Nestled in Bensonhurst since 1968, John’s Deli serves up hearty Italian classics with creative sandwich names, drawing locals for delicious subs and fried ravioli.
"The Original John's Deli in Gravesend has been around since the ’60s, and they're so well known for their roast beef sandwiches that people sometimes call in, begging them to deliver to Queens. (They won't.) They dress up their beef in a number of different ways here, like the Johnny Roastbeef, which not only has a great name but is also excitingly messy with melted fresh mozzarella, caramelized onions, and gravy as thick and dark as molasses. photo credit: Willa Moore photo credit: Willa Moore photo credit: Willa Moore As the sandwich-making videos looping on three separate TVs suggest, roast beef is just the tip of the iceberg here. There are cold cut sandwiches like The Godfather, which contains every meat imaginable; a vodka chicken parmesan sandwich called Apollo Creed, and a fried eggplant sandwich crowned with the name Duchess Of Bay Ridge. Whatever you order will be large and satisfying. There are a few tables where you can sit with your pile of beef and make a valiant attempt at protecting your lap from gravy. Food Rundown photo credit: Willa Moore Johnny Roastbeef The perfect introduction to John’s roast beef. This stack of beef and onions is soft and saucy, but the bread retains a satisfying crunch. Ask for it to be salt and peppered for best results. photo credit: Willa Moore Apollo Creed Otherwise known as the vodkagiana—their words, not ours—this is a great choice from the chicken cutlet section of the menu." - Willa Moore
"Perhaps the most classic of the Brooklyn hot heroes — amazing when you think of it — is rare roast beef sliced warm and layered with fresh mozzarella, smothered in brown gravy that is salty and viscous. The result is messy and inordinately delicious. Original John’s has been making hero sandwiches on this corner of Gravesend on the way to Coney Island since 1968." - Robert Sietsema
"Johnny roast beef at Original John's Deli: One of Brooklyn’s best kept secrets is an iconic sandwich once eaten by beach-goers in maritime parts of the borough, but now relatively rare. That sandwich features roast beef, brown gravy, and fresh mozzarella on a hero roll." - Robert Sietsema
"The best version I found, and one still going strong, is that of John's Deli, which lies at the busy corner of Stillwell Avenue and 86th Street in Gravesend, a little over a mile north of the Coney Island subway station. The compact place, around since 1968, offers dozens upon dozens of hot and cold heroes, and other Italian and Sicilian specialties, many of them fried. But pride of place on the menu still goes to 'Johnny roastbeef' (nine-inch hero, $11.50)." - Robert Sietsema
"Located on Stillwell Avenue on the way to Coney Island beaches, John’s Deli was founded in 1968, and produces all of the Brooklyn’s iconic Italian-American heroes. One of the lesser known ones is the calamari parm hero, made famous by the now defunct Catene Deli just off the Slope. And what could be better than dumping a fistful of just-fried squid rings on a baguette, melting freshly made mozzarella on top, and then sluicing the cheesy crustaceans with a sharp marinara, as it’s still done at John’s? You won’t be able to stop munching on this baby ($12.50), all too rare in the borough today." - Eater Staff
