Jimmy’s Deli Serves Sandwiches With a Side of Family History
In Yarraville, you’ll find two side-by-side spots that share more than a wall. Eleni’s Kitchen has been flying the flag for Greek dining since 2017, and right next door sits its casual sibling, Jimmy’s Deli, a place built for sandwiches, sweets and stories.
Opened in 2022 by sisters Eleftheria and Anatoli Amanatidis, Jimmy’s Deli is named after their grandfather Jimmy, who ran Nea Ellas butcher shop in Yarraville for almost twenty years. He was known for hearty portions and a warm welcome, two qualities that live on in this bustling little sandwich shop.
The menu is both familiar and surprising. The New Yorker is loaded with pastrami, sauerkraut, Gruyère, Dijon and Jimmy’s special sauce on rye. Jimmy’s Meatballs channel family history, using their grandfather’s 1976 salsa recipe with kefalograviera cheese and pickled golden chilli. Jimmy’s Roll celebrates deli classics with Barkly Smokehouse ham, Puopolo sopressata and mortadella, while the Katz Tribute tips its hat to Manhattan’s sandwich culture in a more modest serve.
Rotating specials show the chefs’ fine-dining flair without losing the deli spirit. One week might bring a Rock Lobster Roll with South Australian lobster on brioche, another a Steak Frites sandwich with Angus sirloin, fries and chimichurri, or a smoky braised beef short rib that feels straight out of a Sunday roast.
The counter isn’t all meat and mustard. It doubles as a showcase for Cakes by Thierry, another of the sisters’ ventures. Expect bougatsa, burnt Basque cheesecake, pistachio tiramisu, slices of Biscoff sponge and cookies that look too good to share. With Bravo coffee on the machine the same beans once poured at their grandparents’ original Eleni’s Kitchen in the 70s — there’s every excuse to linger longer than you planned.
The space itself is intimate, just 28 seats split between inside and out. Timber panelling, pendant lights and a hand-drawn portrait of Jimmy keep things warm and familiar. Manager Billy Hinds knows the regulars by name, while chefs Zabir Sardar and Simran Jeet Singh, who once cooked under Neil Perry and Shannon Bennett, add polish to the blackboard specials.
Jimmy’s Deli is the kind of place that feels instantly part of the neighbourhood. It celebrates family history while serving sandwiches that make people smile, and with Eleni’s Kitchen right next door, the Amanatidis sisters have given Yarraville a pair of dining spots that reflect their heritage, generosity and good taste.
