Fast Food that's Decidedly Not

I have a perennial tussle with the Reluctant Chef about fast food. He loves it; I hate it. The problem is, every city needs fast-ish food for those occassions when you just don't have time for a full sit-down dinner. Like trying to make it to the movies on time. Or you have 8 o'clock theatre tickets on a work night. You get the picture.

"Why can't you just eat Subway?" Argh! Do I need to list the reasons? In my perfect cityscape there would be nary a Subway, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Pizza Pizza or Burger King.

Starting today, I am on a hunt to uncover every establishment open later than 6 o'clock, serving prepared food that is not just edible, but delectable. So far, I've discovered a few good ones.

DOWNTOWN EAST
The Brick Street Bakery
Their braised lamb sandwich served with chutney on thick slices of fresh, squishy whole wheat bread is out-of-this-world finger-licking-good. There are plenty of other sandwiches (citrus tuna, curry chicken, etc) but this is the ultimate. Daily soups and chilis, and something for your sweet tooth, including a yummy Bakewell tart, lemon tart, chocolate-pecan tart, eccles cake, cookies, and more. Perfect for the Soulpepper crowd, unless you have tickets on a Monday. Winter hours are shorter, unfortunately, closing around 6:30 or 7pm, but it's open later in the summertime. 55 Mill St.

BLOOR/YORKVILLE
MBCo.
I love this little boîte in the lane behind Bloor off Bellair; an import from Montreal. I love that I get a sandwich served with a salad. Where else can you get a lobster & shrimp quesadilla or a sushi tuna "club" sandwich - to go? Their salads are great, especially because they've caught onto the protein trend. They also stock Mighty Tea Leaf Co. teas. It's healthy, it's gorgeous food, and it's so-not-North-American. Another location in the TD Centre and a new one is apparently set to open at Yonge & Summerhill soon. Open until 7pm. 100 Bloor St. W. (in laneway)

Pusateri's
The first part of the store is dedicated to prepared foods: salads, wraps, sandwiches, sushi, mini pizzas, pasta. They make the best ham and cheese on croissant this side of the Atlantic. Grab a (very expensive) cappuccino on your way out. Open until 8pm Mon-Sat except Thursdays and Fridays when the doors stay open until 9pm. Corner of Bay & Yorkville.

LEASIDE / DAVISVILLE
Bread & Butter
Walking through the doors of Bread & Butter is like leaving Toronto and stepping into your grandmother's kitchen in Vienna or Bratislava. They make the city's best veal sandwiches and the strudel is unbelievable. Another favorite dessert is the Rum Baba. Everything is homemade. Kind of like Prague Deli (on Queen W.) but open until 9pm every night except Sunday, when they close at 5pm. 507 Mount Pleasant at Millwood.

I am going to try to keep growing this list with options. Please share your discoveries, and one day, we'll have go-to places all over the city.