3 Brothers Pizza Cafe: New and vegan in Farmingdale

Vegans on Long Island may recall Jay Astafa, whose vegan pizza was named best in the nation by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) back in 2011. Astafa and his dad, Andy, who owned the 3 Brothers Pizza Cafe in Rockville Centre, have since sold their original restaurant (whose new owners have kept the name, menu and recipes) and, today, launch their 3 Brothers Pizza Cafe in Farmingdale. Father Andy Astafa is in charge of the “regular” menu; and son, Jay, is the vegan chef.

The 30-seat restaurant moves into the former home of Domenico’s Pizza and offers table service as well as wine. On the vegan menu: Jay's prizewinning seitan bacon ranch pie topped with grilled seitan, tempeh bacon, tomatoes and Daiya mozzarella (a vegan “cheese” that melts and stretches like the real thing) and drizzled with ranch dressing ($13 small, $25 large) as well as oyster mushroom “calamari” ($10) and orecchiette with Italian seitan sausage and broccoli rabe ($14). The regular menu lists rigatoni Siciliano with eggplant ($11), meat lasagna ($11) and chicken Francese ($14), along with a pizza Margherita ($9 small, $16 large) and buffalo chicken pie ($11 small, $22 large).

3 Brothers Pizza Cafe is at 75 Merritts Rd., Farmingdale, 516-755-1100