“Times are tough. A lot of people have lost the ability to eat out, drink out, and just simply be out, and Sammy’s is our answer to that,” Lorene Politzer tells me of her new co-venture with Tim Nightingale and James Tucker — the trio behind Kohi Beach Store & Eatery.
Sammy’s Deli & Diner is nestled within Ponsonby Central’s vibrant dining precinct and offers no-fuss, quick, easy (and delicious) diner fare with a quintessentially Kiwi slant, “We wanted to create a menu that brings back core memories as well as create some new ones,” Politzer tells me, “Sammy’s is a place where people can come together and enjoy good times and great food — where everyone is welcome, and you can chill for hours, or just as easily quickly grab something on the go.”
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Wanting to re-create what they have cultivated at Kohi, which is an eatery centred on community, the trio identified a gap in the local hospitality scene for a warm, laid-back and inviting deli and diner, with a kiwi twist, and set to work in bringing the concept to life. The first step, Politzer tells me, was engaging Emma and Bella at Aura Studio to conceive the Sammy’s brand and really enliven the ethos — a brief they delivered on implicitly. From there, the expertise of Millé saw the space transformed into an open, homely and vibrant dining room, where comfort reigns supreme and homage is paid to the vintage diners we all know and love, but with a decidedly modern slant.
Once the space was complete, the focus fell on the food, with the team — led by Nightingale, the chef and ‘creative mind’ (as Politzer refers to him), looking to food that’s homely and comforting, “We took the concept of a classic, bakery-style filled roll and worked with Dusty Apron to develop a brioche roll that we could load with big, bold flavours,” says Politzer. From Steak & Swiss to a classic Fish Sammy to the delectable Sausage Smash Patty iteration, the rolls are a great go-to, while the dripping sourdough toasties are sure to satisfy hungry punters.
But it’s not just sandwiches and rolls on the menu here, “A diner is all about simplicity, and re-creating what you enjoy at home,” Politzer tells me, listing off a few of the classics that are on offer at the deli and diner, “Delicious steak with crispy, oven-baked potatoes, brick chicken, fish & chips, and Frosty boy soft serve with an elevated twist.”
On the drinks front, everything is on tap, a move that Politzer tells me was to both make drinks cheaper and allow staff to flow freely through the eatery, quickly pouring their own table’s drinks and adding to the more intimate, personal, and community-driven hospitality they are striving for.
With delicious, satisfying, and well-priced food, warm and easy service, and a laid-back and inviting dining room, Sammy’s Deli & Diner is a great place to grab a quick bite, settle in for a long lunch or convivial dinner with friends, or even grab on Uber Eats for those nights you’re craving comfort but can’t face an hour in the kitchen (or a pile of dishes).
Opening hours:
Sunday to Wednesday, 7am until 8pm
Thursday to Saturday, 7am until 9pm
Sammy's Deli & Diner
136 Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby
Auckland
