he owners of new Yarraville deli and cafe Barkley Johnson, Jim Gridias and Prue Sadler, named the compact space after their beloved pet Golden Retriever, whom they lost to cancer. “We thought it was the perfect name for him and then when we found here, the perfect fit to remember him.” Barkley Johnson, a former barbershop, where local boy Gridias got his hair cut as a kid, has had a significant facelift courtesy of Nick Lukas from Architectron.

There are only about eight stools inside and a handful of chairs and tables in the tiny courtyard at the back, but the beauty is that the menu and winelist is all available for takeaway too. Breakfasts, as simple as toast or toasted ham and cheese, sit alongside baguettes for lunch and antipasti of your choice at anytime of the day. “We saw a gap in the market here for a good deli,” says Gridias. “This is like an enoteca.”

The term, translating to ‘wine repository’, is an apt way to describe the business, with its wall of interesting wines to choose from (add $10 to the takeaway price to have it there) and an easy, relaxed atmosphere.

Smart, succinct, quality product – we’ll be interested to see how Barkley Johnson evolves.

Barkley Johnson
11 Anderson St, Yarraville
(03) 9687 6663

Hours
Tue to Sat 8am–11pm
Sun 8am–6pm