Where is the best pizza?

Some of the best pizza on Long Island can be found at Taglio Pizza in Mineola, Umberto’s of New Hyde Park, King Umberto in Elmont, Little Vincent’s in Huntington, Salvatore’s Coal Oven Pizzeria in Port Washington, Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana in Massapequa, Branchinelli’s in Hauppauge and Miller Place, Donatina in Patchogue, and Brunetti Pizza in Westhampton Beach. These pizzerias represent many of the styles that define Long Island pizza, including classic New York slices, grandma pies, Sicilian squares, Roman pizza al taglio, coal-fired pizza, Neapolitan pies, and modern specialty pizzas.
In Short
For nationally recognized Roman-style slices, visit Taglio Pizza in Mineola. For grandma pizza, Umberto’s of New Hyde Park is one of Long Island’s most historically important choices. King Umberto in Elmont combines a pizzeria with full-service Italian dining, while Little Vincent’s in Huntington remains a classic slice-shop experience. Salvatore’s Coal Oven Pizzeria is known for coal-fired pies, and Saverio’s in Massapequa and Brunetti Pizza in Westhampton Beach are strong choices for Neapolitan pizza.
Where Is the Best Pizza on Long Island?
The best pizza on Long Island depends heavily on the style of pizza you prefer. Someone looking for a foldable New York slice may choose a completely different pizzeria than someone seeking a light Roman square, a crispy grandma pie, a thick Sicilian slice, or a whole Neapolitan pie baked quickly in a very hot oven.
The recommendations on this page were selected for pizza quality, local reputation, longevity, distinctiveness, regional or national recognition, historical importance, menu identity, and geographic representation across Nassau County and Suffolk County. They are not presented as a strict ranking because no single pizzeria is the best at every style.
Taglio Pizza
Taglio Pizza in Mineola specializes in Roman pizza al taglio, which is baked in rectangular pans and sold by the slice. Its dough undergoes a long fermentation and produces a crust that is crisp underneath while remaining light and airy inside.
Taglio is one of the clearest recommendations for visitors who want something different from a standard New York slice. The pizzeria combines traditional Roman methods with high-quality cheeses, meats, vegetables, and creative topping combinations. It has also received major national and international recognition, strengthening its reputation as one of Long Island’s leading pizza destinations.
Readers can learn more about its recognition in the LongIslandGuide.com article about Taglio Pizza being named among the world’s leading pizzerias.
Umberto’s of New Hyde Park
Umberto’s of New Hyde Park is one of Long Island’s most influential traditional pizzerias and is closely associated with the development and popularization of grandma pizza. Its grandma pie features a thinner square crust topped with mozzarella and plum tomato sauce, distinguishing it from the taller and airier Sicilian style.
Umberto’s is a particularly important destination for visitors interested in Long Island pizza history. In addition to grandma pizza, the menu includes traditional round pies, Sicilian pizza, specialty grandma pies, Italian entrees, heroes, and other familiar pizzeria selections.
King Umberto
King Umberto in Elmont combines a traditional pizzeria, a full-service Italian restaurant, outdoor dining, private events, and catering. The business has served the community for decades and remains one of the island’s best-known destinations for both pizza and a complete sit-down meal.
The pizzeria menu includes traditional round pizza, Sicilian pies, grandma pizza, specialty combinations, calzones, rolls, heroes, and Italian dishes. King Umberto is a strong choice for groups in which some diners want pizza while others prefer pasta, seafood, meat dishes, or a more formal restaurant experience.
Little Vincent’s Pizza
Little Vincent’s Pizza in Huntington is one of Long Island’s most recognizable old-school slice shops. Its appeal comes from the straightforward New York-style pizza, late-night atmosphere, downtown location, and decades of local tradition.
Little Vincent’s is especially popular with visitors who want a classic slice rather than a modern artisan pie or a lengthy sit-down dinner. Its cold-cheese slice, made by adding cold shredded mozzarella to a hot slice, has become one of the shop’s best-known specialty orders.
The pizzeria’s location in downtown Huntington also makes it easy to combine pizza with shopping, nightlife, a concert, or a walk through one of Long Island’s busiest downtown districts.
Salvatore’s Coal Oven Pizzeria
Salvatore’s Coal Oven Pizzeria in Port Washington specializes in whole coal-fired brick-oven pizzas. The intense heat of the oven helps produce a crisp, blistered crust and a flavor that differs from both standard gas-oven pizza and softer Neapolitan pies.
