Umberto’s of New Hyde Park is pizza royalty on Long Island. This legendary Long Island pizza is universally celebrated as the birthplace of the iconic grandma slice. It’s the pie that put them on the map, and foodies routinely make the pilgrimage to try a piece of culinary history.
But while the grandma pie gets all the glossy magazine features and Instagram fame, here is the secret, the real superstar sitting behind the counter is Umberto’s Sicilian slice. Don’t just take my word for it. Even the internet’s most notorious pizza critic, Dave Portnoy of One Bite Pizza Reviews, caught wind of the hype. He awarded Umberto’s Sicilian slice a 8.6 rating. On the One Bite scale, an 8.6 catapults a shop into the Elite Destination tier. That is just below the holy grail of life-changing pizza.
I completely agree. It boasts a holy trinity of dough, sauce, and cheese that simply cannot be beaten.
The Breakdown: The Anatomy of Perfection
What makes a thick, square slice transition from “heavy bread” to “culinary gold”? It all comes down to precision. Here is how Umberto’s pulls it off:
The Dough (The Foundation)
A truly legendary Sicilian slice lives and dies by its crust, and Umberto’s completely nails the physics of the bake. It is incredibly thick and airy on the inside, yet it features a perfectly golden, crispy bottom. It can hold up heavy toppings without ever feeling dense or sitting like a brick in your stomach.
The Sauce (The Soul)
The sauce here is rich, robust, and expertly seasoned. It strikes that perfect balance between the natural sweetness of plum tomatoes and a savory blend of garlic and herbs. Unlike lesser pizzerias where the sauce gets suffocated under a mountain of dairy, Umberto’s lets the sauce breathe. Its vibrant flavor cuts through every single bite. If you’ve ever had the sauce at Americano Pizza in Syosset, you’ll know exactly what kind of high-caliber, bright, savory profile we’re talking about here.
The Cheese (The Crown)
Topping it all off is a layer of high-quality mozzarella melted to absolute perfection. It isn’t overly greasy, and it offers that beautiful, classic cheese pull.
The Verdict
If you are heading to Umberto’s of New Hyde Park for the very first time, look, you have to order a grandma slice just to pay homage to the history.
But if you want the absolute best taste experience the shop has to offer? Do yourself a favor, look past the status quo, and tell the counter guy you want the Sicilian. You will not be disappointed.