Pizza restaurant Martino's closes in Kings Park, succeeded by Gino's
Focaccia pizza at Gino's of Kings Park is a thin crust pan pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, marinated peppers, plum tomatoes, garlic, basil and a balsamic drizzle. Credit: Gino's of Kings Park
Kings Park has bid farewell to the 35-year-old Martino's Pizza Restaurant (whose owners retired) and is just becoming acquainted with the new Gino's of Kings Park.
The space was almost entirely gutted before being remodeled with gray wainscoting, handsome wood furnishings and brick. Up front is a pizza counter with booth seating; there's also a full bar and two dining rooms, one of which can function as a party space.
Co-owner Nicholas DiNardo said the place is under the same family ownership as the Gino's restaurants in Northport, Nesconset and Seaford. While it features most of the same pizzas, pastas and parms, there are some items that are original to this place. Among them are an upside-down pizza with cheese on the bottom and sauce on top; a salad with walnuts, avocado, dried cranberries and goat cheese; grilled artichoke hearts, as well as grilled chicken semifreddo topped with a tomato-mozzarella salad. Nothing on the dinner menu exceeds $18.99.
Because there seems to be a Gino's in just about every Long Island town, you may be wondering how this one and its affiliates fit into the overall picture. According to DiNardo, they're all owned by separate branches of a loosely related clan that traces its roots to Sicily. Someday, someone will do a family tree.
Gino's of Kings Park is at 52 Indian Head Rd., Kings Park, 631-269-2880
