In Be Home By Dinner, the protagonist, Garvey Nolan, frequents Rosario’s pizzeria in Oreland on a few different occasions. Rosario’s is the sole pizzeria in East Oreland and Oreland Pizza (recently revamped) is the sole pizzeria in West Oreland.
On a recent lunch break, I visited Rosario’s. Upon entering, the two cow bells tied to the door clanged and the guys in the back making sandwiches peered over and shouted hello. The sparse tables looked identical to the ones that I sat at during my youth, along with the stacked walls of cardboard pizza boxes, the humming beverage fridge, the counter for paying, the dusty framed photos and the TV in the back corner. I felt as if I stepped back in time, awaiting my old schoolmates to barrel through the door with their Catholic school uniforms on. Rosario’s is a no-frills experience, but you don’t need it with good food. Two plain slices and a drink for $5.00 is a great deal as well. I poured on the garlic salt like old times.
Back in the day, a woman named Erin took the orders from the counter, her hair tied back and white apron caked with sauce and dough. She had a pen over her ear and asked what we were up to, always addressing our first names and asking how our parents were doing. I don’t know where she is these days, but she taught me the power of the dedicated repeat customer — an alluring guardian that kept a watchful eye and ear on us.
I decided to put a poll on Facebook to see which Oreland pizzeria was favored the most. I then shared it to the Oreland Group and the stories that poured in were many, respecting both sides. Of 189 votes, Rosario’s won at 57%. Stop in for a slice the next time you’re cruising down Pennsylvania Avenue and feeling hungry.
