Ruben's Deli

Overview

Occupying a prime street-front spot in the heritage-listed Kings Arcade, Ruben's Deli brings the soul of a traditional New York deli to High Street, Armadale. The space channels the warmth and abundance of owner Amanda Ruben's Jewish upbringing via a bold mid-century design that plays off its Victorian bones — mosaic tiling, leadlight windows and all — to create a setting that's at once instantly familiar and full of character. Think The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel meets Marvellous Melbourne.

Part deli, part sandwich bar and part bakery, the all-day spot offers everything from house-cured and smoked (and hand-sliced) fish to hefty bagels and sandwiches. Head Chef Tomasz Dul (ex-Baker Bleu, The Builders Arms, Bistro Vue) joined the team in winter 2025, bringing a fresh, seasonal approach to the kitchen. His additions include Friday challah baking and a rotating lineup of salads, veggies and winter-ready drinks, like hot maple matcha served with a cinnamon stick and a babka hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and toasted babka pieces.

At the sandwich bar, you can pick up made-to-order stacks that range from the classics — like a reuben on marble rye loaded with house-smoked pastrami, or a cream cheese-schmeared bagel with your choice of cold smoked salmon, hot-honey hot-smoked salmon or cured ocean trout — to more inventive takes like an eggplant schnitzel challah roll layered with matbucha, tahini and pickle. There's a generous spread of options to take home, too, including slow-cooked beef ribs, brisket and trays of roasted veg ready to heat and serve, as well as a grab-and-go selection headlined by Ruben's signature chicken matzo ball soup.

On the sweet side, Ruben's much-loved cinnamon babka scrolls now come in rotating seasonal flavours, like chocolate strawberry cream cheese and banana pecan caramel, while a daily selection of cookies, cakes and Jewish baked favourites, like rugelach and challah pudding, rounds things out.