SLO County deli is reopening soon with new interior and menu. Take a look inside

John Lynch
·4 min read

After being closed more than a month for renovations, a popular Arroyo Grande restaurant is gearing up to reopen.

When Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria opens its doors in the Village of Arroyo Grande on May 17 customers will notice significant changes to its menu and aesthetic.

Co-owners Robert Spallino and Michael Goodloe said they hope newcomers and longtime fans of the 26-year-old deli at 203 East Branch St. will be impressed with the new vibe.

“The Branch Street Deli has gone through a significant overhaul,” Spallino told The Tribune. “Aesthetically, menu-wise, branding — everything is all new, and we’ve refreshed the whole vibe here at the deli, not only inside but outside on the patio.”

For instance, he and Goodloe tweaked the former Branch Street Deli’s name to reflect the restaurant’s newfound focus on pizza.

With the reopening about a week away, here’s an exclusive look inside the remodeled eatery.

Left, Michael Goodloe, general manager and Bob Spallino co-owner are putting the finishing touches on the remodeled Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria. The shop closed nearly a month ago for a big remodel, which saw the deli switch from standard deli counter service to sit-down dining and more upscale options. May 8, 2023.
Left, Michael Goodloe, general manager and Bob Spallino co-owner are putting the finishing touches on the remodeled Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria. The shop closed nearly a month ago for a big remodel, which saw the deli switch from standard deli counter service to sit-down dining and more upscale options. May 8, 2023.

New pizza oven takes center stage at SLO County deli

One of the most noticeable changes at Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria is the newly renovated interior.

A bar now sits in the front of the restaurant, wrapping around a large pizza oven imported from Italy, Spallino said. Italian tile and marble decorate the floors and wrap around the bar.

“The oven made a journey here from Naples from one of the oldest oven makers in Naples, and came over on a boat in pieces,” Spallino said. “It landed in New York and shipped to Arroyo Grande from New York on a truck, and it was assembled here on site. Michael and I ended up doing the finish work and tile work on it once it was all assembled.”

The oven is a state-of-the-art hybrid model that burns wood to give pizzas a smoky taste while using gas burners to maintain a more consistent cooking temperature, Spallino said.

The oven features a revolving table, which cooks the pizzas more uniformly than most other ovens, Spallino said.

“It’s the best of both worlds: the consistency of gas and the flavor of wood,” Spallino said.

The former interior of the Branch Street Deli, as pictured April 3, 2023. The deli undertook a significant remodel that features the addition of a pizza oven.
The former interior of the Branch Street Deli, as pictured April 3, 2023. The deli undertook a significant remodel that features the addition of a pizza oven.

That oven will allow the deli to produce a range of handmade pizzas, which guests can watch being made in real time at the wraparound bar, Spallino said.

“Why the bar? Because making pizza is an art form, and people love to watch the cook put it all together, play with it in the oven and pull it out piping hot,” Spallino said.

The deli is trimming down its menu — keeping a few old favorites while adding pizza and eventually comfort foods such as ribs, fried chicken, fish dishes, farm-to-table salads and pastas this summer, Goodloe said.

Popular dishes such as tri-tip, pastrami and Godfather Italian sandwiches will still be sold alongside the expanded offerings, he said.

Goodloe said three local farms — Chavez Family Farms in Santa Maria, Talley Farms Fresh Harvest in Arroyo Grande and S. Kobara & Sons in Arroyo Grande — will provide the produce used in the new recipes.

It’s all part of a push to transition the deli from a simple sandwich counter to a hybrid eatery with counter service and sit-down dining options, Goodloe said.

Once the staff is comfortable running lunch service, Goodloe said dinner service will be “layered in.”

That will be more of a sit-down dining experience complete with wait staff, he said.

Spallino’s ownership of Pizzeria Bello Forno in Orcutt was a big part of the push to change the menu, Goodloe said, noting that the restaurant’s pizza was voted best pizza in Santa Barbara County five years in a row.

Here is the new patio, Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria closed nearly a month ago for a big remodel, which saw the deli switch from standard deli counter service to sit-down dining and more upscale options and will open within a week May 8, 2023.
Here is the new patio, Branch Street Deli and Pizzeria closed nearly a month ago for a big remodel, which saw the deli switch from standard deli counter service to sit-down dining and more upscale options and will open within a week May 8, 2023.

More changes in store for Arroyo Grande restaurant

Those aren’t the only visible changes to the deli.

New signage has already been installed, and the front of the deli will get a new awning in the coming weeks, Spallino said.

The restaurant’s outdoor seating area has also seen extensive changes.

Though the signature tree design on the side of the building is still in place, the patio now features lemon and olive trees in new planters. New wrought iron chandeliers also hang above parts of the patio.

The former exterior of the Branch Street Deli, as pictured April 3, 2023. The deli undertook a significant remodel that features the addition of a pizza oven.
The former exterior of the Branch Street Deli, as pictured April 3, 2023. The deli undertook a significant remodel that features the addition of a pizza oven.

More work still needs to be done externally, Spallino said, including the addition of a vintage horse trailer that will be converted into an outdoor bar in June.

The deli’s wine selection will expand to around 50 choices over the coming months, Goodloe said, and gelato will be featured in the deli displays in the summer.

Despite the changes, Spallino said the deli will maintain much of its former feel and appeal to families.

“We can have a really nice dining experience without breaking the piggy bank here, and I think that’s what make this family friendly,” Spallino said. “We have a nice cross section of appeal. ... Somebody can share a 12-inch pizza for $20 and have a beer and be under $40 with a tip and everything.”