Beer Deli | Forty Fort, PA | Delint & Bar

Bob and Frank Roccograndi

Beer Deli	Phone: 570-288-8141 Email: BobRocco@verizon.net www.beerdeli.com
175 Welles Street Forty Fort, PA 18704

Profiles In Business Excellence: Beer Deli

Barb Hawley

    It's not surprising that during my interview with Beer Deli restaurant owners Frank and Bob Roccograndi, food kept coming up in the conversation. It started with a bowl of chili that Frank carried out of the kitchen to sample, pronouncing it as Òthe best chili in the world. "From there we talked about homemade soups, chowders, and the angel hair pasta, "all prepared the same way we used to have as kids," Frank said. The brothers began their food industry venture with Mill Creek Ice Cream, in Miners Mills. In 1987, they opened The Beer Deli on Welles Street, in Forty Fort. Since then, three expansions have transformed a small sandwich shop into a wildly popular eatery that draws a clientele ranging from truck drivers to lawyers, doctors, seniors, and kids in the summer whose moms send them over for lunch.
    With nearly 30 employees, the restaurant offers an outdoor patio, a banquet room, and off-premise catering. Free Wi-Fi is available for those who desire a working lunch.
    Bob, who primarily handles the business details, said what makes The Beer Deli unique is "extremely fast service, with a quality menu. It's great for a business lunch; you're in and out, not spending an hour and a half that you don't have."
    Frank, who heads up the kitchen, said it's the complimentary dessert, such as brownies or banana cake, that's passed out all day with any meal.
    "We've done it since the day we opened, and no other place does that."
And, no other restaurant serves the
    "Dr. Smedley" sandwich, a diet-approved creation named for the area's gallbladder specialist. When asked where his expertise in the kitchen was learned, Frank said, "We've learned a lot from our wives, our moms, our fathers, and it has all come together at the Deli."
    Jim VanWert, of MEMBERS Financial Services, and John Monico, of Cross Valley Credit Union, eat almost daily at The Beer Deli for both personal and business purposes; and Jim has had meals delivered for business meetings. The Beer Deli also prepares trays for large groups. All menu items can be packed for take out just call or fax your order ahead.
    "It's always fresh food you never get a bad meal. They treat you very well, and most of the Valley eats there, so when you go in you know half the people there," said John.
    The high compliments shouldn't surprise Bob and Frank Roccograndi, who work hard to keep it that way. "In fact," Frank said, "it's my favorite restaurant, would you believe it?"