Where To Find Sandwiches In Melbourne Food Experience?

When the 4th Earl of Sandwich made the first sandwich in the world in the 1700s, he likely had little notion of its eventual global impact. That's not just a matter of location, either. Sandwiches are used to transport about every type of food now available.

Sandwiches stuffed with lasagne, spicy Thai salads, American barbeque, fried chicken, and every other kind of meat imaginable—here in Melbourne, we've embraced it all. Some people provide four varieties of cheese, while others serve eggs in a variety of ways and even ice cream. Where to locate the best of Melbourne's wild, simple, and luxury options.

The banh mi, Melbourne's de facto signature sandwich, is not included in this guide. Simply put, there are too many equally good alternatives; therefore, it has to have its own.

All Melburnians, rightly so, have strong feelings about what makes the best sandwich in the city. The basic sandwich can take you far, and it's so adaptable that it deserves its own list. Sandwiches in Melbourne are really a different ball game, with the local culinary scene going wild for all the newest sandwich shops and delis. Among the countless options, these are the sandwich shops and delis in Melbourne that we recommend the most.

Sandwiches In Melbourne Food Experience

The basic sandwich has been elevated to gourmet status in recent years in Melbourne. The once-reliable ham-and-cheese two-step has given way to the bigger, bolder, and beefier menu choices such as the ever-popular American import, the Reuben, as the hungry masses want more from this lunch box staple.

A classic Reuben sandwich has corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing between two slices of lightly toasted rye bread, with a pickle on the side. When prepared properly, this massive sandwich is not only better than everything that has come before it, but it also elevates the regular sliced bread to a whole new level of deliciousness.

While the origins of the Reuben are disputed (both New York and Nebraska claim ownership of the massive sandwich), we're just happy it made it to Melbourne, and to celebrate, we've compiled a list of the top eight Reubens in the city. Become active.

Wild Life Bakery

Tartine, a popular bakery in San Francisco, has a fan in Huw Murdoch. After working at Market Lane for six years, he made several trips to the United States. When he met famous bakers, they encouraged him to start his own business.

He discovered an empty warehouse on Albert Street that used to house a mechanic shop and decided that the area would be better served by adding a cafe. The shop's interior is adorned with eye-catching circular windows that give visitors a front-row seat to the bread-baking action.

The toasties here are the stars, but the menu is almost entirely vegetarian. Caramelised onion and comté, wide bean, pea, and manchego, and home-made kimchi and cheddar are just a few of the ingredients that can be grilled between day-old bread.

Murdoch and head baker Brad Tobin (ex-Wood Frog Bakery) ferment their rustic loaves for a full day, and they use a variety of heirloom wheats cultivated in Australia in their baking. There are the standard white, seeded, and fruit loaves, as well as a sourdough made with oat porridge that was modelled after Tartine's. Croissants made with cultured butter from Fitzroy's St. David's Dairy and galettes topped with seasonal fruit are both available. Guests can choose from a few bottles of minimal-intervention wine and a Saison beer from La Sirene, in addition to the usual fare of Market Lane coffee, Mörk hot chocolate, and Assembly tea.

Smith Street Alimentari

Fresh salads, antipasto, paninis, rotisserie meats, take-home meals, stocks, and sauces can all be found at the Smith Street Alimentari, a delicatessen with an Italian-ish vibe. A restaurant with 80 seats and a bright, tree-lined courtyard in the back are available next door.

A new breakfast and lunch menu, with dishes inspired by the Mediterranean, furthers the illusion that you've left Collingwood and arrived at an outdoor café in Santorini. Some examples of the breakfast fare available till 3pm are egg white omelettes, shakshuka baked eggs, and quinoa bircher. Then for lunch, try the baharat-rubbed lamb shoulder that has been cooked low and slow, or the pan-fried potato gnocchi. Juices and smoothies are also on the menu.

Workshop

Chef Warkop, formerly of Navi's kitchen staff, emphasises Indonesian flavours. Located on a quiet Richmond side street, this cosy corner shop is known for its elegant sandwich selection, many of which are influenced by Indonesia.

The showpiece of the menu is the chicken taliwang sandwich, inspired by a charry local delicacy that Susanto sampled during his time in Lombok. The sand ginger, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, and shrimp paste marinade gives Warkop's chicken a softer flavour without sacrificing any of its bite. Two pieces of Torquay's organic Zeally Bay Sourdough are stuffed with cheese, tomato, and rocket.

There's a vegetarian option that combines tofu, tempeh, and Gado Gado with peanut sauce (Indonesian salad) in a spin on a Turkish roll and focaccia; beef pastrami with pickles, cheese, and coconutty rendang sauce on light rye; and several other variations. There's also a smoked-salmon bagel that packs a serious punch thanks to the addition of alfalfa, green chilli, salmon roe, and tartare sauce.

