Umberto's Pizzeria

Umberto’s isn’t just one of America’s most beloved and renowned pizza restaurants, it’s also the birthplace of a now-legendary New York pizza style: grandma pizza. After emigrating to Brooklyn from the outskirts of Naples as a teenager with his four brothers and sisters, Umberto Corteo spent years working in hot kitchens before saving up enough money to open his own pizzeria with his younger brothers. What started in 1965 as a small Long Island pizzeria has since blossomed into a majestic two-story restaurant that welcomes thousands of guests every year.

Umberto’s is one of the best Italian restaurants on Long Island, but it’s most famous for its signature creation, grandma pizza. Invented by Umberto himself as an off-menu item inspired by the pizzas his mother made back in Italy, the pizza was added to the menu in the 1980s and has since become a mainstay at corner pizzerias throughout Long Island and New York City. But Umberto’s is still the original recipe, and still the best.

To make their signature pizza, a thin layer of freshly made dough is stretched out into a rectangular pan. The dough is then topped with shredded mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, marinara sauce, garlic, and oregano. Finally, the pie is cooked for just the right amount of time at a high temperature until the crust turns crispy and golden brown. This pizza is a true icon, and for the first time it’s shipping nationwide!