Listed in Restaurants
West City Snack Bar offers hearty portions that are hardly snack-sized. With a small menu devoted to comfort food classics, West City makes an ideal lunch or quick dinner spot.
The small space is filled with long, wooden tables -- they're actually tree trunks shorn in half. General Manager April Harnett tells me owner Joshua Hendin, who's also behind Treeline Catering, made them himself. Another example of Hendin's handiwork sits at the front of the casual restaurant. This one's a motorcycle he destroyed while racing a few weeks back.
After a quick peek at the menu, it's not surprising that Chef Tom Boromand used to be the executive sous chef at the Amsterdam Brewhouse. He also worked as a sous chef at Real Sports Bar. 
First up, I try Boromand's salads. For the kale salad ($6), he tops baby kale, roasted corn, zucchini and candy beets with a truffle and dijon vinaigrette, a favourite dressing from Treeline. His watermelon salad ($6) comes with arugula, feta, and Mexican spice blend tajin, which gives it a zesty kick. 
Jack-and-Coke pulled pork is braised in house for at least six hours, leaving it with a distinct smokey, sweet whiskey flavour. Boromand serves it as a trio of sliders ($8.75) with meat and slaw piled atop brioche buns from Fred's Bread. I also try beef shoulder and chicken thigh tacos ($3.75 each). Both come on corn tortillas topped with pickled veg, sour cream and feta cheese.
Boromand elevates a classic grilled cheese with avocado and bacon ($7.75). The simple, cheesy sandwich is pure indulgence. Though, thanks to the avocado slices, I can pretend this dish has some redeeming qualities. 
West City's steak sandwich ($9) is a menu favourite; once I taste it, it's easy to see why. Boromand stuffs a Fred's Bread baguette with a pile of steak and tops it with blue cheese -- it's massive, making it ideal for sharing if you're looking to try multiple dishes. Along with the food, there's bottled beer ($3-$6) and glasses of house wine ($6) available.
Photos by Hector Vasquez.