Joes Pizzeria Arax

My daughter recommended Joes after a friends family took her there and she loved the pizza. Even though it is several suburbs away, I went and found a lovely family business and possibly the best kebab I have ever eaten. When I mentioned it was my first time there, other customers waiting for takeaway waxed philosophic about the place and people there. It now feels that way for me. My family often gets takeaway and we still must try other menu items which are probably more traditional and better but our favorites keep us coming back for more!

The authentic food is good from this Lebo restaurant. But dont enter the shop if Joe is in a bad mood. He will abuse you and swear at you for no apparent reason. I once told him that I was going to Lebanon with a group of friends for a holiday and he went ballistic and screamed at me never to return to his shop. Joe is Lebanese but I never knew he hated his country so much. I have heard other examples of Joes rude behaviour towards customers. Once he ordered a young couple out of his restaurant because they said the food was served cold. His outbursts of rage and rudeness explains why Obriens Glass repairer is seen periodically mending the front window. The food is good but go there at your own risk !

Joe really delivers quality, flavour and a darned good pizza. His Lebanese coffee is spot on & the accompanying Lebanese food in his café are always tops. A genuinely good quality pizza place.

I had lived in the area for 6 years and hadn’t really noticed this place, until I read about it in the GOOD FOOD GUIDE. I went late one night on my way home from work and it was the only thing open (the family normally eats dinner in the shop afterwards and leave the «OPEN» light on, and are happy to serve customers). Now I get lunch or dinner from them at least once a week.
I’ve never tried their pizzas but a family friend drives 20 minutes past dozens of other pizza places to have their prawn marinara.
Now why in haven’t I tried their pizzas? Because I can’t get past the wraps– especially the felafel wraps! OMG! melt in your mouth, homemade, cooked to order felafel. These are served on a wrap with gluten free home made tabouli, hummos, tomato and home pickled turnip (I pass on the latter). At $ 8 it is huge and I would pay $ 10 easily. Because sometimes the oil has to be heated for the felafel it can take about 10mins or so, so I often ring through my order.
The lamb and chicken etc take less time and are also beautifully cooked.
They also make lebanese pastries if you have a sweet tooth
The have recently refurbished the interior and exterior, I can see how some would be put off by the (old) appearance, but Joe and his wife are wonderful, the place is clean and the food is delicious, fresh and homemade…
Joe’s was recently given another GFG write up– this time in the Best Eats under $ 30. AND SO IT SHOULD HAVE!
Before you go to the big, flash newer pizza places, give Joe’s a go– you won’t regret it.

Have you ever had a kebab before? Great. Treat that as the baseline for this review. It likely had lamb, beef or chicken? Maybe a mix?
Now… imagine a NYC pastrami sandwich. Amazingly moorish juicy meat that simply melts in your mouth with the slightest pressure of your tongue. And the taste? OMG! So good!
Bastourma is succulent dry cured beef, crusted in spices, much like pastrami, and in a kebab with egg cooked by Joe who has been serving in Lindfield for over 20 years… is fucking amazing!
Driving past Lindfield? On a train up the North Shore Line?
STOP & TRY IT!