Comfort foods of fall and rainy days in a Castleton Corners deli

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Roberto Ramirez brought his staff in early on Tuesday morning because he knows how rainy mornings roll at his eponymous Castleton Corners deli. It puts customers in the mood for stick-to-the-ribs eats and solid comfort fare.

In that spirit on this mizzly morning at Roberto’s Gourmet Kitchen, wells of hot soup in a steam table brimmed with Sicilian-style black-eyed pea soup and chicken corn chowder. Mashed potatoes came steaming from the kitchen to pair with a tray of herb-roasted chicken on the bone or prosciutto-mozzarella stuffed pork chops. A sample platter of fillet of sole Francaise was presented with a lemon sauce and for the pairing, Roberto suggested sides of Brussels sprouts or grilled asparagus.

Signature dishes have their special days to appear at Roberto’s. One of the most popular is the Thursday stuffed cabbage, a sweet and peppery-sauced creation that brings fans from across the Island.

Roberto established his family’s Cucina with Paul Barona and brother Victor in 2019. The trio started together at Cucina Mia, formerly located a few blocks away in Castleton Corners. They built upon that popular Italian concept with family recipes.

Each day Roberto’s highlights Mexican eats like Paulito’s Chicken Enchiladas with a side of Spanish rice or Cheesy Tex-Mex Beef Nacho Supreme made with lean ground beef. They still observe the Christian Friday meatless traditions with a broad variety of fish items. And sweets like cookies, brownies, corn bread, a rainbow crumb cake and banana pudding are a daily ritual.

Find out more about Roberto’s and see what’s happening this weekend around Staten Island by tuning into The Dish. There are a host of new restaurants to check out plus the hot dog and pie eating contests at Historic Richmond Town’s Richmond County Fair. Hear more about it on The Dish, broadcast from a borough kitchen each Wednesday live on the Advance’s Facebook platform. Connect with fellow Staten Islanders in our weekly food community to make food friends and glean tips on awesome dishes from restaurant insiders.

Roberto’s is located at 2048 Victory Blvd., Meiers Corners; 718-524-7530, Whereyoueat.com. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. except Saturdays when hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays. There are a few places to sit and eat both inside and outside the business. For the most part, however, Roberto’s is pickup and carryout. They do deliver through the Whereyoueat.com platform.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].