King Street Pantry — Local services in St. Catharines

I decided to drop into KSP to try everything on their menu. Beforehand, I emailed to ask if they still had their famous breakfast sandwich, and to my surprise, I actually got a reply—a rare experience with butcher shops or restaurants (usually a 1-in-20 chance at best).

The first thing I noticed was how pristine the exterior of the building was—it really stands out in the neighborhood. Inside, the shop is absolutely charming. The moldings, the paint—everything is adorable. You're greeted by the charismatic and personable Maeg, and after placing my order (yes, I ordered everything on the menu to try), I wandered over to the pantry to check out their shelves of preserves and goodies.

This place has, as the Zoomers would say, immaculate vibes. The products they stock are beautiful—so well-curated that they feel like part of the decor in an already cozy and inviting space. My personal headcanon is that Maeg handles the branding, decor, and product selection, while Greg is only allowed to cook.

When the food arrived, I sat down with my dad to dig in. (Quick note for visitors: there’s only one table, so plan for takeout.) The scotch eggs were the best I’ve ever had—absolutely fantastic. The potatoes were delightful, and the lamb kofta was unbelievably good. But the real star? The Ham, Egg & Chip Butty. It was absolutely divine, like it was sent straight from heaven. It totally lives up to the hype as the best breakfast sandwich ever. Greg—the chef—completely crushes it.

I was a little sad to see the place not busy—it honestly feels like a tragedy. If this shop were in Hamilton, I imagine they’d need to open three more locations just to keep up with breakfast demand.

I can’t...

Traveled with a friend to have lunch, she had heard great things. The initial impression was great. Great ethos, product cases well stocked with quality produce. The sandwich I had hoped to have was the roast beef, which had sold out. It happens. So we opted for the lamb and the tomato tartine. My friend did ask if it was possible to package them 1/2 and 1/2 so we could each get a taste of each. I don't know if it was a miscommunication, but it wasn't how we rec'd it. I ended up with a 1/2 slice of sourdough toast with about 8 small pieces of tomato, a few small slices of what appeared to be ricotta salata, drizzle of basil oil and one arugula leaf. Not exactly what I would expect for $15. Don't get me wrong, it tasted great, but was only a few bites. The Tatties were definitely the star, and so glad we ordered those as it would have been a woefully small lunch without. I did try my friend's lamb, and it was beautiful and succulent, but small. My friend did go back in to enquire if that was really the serving size of the items and was assured it was....

We are so lucky to have King Street Pantry here in St. Catharines! From the wide selection of butchered Canadian meats, to the amazing selection of locally sourced grocery products, and hot lunch and prepared meals, you can’t go wrong coming and enjoying all KSP has to offer. It is a must stop for locals and visitors to the region.

My wife and I have had many meals and we have never been disappointed. The Ham, Egg and Chips Butty, Roast Tatties and the Scotch Egg are all must haves! (The Scotch Egg is the best I’ve ever had outside of Scotland!)

The prepared Easter dinner we just had this past week was perfection. Priced right, good portions, fresh, and of course delicious and perfectly seasoned. Well worth it for your next holiday meal!

Greg and Maeg are always welcoming, friendly and their expertise in the food industry shines through in everything they do. Thank you both for adding another spectacular (and delicious) local business to our community.

We will continue to come back as regulars to this...