Some of the best Italian style deli sandwiches for miles around can be found tucked away in a very unassuming industrial park right in the geographic center of Long Beach.
Co-owners Tony (a.k.a. Rocco) and Stefano have imported their family’s cooking traditions from the Bronx to Rocco’s Deli.
Tony has created a menu of about tw0-dozen“signature” sandwiches and each one is a specially designed combination of the finest ingredients – including Boar’s Head meat and cheese – with a wide range of specialty ingredients and spreads to create some delicious results.
My all-time favorite sandwich at Rocco’s is the Roast Pork and Broccoli Rabe sandwich – that’s right, they put green veggies in a sandwich. The result is an amazing blend of tender meat, rich cheese, and bitter greens with a slight kick of hot peppers. This sandwich amazes me every time I eat it – and I’ve never seen it offered anywhere else. They also have a great Italian beef sandwich with Chicago style giardinara if you like a kick.
The cold sandwiches are also terrific. The “Wall Street” is made with Prosciutto di Parma and fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and sun dried tomato spread. Topped with lettuce, tomato, virgin olive oil and a touch of balsamic vinegar and wrapped in a soft roll, it has a slightly sweet and wonderfully rich flavor.
Their Arthur Avenue is another stand out a shows clearly what sets Rocco’s apart. They marry a traditional selection of cold cuts: Mortadella, Genoa Salami, Sweet Capicolla and Provolone, with some very special ingredients: arugula, sun dried tomato spread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a delicious end result.
Rocco’s also a large list of pasta and other entrees. Try their Orchiette with Sausage and Rapini and your mind will be blown.
Rocco’s is only open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday. If you don’t get there early during the week, you will have to wait. But you will be glad that you did!
Rocco’s Deli Italiano
2420 E. 28th Street
Signal Hill, CA 90755
(562) 424-8400
Mon-Fri 8 am to 5 pm
Sat. 8 am to 3 pm