Picked up lunch from Bonchaz today and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sandwiches. I ordered 2 lunch combos which includes a sandwich, soup and a brioche pastry.

We ordered:

- smoked salmon sandwich - v. good
- brie and avocado sandwich - v. good
- beef & barley soup - not good
- tomato basil - not good
- banana walnut brioche - v. good
- chocolate truffle brioche. - v. good

I highly recommend the sandwiches because they are made really great bread, tastes like a foccocia type, made in house and the flavour combinations are really good, of the ones we tried anyway. Also they didn't skimp on the salmon or the brie, they were maybe a little too generous. I had to take out a few pieces of brie, eventhough I love brie! the sandwiches would be better if they'd add a bit more tomato and cucumber. Otherwise overall really great quality for the price.

Whatever you do, do not order the soups! I tried them both and they were not good at all.

I agree with a previous reviewer that the pastries are best eaten right away. There are a few different flavours. The banana walnut had a banana type filling and the chocolate truffle had a chocolate filling, I would imagine that the others would have a filling. However, the "original" pastry does not.

Overall a great place for great sandwiches that start at $4.95 and delicious buns to go with your coffee.

Oh and when I walked into this place for a coffee before 10am on Tuesday I got a free pastry! i don't know if this is a regular promo during the week but a free pastry with coffee?! can't beat that.

We thought we'd try this place based on the reviews and we weren't dissappointed! I had the shawarma which was a perfect blend of flavours, chicken, parsley, hummous and other veggies. I've had a lebanese style shawarma before but i guess the ones they serve at this place aren't lebanese. Regarless, they are yummy. My husband had the kebab plate which was served with Hummous, pita and salad and it was all realy good as well.

The shawarma, kebab plate and a sprite cost us $17 and we were full!! So I'd say its excellent value.

I decided to check this place out based on the past reviews. So I made a reservation and was a bit apprehensive when a Chinese woman took my reservation.

Our first impression is that it’s got decent décor and its clean but thought that it odd to have some Chinese characters on the window. Also I peaked into the kitchen and noticed the cook was Chinese. Regardless the food was really good with really good portions. (not too much where you can expect to bring leftovers home)

Our party ordered:
-the portabello mushroom appetizer which was decent
- the potato gnocchi with clams and Italian sausage which was pretty good although I think the sauce would be better with regular pasta
-the sole with cream sauce which was amazing and the linguine with clams in a white wine sauce which was really good but I thought the pasta could be a bit more al dente
-For dessert we had the tiramisu which was excellent and the crème brule was really good as well.

Overall I’d rate the food is better than the Italian tomato or Spaghetti Factory but not quite Italian fine dining. Also, the price rating for this place should actually only be $$ as opposed to the $$$ that its currently rated at.

I’d recommend this place if you want good Italian at really great prices.