Pizzeria Undici Of Massapequa Offers Thin Crust Slices, Retro Look

MASSAPEQUA, NY — Long Islanders love their pizza with plenty of places to grab a slice. However, there's a new option on the south shore that is bringing a unique taste and look to the age-old favorite.

Pizzeria Undici opened in June and there has been a steady stream of customers ever since.

Michael Green, who has more than 30 years in the pizza business, is the restaurant's day-to-day operations manager.

The Massapequa location was chosen due to its "standalone building" and a "great neighborhood."

Once inside, customers will find a retro look from the white, subway tiles on the walls to the Coke branding that includes cushioned, swivel chairs and tables.

While Pizzeria Undici is a throwback of sorts, its pizza-making is anything but. They have various thin-crust pizzas, including the margarita, which is one of the most popular menu items.

"The uniqueness of the whole product, between the way the pizzas are made, the way it's cooked [and] the ovens that they're cooked in," Green said. "This is something you don't see in your everyday pizzeria."

While you may not be able to reinvent the wheel, Pizzeria Undici has found a way to reinvent another famous circular product.

"Not only preparing the dough, stretching the dough, [and] processing the dough but [also] how the ovens are cooking the dough," he said.

In the end, customers are responding favorably to what they are doing for the slices. Sicilian choices are offered, including the unmistakably "Upside Down" slice, where the tomatoes and cheese are reversed on the pizza for tasty topping.

Slices aside, Green, a lifelong Howard Beach resident, said he wants everyone to enjoy all aspects of the visit.

"I talk to everybody," he said. "That's the way they've all been taught. That's a big part of the customer experience."

As part of their connection to the community, Green said they are committed to fundraisers for Massapequa and surrounding areas. For example, until Oct. 25, for those who buy a pie, $5 will go to the Farmingdale High School after the bus tragedy.

Given the popularity of Pizzeria Undici, they would like to expand at some point. In the meantime, Pizzeria Undici is working on building its delivery infrastructure.

"Obviously, we want to get this place 110 percent, but that is an open idea [for expansion]," Green said.