Kaya toast is a delicious option for breakfast (or dessert) since it consists of a thick layer of coconut jam that tastes like custard spread on a slice of grilled brioche.

In spite of the sachets of Indonesian instant coffee dangling from a curved shelf, the brews are brewed with beans from Dukes, and the pastries in the display cabinet are from Ned's Bake.

The cafe's interior is inviting and homey thanks to the use of wooden bricks as decorative accent walls and simple black colours everywhere.

Kelso’s Sandwich Shoppe

At year's end 2016, the trio opened Kelso's Sandwich Shoppe with their buddy Kitty Kelso as a fast and cheap option. Prices range from $8 to $12 for most products. Mozzarella, cheddar, gruyere, and parmesan butter make up the grilled cheese sandwich. It can be customised with a variety of toppings, including bacon, pickles, and onions. Mint, lemon, feta, cucumber, and alfalfa make up the Smashed Pea.

The menu also includes beef and vegetarian burgers, hot chips, and shakes. The Lievito bread is used in every recipe.

A tiny bit of longing for the past lurks within. The walls are decorated with pages from kitschy issues of Women Weekly published between 1956 and 1961, with a few discreet Art Deco flourishes thrown in for good measure.

Due to its late hours and lack of table service, Kelso's cannot be classified as a cafe. Or a diner, since the only truly American feature is an endless filter from Coffee Supreme. That which exists between extremes.

Hector's Deli

John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, an English lord in the 18th century, popularised the practise of serving meat between slices of bread. He likely had no idea that his invention would go on to become one of the most iconic foods in the world. A new sandwich shop, Hector's Deli, has opened in Richmond, serving up traditional sandwiches with modern flair.

There are only five choices (and maybe a couple specials) on the menu. There are no eggs. We didn't bother with any beautiful plating. There was a lack of cutlery. However, you should brace yourself for a sandwich shop with significant renown, since co-owners Jason Barratt and Dom Wilton formerly toiled at Melbourne institutions like Stokehouse and Attica.

The café occupies the site of a former milk bar in a relatively quiet suburban street, far from the hubbub of Richmond's main strips; however, the cramped quarters are constantly packed with residents. Barratt and Wilton are serving clients at the white-tiled kitchen-cum-register, where they are enthusiastically greeted by name.

While their owners wait for their creamery from barista Zac Kelly and their robust flat whites from Axil Roasters coffee beans, their children are appeased by flaky croissants from their bread provider, Rustica. It serves as a metaphor for the American diner chain Cheers.

If you're here during the morning shift, have the pastrami, which is like a fancier Reuben. Between two slices of light rye bread, Meatsmith's Wagyu pastrami (brisket marinated in a secret seasoning, hot smoked, and slow cooked for 15 hours) rests, accompanied by sauerkraut, house-made relish, and pickles. After being coated in butter and grilled, the resulting salty, ooey, tangy, and crispy flavour will astound your taste buds.

The cold-smoked trout from Petuna (who sell wild-caught, sustainable seafood), velvety cream cheese with a splash of beetroot juice (the earthy flavour works so well with the saltiness of the fish), and crunchy red onion rings are heaped generously over a boiled and baked 5 & Dime bagel. Salmon roe adds a subtle yet welcome tang.

For lunch, they recommend their take on the Italian American classic, the all-vegetable "pizza" sub. Pillowy ciabatta is stuffed with deep-fried eggplant that has been coated in a breading mixture, pickled wild mushrooms that give a fragrant vinegary sharpness, carrots, and a rich tomato sauce; you may want to wear a bib.

The ciabatta on the side is slathered with Kewpie mayonnaise, and the schnitzel (extra points if you use free-range chicken marinated in buttermilk overnight) is nestled between the leaves in a special sauce. How about some sweets? It's not possible to improve upon Nutella toast, but a brioche bun stuffed with Nutella and vanilla ice cream comes close.

Maker And Monger

A cheesemonger can tell you how to make the perfect cheesy snack. All you need is some crusty, crispy bits and some melty cheese. His Prahran Market cheese cart, Maker and Monger, serves solely raclette cheese melted on potatoes and cornichons, and grilled cheese toasties (the Swiss way, if you must know). if you're looking for something sweet to counteract the saltiness of the cheese. You might find a broader variety of cheeses and drinks available during the warmer months.

Maker & Monger is known for having the best toasted sandwiches in Melbourne. Their sandwiches are simple but dripping with cheese. Given that they are primarily a cheese business, their toasties should be excellent. The All American is the cheesy sandwich of your dreams, and at only $14, you can easily afford to have two in one sitting.

Liminal

Coffee, wine, cheese, rotisserie meats, charcuterie, private events, and lessons in the demonstration kitchen are just some of the many services offered to Liminal's clientele.

