Saul's Sandwiches - Eatability

Fully-loaded New York deli-style sandwiches, made fresh to order from a limited Breakfast and Lunch Menu. Big on fillings and flavour, Saul’s red and white shops are cropping across East Melbourne.

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Saul’s Sandwiches

Locations: 256 Carlisle St, Balaclava, VIC 3183 Ph: 0421 000 205 & 929 Centre Rd, Bentleigh East, VIC 3165 Ph: 046 825 816 & 2/673 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, VIC 3122 Ph: 0412 141 115 & 315 Neerin Rd, Carnegie, VIC 3163 Ph: (03) 9939 8887

There’s an old skool aesthetic to the Saul’s Sandwiches that are starting pop up over Melbourne’s east. With the classic cartoon overtones of their branding and the choice of red and white as their signature colour scheme, there’s a definite American diner feel to this chain of sandwich shops.

And it’s an apt comparison, as the sanga’s at Saul’s are clear cousins to the fat sandwiches found in deli store across New York and beyond.

For another diner-inspired sandwich and bagel shop, see our review of Whiplash Cafe

The Space

Whilst many in the current wave of bakeries and bagel shops that are sweeping Melbourne at present are almost ferociously minimalist in their decor – Mile End Bagels is a great example – Saul’s harks back to a more cluttered age.

Both their Carnegie and Hawthorn outlets are cramped. So cramped that customers have to wait outside for their order to be filled.

The Carnegie sandwich shop, in particular, feels like it’s a remanent from another era. With its basic formica, pale wood and red and white livery, it’s functional and has the buzz of a good, honest old-fashioned business that’s been there for generations. There are no pot plants or interior design touches to soften the no-fuss vibe.

The new flagship store at Balaclava is far more spacious, but again the practical wins out over elaborate design choices.

Meanwhile, in Bentleigh East, the Americana heart of Saul’s is on full display with Saul’s Diner sitting on a corner block. This joint has seating inside and tables on the pavement outside under striped umbrellas. Red and white – of course.

Saul's Sandwiches - Smoked Pastrami - best sandwiches in Melbourne

The Food

It’s all about those sandwiches.

The options divide into a Breaky Menu and a Lunch Menu.

Breaky Menu

Breakfast at Saul’s runs until 10.30am.

The Breaky Roll features Double Bacon, Hash Brown, Fried Egg, American Cheese, BBQ Sauce and Aioli, all for $11. Alternatively, there’s the Brisket, Egg and Cheese ($11) – Saul’s own Smoked Brisket Sausage, Fried Egg, American Cheese & Saul’s Sauce.

If you’re not a meat-eat, don’t fret. The team can whip you up at Vegan Sausage Muffin ($11) with Hash Brown, Tomato Relish, Vegan Cheddar and Vegan Aioli.

Now if this doesn’t sound sufficiently filling to you, it’s worth knowing that Saul’s Sandwiches has a separate Add-Ons list that you can play with until you find that perfect balance of carbs and protein to turbo-charge your day. For example, you can have Extra Egg for $2, more Cheese for $1.5 and Double your Hashes for $5.

For more of the Best Breakfasts in Melbourne, see here.

Lunch Menu

The yummy Breaky Roll carries over from the early morning menu, but apart from that, the selections are all new.

If you want protein without an excess of veggies, it’s hard to ignore the Chicken Parm ($14). Yep, all the good bits of that pub favourite – the Chicken Parma – in a crusty roll. So that’s a succulent, crumbed Chicken Schnitzel, Fior di Latte, Basil Napoli, Parmesan and Ranch Dressing. And yep, you can add Ham for a couple of dollars more.

Knock out toasted breakfast muffins and crunchy toasties and sandwiches with one of these easy-to-use and affordable Sandwich Presses.

When you get the sandwich in your hands and first open the wrapper, the scent that wafts out is mouth-wateringly delicious.

In contrast, should you fancy something a little lighter – honestly, what are you doing at Saul’s?! – the Caprese Toastie ($13) is a gooey, aromatic slice of Tomato, Red & Green Pesto and oozing Fresh Mozzarella.

Whilst the Roast Pork sandwich from BAM in Essendon – See our post on the Best Sandwiches in Melbourne for more (And yes. Saul’s Sandwiches definitely makes our list!) – is undoubtedly one of the most memorable things we ate in 2022, the Roast Porchetts from Saul’s is also outstanding.

What makes the Saul’s Sandwiches version so good is the kick from the Chilli Braised Greens. Then there’s also Cheddar, Aioli and a vibrant Salsa Verde. It’s a meal of strong, punchy flavours that come together with surprising harmony, rather than fighting one another for supremacy.

That said, here at Eatability we can’t get enough of the Smoked Pastrami sandwich. Thick with savoury, juicy Pastrami, Cheddar, a bright, crunchy Cavolo Nero Slaw, Pickles, tangy Mustard and Saul’s Sauce, it’s the got to be up there with the best $16 you’ll ever spend on a sandwich.

Saul's Sandwiches - Smoked Pastrami Stacked

Finally, if you’re a plant-based eater, the gang at Saul’s Sandwiches promise that a Vegan Schnitzel Parma will be hitting their menus soon. If it’s half as moreish as the Chicken version, it’ll be totally worth the wait.

For another great local Carnegie business, see our review of Bromley’s Bread

The Drinks

Saul’s Sandwiches stocks a range of sodas, including the addictive Yuzu from Japan ($5).

And as proof that these people are very serious about what they do, their coffee comes from Clark St Coffee.

If you visit the Saul’s in Carnegie, check out SOWL Restaurant just around the corner.

Overall

Have no fear that Saul’s Sandwiches is all retro American cool and no substance.

On the contrary, their small, yet generous menu is packed full of banging flavour combinations put together with with an unstinting hand

For genuinely hefty sandwiches that take 2 hands to hold and may well take a couple of attempts to get through, as their slogan say, you “Gotta have Saul’s”.