Giacamo Montuori, left, with Francesco LoMonico, co-owners of Bagel & Panini Co. in Grasmere. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, the Bagel & Panini Co. turns out egg combinations and scrumptious, pressed panini. The routines of the store and its gradually increasing stream of regulars are precious things to its co-owner and pizziaolo, Giacamo Montuori.

Giacamo Montuouri and Francesco Di. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

“We officially opened in April but we bought it in January,” Montuori said of the former digs to long-running Sunrise Bagels. Along with his wife and father-in-law Francesco LoMonico, he has established a shop that stocks more unique products in the inventory than does the traditional deli. In addition to the nosh expectations one would expect from a typical New York City operation — Boars Head cold cuts, hand-rolled bagels, freshly made salads — the place takes a decidedly Italian spin.

Inventory on the shelves (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

“Our products are mostly imported. We built it together. We tried to make it more of a modern look,” said Montuori. There are a few stools and a counter at which to eat.

Indeed, beverage selections, snacks and most dry goods hail from Italy. The display cases brim with house-made foods for panini combinations — fried and marinated grilled chicken cutlets, panelle, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and roasted fennel sausage, to name a few items. Montuori makes a fritatta each day, tightly packed with potatoes or garlicky broccoli rabe. For the summer, the shop offers Italian ices and gelato.

Flavors of ices (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Favorite combinations among customers have become the Brooklyn Cheesesteak and “Patricia’s Panelle,” fried chick pea fritters topped with shaved parmigiana , fresh ricotta, a squeeze of lemon and an olive oil drizzle. Montuori said that the Number 12 aka “Cinquepalmi” is now the most popular pick in the panini department — grilled chicken with roasted peppers, broccoli rabe, molten mozzarella and balsamic vinegar glaze.

However, pizza is truly Montuori’s forte. And that was the original plan for the mainstay item of the business venture for the family. The product comes to Bagel & Panini Company as individual and large pies. Focaccia also is among the specialties available in sfincione, Margherita and Genovese styles.

“We originally were looking for a pizzeria,” said Montuori. To open in Brooklyn was the original hope. But one day he drove past the plaza at 900 Hylan Boulevard and saw the gates down on Sunrise Bagels.

“This came along,” he said. The location made sense considering he and his father-in-law live in the neighborhood.

The easy commute and continual dough-crafting makes work a true pleasure for Montuori.

He said, “I enjoy it. I like coming in early and staying until whatever time I need to. If if were a pizzeria, I could do things with my eyes closed. I was already good with dough. Going into a bagel store is different. Now the customers know me by my first name. I would love to feed the community here — so far I’ve had a lot of compliments. I have to work hard — I have a baby to feed.”

Nicole and Giacamo welcomed their first child earlier in June.

“Nicole was helping out with as much she can do. Now, she’s home taking care of the baby. She does a lot and I appreciate her so much,” said Giacamo.

He added, “All I want to do is grow. The sky’s the limit. The business is picking up — lunch is picking up. We’re getting regulars.”

Catering is the next chapter for the business.

“We’re taking baby steps. We just put up a sign, ‘Let us cater your next party.’ We started with a few platters. We opened up in the middle of the school year. But these next two months I’m going to focus on increasing the business and getting ready for school,” said Montuori. Recently, a patron posted a bacon, egg and cheese on Tik Tok. The family was ecstatic.

“I’m happy they’re enjoying my food. It feels good. When a customer comes back and knows your name, it feels good,” said Montuori.

Bagel & Panini Co. is located at 900 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere; 718-489-0988.

Kettle-boiled bagels (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

A view from the front of the restaurant. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The owners built the store together with a modern look, a spot in the former home to Sunrise Bagels. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Lox (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

The menu board (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Everything bagels (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

A sleek new look for 900 Hylan Boulevard. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.