Towne Deli & Pizzeria • 1971

John and Phyllis Catania were just 21 when they took over a general store in Tottenville and transformed it into a Staten Island pizzeria institution in 1971. The Mess Hero — a loaded signature sandwich — anchors a sprawling menu that runs from Sicilian and deep-dish pies to pasta dinners and paninis, all served from the family-run kitchen. Decades later, the Catanias' pizza and overstuffed sandwiches still draw crowds to this South Shore landmark.