A tiny, family-run Italian deli in Sydney's inner west has become an unexpected food pilgrimage, with customers queuing for hours to buy a $15 sandwich. Raineri's Continental Delicatessen, on Great North Road in Five Dock, has served locals for over four decades but recently achieved cult status thanks to glowing online reviews and social media hype.
Queues now snake down the footpath 'all day every day', according to NSW Liberal Leader Kellie Sloane, who posted a Facebook video of the frenzy. In the clip, she praised the mortadella sandwich as 'absolutely incredible' and gave it a five-star rating. Lines typically form from 10.30am and last until mid-afternoon, with customers travelling from across Sydney—one reportedly spending $20 in tolls to get there.
Despite its popularity, the deli has no menu or pre-set combinations. Instead, customers are guided by the family behind the counter, who have been perfecting panini since 1981. Owner Sam Raineri, whose parents Rosaria and Peter opened the deli, told the Sydney Morning Herald that TikTok and social media introduced the shop to a new generation, driving unprecedented demand.
Inside, glass cabinets brim with Italian-sourced cured meats, cheeses, and antipasti, including cut-to-order salami, San Daniele prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, marinated vegetables, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes, all stacked onto warm, toasted focaccia. Customers can choose their own ingredients or opt for an 'omakase panini', where the experts decide. A standout combination of Stracciatella, mortadella, and artichoke costs $15.
Despite using premium ingredients—some prosciutto costs over $120 per kilo—every sandwich is priced at $15. Sam explained, 'My father always made affordable panini.' Long-time locals recall when rolls cost as little as $6 and queues were manageable, with one saying they used to be teased at school for bringing the sandwiches, but now there is a line out the door.
