Amid the many and varied culinary offerings of Potts Point and the greater inner-east, from Darlinghurst to Paddington and across to Surry Hills and Woolloomooloo, fine fare of all varieties can be found. From the highest-end gourmet dining to street-level takeaway of burgers and fries, to the odd kebab or the increasingly popular Mexican-inspired burrito, there’s certainly no shortage of choice.

But sometimes, one gets a hankering for something much simpler, an old-school sandwich, the sort which were once made by sandwich-crafting stalwarts in delis and mixed businesses across the Eastern Suburbs and indeed wider Sydney. The sort of place where “salt and pepper” is considered a fancy accessory and the sandwich itself is made with the day’s fresh bread and even fresher ingredients.

And one such specialty sandwich providore is still flying the flag for such offerings, albeit with a modern foodie touch which deftly serves to satisfy contemporary tastes. Just “down the road” from Potts Point, along Darlinghurst Rd and past Oxford St, lies South Dowling Sandwiches, something of a local institution serving up superb sandos for the past 15 years.

With a vast variety of offerings, the little “hole-in-the-wall” corner shop has become a genuine favourite of local workers, students, and residents. Close to the buzz of the UNSW School of Art and Design (the former College of Fine Arts), St Vincent’s Hospital and an array of local creative businesses and retail outlets, South Dowling Sandwiches offers a straightforward lunch option, with plenty of flavour and not a hint of fuss.

Their signature “wrapped in foil” products have become a familiar sight in the area, hefty packages packing a real punch for taste and nutrition, with a terrific range of fillings and combinations that elevate the humble sandwich into something rather special.

There’s the hugely popular Hugo, a hearty chicken schnitzel creation loaded with herb mayo, tasty cheese, fresh salad and the house-special caramelised carrots. The Jimmy brings a spicy kick, combining chilli chicken with red pesto, avocado, Spanish onion and crunchy greens, while the cheekily named Biatch takes things up a notch with chilli chicken, bocconcini, pickles, red cabbage and a generous hit of herb mayo and pesto.

Big, fresh, flavour-packed sandwiches that have become something of a Sydney institution, these are the sort of satisfying lunchtime offerings that keep people coming back. And while the culinary landscape of the inner-east continues to evolve, it’s reassuring to know that the good old-fashioned sandwich remains alive and well, particularly when it’s done this well.

So next time you’re wandering the local area thinking about lunch and can’t quite put your finger on what you feel like, consider going old-school and grabbing a sandwich from South Dowling Sandwiches. Sometimes the simplest things really are the best.

South Dowling Sandwiches info:

377 South Dowling St

Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

https://www.southdowling.com.au/

By Adam Gibson

Photo by Adam Gibson