Umberto's Is Coming To Glen Cove, With Its 1st Wood-Fired Pizza Oven

GLEN COVE, NY — Umberto's has a dozen locations, serving some of Long Island's favorite pizza since 1965. The family-run business will open its newest location in Glen Cove this January, and this restaurant will be the first time Umberto's will feature a wood-fired oven.

Giovanni Corteo's father and uncles founded Umberto's in 1965, with New Hyde Park the home of the first pizzeria. Carlo Corteo, with his brothers Joe and Umberto, is often said to have invented grandma pizza in the '70s, now a staple of Long Island pizzerias, based on traditional family recipes.

In January, Umberto's of Glen Cove will open where La Pala closed, at 246 Glen St., Corteo told Patch. The restaurant will have a 65-seat dining room, bar, a private room that can seat 25, and a patio that will have speakers, TVs, foosball tables, and will be enclosed in the winter, he said.

The location was appealing because of its wood-fired pizza oven, Corteo explained. Umberto's of Glen Cove will serve wood-fired pizza, baked clams and other dishes cooked in the super hot oven. There will be classics like chicken francese along with changing specials.

Glen Cove was one of the last major downtowns in Nassau County to get an Umberto's, Corteo explained, so it made sense.

Umberto's has been on many lists of Long Island's best pizza, and got nods when Patch asked readers to tell us the best pizza in Nassau last week. Chef Rocco DiSpirito, from New Hyde Park, chose Umberto's regular slice as what he'd eat for his last meal on the Food Network's"Best Thing I Ever Ate."

What do you think of Umberto's pizza? Tell us in the comments.