The Venue.

Continental Deli, Bar and Bistro in Newtown was founded in 2015 by Elvis Abrahanowicz and Joe Valore (of Porteño), alongside Jesse Warkentin and Michael Nicolian. The team envisioned a fun, European-style deli, bar, and bistro, inspired by Abrahanowicz’s childhood memories of leisurely Sunday deli lunches. It didn’t take long for the venue to become a local favourite, celebrated for its gourmet deli fare, charcuterie, and inventive canned cocktails.⁣

Housed in an old terrace next to the Newtown police station, the décor is a delight. For me, it’s everything: old-school charm with exquisite William Morris wallpapers; his pomegranate fruit design, in particular, had me completely enchanted. (Pictured Above)⁣

Each room offers a different experience. You can enjoy a little al fresco on the sidewalk, perch at the deli counter while chatting to the handsome waiters, or take the coveted table under the front glass window. I, however, opted for the upstairs interior, air-conditioned and calm, knowing a 39°C wind was due to hit mid-lunch.⁣

⁣Downstairs, the deli counter would be my pick for a perfect solo midweek lunch: one beer, one deli roll. It’s simple, effortless, and absolutely perfect – the deli, in its essence, is flawless.

The People.

During my visit, I had the pleasure of interacting with three staff members and stumbled upon a shocking revelation: only a handful of venues in Sydney can claim to have truly professional waiters. The kind who appear in perfectly pressed attire, know everything there is to know about the venue, and can organise anything you could imagine.⁣

Our waiter, a middle-aged gentleman from Canada, was the epitome of this rare breed. He immediately noticed the trophy and, of course, we gave him the full story, much to his amusement. Curious, he then wanted to know more about the NRL, and naturally, we obliged. It was one of those moments that reminded me service, knowledge, and charm still matter.

A Poem, if you will indulge me.

A little poem, co-written with ChatGPT: there’s truly nothing like dining somewhere with a professional waiter, not a uni student doing it for cash, but someone who has made a career of service. It’s the kind of elegance that reminds me of DOWNTON ABBEY and, honestly, makes me go a little gooey.

THE WAITER

With polished shoes and practised grace,

They glide through tables, calm the pace.

A nod, a smile, a careful pour,

They know the menu, and so much more.

Plates like dancers in their hands,

Timing perfect, as each demand

Is met with charm, with wit, with cheer,

They make the night feel bright and clear.

Silent storms behind their eyes,

Managing chaos, smooth disguise.

For every clink and every clatter,

They move with purpose, none the matter.

Professional waiters, unseen kings,

Ruling nights with silver wings.

What we ordered…

Starters:

Raw Tuna, Smoked Seaweed Vinegar, Pomello $28

Grass Fed Steak Tartare, 24 mth Parmigiano Reggiano,

Gaufrette Potato Chips $32

Braised Beans, Cavolo Nero, Charcuterie XO, Smoked Labneh $18

Mains:

Olasagasti Anchovies & Nardin Boquerones $24

Super Deli: Pino’s Sopressa, Coppa, Mortadella, Roast Capsicum $25

Roast Capsicum, Marinated Eggplant, Rocket Pesto, Mozzarella $20

Drinks:

Mar-tinny – Gin, Vermouth, Water $23

Cosmopoli-tin – Vodka, Orange, Cranberry Sherry, Citrus $24

Takeaway Dessert:

I took their Flan in a Can – I think it was $24

The Food

In all honesty, I could live on deli food. In homage to this review, I even made a halfway brunch at home: white bread, two freshly hard-boiled eggs, mortadella, salt, and mayo – sheer perfection. The gentle warmth from the eggs slightly melted into the sanga, elevating every bite. Mmmmm.

The anchovy dish was sheer perfection. On the surface, it’s a simple affair, plated straight from imported tins, a generous drizzle of oil (probably from the tins themselves), and voilà. Boquerones is the Spanish term for anchovies, and typically they’re served in vinegar, so this was likely a white anchovy. The Olasagasti Anchovies, sourced from the Cantabrian Sea during the peak of the fishing season, may well be smoked, adding a subtle depth to the dish. I did remember that one of the anchovies was smoked.⁣

 

The Food continued.

The bonus? It was paired with the softest bread imaginable and, if my memory serves, a touch of whipped butter from Neil Perry. Simple yet exquisite, this dish embodies understated elegance on a plate.

The tartare arrived buried under a mountain of parmigiano and was marvellous, perfectly balanced, not too liquidy, with crisps that doubled as delightful little scoops. The raw tuna, which I believe was Kingfish that day (or at least that’s what Azza kept calling it), didn’t quite match the menu description – it was light, zesty, and enjoyable, but not a showstopper.⁣

The Braised Beans stole the show for me. I picked it knowing Azza would favour vegetable dishes, and it did not disappoint. Served warm, it felt like an Italian Nonna’s snack; comforting, generous, and full of heart.⁣

The deli rolls – though they call them sandwiches – were flawless. I just can’t call a roll a sandwich, haha. Perfectly soft, as Azza quipped, “they won’t rip our gums apart,” nor crumble the venue. The Super Deli, or as I cheekily called it, The Meat Fest, was one of the best rolls I’ve ever eaten. As a mortadella obsessive, this was without question the single best mortadella I’ve ever had. I moaned and groaned through every bite; it was better than sex, although I may have forgotten what that is.⁣⁣

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Vego roll, but that was Azza’s choice, and he adored it. Had I tried it before The Meat Fest, I might have appreciated it more.⁣

As for drinks, I swapped the Mar-tinny with Azza’s Cosmopoli-tin. The Mar-tinny was too “dirty” for my taste; I prefer them as dry as the Sahara during a drought. The Cosmo, pink and fruity, was all me.⁣

Finally, I took the Flan in a Can home. It was a touch too dark-sweet for me, think thick molasses, but the concept was sheer perfection. A scoop of ice cream would have balanced it beautifully, though I didn’t have one on hand.

In Conclusion

The Continental Deli will finish the year as my second-favourite restaurant of 2025; it is simply marvellous. Sharing the experience with two of my oldest friends made it a memory I will cherish for life. ⁣⁣

Visit for the incredible freshness, the tinned fish, and the deli magic, but don’t forget to tip your waiter well. In a place like this, the service isn’t just good, it’s exceptional, and it deserves recognition.

SCORE BREAKDOWN: 3/3 food, 2/2 service, 1/1 drinks, 1/1 venue & ambience, 1/1 cost, 1/1 toilets & 1/1 bonus

All photographs are Copyrighted by Spooning Australia and Jason King – please feel free to share with full credit provided.

Continental Deli Details

Website – https://paisanoanddaughters.com.au/venue/continental-deli/

Phone – (02) 8624 3131

Address – 210 Australia Street, Newtown, Sydney

Bookings – Essential

Pricing – Medium

Opening Hours

Lunch, Dinner, Drinks

12 pm – 11 pm (7 Days)

Vegetarian Options – Yes

Takeaway – Yes

Local Delivery – Unsure I doubt it

Gluten-Free Options – Limited

Kid Friendly – Yes