Best Pizza by Town in Nassau County: 12 Local Favorites Worth Trying
Looking for great pizza in Nassau County? Here are 12 local favorites by town, from classic Sicilian and New York slices to Roman, Neapolitan and artisan pies.
Asking Long Islanders who makes the best pizza is a dangerous way to start an argument. Everybody has a place. Sometimes it’s the pizzeria they grew up with. Sometimes it’s the place with the perfect Sicilian corner. Sometimes it’s the shop that makes a specialty slice you can’t stop thinking about. And there isn’t really one “best pizza in Nassau County,” because the answer can change depending on whether you want a traditional New York slice, Sicilian, Roman-style, Neapolitan, grandma, Detroit-style or something completely different. So instead of trying to crown one countywide winner, we went town by town. We looked at recent recommendations from Long Islanders, local reviews and what each pizzeria actually specializes in. In recent discussions, names like Taglio, Umberto’s, Dario’s, Salvatore’s, Saverio’s, King Umberto and others kept resurfacing — often with people passionately disagreeing about which style was actually better. Here are 12 Nassau County pizza spots worth trying in different towns.
- 1
Mineola: Taglio Pizza
Taglio stands out because it isn’t trying to make the same slice as every other Long Island pizzeria. The shop specializes in Roman-style pizza (pizza al taglio), and recent Nassau pizza discussions repeatedly mention it among the county’s more distinctive choices. One commenter who lives in Mineola called it their favorite among the many nearby pizzerias, while others praised the high-hydration dough, light airy crumb, imported toppings and charred crust. The Mineola location is open daily and sits right by the train station, making it an easy stop whether you live nearby or are passing through.
Roman-style pizza al taglioAiry charred crustCommuter stop by LIRRWhy go: Authentic Roman-style pan pizza with light, crunchy crust instead of the usual NY slice
- 2
New Hyde Park: Umberto’s of New Hyde Park
Umberto’s is one of those names that has become part of Long Island pizza culture. Its Sicilian pie comes up constantly when locals talk about Nassau pizza. In local community discussions, multiple people singled out the thick, crispy-bottomed Sicilian specifically, even when they disagreed about the regular round pie. This is the kind of legendary institution where generations of Nassau families have their own opinion about exactly what you should order.
Iconic Sicilian pieFamily dinnersLong Island pizza historyWhy go: Arguably the most famous Sicilian slice on Long Island with an unbeatable airy-yet-crisp crust
- 3
Port Washington: Salvatore’s
Salvatore’s is one of the North Shore names that received unusually strong support in recent local threads. Several commenters independently called it one of Nassau’s finest, with fans describing the coal-oven-style pizza as more refined and artisan than everyday slice-shop fare. It operates as both a sit-down Italian trattoria and a dedicated pizzeria on Shore Road overlooking the bay area.
Coal-fired artisan pizzaDate nightNorth Shore diningWhy go: Artisan pies with a crispy, charred crust that step above typical counter-slice pizza
- 4
North Massapequa: Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana
Saverio’s is the destination for purists who want authentic Neapolitan pizza rather than New York-style. Owner Saverio is a certified pizzaiolo with the Association of Neapolitan Pizza Makers, and the shop uses imported San Marzano D.O.P. tomatoes along with a wood-burning Mario Acunto oven from Naples running at 850–900 degrees. The pizzas cook in roughly 90 to 120 seconds, resulting in that textbook tender, leopard-spotted cornicione.
Authentic NeapolitanWood-fired piesD.O.P. imported ingredientsWhy go: Certified Napoletana pizza crafted in an authentic imported wood oven from Naples
- 5
Elmont: King Umberto
King Umberto has been an Elmont staple since 1976. What started as a modest neighborhood pizzeria expanded over five decades into a celebrated dining destination with a full restaurant and busy takeout counter next door. It commands a fiercely loyal following across western Nassau, praised for traditional round pies, deep-dish Sicilian, grandma slices, and an extensive dedicated gluten-free pizza menu.
Traditional NY slicesGrandma piesGluten-free pizza menuElmont stapleWhy go: Established Nassau institution with a huge variety of styles executed with consistency
- 6
West Hempstead: Dario’s Pizza
Dario’s is another shop doing something genuinely different. It specializes in both Roman-style and classic New York-style pizza, describing its approach as Roman tradition meets Long Island flavor. That culinary cross-pollination has earned serious buzz in local pizza circles. Beyond the square Roman pies, the shop also serves scratch-made Roman street-food favorites like fried supplì (stuffed rice croquettes).
