Emmer

Like any good sourdough, this Harbord Street bakery-restaurant was a long time in the making. Three years passed from when baker-owner Philip Haddad started sharing head-turning shots of his test bakes until the doors finally opened—but it was worth the wait. The bread is spectacular, the volleyball-sized country white in particular. But what really stokes the lineups are the patisserie and viennoiserie items, including the out-of-this-world pistachio croissant; and a sensational patty melt on marble rye. 161 Harbord St., emmertoronto.ca