The first thing you notice when walking through the doors of Pizza Fabbrica in Hicksville are stacks of cooking wood piled up on either side of you sitting atop a glacial black floor. Complete with high ceilings and a bar made of recycled ebony stained wood from a Pennsylvania barn, the rustic factory and earthly style ambiance that Pizza Fabbrica immediately immerses its visitors in is definitely no mistake. In fact fabbrica means factory in Italian. Although there is much to take in at this genial eatery, John LaForte, a co-owner of the establishment makes one thing clear: “At the end of the day we are all about making good food.”
LaForte opened Pizza Fabbrica at the end of November with co-owners and lifelong friends Charles Fusco and Paul Presta. “We have lots of experience from other pizzerias we have worked at but we got together and collaborated on this one,” explained Laforte.
Three handmade wood burning ovens from Naples are clearly visible at the back of the establishment with the last names of each co-owner displayed on them in large gray and white letters against a gleaming black and white mosaic background. “Everything here is full disclosure,” LaForte said. “The kitchen is fully visible and everything is made right in front of you. We have a great staff, and some of them have even been with us for 10 to 20 years.”
All of the pizzeria’s ingredients are fresh and all natural, and many are flown in fresh from Napoli and Campania. While pizza is the specialty, the menu also includes salads and calzones.
“Our food is 100 percent traditional,” said LaForte. “My favorite here is the meatballs. We have a secret recipe for them that really is the best. On the pizza end of things we have it all. We really are trying to duplicate the Napolitano style of pizza.”
Granite high top tables stand along the bar area for people who want to eat and drink, or watch a game. The bar is fully stocked and bartender Benito Trombetta has a wide range of interesting cocktails he makes for customers.
Eric Lamonsoff from Merrick was sitting down to eat pizza with three of his law partners and said, “the pizza here is probably the best I ever had. The atmosphere is friendly. It really has become our go-to place. Without breaking the bank it makes lunch special.”
And though it has a sophisticated atmosphere, Pizza Fabbrica is a great place for the whole family, and kids are welcome to make their own pizzas at their tables.
Fusco had been been running a pizzeria in Tribeca for almost two decades and envisioned how Pizza Fabbrica would look like from the very start. “I had the idea for a long time that I wanted to make a pizza place like this,” explained Fusco. “I wanted to make simple but good food. I came out here, and I knew this would be the perfect location. I have been in the restaurant business for a long time now. I love to meet people and to speak to them. I want them to understand the history of this place and at the same time make them feel at home.”
Pizza Fabbrica is located on 1040 South Broadway in Hicksville. Visit www.pizzafabbrica.net or call 516-597-4792 for more information.
