Johnny Schnitzel
A truly extraordinary sandwich is a luxury you may only stumble across a handful of times during your lifetime. Everyone’s got their favourite across each culinary context. Be it your nostalgic childhood pack lunch option, your go-to meal deal, or that adult homemade sandwich you’re an expert in assembling. The key is, that everyone’s different and assured in their subjective specialty/preference. This makes it hard to justify paying more than a fiver for something you could easily make yourself. And especially considering London’s abundance of great dishes to choose from. But once in a blue moon, a sandwich comes along that leapfrogs the competition, breaks down people’s boundaries, unites most, and reminds you why you can never rule its simplicity out.
Johnny Schnitzel, the sandwich shop, could be considered the incenter of a London neighbourhood triangle consisting of Kings Cross, Angel, and Clerkenwell occupying its points. It’s a deli that caters to both breakfast and lunch, sadly closing at 5 p.m. The shop sells a wide range of classic Italian food and drink products, whilst serving giant, freshly made, dynamic, and delicious sandwiches and salads. But they specialise in chicken schnitzels. sandwiches. In fact, they’re famous for them.
Johnny Schnitzel doesn’t need much more publicity. The spot is absolutely packed from the time its doors open to the time they close. The owners, Johnny and David have capitalised on a niche in the market. Just after Covid, Johnny’s daughter had an idea. And in hindsight, an ingenious one. She’d noticed that no one in London was specialising in schnitzel sandwiches. A dish that is popular worldwide. Particularly with Aussies (who we have plenty of over here). The idea had legs and the right team to get the job done. Johnny and David’s +30 years of experience building food and drink businesses together meant they knew how to get the epiphany off the ground and done the right way. They know how to source and prepare food to a degree that keeps customers coming back. Not only are they two very successful and innovative entrepreneurs. But also two kind and humble guys. They are adamantly passionate about what they do, and give you more than a moment’s time without hesitation.
Obviously business paid off and here we are. The shop is pretty. Amazing-looking food is displayed everywhere. The grub behind the counter, in all its variety and vibrance, lures you in. The atmosphere is calm and friendly, despite everyone anxiously waiting in the queue for their favourite sandwich in London. I had to wait a little while. The lunchtime rush is nuts.
I went for the classic schnitzel sandwich, which set me back £8.95. But trust, you get your money’s worth. The sandwiches are beastly. A lot of people order them to go, ready to devour in the office. But there are also plenty of seats out front if the sandwiches are too heavy to lug around. Instead of sourdough or baguette as the choice of bread, Johnny Schnitzel goes for focaccia. I like it. A far superiorly spongy and absorbent lineage of carbohydrate. It’s nicely salted and decorated with halved black olives. Inside the sandwich, you have the schnitzel of course. Succulent and breadcrumbed chicken, seasoned and cooked to perfection. The pieces of chicken are so big, they spill out from underneath every side of the focaccia. Then you have melted cheese, garlic mayo, and a ludicrous amount of rocket. All the textures and flavours come together in matrimony. Honest to god. It blew me away. One bite and it’s transparent why the queues continually spill out of the front door. The chicken is so goddamn tender. And every ingredient has been delicately handled and had plenty of thought put into its inclusion. Fresh ingredients, understanding their place in a dish, and bringing it together like Johnny and David do, is a little wonder. It’s such a simple sandwich. But one that I honestly couldn’t hype up anymore, and one that I certainly don’t think most could replicate.
They serve plenty of other schnitzel sandwich variations. One with homemade coleslaw, and another with a truffle mayo. I’ll be back very soon to try them both. Hearing Johnny say “I won’t ever compromise” when I asked how he is able to keep the sandwiches so fucking big during a difficult period for hospitality. Top man. The epitome of integrity in my books.
Not only is this unquestionably the best sandwich I’ve had in London. But Johnny Schnitzel actually proves to me that at any time, London can spawn new and exciting takes on dishes, regardless of the fact that the culinary wheel has already been invented. Chef Marco Pierre White, says “We live in a world of refinement, not invention.”. But here, shows a bright light of hope that innovative food can come out of nowhere and take London by storm. There’s a reason Johnny Schnitzel has become so successful in such a quick time. They are unique and offer something new, full of passion and flavour to Londoners.
