John Lang began construction of an apartment house back in 1907, and it was completed in 1910. The John Lang Apartments are now, collectively, a municipal historic resource. It’s a stately home on a tree-lined Oliver boulevard, with a porch that looks like the kind of spot where you’d have a sandwich and a lemonade and watch the world go by… in slow motion. It’s a spot that feels like it should be in the American Deep South, with drink-sippers playing bridge and fanning themselves.
It’s an unexpected place for a coffee and sandwich. Also, maybe it’s the perfect place for a coffee and sandwich shop. This week, I sat on that porch, with a bowl of soup and an awfully big Italian sandwich, with a fuzzy citrus drink on the side. That’s because the John Lang historical residence is now home to Leonardo’s Coffee and Sandwich House. Inside, it’s a bright space with shelves and tables that definitely fit into the 1910 vibe, but the cream coloured walls and wood accents make this space feel fresh and downright airy. Outside, well, there’s that porch.
There’s a big selection of sandwiches in the glass case, and I ordered the Italian, which has plenty of cold cuts and cheese served in a crusty roll. I also got a tomato-bacon-potato soup, because the best thing to have next to a big serving of cold cuts is a soup that’s big on pork. You know, a little overkill is a good thing.
The soup had a nice peppery blast, and the bacon flavour just punched me in the mouth. Alone, the soup on its own makes for a good meal. But I still had the sandwich, which doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, but is simply loaded. Some cold cuts for spice and tang, good bread, melted cheese. Easy, right? But, the when I asked for a take-out box because I couldn’t finish it all, the person who made me said sandwich said he could have “polished it off” in one sitting. Now half of the sandwich is in a box in my office, next to my computer as I write this. It’s taunting me.
Leonardo’s Coffee and Sandwich House
Oliver | 9908 112 St NW, Edmonton | 780.914.3659
