delicious. 100 Best of the Best 2023: Adelaide’s Favourite Fillings voted South Australia’s best

This family-run city spot has been voted as having some of South Australia’s best sangas.

Forget, for a moment, trendy meatball subs and reubens. There is still a place for an old-fashioned, affordable sandwich, made with care – and that is where Favourite Fillings come in.

Mario and Kathy Cavuoto have run this Adelaide CBD business for more than 24 years and still have queues snaking out the door at lunchtime.

Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise then that their shop has been named one of the best five places to buy a sandwich in South Australia – stacking up alongside the other more fashionable eateries.

Mario and Kathy Cavuoto and staff member with a turkey and salad roll at Favourite Fillings Sandwich Bar at Gawler Place in the city. Picture: Mark Brake

The Cavuotos, who opened Favourite Fillings in Gawler Place in 1999, make all their sandwiches and rolls to order, either following one of the 24 suggested combinations on a blackboard menu or DIY requests. The shop is one of the few places still offering a double-cut roll.

Mario says that most customers are regulars working nearby in the CBD. “Basically, it’s the same faces and we know the odd ones out who might be passing by,” he says. “We know exactly what they want to eat – even when they have forgotten themselves.

“There are not a lot of sandwich shops around, making them to order. Our customers are willing to wait for something fresh.”

Sandwiches is just one of 20 categories making up the new-look Best of the Best delicious. 100 that, for the first time, is recognising affordable, everyday eats and treats such as pies, burgers and even ice-cream, instead of more exclusive restaurants.

Delicious. editor-in-chief Krysia Bonkowski says Australians are spending less on fine dining and more on accessible food experiences, such as a treat from their local bakery or casual offerings at local cafes and pubs.

“Australia is a food-loving nation. We love to seek out new culinary experiences, taking delight in exploring different cuisines and discovering hidden gems in our neighbourhoods,” she says.

“While we may be more conscious of our spending, we’re still enthusiastic about dining out.

It’s a culinary renaissance of sorts. This list is a celebration of a more varied, dynamic food scene, celebrating both cost-effective eats and splurge-worthy treats.”

Selections for the 2023 delicious. 100 list were based on input from our team of food experts, as well as nominations from the public, and the full list of 100 will be released for the first time at noon on Friday.

Readers will then have two weeks to vote and determine an ultimate winner in each category to form the ultimate Best of the Best delicious. 100 list.

See the five nominations in each category from noon this Friday via advertiser.com.au and in SA Weekend in The Advertiser on Saturday.

Winners from the voting phase will be announced on November 4.

Voting is live from October 20 until November 3 at delicious100.com.au

Have your say in our reader vote:

To vote, simply click the Vote button on your chosen venue in each category - your selection will then show as Picked. There is no need to submit your vote, your preferences have been recorded. Only one vote per person is recorded, so if you vote again it will simply update your preferences.

Voting opens October 20 and will close on November 3.

Overall winners from the voting phase will be announced on November 4.

Originally published as delicious. 100 Best of the Best 2023: Adelaide’s Favourite Fillings voted South Australia’s best