The South Melbourne sandwich scene is already competitive. There are old favourites Hector’s Deli and Juniper, and newcomer Juju’s Deli is opening in the spring.

Nicholas Totos grew up going to South Melbourne market with his parents, causing family and market vendors to nickname him “deli boy”, before he could even see over the counter. It stuck, and now he’s extended the name to his new sandwich shop just across the road from the market.

“Any kid that’s grown up at or frequents the market is considered a deli boy,” he tells Broadsheet.

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Now with kids of his own who accompany him on market runs, he wanted to create a space to honour the market’s intergenerational nature and highlight the suppliers he’s grown to know there.

The Deli Boy offering is simple: coffee from 36th Parallel, pastries from Notting Hill, and sandwiches and open-faced toasts made with Zeally Bay sourdough and fillings from the market.

The daily range may include egg and bacon focaccias; mortadella, stracciatella and truffle honey-glazed eggplant paninis; and tomato, mozzarella and basil piled onto long, thin sesame rolls. There’s also a deli case filled with seasonal salads plus cheese and charcuterie that can be made into tasting boards.

Deli Boy is located in a former mechanic’s shop and has brick exteriors, terracotta tiled interiors, globe lights and marble benchtops. The shelves are filled with baguettes, tinned fish and bottles of olive oil, and there’s a ham hock hanging out the front.

“We wanted it to be warm, a little bit European, and to age well,” Totos says. He also wanted to provide a space for those looking to enjoy the bustle of the market from a distance.

“It’s so busy,” he says. “Sometimes you just want to sit on the outside and watch people go past.”

There’s a bit of footpath seating out the front of the venue. And if you walk through the deli, you’ll find a sprawling courtyard that’s decked out with string lights, large umbrellas and heaters to suit all seasons.

By night, it will double as Barrio, a 330-person event space named after the Spanish term for a neighbourhood. It can be booked out for private functions but in the coming months, Totos plans to launch a cocktail and pasta bar in the refurbished shipping container sitting at the back.

Deli Boy
182 York Street, South Melbourne
No phone

Hours:
Daily 7am to 3pm

@deli_boy_