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New Take On Classics
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com
For those seeking a taste of authentic Italian cuisine, look
no further than Northport’s Fattusco’s, where an
extensive menu of pizza, pasta and panini is sure to bring
you back for seconds.
From the outside, first-time customers may see a typical pizzeria,
but owner Robert Scalza of Huntington offers more than just
that.
Once inside Fattusco’s, open for just under two years,
you’re greeted by casual décor as the scent of
garlic wafts through the air. You are invited to sit down
at a table or take-out, while fresh-baked pizzas of all kinds
tempt you from the glass counter. Gourmet pizza is just part
of the establishment’s repertoire – one of the restaurant’s
specials the night of our visit was a thin-crust Grandma pie
drizzled with a smooth, creamy pink vodka sauce that covered
soft plum tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese.
Those who know Fattusco’s best wouldn’t be surprised
by vodka-sauce pizza. Scalza takes a fearless approach and
isn’t “afraid to venture off and try new ideas.”
Our first course, Fattusco’s “Insalte & Zuppe,”
or salad and soup, will whet your palate and leave you eager
for more. Vegetables are plentiful in the Minestrone, and
although New England Clam Chowder is not a staple of Italian
cuisine, it is creamy and authentic. Scalza said one of the
restaurant’s most popular dishes is the Insalta Arlecchino
($9.95) and we soon realized why. It’s an arugula salad
chock full of pecans, gorgonzola cheese, and sundried tomatoes
and glazed with sweet raspberry vinaigrette.
True to restaurant tradition, Scalza serves bread to his waiting
customers. However, he does it with his own twist. Scalza
serves focaccia bread daily, whipping up a different take
on the doughy treat each night. We were served warm focaccia
topped with roasted fennel, red onion and tomato. The bread
was served alongside a moist meatball that had a hint of pepper,
complimented by a flavorful tomato sauce that even Grandma
would approve of.
Though we can’t speak for Scalza’s grandmother,
his aunt may give the bread two thumbs up. Scalza, who didn’t
go to culinary school, first became interested in the business
after visiting his aunt in Italy.
“She would just go to the market every day and buy everything
fresh, come back, cook it, and the food was excellent,”
Scalza said.
Scalza uses the same techniques, importing ingredients from
Italy. And that night’s special certainly delivered just
that – it was a ricotta-filled ravioli with baby spinach
and grape tomatoes basked in a light tomato sauce ($13.95).
And if you’re seeking to follow your primo by secondo,
you cannot go wrong with the timeless “Pollo alla Parmesan”
($17.95) – chicken parmesan is a classic dish that does
not disappoint.
Though Fattusco’s serves generous portions, no meal is
complete with dessert. A homemade ricotta cheesecake is the
one we tried, but there’s also tiramisu, cannoli and
Mississippi Mudd. The cheesecake is moist and rich, with a
hint of lemon that sends it over the edge.
Whether it’s a classic slice of pizza or a unique pasta
dish, Fattusco’s has something for everyone.
“If they are really into food and good food and real
Italian food and excellent quality this is the place to come
to,” said Scalza.
PFattusco's Pizza,
Pasta & Panini
1019 Fort Salonga Road, Northport
631-651-9777
Cuisine: Authentic Italian
Atmosphere: Comfortable, family-friendly, casual
Hours: Sunday-Monday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
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