See all SLO Restaurant Month participants

What do you get when you mix Detroit-style deep dish, a scholar with an Oxford mind, and a passion for community? You get Ben Arona, owner of Benny’s Pizza Social Club in downtown San Luis Obispo. In this episode, Adam sits down with Ben to talk about how Benny’s evolved from a one-man underground kitchen hustle to one of the most beloved pizza joints on the Central Coast.

We dig into the vibe, the dough, and the deep love Ben has for the old-school soul of his space, formerly Pepe Delgado’s. He shares the genius behind his famous frozen lasagna (the ultimate gift hack), why sauce placement matters more than you think, and how he’s celebrating SLO Restaurant Month with a $49.99 dinner-for-two deal. Ben is not just serving pizza, he’s serving history, heart, and heaping portions of gratitude to the community that helped build him.

Check out Benny’s, and don’t miss the other restaurants participating in SLO Restaurant Month at the link below.

Links from this episode:

• Benny’s Pizza Social Club
• Follow Benny’s on Instagram
• Join the Benny’s Pizza Facebook Community
• See all SLO Restaurant Month participants

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• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

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CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

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ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

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Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

On today’s episode of Up+Adam, we sit down with Samantha Payette, the powerhouse Director of Operations for the Blue Mango Restaurant Group, the team behind SLO favorites like Novo, Luna Red, and Robin’s in Cambria. But Sam isn’t just keeping restaurants humming. She’s also helping lead the charge on civic culture and community engagement through her role on the City of San Luis Obispo’s Promotions Coordinating Committee, where she’s been instrumental in bringing SLO Restaurant Month to life.

Adam and Sam go deep on what really happens behind the scenes of a big restaurant initiative, what January means for the people working in hospitality, and what it takes to keep both diners and city leaders excited about local food. They also talk shop on leadership, local love, and why vibe is something you can’t train... but you can absolutely cultivate.

Support local. Eat well. Tip good.

• Check out SLO Restaurant Month (menus, deals, and full list of participating restaurants): https://www.visitslo.com/restaurantmonth

• Learn more about the Blue Mango Restaurant Group: https://www.bluemangorestaurants.com-=[

• Novo: https://www.novorestaurant.com

• Luna Red: https://www.lunaredslo.com

• Robin’s Restaurant (Cambria): https://www.robinsrestaurant.com

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• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com