Scoogi's Italian Restaurant Made With Love

The recipe for operating a successful restaurant – even during a pandemic -- is to cook and serve scrumptious food and treat your customers and staff like family.

This is the secret to Scoogi's, Robert Rosato’s thriving traditional Italian restaurant that for 30 years has brought comfort food and catering to the hearts and tummies of Flourtown families.

Offering dine-in, curbside pick-up, and delivery, Rosato says that he and his staff worked extremely hard to keep the doors open during the past year, at a time when COVID-19 restrictions were not as kind to numerous other food establishments that were forced to close permanently after years, or decades in business.

“With so many locals wanting to frequent our place, it keeps me going and keeps me motivated,” explains Rosato, who began his restaurant career when he was 15 years old.

“I thoroughly enjoy what I do. When I was a child, I remember when our family went out to eat how exciting it was and it was my desire to own one. It’s a lot of hard work, but I appreciate that my customers come in, enjoy the food, the atmosphere, and the service. I loving being a locally-established family restaurant.”

Rosato explains that Scoogi’s has been through power outages, floods, bridge closures, and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are proud to say that customers met here, became engaged here and married here, and went on to have children who were baptized, confirmed, and married here,” he said.

“We have had the honor of seeing several generations of families get married and have children. We have made a name for the restaurant in Flourtown, thanks to my loving wife and devoted staff.”

While so many restaurants in Philadelphia and its suburbs went under because of the COVID-19 lockdown, and Scoogi’s certainly took a hit, Rosato said he is sincerely grateful that his customers embraced the restaurant’s efficient new curbside operation.

“Our organization and consistency are why were successful during the pandemic, and having an outdoor patio area helped us a lot when the weather permitted. We worked hard to please our customers, and to keep them happy.”

He credited his wife, Jennifer, manager, Lynda, Antonia, pastry chef and pizza maker, and chef, Froylon, for being part of his winning team. “We were changing our operations nearly every week and I have to thank our loyal customers who were so generous to our employees during the pandemic.”

Despite being about to pivot, this successful restauranteur was worried about his business. In the midst of all of this change, Rosato ended up renovating the bar area and main dining area during the pandemic, with help from his brother Ernie, and Rosato’s son, Angelo, as well as kind-hearted family members and close friends who stepped up big time to keep the restaurant operating running smoothly.

The renovation and running of the restaurant have required work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week for almost a year, and the renovation is expected to be completed in the early part of summer.

Now that pandemic restrictions are easing, Scoogi’s is seeing its catering business pick up, including rehearsal dinners, bridal and baby showers, funeral luncheons, birthday and anniversary parties, and more.

“We are so excited with the renovation of our bar area and main dining room,” he said. “It was the perfect timing for the design with a high ceiling and exposed ductwork. It was time for a whole new look and we will welcome guests around July.”

For More Information:

Address: 738 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031

Closed: Monday and Tuesday; Open noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday

Phone: 215-233-1063

Website/Menu: scoogis.com

Health & safety: Masks required ·-- The staff is required to disinfect surfaces between visits. Currently open at 50 percent capacity.