Umberto's pizzeria opens in Farmingdale

Umberto’s of New Hyde Park turns 60 this year and, to celebrate, the celebrated pizza chain (and contender for the title "Home of Grandma Pizza") opened a sixth location. Last week, Umberto’s debuted in Airport Plaza in Farmingdale, taking over the former home of Bellagio Pizzeria, which moved less than two miles away.

"Umberto hopes to branch out more into Suffolk County," said spokeswoman Katie Sakowich. "A lot of our younger customers are relocating further east and they are so happy when they find us out here."

She added that Farmingdale has already attracted former customers from the Plainview Umberto’s that closed earlier this year.

Brothers Umberto and Carlo Corteo founded Umberto’s in New Hyde Park in 1965. Umberto now operates eponymous pizzerias in Lake Grove (2006), Bellmore (2011), Manhasset and Massapequa Park (both 2017) as well as Pronto by Umberto’s in New Hyde Park (2023). Carlo operates the Umberto’s locations in Wantagh, Sayville, Oyster Bay and Glen Cove. (Huntington is run by yet another group.)

Farmingdale seats about 100 and has separate areas for a counter-serve pizzeria and a full-fledged restaurant; Sakowich said the layout was most similar to Massapequa Park. The menu is as familiar as it is extensive, a collection of antipasti, pastas, Parms and other entrees, heros, rolls, calzones and, of course, pizza, which can be had in Neapolitan, Sicilian grandma and deep-dish formats, by the pie or by the slice. There are also individual pizzettas with traditional or cauliflower dough.

It was a 24-year run for Bellagio’s in Airport Plaza. In January, owners Isabelle Caggiano and Joel Gullo moved it into the former digs of Tallucci’s in University Plaza on Melville Road across from Farmingdale State College.

Umberto’s, 211 Airport Plaza Blvd., Farmingdale, 631-454-6440, umbertos.com/farmingdale. Open Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.