An Italian and a Deli
It all started with a deli and an Italian guy from the Bronx. Bob Ciprietti grew up on Arthur Avenue running from store to store grabbing a piece of pizza from this guy, some fresh mozzarella from that guy to getting some great bread from this or that bakery. He fell in love with the people and the food of the Bronx and it has turned into the best love story ever.
He Knows Guys
Nobody was making true Italian sandwiches within 100 miles of here and Bob knew that once folks tasted them, they would love them. So, Bob called on his boys from Arthur Avenue to get some of the finest ingredients for his sandwiches. He would drive 8 hours to and from NYC every other day to bring back the best authentic cheeses, meats, and bread and serve them in a small deli in Rehoboth Beach. The sandwiches were a hit!
It Happened
The sandwich success was great, but Bob had a bigger vision. He wanted to bring Arthur Avenue to Delaware. So, he moved on from the small deli and opened a full service restaurant in Lewes. It was a salumeria (deli), pasticceria (bakery), and a ristorante (restaurant) – all rolled into one amazing Italian venue. Lewes was an instant success, but too small to handle the baking. So, a stand-alone bakery was opened. Wanting to give more families an opportunity to enjoy an authentic Italian experience, it was time for Bob to open another location. In 2013 the Rehoboth Beach Touch of Italy on Coastal Highway opened. Shortly after that, Bob and a few buddies were golfing and conversation between Bob and the Ocean City Holiday Inn Manager led to the 2014 opening of the Ocean City, MD location.
Authentic Italian Experience
The goal of each restaurant is to provide folks with a real Italian experience. When you visit a Touch of Italy, we want you to know that you are one of us. All our food is made with love – straight from the hearts of Italians. We are most known for our chicken parm, our mozzarella, and our eclairs; but everything is good! All of our equipment, like the brick pizza ovens and the beautiful red slicers, come from Italy. Our work family is amazing and some of them are even imported from Italy!
Thank You
We take great pride in our relationships with our guests and with our community. It seems Bob knows everyone and everyone knows him. He believes life is about good food, family, friends, and conversation. The kitchen table is where the heart of every family is. We are that restaurant where tradition meets today.
This is just the beginning of our story…..it’s not over yet. In fact, stay tuned. We have big plans. Are we coming to your city next?