Salvatore’s is best suited to diners planning to share a whole pie, as it is not structured as a conventional slice shop. The restaurant is known for a focused, old-fashioned approach, and visitors should review its current policies before arriving because seating is first come, first served and operating practices may differ from those of a typical neighborhood pizzeria.
Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana
Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana in Massapequa offers Neapolitan pizza prepared in a high-temperature wood-burning oven imported from Naples. The pizzas cook quickly, creating a thin center, puffy outer crust, light charring, and the tender texture associated with traditional Naples-style pies.
Saverio’s is a good choice for diners who prefer personal whole pies instead of reheated slices. Its setting and preparation place greater emphasis on the dough, oven, tomatoes, cheese, and balance of a few carefully chosen ingredients.
Branchinelli’s Pizzeria and Restaurant
Branchinelli’s Pizzeria and Restaurant operates locations in Hauppauge and Miller Place. It represents the traditional Suffolk County pizzeria and restaurant format, offering pizza, salads, Italian entrees, takeout, casual dining, and catering.
Branchinelli’s is a practical recommendation for families and groups looking for familiar New York-style pizza and a broader Italian-American menu. It may not focus on one highly specialized pizza style, but its broad appeal and longstanding local reputation make it an important Suffolk County choice.
Donatina Neapolitan Pizza Cafe
Donatina Neapolitan Pizza Cafe in Patchogue offers several pizza styles rather than limiting itself to one tradition. Its menu includes Neapolitan pizza, New York-style slices, Detroit-style pizza, specialty pies, appetizers, and Italian dishes.
Donatina is one of the better choices for groups that want to compare different pizza formats during the same visit. Its downtown Patchogue location also makes it convenient for combining dinner with nearby shops, restaurants, nightlife, waterfront attractions, or events.
Brunetti Pizza
Brunetti Pizza in Westhampton Beach is a Neapolitan pizza and wine bar located in the village’s downtown district. Its wood-fired pizzas are prepared as individual pies and paired with Italian wines, craft beer, small plates, and a more relaxed sit-down experience.
Brunetti is a strong East End recommendation for couples, visitors, and diners who want Neapolitan pizza in a restaurant setting rather than a traditional counter-service slice shop. It can also be included in a day exploring Westhampton Beach and the western portion of the Hamptons.
Best Classic New York Slice
For a classic New York-style slice, Little Vincent’s in Huntington remains one of the island’s most recognizable choices. The ideal New York slice is generally thin enough to fold, crisp enough to support the cheese and sauce, and flexible enough to eat without a knife and fork.
Traditional pizzerias throughout Long Island serve this style, and many residents remain loyal to their closest neighborhood shop. Little Vincent’s stands out because its atmosphere, location, late-night reputation, and history make the experience memorable beyond the slice itself.
Best Grandma Pizza
Umberto’s of New Hyde Park is the most historically significant recommendation for grandma pizza. This Long Island-associated style is typically baked in a rectangular pan with a relatively thin crust, cheese, tomato sauce, olive oil, and a crisp bottom.
King Umberto also offers grandma pizza and specialty square pies, making Elmont another worthwhile Nassau County destination for diners interested in Long Island’s pan-pizza traditions.
Best Roman-Style Pizza
Taglio Pizza is the strongest recommendation for Roman pizza al taglio. The rectangular pies, airy fermented dough, crisp bottom, and varied toppings create a different experience from both New York pizza and grandma pizza.
Dario’s Pizza in West Hempstead is another Roman-style option worth considering, particularly for visitors who want to compare more than one Long Island interpretation of rectangular Roman pizza.
Best Coal-Fired Pizza
Salvatore’s Coal Oven Pizzeria in Port Washington is the clearest choice for coal-fired pizza. The oven produces a crisp exterior, charred spots, and a distinctive baked flavor that cannot be duplicated exactly in a standard deck oven.
Best Neapolitan Pizza
Saverio’s in Massapequa and Brunetti Pizza in Westhampton Beach are leading choices for traditional Neapolitan-style pizza. Both focus on quickly baked whole pies with lightly charred crusts and an emphasis on dough and ingredients.
Donatina in Patchogue also serves Neapolitan pizza while offering additional styles for groups that want more variety.
