour. Overall, the sandwich wasn’t bad but I was hoping for deeper or more complex flavours. 7.5/10.
Going for a Mediterranean theme, the Famous Lamb sandwich has braised lamb, turmeric onion slaw, roasted garlic mayo, and pecorino cheese.
The braised lamb was shredded after braising, which made for easier chewing. It was gently seasoned. The caramelized bits from the exterior were the best parts. One downside was that the meat was a teeny bit dry even with the mayo. Some fat would have helped, but that risked making the bread soggy.
The turmeric in the slaw was meant to give a luscious golden hue to the sandwich. Taste-wise, the onions and garlic mayo dominated. They are classic combinations with braised lamb. Overall, an earthy sandwich. 8/10.
The place
FAMO is located in a charming historical house in the oldest neighbourhood of Toronto. The interior is a different story. It screams “indie log cabin”: chalkboard menus, exposed bulbs, and wooden furnishings.
There are communal tables for seating perhaps up to 20 people. When I visited in December, there were Christmas trimmings. The resident ox even got a Santa hat. I am heartened that FAMO has kept their spirits up during COVID-19 and endeavoured to spread joy around.
Verdict
Creative sandwich combinations, crafted well. Uniquely Torontonian. 8/10.
Practical information
- Name
- FAMO Sandwich Creations
- Rating
- 8/10
- Recommended dishes
- East Ender
The Six - Prices
- East Ender: $15.76 ($13.95 excluding tax)
The Six: $16.89 ($14.95 excluding tax)
Famous Lamb: $16.89 ($14.95 excluding tax) - Address
- 122 Sherbourne Street
- Hours
- Tuesday to Friday 1100h – 1900h
- Date of visit
- December 2020, January 2021