If you’re craving Italian in Bay Shore, you really can get it all. Handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas. Creamy risottos alongside crisp, garlicky bruschetta. You’ll find classic red-sauce joints and modern trattorias, from cozy BYOB spots to elegant waterfront dining. Here are just a few of our favorites.
Mulberry Street Bay Shore
$$ | (631) 665-2004 | WEBSITE
Bay Shore has no shortage of excellent Italian spots, and Mulberry Street Bay Shore, with its lively family-friendly atmosphere and casual dining setting, is one of our favorites. It’s especially great if you love classic pasta dishes, because you can choose between penne a la vodka with grilled chicken or fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken.
Get some delicious pizza, then move on to those hearty pasta plates to soak up the friendly, welcoming vibe whether you’re dining in or calling to place an order.
ITA Kitchen
$$$ | (631) 267-5916 | WEBSITE
ITA Kitchen in Bay Shore makes excellent Italian fare, and you’ll have to navigate a somewhat cramped space to enjoy it. But once you’re settled at your table, you’ll feel like a regular, privy to traditional recipes you had only imagined before. Choose between the veal, which comes with rich sauces and tender preparation, or the carozza with its crispy exterior and gooey center. Bring another person so you can try both.
They’ve recently completed a nice remodel that brightens up the intimate dining room.
Butera’s – Bay Shore
$$ | (631) 328-4948 | WEBSITE
If we had to pick one spot for a celebratory Sunday brunch for the rest of our days, it would be Butera’s. Tucked into a cozy Bay Shore storefront, this place has a warm, family-gathering vibe, and huge portions to match. Go for the excellent chicken cutlet and wonderful Shrimp limoncello, as well as other favorites, like the delicious pork chop (generously sized, no complaints), and raspberry cheesecake for dessert.
It’s lively and friendly, with clinking glasses and people chatting because their plates are just that satisfying.
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
$$ | (631) 665-5213 | WEBSITE
At this Bayshore spot with classic Italian music on the stereo, warm breadsticks are the specialty, and the $14.95 lunch special (with a fresh salad add-on) is your best option. Here, nothing is served without care—you might get a recommendation for the ziti a la forno just because the shrimp appetizer wasn’t optimal that day. Eating in the spacious dining room will remind you that perfectly prepared eggplant lasagna can be more comforting than a hug and sweeter than dessert.
Frank & Maria’s Italian Market
$$ | (631) 665-0047 | WEBSITE
The first time you visit this Italian market in Bay Shore, head straight for their signature pork cutlet parm sandwich. It’s an incredibly satisfying meal, with their excellent red sauce and delicious fresh bread embracing the tender, breaded cutlet (which pairs perfectly with their mouth-watering lasagna). The second time you stop by Frank & Maria’s, you should probably order this again, unless you’re really in the mood for something lighter.
In that case, try one of their tasty hot lunches or soups, served with their fantastic sandwich.
Bella Vie
$$$ | (631) 500-9045 | WEBSITE
Thought you knew all there was to know about Italian dining? Think again. Bella Vie’s $85 prix fixe includes everything from filet mignon to grouper oreganta, with generous portions that make it a tremendous value. Be mindful about the wine list as some bottles are premium, and not entirely necessary. But simply being in the charming waterfront space, watching soft light dance across the water whenever a boat passes by, makes Bella Vie an extremely lovely place for an evening.
A meal here really is the embodiment of ‘dinner and relaxation.’
Fratelli Pizzeria
$ | (631) 666-0458 | WEBSITE
Fratelli Pizzeria has been a Bay Shore staple for years, with its cozy, wood-paneled dining room and checkered tablecloths creating that classic neighborhood Italian feel. They’re known for their wallet-friendly prices, with most entrees hovering around $18 to $28, but the real value is their $22 pizza special, which nets you a large pie with two toppings, a side of their famously oversized garlic knots, and a canned soda. You can order individual slices at the counter too.
The garlic knots alone—fluffy, buttery, and generously garlicky—are worth the trip, perfectly complementing their standout pizzas with that crisp-yet-chewy crust, robust sauce, and generous toppings. Beyond pizza, the menu shines with hearty classics like the rich veal Parmigiana, baked clams packed with flavor, and a satisfying portabella roasted pepper and mozzarella salad, all made from fresh ingredients.
The staff is consistently friendly and welcoming, adding to the laid-back, enjoyable vibe. It’s a cherished spot for reliably delicious, authentic Italian without the fuss.
Amore Pizza
$ | (631) 968-8181 | WEBSITE
For pizza, there’s Amore Pizza. Everyone at the Bay Shore spot has a slice of it in front of them, topped with things like pepperoni, mushrooms, and sausage, and each pie—really more like a platter in size—releases aroma into the spacious dining room as if this were a pizza haven. Grab a seat at a large table for lunch, or sit in the open area in the back for dinner.
The pizza has a flavorful, thin-crust base and crispy yet chewy edges—and the garlic knots you receive with your order are a massive highlight. Amore Pizza also has a reputation as one of the best pizza places in the neighborhood.
Marcony’s Pizza & Pasta Restaurant
$$ | (631) 665-2524 | WEBSITE
Marcony’s Pizza & Pasta Restaurant makes all their own pasta sauce, which is richer than a Sunday gravy, with a texture that reminds you of your nonna’s kitchen. Their hearty Eggplant Rollatini and savory meatballs need every bit of that family-style atmosphere to balance them out, but the resulting dishes are fantastic, and the Sunday Dinners feel almost like a holiday meal any day of the week.
From the owners who personally greet every table, this spot also features live music on weekends, and has a warm, welcoming dining room.
Buseto Pizza
$$ | (631) 665-4939 | WEBSITE
The vibe at Buseto Pizza couldn’t be more different than some of the fancier spots in Bay Shore, but the pizza is just as excellent. This straightforward pizzeria in the Bayshore and Islip area has a few different seating options, from the regular tables to the more comfortable fancy seating. You can go for the classic plain or pepperoni pizzas that are especially popular and filling—or try the pepperoni pinwheel for something different.
The pasta with marinara sauce is also enjoyable, and drink options are plentiful. It does get affordable quickly, with most pies running around $15-$25 and pastas in the $12-$18 range. The interior is simple but clean, with bright lighting and a welcoming feel. The staff is friendly and kind, and the owner, Joe, makes a positive impact on customers with his exceptional service.
The high-quality ingredients are evident in the aroma of the pizza, with its tasty sauce and nice balance of white cheese that isn’t orange or slimy.
Victorio II Pizza
$ | (631) 586-5552 | WEBSITE
You could come to Victorio II Pizza just for a slice—they have enough pizza varieties to keep a crowd of hungry New Yorkers satisfied. But you most likely drove across Bay Shore to get to this Italian spot, and probably worked up quite an appetite. So while you’re enjoying one of the best casual meals on Long Island—in a room filled with cozy booths, being served by warm and welcoming staff—get a plate of their penne pasta.
It’s well-prepared, delicious, and a perfect complement to whatever you’re having.