Let's say you're running late for work and decide to grab a quick breakfast on the way there. Your options include a thick slice of pumpkin brioche topped with buffalo curd and honey or a toast topped with mozzarella, sage, and white anchovies.

Later, when you're hungry, you head down to the lobby, where a rotisserie is turning golden chickens into sandwiches with hot rolls and gravy. Wine and cheese are the only things on your mind after a long day. You're in luck, as there's a shop nearby that has over 200 bottles (many of which cost less than $20) and an equally varied array of cheeses to go with them.

The Mulberry Group, who are responsible for such successful businesses as The Kettle Black, Higher Ground, and Top Paddock, have created a new venture called Liminal. The Kettle Black is based out of a Victorian terrace, while Higher Ground is a converted power plant; both of these venues have been transformed into dramatic performance spaces.

The goal in constructing the 400 square metre room at 161 Collins Street (which is also home to cult croissanterie Lune) was to make it a warm and inviting gathering place that would entice people from the nearby office tenancy and the street below.

The finished product is a welcoming haven of soft curves and cost details. The light and sophisticated art deco interior was designed by the award-winning design group The Stella Collective, known for their work on The Kettle Black. It's very relaxing here because everything is rounded and cosy. The banquettes, armchairs, and stools are all covered in soft olive leather, velvet, and lambswool, respectively.

Williamstown-based designer is responsible for the black-and-white and ornate brushed bronze custom light fixtures. An impressive stone bench that appears to have been cut from the original stone. Its rough edges beckon the mindless movement of a hand.

Ground-floor space in the historic T&G Building with an enormous open kitchen along one wall. A large slab of sea-green marble serves as the focal point of the private dining area, which is separated from the rest of the space by partitions.

Rocco's Delicatessen

In 2020, Yarraville was named one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods, and Rocco's Delicatessen helped cement that reputation. They are run by knowledgeable, enthusiastic Italians, and they provide a selection of panini that adhere to the golden rule of using only thinly sliced cold cuts.

Pick your favourite deli meat and enjoy it on either a ciabatta rolls or a more conventional soft roll. Options include prosciutto, mortadella, or salami with your choice of grilled eggplant or artichokes, green split olives, provolone, grilled peppers, and tomato pesto.

Nico’s Sandwich Deli

If you're searching for an unpretentious sandwich shop in Melbourne that serves all the standards, Nico's is a great option. There are just five things to choose from on the menu, but the combinations are so amazing that that's all you'll need. If you need a pick-me-up in the middle of the day, get a standard shake; if you're feeling very indulgent, they also serve ice cream sandwiches.

Stan’s Deli

Super-sized deli sandwiches, made in the American way, will be served. Stan's substantial bread and excellent ingredients, like eggplant parm sandwich, or roast chicken are enticing, and they won't leave you hungry after a visit. Its distinctive green and white decor has become a universal signal in Melbourne that a satisfying meal is not far away.

Enjoy this if you're a fan of traditional roast chicken sanga. Stan's Deli is known for its delicious American-style deli sandwiches, but this tune is a homage to a classic from a local rural bakery. Sandwiched between two thick, toasted slices of bread are ribbons of roasted chicken doused in a herb mayo bursting with tarragon, shredded lettuce, green tomatoes, and the sweet and acidic Swiss Gruyère cheese. Everything is wrapped in white and green-lined paper, making it difficult to throw away for people who collect wrapping paper.

Applehead Deli

It's easy to walk right past this hidden gem, but you'll be kicking yourself if you do. Sandwiches at Applehead Deli are some of the bests you'll find anywhere, and they take their inspiration from the Big Apple. Bagels, Rubens, and cheesy melts will likely predominate on the menu. Fast lunch on a cold day has never been easier than with these hot and hearty sandwiches.

Greta

At the westernmost end of Flinders Lane is where you'll find Greta, a sandwich and wine bar with a Schmick European vibe. Mayday in Richmond and Maverick within the 80 Collins precinct are also owned by the same brother-and-sister team. They watched for the right spot to open up, and when one did in the recently renovated Olderfleet building, they jumped on it.

The 65-seat restaurant's decor features olive and mustard yellow (Agostino, Bar Carolina). There is a curving bar in the middle and a semi-open kitchen. Coffee Roasters has included a little footrest on one side so that you can rest your feet while you enjoy your espresso. Plus, Penny for Pound pastries and breads can be seen in a front display case.

When available, you must get the beef cheek baguette topped with pesto and mozzarella and served with a side of Napoli sauce for dipping.

Breakfast dishes that aren't sandwiches are surprisingly tasty, and they include eggs Benedict with rare beef, baked eggs with scamorza, and casarecce with fresh tomatoes and stracciatella. In addition, we provide a variety of canned fish, as well as house-made pickles, salumi, and Ned's Bake bread, as appetisers.

