A longstanding South Fork pizza tradition is now firing up pies on the North Fork, too.
Uncle Joe’s, a beloved pizza restaurant in Hampton Bays for 29 years — the eatery is located right next to the Boardy Barn in the former King Kullen shopping plaza — has set up shop in Mattituck, at the site of the former Village Pizza on Main Rod.
Owner Steve Sciara, son of the the original Uncle Joe’s owner, opened the doors of the new business last month.
“My dad is Uncle Joe. We wanted to keep the name going, and we were looking to open another business on the North Fork,” he said.
The popular pizzeria is known not only for its buffalo chicken pizza but also for its signature crispy crust. “People really love it. We prepare it differently so it comes out crispy, not soggy or doughy,” Sciara said.
His father, Sciara said, hails from Sicily, and Sciara grew up in Aquebogue before heading to Raleigh, NC, eight years ago.
After awhile, however, Sciara said, “It was time to come home, back to Long Island,” he said.
“I really love the North Fork. Everyone says you can’t come back — I’m going to prove them wrong,” he said, smiling.
The new restaurant, Sciara said, is popular as many original customers from the original Uncle Joe’s find their way to the new locale.
“A lot of people know about my dad’s store in Hampton Bays,” he said. “It’s been an icon out there for 29 years.”
Many customers live on the North Fork but work on the South, and vice versa, Sciara said, and the new location gives hungry pizza lover the chance to enjoy their favorite pizza or dinners in both places.
With a full menu and a gourmet case of specialty pizzas, Sciara said, “Come in and try it.”
Uncle Joe’s Pizza is located at 13550 Main Road in Mattituck.
