Joe’s Deli brings its stacked New York-style sandwiches to Robina
If you’ve visited Joe’s Deli, you know the drill – two hands, a stack of napkins and a healthy appetite. That’s exactly what has earned the sandwich spot its loyal following, and now the Gold Coast-born favourite has opened its fourth location, bringing its oversized New York-inspired sandwiches to The Kitchens at Robina Town Centre.
The new Joe’s Deli outpost follows Joe’s original Pacific Fair location, alongside stores in Brisbane City and Maroochydore, marking another milestone for founder Patrick Killalea, who has steadily grown the brand over the past four years. For Patrick, returning to the Gold Coast with a second location was always part of the plan.
“We’ve obviously got a lot of loyal followers on the Gold Coast, so it just made sense,” Patrick says.
The new space, designed by Space Cubed Design Studio, leans into a more nostalgic take on the Joe’s aesthetic. Checkerboard tiles, hand-painted signage, striped mirrored windows and retro detailing give the deli the feel of an old-school American sandwich shop, while new furniture and an open corner position make it an inviting stop for everything from a quick lunch to a more leisurely bite. Patrick says each new venue has allowed the team to refine both the menu and the fit-out, with Robina feeling like the closest expression yet of the original Joe’s vision.
While the fit-out has evolved, the menu remains anchored by the sandwiches that have earned Joe’s its cult following. The Original Deli layers smoked peppercorn mortadella, spicy salami, double smoked leg ham, provolone, pickles and Joe’s mustard mayo, while Joey’s Reuben pairs hot-smoked brisket pastrami with Swiss cheese, lemon-dill sauerkraut, horseradish mustard and thousand island dressing. The Southern Fried Chook – loaded with crispy fried chicken, buffalo hot sauce, buttermilk ranch, slaw and sweet-and-spicy pickles – has become the deli’s biggest seller, while other signatures include the Famous Meatball Sub, Cuban Sandwich and Chopped Cheese.
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Beyond the sandwiches, there’s plenty more to tempt hungry shoppers. The menu stretches to lobster rolls topped with crab, kewpie mayo and black caviar, chilli-loaded Sloppy Joes, Brooklyn Dogs, chilli dogs, fish sangas, beer-battered onion rings, prosciutto mac-and-cheese croquettes, southern fried chicken tenders and hot chips, alongside Joe’s house-made hot sauces and a line-up of local beers, tequila and ranch water. The deli’s signature lobster roll, originally introduced as a limited-time special, proved so popular it earned a permanent place on the menu and helped shape much of the offering that followed.
The concept has been decades in the making. Before opening Joe’s, Patrick spent more than 20 years working as a chef, honing his craft in Michelin-starred restaurants in London, cooking throughout Italy and later working as a private chef for an impressive list of musicians, including Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Rod Stewart and Tom Jones. Along the way, he spent years eating his way through New York’s delis, neighbourhood bodegas and smokehouses, collecting ideas that would eventually become the foundation for Joe’s.
“It was an idea I’d had for about 20 years,” Patrick tells us. “Just getting little ideas from every different place, then remodelling them and changing them.”
Joe’s Deli is now open at The Kitchens, Robina Town Centre, serving up its full menu of sandwiches, rolls, hot dogs and sides seven days a week.
Head to The Directory for opening times.
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