In Roman mythology, Janus was a two-faced god that represented new beginnings. It was believed that Janus represented the middle ground between concrete and abstract dualities, with one face looking to the past and the other firmly towards the future. You might be wondering what all of this has to do with the new deli in Molendinar, well the mythical figure provided inspiration for Dean and Ryan, who have spent the past five or so years at the helm of D Point Ten. Both chefs by trade, Dean and Ryan always wanted to introduce food into their offering, but have been waiting for the right time. With D Point Ten continuing to fuel our insatiable doughnut desires, the pair decided to turn their attention towards creating a new concept store that could combine both of their culinary loves – sandwiches and sweets. While Dean’s background has primarily focused on western foods and doughnuts, Ryan’s has been in Korean cuisine, which provided a flavourful base to begin building a menu that married the two. The brief was ‘simple and tasty’, with sandwiches and toasties featuring a slight Korean lean matching the criteria to a tee.

Janus Deli officially opens this Saturday October 7, but has been softly open for a couple of weeks trialing the initial menu items. The opening selection includes three irresistible sandwiches, starting with ‘A Hammy Moment’, which is Janus’ take on the deli classic with ham, mozzarella and Swiss cheese on sourdough with a slather of mayo. Next up is ‘Piggy in the Middle’, a mouth-watering pulled-pork toastie loaded with pickles, apple slaw, Swiss cheese and chipotle barbecue sauce. Try as you might, it’s impossible to go past ‘The J.F.C’ or Janus fried chicken, which is every bit as crispy and delicious as it sounds. Dean and Ryan have plans to expand the menu with the seasons, so there will always be something new to devour. As for the drinks, you can wash it down with a coffee from Paradox Coffee Roasters, a house-made soda or, if you’re feeling extra decadent, a frappe that’s topped with an Oreo cookie. Of course, it goes without saying that the cabinet is fully stocked with a delectable array of D Point Ten doughnut delights, ranging from creme brulee to cream-filled crullers.

Janus Deli is holding a grand opening this Saturday October 7. From 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, you can enjoy a free coffee with any food purchase over $15. Skip to our Stumble Guide for opening times.