What’s the most you’ve spent on a sandwich? If you work in Sydney’s CBD and duck out for lunch the average price you pay for a sambo seems to hover around $8 or $9. It’s normal. C’est la vie. If I wasn’t so slack I’d make one at home for quarter the price.
There’s a little alley beneth the skyscrapers that never sees the sunlight with a perpetual queue of guys in suits and gals in heels waiting anxiously for their lunch. Via Abercrombie … our grown-up little tuckshop in the financial heart of Sydney.
I’d known about this place for quite some time now but never seemed to get there, mostly due to the fact it’s two-thirds of a kilometre from my work. You know how it is. Today, however, I made the effort and decided to brave the queue.
On arrival I thought I lucked out as the people waiting infront of me counted about 12. By the time I flicked through and read one of the architecture magazines in the basket provided, fifteen minutes later, I was next. I knew what I wanted … the chicken schnitzel sandwich. They’re famous for it. As soon as the first syllable came out of my mouth I am informed they just ran out of chicken. My heart dropped. I just stood there for fifteen minutes preparing myself for potential gastronomic heaven, and it’s snatched away from me.
In a split five seconds I eyed off the filling options in the cabinet, noticing a big salami, mustard, eastern European-looking potato salad and cabbage salad (which I’m all-too familiar with) and a bunch of grilled veges. This would suffice.
“White or brown?”
Brown of course. So the chirpy lass reaches for a massive loaf of bread and free-hand cuts two thick slices on the angle (to make them even bigger), lathers on mustard, vege’s, 8mm thick slices of salami (also free-hand cut) salt and pepper. Wraps it in foil and I’m on my way. I kid you not this monster is 25cm long, 15cm wide and 8cm thick.
I sat at one of the tables outside and ploughed right into it. Superb. The bread is super fresh with thick chewy crust and the filling is a perfect combination. Well-worth the price and well-worth waiting fifteen minutes. Next time, now that I know, I’ll call and place my order for that chicken schnitzel sandwich to save me waiting that long and missing out again.
is the chicken schnitzel as good as popularity suggests?
Supplement:
Today I returned to Via Abercrombie, early enough to queue for the schnitzel sandwich. As I arrive the schnitzels are frying away behind the counter so I know I’ll be having it for lunch and it’s nice to see it is cooked freshly every day. The filling is very simple. Mayo on the bread, some lettuce and then just thick slices of warm schnitzel with a little salt and pepper. Delicious. Nothing fancy, nothing amazing, just a damn good sambo!
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The price for these sandwiches were a little high and the wait was a little annoying. But when eventually I took my first bite, I could see it was well worth it. The first time I went, I had the Chicken Schnitzel, as I heard they were famous for it. The day after I went back to for more and I had the Chili Chicken. Both delicious sandwiches!! Definitely the best sandwiches in town!