Bite-sized: Robo's Creemees & Deli in Loudonville
Comedian Anthony Robustiano is cracking jokes behind the counter at his family's new deli.
Disregard the name of this story: There’s nothing bite-sized at Loudonville’s newest deli.
Last Tuesday, I pulled up to the grand opening of Robo’s Creemees & Deli, the new sandwich shop that took over the former home of Genoa Importing, which closed in January, with an empty stomach. The place was packed, and everyone behind the counters was bustling. I want a Pripster. Give me a Tommy Boy. Signature sandwiches flew from behind the register, leaving not a single slow moment for the Robustiano family.
If that last name sounds familiar, you probably follow Robo’s owners Claudio and Joanne’s son, stand-up comedian Anthony Robustiano, on social media. Last May, the Rotterdam native became the first local comedian to headline The Egg, and his social media fanbase continues to grow by the thousands. While waiting for my order, Anthony rallied the entire deli mid–lunch rush.
“Hey everyone, thank you for your patience!” he said. “Believe it or not, this is more nerve-wrecking than being on stage.”
Customers smiled, some responding back with words of encouragement. Dare I say this was the most packed lunch rush I’ve ever seen…and I worked in Midtown Manhattan for three-plus years. In an Instagram video posted later in the day, Anthony said they served more than 300 sandwiches; a later video documents the trials and tribulations of his first day on the job. “I gotta be honest,” he says. “I have some things to work on. I gotta get back on stage. I can’t keep doing this.”
A week and change later, though, Robo’s is still chugging along. This morning at 9:30, Anthony posted on the deli’s Instagram story with a house-made black raspberry and vanilla creemee (the Vermont word for soft-serve ice cream). “Today’s going to be about 123 degrees,” he says. “What do you pair with heat? Ice cream.”
When I was there waiting for my order, I browsed the shop’s shelves of Italian snacks, bags of imported dried pasta, and fridge full of cheese. Samples of house-made cookies were also available, and I ended up adding a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup cookie to my order—a great last-minute decision, though the creemees were tempting, too.
As soon as I got my order, I tore into it on the bench outside the shop. My sandwich, The Aiden—stacked grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and lettuce, with a generous glaze of balsamic vinegar—had me hooked at first bite. This classic combo is elevated with fresh ingredients that the Robustianos pride themselves on.
Unfortunately, I devoured my cookie a bit too soon to snap a photo, but you’ll just have to trust me that it was delicious, too. Or, better yet, try Robo’s for yourself.
—Jolena