We knew something was coming. And we were right. The New Mexican expats behind Chingon taqueria and Collingwood smokehouse Le Bon Ton have turned the old Mutti restaurant site in Carlton (just near the corner of Lygon and Elgin Streets) into a traditional New York-style deli with a rock and roll saloon upstairs. They've also lassoed in a third sibling – sister Katie – to help run the show.
Five Points is a cavernous space, with copper walls, an oyster bar and a fleet of expect smoked meat sandwiches with all the proper deli fixings, as well as soups and salads. "We received our giant competition grade smoker at Le Bon Ton," Will tells us, "so we're smoking turkeys, pastramis and hams, which feature in the sandwiches."
They're delivering all the good East Coast gear, from house-made bagels to chowder. At night, the bar upstairs – Longhorn Saloon – fires up steaks on a big grill and slings booze. "It's named after the dirty old bar around the corner from where I grew up," says Will. "It was a pretty knockabout joint."
