New pizza restaurant Vulcano 081 serves Naples-style pies in Rockville Centre
Michael Vigliotti takes a Margherita pizza out of the wood-burning oven at Vulcano 081. Credit: Newsday / Erica Marcus
Rockville Centre is well served by pizzerias. In addition to the heavy hitters Nick’s and Blue Moon, the town has more than a dozen shops slinging slices. But Vulcano 081 brings something new to the table: authentic Neapolitan pizza, made in a wood-fired, beehive-shaped oven.
Naples-style pies, measuring about a foot in diameter, are bordered by a thick but puffy rim, “cornicone” in Italian, and the crust itself is floppy enough for the point to be folded back toward the rim for consumption. Pies are intended for one or two people; no slices.
While pizza Napoletana is still a niche pizza on Long Island, Vulcano 081 joins a handful of other pizzerias that make it. Toppings tend to be sparse, the better to let the crust shine through. Vulcano 081 serves about 20 pizzas, including Margherita D.O.P. (topped with San Marzano tomatoes and imported buffalo mozzarella, $15), crudo (tomato, mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto and Parmesan, $16), friarella (smoked mozzarella, sausage, broccoli raab, $15) and Michele (bacon marmalade, caramelized onions, burrata, $19).
The menu also features antipasti, salads and homemade pastas including fettuccine Bolognese, pappardelle with truffle cream and cavatelli with sausage, broccoli raab and ricotta (all $15).
Partners Michael DeSena and Michael Vigliotti opened Vulcano 081 in January, naming the restaurant after the Naples’ area code. DeSena, born of a restaurant family, presides over the dining room with a big smile and a natty suit. Vigliotti, who was one of the founding pizzaioli at Red Tomato in East Norwich, runs the gold-tiled oven that was imported from Italy. Unlike a lot of wood-burning ovens on Long Island, it has no “gas assist” and runs solely on wood.
Vulcano 081 is at 43 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre, 516-442-5858, vulcano081.com
Other LI pizzerias serving Naples-style pizza include:
Anton’s Pizzeria: 611 Montauk Hwy., Center Moriches, 631-878-2528, lavolperestaurant.net
Centro Cucina: 43C Glen Cove Rd., Greenvale, 516-484-3880, centrocucinacafe.com
Grana: 1556 Main Rd., Jamesport, 631-779-2844, granajamesport.com
La Pala: 246 Glen St., Glen Cove, 516-399-2255
Piccolo Gourmet: 1632 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, 516-326-8509, piccologourmet.com
Pizzetteria Brunetti: 103 Main St., Westhampton Beach, 631-288-3003, pizzetteriabrunetti.com
Rustica Brick Oven Cafe: 1 Nassau Blvd., Garden City South, 516-292-2197, rusticabrickoven.com
Red Tomato: 6245 Northern Blvd., East Norwich, 516-802-2840, redtomatopizza.com
San Marzano Brick Oven Pizzeria: 38 Merrick Ave., Merrick, 516-546-3300
Saverio’s: 929 Broadway, Massapequa, 516-799-0091
St. Rocco’s Bakery: 4 St. Rocco Pl., Glen Cove, 516-427-5333
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