The Neighborhood Subs & Deli

The Neighborhood Subs & Deli sits on Old London Road, one of Kingston’s quieter side streets away from the Bentalls-and-Eden-Walk crush — which is exactly why it has the air of a place you stumble onto rather than seek out. Trading since 2023, it comes from the same local stable as Mr Mullan’s General Store a couple of doors along: both share a founder, John Mullan, who has quietly assembled a little row of independents on this street. The deli itself is a small, counter-service American sub shop with an unmistakably Italian heart: mortadella, coppa, salami, provolone, mozzarella and burrata, layered into subs that are built to order and stacked without restraint. One Google reviewer, Jezreel C, summed up the local consensus in five words — “a hidden gem in Kingston area.”

The bread is what regulars come back for. “Their breads are second to none and play a crucial role in the eating of the sandwich and elevation of flavour profiles,” wrote Elisha T on Google, and that’s the through-line in almost every review: built on their own flatbread, the base is doing real work here, not just holding the fillings together. Pile on the deli meats and you get the format Tripadvisor regular katinka m described — “huge and packed with fillings, enough to take a bit home so totally worth the price. Feels like you’re in a classic New York sandwich shop with complimentary coffee. Lovely staff service.”

The menu runs from straightforward classics — the Salami ‘n’ Mozz, the Mortadella ‘n’ Mozz, the loaded Italian — to a short list of “Specialz” that earn the shop its character. The standout, named independently by two separate Google reviewers, is The Philo, a Cuban-style sub of turkey, pickle, provolone, mayo, American mustard and black pepper. Graeme C gave it five stars and called it “amazing, one of the best sandwiches we’ve had… they’re huge and the quality is great.” If you want the more traditional deli route, the salami and mozzarella sub drew a detailed Tripadvisor write-up praising the thinly sliced salami, thick slabs of high-quality mozzarella, rocket, tomato and balsamic glaze — washed down, that reviewer noted, with an “excellent” Americano.

One honest heads-up on expectations: these are cold, deli-style subs, served as built. A Google reviewer who gave three stars found the fillings “so cold it made it hard to enjoy” and wished for a warmed or toasted option — so come for what this is, a New York-deli cold-sub format, rather than a hot, melted sandwich. The flip side is value and generosity: Isobel G (Google) put it plainly — “the subs are hugeee so are very reasonably priced and are absolutely delicious” — with subs running £11–£15.

What ties it together is the independent, community feel. “Best food and environment of any deli/sandwich shop… a true independent. Love this place… feels like a community hub, but so welcoming,” wrote RICHARD B on Tripadvisor. The room leans into a 90s-nostalgia mood — reviewers mention vintage games to play while you eat — and the fridge stocks retro American and Mexican sodas (Jarritos, Chocomel) that lean into the East-Coast-deli act. The practical catch is the hours: per the shop’s own website it’s closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm only — a midday operation, not an evening one.

Local’s Tip: This is a lunch-window spot — Wednesday to Sunday, 11–3, and that’s it, so plan around it rather than chancing a weeknight visit. The Philo is the move for a first order, and the subs are big enough to split or save half for later. Eat in and the coffee’s complimentary, with free refills. If you carry a My Kingston LoveLocal card it’s 10% off food and drink; they’re on Deliveroo too, though walking in works out a touch cheaper. Just go knowing they’re cold, deli-style subs — that’s the house style, not an oversight.