This is not a noregular sandwich shop. These are not sandwiches for a regular person. They are skyscraper works of art. Welcome to Kneed Bread Sandwich Emporium.
At around $18, they’re a splurge – one bite and I get it. I can hear the ooh’s and arrh’s as different versions are brought out from the kitchen. OMG these are monsters in size, flavour, sourcing, love and creativity. The ‘Carb Crush’ is real.
The Arrival
It’s an understated spot. Tucked just off the Glebe foodie triangle, Kneed Bread is the kind of spot locals know, then gatekeep. It’s at the intersection of Parramatta Road Officeworks, the Toyota Showroom and Sydney Uni. The bus stop is conveniently just a sarnie’ throw from its door
The space is a long room, kitchen prep to the right, seats and windows to the left. Look out for the brilliant daffodil yellow crates to sit on outside, or the queues at lunch time and simply people watch. This is a melting pot of Glebe locals – students in Doc Martens, footie players post training, stroller-pushing peeps, pup parents and regulars who now measure their week in focaccia slices.
The Chef, The Mission, the Founder
Known for Enmore’s beloved Greek street food haunt Stix & Pita, Elvis Korsovitis brings a decade of culinary cred, local sourcing and community to Kneed Bread. Anyone who spends time around Elvis, can’t help but love him. He is the kind of chef who remembers your dog’s name, their favourite biscuit and gives great hugs. The café’s location holds sentimental weight—it once housed his in-laws’ takeaway shop. When the space became available, Elvis knew it was time to bring his sandwich vision to life.
The Vibe – The Rise of the Focaccia, & Sandwich Wars
If Sydney has a love language, it’s carbs—and Glebe is fluent. Deli/sia may have kicked off the sandwich wars with Italian-style sandwiches and weekend queues, but Kneed Bread speaks with a Greek-Australian accent.
Syndey’s obsession with sourdough takes a back seat to airy stacked slabs of golden focaccia, baked fresh each morning by Tuga Pastries. The scent of rosemary, sea salt, and olive oil hits you before the signage does. Ask Elvis about his focaccia and he’ll proudly squeeze a slab—watch it spring back like a five-star pillow.
The Ultimate Sandwich
At the centre of excellence is the rotisserie, whether it’s chicken, porchetta or more. It’s cooked in house daily, though sometimes the porchetta is reserved for weekend indulgences. It is the same rotisserie his in-laws used many years ago to cook their chickens on premise. Buildable extras keep things playful—whipped ricotta, burrata, pistachio cream, rosti, pickled mushrooms and more.
The Menu
Kneed Bread has a $10 cost of living buster breakie range before 10am. This buys me a coffee plus a bacon and egg/ halloumi roll or a number of other options. With a coffee costing roughly $5+ these days, where can you get that kind of value?
The menu includes a classically beautiful Italian sandwich range including the best Italian prosciutto and small goods available. Elvis isn’t afraid to mix in the best of Greek, Spanish and American influence. Think salami, mortadella, roasted capsicums, provolone, rocket, house made pesto for a start. Alternatively a double beef patty tower or rotisserie chicken with roasted tomatoes, eggplant, and feta tzatziki.
We arrive for lunch and order their Fish Burger with a side of chips – this is the Jaws of fish burgers. It’s normally served with a Martin’s potato bun, but I prefer focaccia as the former is delicious, but disintegrates quickly. Thick flaky hake is traditionally battered to order, layered with iceberg, pickles, American cheese, and house-made tartare. I could squish it, cut it, decompartmentalise it and wow! It’s gloriously messy, generous, and wildly joyful. The potato rosti turns the whole sandwich into a fish ‘n chips masterpiece.
I watch as two tradies eye each other’s plates with envy—one has the schnitty, the other doesn’t. Mine arrives. It’s a towering tribute to the humble schnitzel thanks to a 300g ethically sourced chicken fillet, crispy lettuce, melty cheddar and lemon mayo. It’s what every sandwich dreams of becoming when it grows up.
On another visit, I try the breakfast porchetta. Cooked on the rotisserie it’s layered with herbs and crackling that actually snap cracks. The porchetta is cooked in house on their rotisserie and sliced to order, so it doesn’t dry out. It’s the epitome of a decadent bacon and egg roll! Paired with a latte with beans from Cohort Coffee Roasters based in Taren Point – and this has to be the best sandwich cafe in Sydney right now.
That’s a wrap (or, sandwich) – The DA Verdict
What we are Addicted To? – That INSANELY brilliant Fish Sandwich and the Schnitty burger. Great hospitality from Elvis and the team.
What do we need to be more Addicted? Non-bread options are limited, but the bougatsa, cookies and spanakopita by the till offer consolation. Seating’s tight sometimes as there is a lot of it for a modest space, but the vibe is worth the squeeze.
Knead Bread Sandwich Emporium: 4 Ross Street, Forest Lodge NSW 2037
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8am–3pm, Saturdays & Sundays from 10am-3pm