First Look: Hector’s New Lygon Street Deli Adds Maritozzi (and Not Much Else) To The Equation

As Hector’s Deli opens its eighth store, co-founder Dom Wilton has been thinking about a famous American chain. “My brother’s father-in-law is a Bostonian and he ate the same doughnut and coffee every single morning for 45 years straight from Dunkin’ Donuts,” he says. “I think that sometimes what’s really brave, whether it be the menu or whether it be the design, is the ability to know that doing the same thing over and over makes you approachable and relevant and reliable.” 

By that definition, the new Hector’s Deli – which opened on Lygon Street, Carlton, just down from Readings on Tuesday – is an incredibly brave undertaking. You’ll find Hector’s tried and tested tuna melts, salad sandwiches and doughnuts served in the same recognisable white and pink paper bags emblazoned with Hector’s firetruck red logo. The slick space has minimal counter seating, the classic Hector’s menu board, a team dressed in bespoke pink and red Porter James cardigans.

“A lot of places put the emphasis on newness,” says Wilton. “The emphasis for us is very much on execution. And that goes through from the menu to the design language to all of it. It’s really an anti-concept.”

New to Lygon Street, and exclusive to Carlton, are maritozzi, a Roman pastry often made with brioche that nods to the neighbourhood’s connection to the Italian community. “I personally don’t love brioche – I find it a little bit dry and uninspiring. When we finally made the decision to try [maritozzi] with our doughnut dough, it was so good that we just couldn’t deny putting it on the menu,” says Wilton. 

“We’ve used our signature doughnut as the base to give it that uniquely light and airy Hector’s touch, while staying true to the traditional Roman spirit,” adds executive baker Aram Yun. “We’ve then elevated it with our signature cloud-like cream filling,” a combination of whipped cream, condensed milk and vanilla, “creating a balance of textures that’s both simple and indulgent.”

The design also honours the location. ”Context is always super important at Hector’s Deli,” says Wilton. “We wanted to make sure that what we were doing to the street was very much enhancing that sense of longevity.” Designed by Adelaide-based architecture and interior design firms Studio Gram, the new deli aims to pay homage to the street with soft warm lighting, a lot of timber and vintage tiles.

Hector’s Deli Carlton
323 Lygon Street, Carlton
No phone

Hours:
Daily 7am–3pm

hectorsdeli.com.au
@hectors_deli