The brains behind the gorgeous array of products and menus on offer is none other than Carolina Rasenti, who was also chef-owner of the popular pan-Asian Great Eastern Food Bar and previously the executive chef of the lush restaurant-bar-club The Greenhouse. The @Sandton Hotel opened its doors to the public in 2021, with Carolina joining the @Deli team in September (2022). She has her mind set on making it the number-one foodie destination in the city.
The @Deli opens at 7am serving up coffees, smoothies, freshly-squeezed juices, sandwiches, focaccia and a host of other just-baked breads. Throughout the day expect a selection of freshly-made sushi and poke bowls, fresh oysters, rotisserie chicken, pap, rice, hot meals and soups, pizzas made to order and even freshly-cut biltong from the butchery section. Yes. You got it. Everything is made and served FRESH! Carolina explains, “It’s meant to be fun and accessible... we wanted to offer all the things you usually buy at a deli along with all the speciality items you struggle to find elsewhere”.
The frozen section is marvellous: scallops, prawns, affordable and nutritious frozen meals, and kids' meals along with the best frozen fries money can buy. “They’re amazing in the airfryer, my kid swears by them,” vouches Carolina.
Foodies will lose their minds over imported epicurian delights that include caviar, truffles, risotto mixes, Greek and Italian biscuits and the Lotus Biscoff spread that’s taken the world by storm. But there’s also everything else you might need on your daily shop: cleaning products, dried goods as well as fresh fruit and veg. The prices are also on point. It has been the store's mission to ensure that they are extremely competitive.
@Deli even offers a gift-wrapping service: you can pick from a selection of ready-made hampers or buy your own items and have them boxed and wrapped as a hamper.
There’s also an entire liquor shop next door that’s stocked with everything from super-affordable table wines to Dom Pérignon. We particularly liked seeing that the store has one of the most comprehensive gin selections in Joburg, and a seriously impressive selection of fine whiskeys, cognacs, tequilas and mezcals.
They really do have everything, and if there’s something you can’t find, tell Carolina and she’ll make a plan to get it for you.
On Wednesdays they offer half-price sushi (and the sushi is really good). Underground parking is accessible on Benmore Road and the first hour is free.
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