Carlton Deli and Milk Bar

I’m not going to write some epic tome to the Carlton, it doesn’t need that. There is only one thing to talk about here. The Rocky Road!!!
So, as others have commented, this is a very odd place, and the wife and I had been joking about the shady appearance of this place ever since we moved to Glebe. It’s just bizarre, it’s mostly empty, there’s hardly anything in the displays, the shelves look like they’re barely stocked, but it doesn’t matter, because without fail, the front display that looks out over the street will be chock full of a myriad of colorful pyramids of Rocky Road delights!
You can tell they actually sell a lot of it, because as you pass back and forth at different times of the day, the stockpile dwindles, but without fail, towards the end of the day, the great pyramids are rebuilt! Like the Syrens of Greek mythology, those pyramids finally called us into port here yesterday, and they did not disappoint!
We rocked up into the Carlton, spent 2 – 3 minutes waiting for someone to come out of the back of the store, which seemed to fit. We inquired about a couple of things, and then got right to the point, what the deal with the RR in the window? He told us it’s made off site somewhere and delivered just about everyday, so it’s always fresh. I have to admit, after seeing the joint, I was a little glad to hear it’s made elsewhere…
Anyway, being unable to decide on which of the four flavors I wanted, I went with the handy 4-​pack, and I was glad I did! We hustled home, and threw on a movie, and began the journey! The chocolate mint and the strawberry blocks were great, smooth chocolate, chewy bits of candy and marshmallow all throughout, just perfect! But the wife and I’s favorites were definitely the white chocolate and the milk-​chocolate, both were smooth and delicious and just an awesome compilation of lollies, chocolate and marshmallow!
So, all in all, don’t let the Carlton scare you away, I wouldn’t get much else in here, but the Rocky Road is the best I’ve had in Sydney, by a long way!

I have yet to find another shop like The Carlton. It’s super retro, probably owing to the fact that it was established in 1927. It’s described as a deli and milk bar. What’s a milk bar, you ask? I had to look it up myself. Back in the day, a milk bar was a place to socialize and enjoy a refreshing milk drink. Well, you don’t get to see very many milk bars these days, but The Carlton is one of them. They sell some sandwiches and other foods, but what they are most famous for is their rocky roads. This marshmallow treat appears to be very popular in Australia, and though I’ve never considered myself a fan, I’ll always try a shop’s specialty. In the front display of The Carlton, you’ll see the different flavors of rocky road available for that day. From dark chocolate to bright pink strawberry, there are several kinds to choose from.

This Glebe establishment is a funny little place indeed. Walking past you might cast a glance inside and notice its shelves are pretty barren. They stock your usual suspects: boxes of Saltana Bran, jars of Vegemite. But what sets this market apart? Apparently there’s a deli at Carltons (reveled to me only by the sign that boasts «milk bar and deli»). However, I have no verifiable evidence that said deli exists. Perhaps it’s because I’m always walking past in the late afternoon. As far as I can tell, Carlton exists for one purpose and one purpose only: to provide the residents of Glebe with a most amazing rocky road in the whole wide world.
Choose between white chocolate /​strawberry, dark chocolate, honeycomb, mint and cookies and cream. With piles of the stuff in the shop’s window, you might stand there drooling awhile. Damn this place for being along my jogging path! I imagine that scarfing a square of honeycomb rocky road the size of my head is definitely undoing all my cardio endeavors. But you know what? I think it might be worth it.