Just In: Joe’s Tavern To Join the Continental Deli Team’s Newtown Mix

From an Australia Street terrace, Continental Deli has been serving Newtown with classic hospitality – along with wine, house-canned cocktails and snacky Euro deli plates – for 10 years now. Gildas, charcuterie and larger bistro dishes star alongside signatures (like Mar-Tinnys, Can-Hattens and Flan in a Cans, all made one by one in a vintage canning machine). Then along came Mister Grotto, Osteria Mucca and Flora. Three hot openings, all at once, demonstrating the skill of the team – and landing on lists of the best new restaurant and cafe openings for the year.

Flora, though, didn’t keep up. And, just shy of eight months after opening , it’s making way for Joe’s Tavern, Restaurant & Bar – which will be here within the week.

The group behind the tight clutch of diners is Paisano & Daughters, founded by brothers-in-law Elvis Abrahanowicz (Porteño and Bar Louise) and Joe Valore along with their partners Annabella Valore and Sarah Doyle. Joe’s is an ode to Joe, whose “quiet leadership and generosity” has powered the team forward.

The revamped kitchen will be led by Abrahanowicz and Mister Grotto’s Mans Engberg (ex-Kiln, Saint Peter), sending out New York-style tavern classics: retro snacks (like devilled eggs and prawn cocktails), steaks and burgers. Expected to be a signature is Joe’s 50/50 Burger, with a half-half split of lamb and beef (the ideal ratio, yes, according to Joe).

It’s a far cry from Flora’s initial, strictly vegetarian menu, which shifted to include meat in July.

House pastry chef Lauren Eldridge (fresh from launching a Saturday morning bake sale) is on Knickerbocker Glory duty. The delight-inducing layered dessert is all ice-cream, fruit and cream – with a cherry on top – and originates in Manhattan. Michael Nicolian is captaining a “clean, precise” list of classics.

There will be room for 30, and the interiors – previously light-wood panelling, warm pendant lights, marble countertops and scattered greenery, plus Doyle’s collection of vintage treasures – will be getting a shake-up.

Joe’s Tavern, Restaurant & Bar opens at 206 Australia Street, Newtown, on Wednesday October 15, 2025.

@joestavernsydney