Looking for great sandwiches in South Western Sydney? Roman's Deli in Georges Hall is a popular sandwich spot located at a petrol station. Roman's Deli is known for fried chicken bagels, focaccia sandwiches, loaded fries and creative drinks like mango matcha and tiramisu cold foam latte and serves these day and night!
It's a Friday night when Laura and I arrive at Roman's Deli in Georges Hall. Our trip to this sandwich shop came about in a very roundabout way. We were actually headed elsewhere for an impromptu dinner but were really thirsty, hungry and in need of a pee. Laura spots a sandwich board saying Roman's Deli's fried chicken bagels. "Oh I know that place, I've seen it on tiktok" says Laura. "Should we stop by for a snack?" I suggest since it is 1 minute drive away and I really needed to pee.
Roman's Deli is located at a petrol station (which importantly has a bathroom). The food truck has a large undercover eating area as well as an outdoor eating area. And even though it's a deli that sells sandwiches it's open at night till 10:00. Whoever said sandwiches were just for the day is mistaken as they do a busy trade at night. The sandwiches have names like Louisiana, Austin and Riviera. There are also some Australian names like the Yagoona, which is a chicken and cheese sandwich named after the first McDonald's in Sydney in Yagoona. Similarly the Pyrmont is a tuna melt named after the industrial waterfront suburb.
Roman's Deli is named after Andrew Vu and Serwan Roman, high school friends who branched out to create this business. They saw that the Western suburbs of Sydney was under-serviced in terms of excellent sandwiches and while there was a strong burger culture they sought to rectify this.
Having seen the sandwich boom in the inner west, east and south of Sydney, they opened up Roman's Deli that sells around 15 types of sandwiches along with a range of cold drinks, including matcha and other on-trend drinks as well as hot coffees.
After seeing the menu, Laura and I decide that we're having dinner here instead of the other restaurant because there are 5 sandwiches that we want to try. The sandwiches are divided into different sections: from sourdough, focaccia to garlic herb butter toastie to bagel. It's hard to choose a favourite but Andrew recommends some of the best sellers. "Don't be alarmed, we will take away anything we don't eat," adds Laura.
We try a mango matcha drink as well as a tiramisu. Both are delicious and true to flavour with the tiramisu being less sweet than others that we have tried so it gives more of a coffee flavour.
We both devour the curly fries with the popcorn chicken because of the sauces. You can pick either the house sauce or the Tokyo sauce but we go for half half. The Tokyo sauce is a sweet chilli aioli while the house sauce is like a mayo and ketchup based burger sauce. The chicken is a little overcooked but it's not dry. I do like my chicken a little less dark than this because it can tend to affect the flavour of the chicken but the curly fries are devoured.
The first sandwich we try is the Damascus, one that Laura really wanted to try with fig jam, za'atar, provolone, swiss and mozzarella with a garlic herb butter. It's delicious, the sweet fig jam hitting the savoury cheese just perfectly, like an arrow to the heart. This is both our favourite as the sweet jam goes so well with the caramelised cheese.
Likewise the Colombo or Sri Lankan-inspired sandwich has a touch of sweetness with the mango chutney along with panko fried chicken, coconut sambal, rocket and roasted pepper spread similar to avjar, on a soft focaccia, which is their signature bread (we get the capsicum on the side because Laura is allergic). This is also a big hit with or without the pepper spread.
There is a section of three fried chicken bagels and we go with Andrew's recommendation of a Tokyo bagel. This is also very good, although it's not a traditional chewy bagel, more like a soft bread. It is fried chicken paired with dressed shredded purple cabbage slaw, provolone and kewpie sweet chilli mayo. There is quite a lot of coleslaw so this is a bit more vegetable forward than other sandwiches.
We also try the Amsterdam (dubbed the Shrooms Lover) mushroom melt because I absolutely love mushroom toasties. This one has slice portobello mushrooms, provolone, mozzarella, caramelised onion and a strong pesto truffle that is strong in basil. I find the pesto overtakes the flavour of the mushroom and the truffle so I think I'd prefer it without the pesto.
I've saved the most popular sandwich for last. It's their take on a Reuben sandwich but this one features wagyu beef pastrami, pickles, sauerkraut, caramelised onion, cheese and house dressing. I like it as it is because it is a classically good combo but the caramelised onion upps it more and dare I say the spicy chilli oil that you can order on the side really sends it!
So tell me Dear Reader, do you prefer classic sandwiches like a Reuben, or more original combinations? And do you eat sandwiches at night?
This meal was independently paid for.
Roman's Deli
250 Henry Lawson Dr, Georges Hall NSW 2198
Open Monday to Friday 10am-10pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm
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