Buzzy's Luncheonette — Restaurant in Salt Spring Island Electoral Area

I don’t usually write reviews. But every now and then, something stops you in your tracks—something so undeniably good, so full of heart, that you feel compelled to tell the world. That’s exactly what happened when I walked into Buzzy’s and tried the sandwich.

It’s hard to know where to begin when describing a sandwich like this one. You could talk about the ingredients: thick ribbons of hand-cut pastrami, so tender it practically sighs as you bite into it, layered with juicy corned beef that’s rich, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. You could describe the fresh rye bread, speckled with caraway seeds, with a crust that crunches ever so slightly before giving way to the soft, warm interior. Or maybe the mustard—sharp, tangy, and unapologetically bold, a true complement to the smoky meats. The whole thing is a symphony. A sensory overload. The kind of sandwich that silences a conversation, that makes your eyes close and your shoulders drop because, yes—this is that good.

But to focus only on the sandwich would be missing half the story. Because Buzzy—the man behind the counter, behind the magic—is a huge part of what makes this place so special.

Buzzy is a force of nature. From the moment you walk in, his presence fills the room—not in an overpowering way, but in the way a cozy fire fills a cold cabin. He’s got this spark in his eyes, a quick wit that makes you laugh even when you weren’t expecting to, and a smile that makes you feel like you’ve known him for years. He greets regulars by name, newcomers with genuine excitement, and treats everyone like they’re his favorite customer.

Watching him work is a kind of performance art. He slices meat with the precision of someone who respects his craft, but he moves with the comfort and confidence of a man who’s done this a thousand times and still loves every second of it. There’s a kind of joy in the way Buzzy runs his shop that you don’t see often anymore. It’s not just a place to grab food—it’s a place to feel something. Nostalgia, comfort, hunger, happiness. All of it.

And the sandwich? It’s not just a meal. It’s a gesture. A story. A bite of tradition wrapped in love and personality. You can taste the care in every ingredient, the years of trial and error, the pride in doing things the right way—no shortcuts, no gimmicks, just real food made by someone who gives a damn.

What struck me most, though, was how much personality this sandwich has. It’s not bland, it’s not safe—it’s bold, confident, loud in the best way. It’s the kind of sandwich that demands you eat it with both hands. The kind that you remember later, days later, and still smile about. It’s food that leaves a mark—not just on your taste buds, but in your heart.

And after finishing it (yes, every last bite), I just sat back and thought: This is what food is supposed to be. Not just nourishment, but experience. Soul. Joy. A human connection between the person who made it and the person who gets to eat it. And in that way, Buzzy isn’t just making sandwiches—he’s building tiny moments of happiness, one plate at a time.

If you’re anywhere near this place, go. Go hungry, go with friends, go ready to be delighted. Shake Buzzy’s hand, smile back, and treat yourself to one of the best sandwiches you’ll ever have. You’ll leave full, yes—but also reminded of what makes food, and people, so beautiful...

Cmon, Montreal smoked meat, how can you go wrong?

I can see why folks love this place so much. The food is tremendous. One reviewer said that his head popped because the ruben was so good--my adult kid said that was true after she ate a Rabinowitz....

Nice menu, fun atmosphere, great food, charming service, nice location!

Not meant to be high dining and doesn't pretend to be--they call it a "luncheonette" and it is--this is the type of food that I ate as a kid in Toronto and Montreal....

The place has a big heart...and my family is kind of in love with it.... ... my 1st time there!

A patron should expect smoked meat, calories, irony and sass, chaos and a little mishigas... and sodium.

Ummmm.... reading the few (very few) poor reviews, Buzzy's looks like a deli, walks like a deli, smells like a deli and tastes like a deli. You might not like an authentic deli, which one might not know til you experience one, but only a shmendrick would criticize a sashimi restaurant for serving you pufferfish or a vegan restaurant for not offering you freshly killed bison. It's a deli.....

The wonderful smoked meat is smoked daily in-house.... one silly reviewer criticized the smell--I literally wept at the smell.... for the record, it smells right, 100%.....

The soul food of one culture may not be your cup of tea so to speak.

While I don't go to any deli on the planet looking for service particulary, I think the guy serving us was pretty wonderful, really. We really...

There is something for everyone who likes totally amazing food.

The place is fabulous.

Your tastebuds and funny bone (there are jokes all over the walls) will thank you.

This man is NOT joking about his brisket.

Better quality product than Katz's, better than Schwartz's, better than Lester's, better than the 5-Star Deli in NYC...and SO MUCH FRIENDLIER!!!!!

The smoked meat, the fresh and exceptionally flavourful sandwiches, even the home-baked challah for the Grilled Cheese with Carmelized onions is so much more thoughtful and better than every other Jewish Deli or Smoked Meat Sandwich place than I have been to.

Eating anywhere else on Saltspring Island will not be as good as the food you can get at Buzzy's.

His family and great staff are very thoughtful and nice to interact with.

Truly. Bring yourself here. It's the best smoked meat you're likely ever to have. A year later since my last pilgrimage here, and somehow the experience and quality got even better!

Talk any resistant vegetarians into trying the latkes, slaw, and the Challah GC.

Don't want gluten? Ask for no bread and just meat.

And if you want to know who's made this place happen...he's a famously hilarious man, you can find his stuff online...or you might remember it if you liked the CBC or HBO a...