Best Pizzeria for a Sit-Down Meal
King Umberto is one of the strongest choices for a complete restaurant experience because it combines pizza with a large Italian menu, table service, outdoor dining, private events, and a full evening out. Brunetti Pizza also offers a sit-down atmosphere built around Neapolitan pizza, wine, and small plates.
Branchinelli’s is well suited to families looking for pizza alongside familiar Italian-American dishes in a casual setting.
What Makes Long Island Pizza Different?
Long Island pizza reflects several overlapping traditions. The island has thousands of residents with roots in Italian and Italian-American communities, a strong neighborhood pizzeria culture, access to the broader New York pizza tradition, and a history of local innovations such as grandma pizza.
A typical Long Island pizzeria may serve round New York pies, Sicilian squares, grandma pizza, white pizza, specialty slices, calzones, rolls, heroes, pasta, salads, and Italian entrees under one roof. More specialized businesses may instead focus on Roman, Neapolitan, coal-fired, Detroit-style, or artisan pizza.
How These Pizzerias Were Selected
The pizzerias featured on this page were selected independently based on pizza quality, longevity, local reputation, distinct style, historical importance, community significance, outside recognition, and geographic balance. The list intentionally includes different types of pizza rather than attempting to compare every pizzeria as though they serve the same product.
Because taste is subjective, this guide should be used as a starting point rather than a declaration that one pizzeria is objectively superior to every other option. Long Island has many outstanding neighborhood pizzerias that may be especially important to the communities they serve.
Continue Exploring
Visitors planning a food outing can explore downtown communities such as Mineola, Huntington, Patchogue, Port Washington, and Westhampton Beach. The Long Island Points of Interest guide and Long Island Events Calendar can help visitors combine a pizza stop with attractions, concerts, festivals, performances, or community events.
Recommended Long Island Pizzerias
| Pizzeria | Location | Best For | Pizza Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taglio Pizza | Mineola, Nassau County | Highly recognized square slices, airy crust, and creative toppings | Roman pizza al taglio |
| Umberto’s of New Hyde Park | New Hyde Park, Nassau County | Grandma pizza, Sicilian pizza, and Long Island pizza history | Traditional pizzeria and Italian restaurant |
| King Umberto | Elmont, Nassau County | Grandma pies, specialty pizza, and full-service dining | Pizzeria and Italian restaurant |
| Little Vincent’s Pizza | Huntington, Suffolk County | Classic slices, cold cheese, late-night pizza, and downtown atmosphere | New York-style slice shop |
| Salvatore’s Coal Oven Pizzeria | Port Washington, Nassau County | Whole pies with crisp, charred crust | Coal-fired brick-oven pizza |
| Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana | Massapequa, Nassau County | Wood-fired personal pies and traditional ingredients | Neapolitan pizza |
| Branchinelli’s | Hauppauge and Miller Place, Suffolk County | Family meals, traditional pies, Italian food, and catering | Classic pizzeria and restaurant |
| Donatina Neapolitan Pizza Cafe | Patchogue, Suffolk County | Comparing Neapolitan, New York, Detroit, and specialty pizza | Multi-style modern pizzeria |
| Brunetti Pizza | Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County | Wood-fired pizza, wine, small plates, and an East End dinner | Neapolitan pizza and wine bar |
Editorial Note: Recommendations on this page are selected independently by the LongIslandGuide.com editorial team based on pizza quality, reputation, longevity, distinctive style, historical importance, community significance, outside recognition, and geographic variety. Featured businesses do not pay for placement, and inclusion should not be interpreted as a definitive ranking of every pizzeria on Long Island. Restaurant hours, menus, ownership, locations, and operating policies can change, so readers should verify current information before visiting.
Long Island’s pizza scene includes nearly every major style a pizza lover could want, from Roman squares in Mineola and grandma pies in New Hyde Park to coal-fired pizza in Port Washington, classic slices in Huntington, and Neapolitan pies in Massapequa and Westhampton Beach. The best place ultimately depends on the style, atmosphere, and dining experience you prefer, but the pizzerias listed here provide a strong starting point for exploring one of Long Island’s most beloved food traditions.
Are you ready for fall on Long Island? Check out these local seasonal guides:
🍎 Apple Picking 🍓 Strawberry Picking 🎃 Pumpkin Picking 👻 Haunted Houses 🍂 Farm Festivals