Rob Grimaldi started the Ronkonkoma staple back in 2013. With a simple but effective mission – “making the best pizza, and best food we possibly can” – the Mangiamo Authentic Italian Cuisine owner has turned the local pizzeria into something much more: an irreplaceable fixture in the community and beyond.
Though the coronavirus pandemic led to the inevitable sale of their East Northport location that opened in 2015, an immediate benefit came in the form of a merger – both with employees, and their loyal customer base.
His ultimate endgame vision for a larger storefront in Ronkonkoma having come to fruition, Grimaldi’s restaurant is now the talk of the town. Located at 600 Portion Road, “Mangiamo’s” has not only made it through to the other side (of the pandemic), but are also proud to reel in even more future restaurant goers and takeout clients with constant original menu additions and expansions to the physical venue. A bar and full liquor license are on the way by mid-summer, along with an outdoor dining area and patio that are not too far behind as well.
Their growingly seafood-inclusive appetizer and entree dishes balance out a dense lineup of what one would come to expect from the most dependable Italian eateries in their personal rotation (pasta, salad, chicken and veal dishes, etc.). Moreover, Mangiamo’s also features unique pizza selections that have earned every bit of their word-of-mouth praise. Why limit yourself to a simple plain slice with a predictably popular topping, when you can also get in on the burgeoning rise of outside-the-box options like the vodka-sauced “Drunken Grandma” with fresh mozzarella, the Chicken Bacon Ranch on Sicilian, or – as Grimaldi described – the “addicting” Chicken Bruschetta slice?
“People start eating it, and they can’t stop. They come back day after day [just to make sure we’re still selling it!].” Additional alternative delights of theirs include: the Buffalo Chicken Roll, the Sausage and Egg Hero, and the Macaroni and Cheese Calzone.
What separates Grimaldi’s operation from the rest? According to the source, it is unequivocally their dough.
Mangiamo’s as a whole claims – and subsequently backs up – that theirs is “the best around.” Staff and customers alike can attest to this fact. Even the typical discarder of crust would not dare deny their taste buds every last bit of Mangiamo’s deliciously doughy excellence.
If the past year has revealed anything, it is that Mangiamo’s is here to stay. So what are you waiting for? Head on down to Mangiamo’s today to introduce more happiness into your life come tomorrow!