Henry Crawford, co-owner of Bar Romantica, was enlisted by the Marianis to assist in compiling an extensive wine selection of largely European wineries, as well as some local ones, such as Little Reddie, Chalmers, and Yeringberg. There are six different drinks and six different beers, one of which is a Berliner Weisse sour brewed by Sydney's Wayward The most notable example is a Martini created using Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin). And several different vermouths are available.

In addition, from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, you can enjoy complimentary aperitivo nibbles (such as heirloom tomato with stracciatella or baguette with French onion dip) with your wine or cocktail.

Ollie's Deli

The staff at Ollie's Deli have had a terrible go of it, what with the restaurant opening during a pandemic and then being destroyed in a fire. The sandwich shop may have burned down, but it has risen like the phoenix in its temporary Footscray location.

The team, which is now headquartered at Littlefoot Bar, has kept up its reputation as a provider of some of the best sandwiches in the West. Currently, there are six different types of sanga to look out for: the pastrami, the BFC (buttermilk fried chicken), the brekkie bagel, the truffle mushroom melt, the Italian, and the tuna melt. Which is all top-notch and deserving of your time if you're in the Footscray neighbourhood.

Dead Man Espresso

When a good is brought to the table, the first thing you might wonder is how you're going to eat all that beef. The situation is best remedied by slicing the offending sandwich in two, as it is at Dead Man Espresso.

This sandwich, which has pastrami in place of corned beef and generous helpings of sauerkraut prepared in-house, is a brilliant representation of all that is great about the Melbourne café scene. There will be no food envy here.

Martha Ray's 

If you're looking for the best Reuben in town, look no farther than this dive bar on the Gertrude end of Brunswick Street. Lacking the typical height of a Reuben, this sandwich still provides all the classic fixings (with sautéed cabbage in place of sauerkraut) and packs an incredible flavour punch. The meal may be messy, but it's well worth the mess. Additionally, if you are currently economising, Tuesdays at Martha Ray's are a boon because these tasty sandwiches are only $10. From morning until night.

Smith And Deli

Smith and Deli, located in an old bluestone building in Fitzroy, claims to provide the best vegan sandwiches in town.

The deli strikes a flawless chord between gourmet fare, casual dining, and satisfying vegan options. After finding success in one Australian city, the deli decided to open up shop in others.

Big Dog’s Deli

Big Dog's Deli is a unique take on the traditional deli, where you can get a sandwich at any time of day and in any style you like. No bread required, whether you're having a burger, a complete meal with wine, or neither! You'll be astounded by the menu's sheer size and variety. In addition, the bar serves some of your favourite cocktails and all of the bread is baked fresh daily.

Gramercy Bistro

Adam Faigen, proprietor of Gramercy Bistro, is, needless to say, a Reuben devotee. Two years ago, he added the sandwich to the menu at his Prahran café, but before that he served it at Pound and Carre Street Deli, so there's a twist there.

Yes, dear reader, we have returned to the same Elsternwick cafe for our final Reuben sandwich in this series. Faigen's mastery of the Reuben shines through in Gramercy's spectacular rendition, solidifying his status as Melbourne's undisputed Reuben King. Their version of the famous sandwich consists of house-made pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and mustard on a rye bagel with the standard accompaniments of a pickle and fries.

Giddyup

You haven't gone to Giddyup if you believe a premade sandwich can't measure up to a custom one. This Reuben is made to order with toasted seeded bread, corned beef, cheese, pickle, spinach, and sauerkraut. Despite the fact that it deviates from convention in terms of its ingredients, this sandwich packs quite a punch. Not only that, but the time it takes to go from placing an order to sitting down to dine is cut down significantly, which is always welcome.

King & Godfree Deli

The historic King & Godfree building at the corner of Lygon and Faraday streets in Carlton had a major facelift in 2015.

Since its reopening in December 2018, the landmark Carlton corner site has housed not one but three businesses: the original King & Godfree Espresso Bar; the rooftop bar Johnny's Green Room; and this deli and grocer, that is a expanded and reimagined version of what the original store was known for: becoming a microcosm of an Italian neighbourhood.

The room is classic rather than trendy. The design brief included specific instructions to preserve the building's history. After being ripped out during renovations, a terrazzo craftsman painstakingly recreated the King & Godfree crest.

This market carries a variety of Italian specialities, including cheese from London's Neal's Yard Dairy, roasted meats and salumi, ready-to-eat dinners, and shelves upon shelves of dry pasta, Burd Eggs, house-made pasta sauces, Campari preserves, nougat, panettone, and Piedmontese chocolate wafers. Additionally, specialty coffee, a plethora of Sirena tuna cans, salads to go, dried fruits and nuts, fresh produce, and roasted meats and fish.