You know those people you meet and within five minutes you just know… they’ve been through something?

That was Lisa.

When Lisa DeSisto sat down with me on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, this wasn’t just a conversation about food or business. It was a conversation about resilience.

About what it really takes to keep going.

Because in this industry, things don’t always go as planned.

And Lisa’s story is proof of that.

Some people you meet and you just get them.

That was Lisa.

No fluff.

No pretending.

Just real.

On Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, that came through immediately. This wasn’t someone telling a polished version of her story. This was someone who has lived every part of it.

And that matters.

Lisa didn’t start small.

She was part of Bertucci’s during a time when it grew from 10 locations to over 100.

That’s a big deal.

But at some point, she made the decision to walk away from that and take a chance on herself.

To build something of her own.

And that’s not easy.

Because there’s a big difference between helping grow someone else’s business and putting everything on the line to build your own.

But she did it anyway.

This was the part of the conversation that really stayed with me.

Because Lisa didn’t sugarcoat anything.

We talked about the fire.

The pandemic.

Cancer.

Divorce.

All of it.

And through every one of those moments, she kept showing up.

She kept going.

And honestly, that’s what this business looks like sometimes.

It’s not always the highlight reel.

It’s what you do when things get hard.

Of course, we talked about the food.

And yes, it’s as good as you’ve heard.

The eggplant.

Her number one seller.

Fried the way her grandmother taught her.

And you can feel that when you eat it.

That kind of recipe doesn’t come from a book.

It comes from somewhere deeper.

Then there are the meatballs.

The gravy.

And yes, we had the sauce versus gravy conversation.

And I love that, because that’s the kind of detail that tells you how much someone cares about what they’re making.

What really stood out to me was how clear Lisa is on who she’s serving.

She understands busy families.

She understands what it feels like to get to the end of the day and just need something good on the table.

No stress.

No extra work.

Just a meal that’s ready and taken care of.

And she built her entire business around that.

That’s not an accident.

That’s paying attention.

This is the part that stuck with me the most.

Because Lisa isn’t just focused on running a business.

She’s focused on people.

Her customers.

Her team.

The next generation coming up in this industry.

She’s creating opportunities.

She’s teaching.

She’s supporting.

And that kind of leadership?

It lasts.

This episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast was a reminder of something important.

The strongest people in this business are not the ones who never struggle.

They’re the ones who keep going anyway.

And Lisa is exactly that.

So if you haven’t been to Rig A Tony’s yet, go.

And when Clam Haven is open, add that to your list too.

Because behind that food is a story of resilience, heart, and someone who refused to quit.

Watch and listen to my full conversation with Lisa DeSisto and hear the story behind a business built on perseverance, heart, and showing up no matter what.

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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON

Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.

Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com  |  @redarrow24diner