At first it was a curious mention on BlogTO, followed by a cursory note on Pitchfork, and has shortly become Toronto’s newest online buzz restaurant, at least since Mildred’s Valentines experiment.
The place is “Sky Blue Sky,” a Wilco-themed sandwich joint on Bloor, just west of Bathurst. It’s named after one of the band’s albums, and each tasty sandwich is named after a Wilco song. There’s Wilco posters on the walls, and while I didn’t hear any Wilco while I was in there, I did hear a complimentary playlist of the National and Cat Power. The space is very cozy and informal, and judging by the hours, is a great place to grab lunch or an early dinner if you’re in the neighborhood. In addition to tables, there’s a handful of private booths and even a couple leather chairs with a view out on to bustling Bloor street.
So here’s the question: is it any good? It is. And while the Wilco thing might be a strange gimmick, it works, and I believe the food is just good enough to hook the curious (like myself) and bring them back over and over again. Even the plates “feel” Wilco, much like the rest of the restaurant’s vibe. I’m not the biggest Wilco fan out there, but I’m going to say that if you love the band, you owe to yourself to at least make at least one or two visits.
Here’s the restaurant’s website, where you can even pre-order online!
I’m usually skeptical of places that call themselves sandwich ‘emporiums,’ ‘specialists’ ‘afficionados’ or in this case a ‘sandwich company.’ Can your sandwiches be that good that you want to theme your restaurant after them? And I’m puzzled by the notion of a Toronto restaurant based on and named after a Wilco album, and not even their best one at that! But as a fan, and due to your suggestion, I will definitely be checking this place out sometime soon. Thanks for the write-up…
They’re pretty thorough with the sandwich selection, so I’d say it’s a pretty apt name.