Roman-style square slicesNY regular piesRoman supplì & street snacksWhy go: Compare authentic Roman-style pizza side-by-side with a familiar NY slice in one visit
- 7
Long Beach: Gino’s Long Beach
Gino’s has been serving the barrier island since 1962, originally founded by Gino Branchinelli. That 60+ year run speaks for itself. Locals and summer beachgoers continue to recommend it today, singling out Gino’s for its crisp New York slices, loaded specialty pies, and reliable post-beach counter service right on West Park Avenue just blocks from the boardwalk.
Boardwalk-adjacent slicesOld-school slice counterCreative specialty piesWhy go: Beloved barrier island institution with decades of consistent, crisp Long Island slices
- 8
Massapequa: Carmela’s
Carmela’s has served the South Shore since 1981, pairing a warm neighborhood Italian restaurant with an ambitious, creative pizza lineup. Alongside traditional Neapolitan and Sicilian pies, the current menu features thick Detroit-style pizza with caramelized cheese edges, penne alla vodka pies, spicy pepperoni with hot honey, balsamic grilled chicken, and dozens of specialty combinations.
Detroit-style pizzaHot honey pepperoniCreative specialty combinationsWhy go: One of the few spots on the South Shore nailing both classic NY pies and crispy Detroit square pizza
- 9
Rockville Centre: Paradiso
Paradiso was one of the most enthusiastically recommended Rockville Centre pizzerias in local community polls. It operates seven days a week right on North Village Avenue in the heart of downtown RVC, serving dependably crisp, sauce-forward slices with top-tier mozzarella. It’s an effortless stop before catching a movie or during a night out in Nassau’s busiest dining hub.
Neighborhood slice shopLate-afternoon lunchDowntown RVC strollsWhy go: Dependable, flavorful neighborhood slice in the epicenter of Rockville Centre
- 10
Syosset: Americano Pizza Shop
Americano began its journey as a mobile wood-fired pizza trailer before putting down roots in its Syosset brick-and-mortar storefront. The shop focuses on artisanal New York-style sourdough pizza fermented over multiple days using unbleached flours and premium cheeses. Long Islanders regularly rank Americano alongside Saverio’s and Taglio for elevated, gourmet pizza craftsmanship.
Naturally fermented sourdough crustArtisan ingredientsModern craft pizzaWhy go: Sourdough crust with incredible depth of flavor and airy, crispy texture
- 11
Freeport: Montana Brothers
Montana Brothers has been serving hearty Italian food in Freeport since 1989, later expanding to a sister location in Merrick. The Freeport kitchen bakes handcrafted round and square pizzas alongside an extensive Southern Italian trattoria menu, making it ideal for groups where half the table wants pasta or chicken parm and the other half wants a freshly baked pie.
Family-style Italian dinnerHandcrafted piesFreeport diningWhy go: Great neighborhood Italian standby where pizza pairs seamlessly with classic family-style entrees
- 12
Hicksville: Raimo’s Pizza
Raimo’s commands a passionate following across central Nassau and frequently tops local Hicksville recommendations. It’s a classic, no-nonsense pizzeria and Italian restaurant focusing on fundamentals: rich, balanced tomato sauce, quality melted mozzarella, and a sturdy, well-baked crust that never sags under the weight of the cheese.
Classic NY slicesHearty calzones & rollsCentral Nassau favoriteWhy go: Dependable neighborhood pizzeria doing the time-tested Long Island classics just right
So… Who Actually Has the Best Pizza in Nassau County?
If you're trying to narrow it down:
- For SicilianUmberto’s of New Hyde Park
- For NeapolitanSaverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana
- For Roman-styleTaglio (Mineola) · Dario’s (West Hempstead)
- For sourdough artisan pizzaAmericano Pizza Shop (Syosset)
- For old-school Long Island pizzaKing Umberto (Elmont) · Gino’s (Long Beach)
- For creative specialty piesCarmela’s (Massapequa)
- For a North Shore artisan pickSalvatore’s (Port Washington)
We’re not touching that one! 😂 Pizza is deeply personal. And that’s exactly why a “best pizza” guide should never pretend there’s one objectively correct answer across all 60+ Nassau towns.
What About Your Town?
This is one of those Best of Nassau articles designed to grow. We deliberately didn’t try to name every Nassau community in one shot. There are dozens more pizzerias worth arguing about — and we want locals to help us find them. Think we picked the wrong place in your town? Even better. Tell us the pizzeria, the town and — most importantly — what slice we need to order so we can keep updating our guide.
Nominate Your Town’s Best Pizza
Think we picked the wrong spot or missed your favorite local slice? Tell us the pizzeria, your town, and the exact slice to order, and we'll check it out for upcoming updates.
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