Café Formaggio 307 Old Country Road Carle Place, NY (516) 333-1718 www.cafeformaggio.com

Café Formaggio in Carle Place, New York, sits across from the bustling Roosevelt Field Mall on Old Country Road. Opened in June 2006, the comfortable and welcoming Italian restaurant is the first joint venture for three Italian-American families, who are committed to making their newest project a real “family” place. Giuseppe Licata and his son, Joe, Richard Lodico and his son Michael, and Vincent Barbieri have owned and operated several successful establishments on Long Island. The Licatas own Pizzaiola, an upscale pizzeria in Oceanside, Gino’s of Huntington, which received a favorable review from Newsday and Gino’s of Northport, a staple in the local community. The Lodicos and Barbieri operate Eastern Meat Farms in Franklin Square, one of the first gourmet food establishments to sell products on-line. The shop was featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Business Week, MSNBC, CNBC and MSN.com.

Café Formaggio serves traditional and contemporary Italian dishes with emphasis on fresh, top-quality ingredients at reasonable prices. Appetizers feature: Mussels Possillipo in a white wine garlic or marinara sauce; and Formaggio Fondue with grilled chicken, broccoli, ciabatta bread and grilled shrimp. Salads include: Insalata Nuova with mixed greens, gorgonzola, mozzarella, fried goat cheese, roasted red peppers, tomato, pesto and a raspberry vinaigrette; and Insalata Pera with mixed mesculin greens topped with poached pears, crumbled bleu cheese, and caramelized walnuts. Entrées include: Rigatoni Fiorentina with grilled chicken strips and a creamy pink sauce; Veal Osso Bucco with a demi-glaze sauce and Italian risotto; and Sole Limoncello with risotto, spinach and mushrooms. Pizzas, from the authentic wood-fired brick oven, feature: La Focaccia with fontina cheese, prosciutto, mozzarella, ricotta, garlic and oil; and Porto Pollo with plum tomato and pesto “Di Basilico” sauces, grilled chicken, Portobello mushrooms and homemade fresh mozzarella. Desserts include: Nutella Pizza “Di Bosco” with warm “Nutella” hazelnut chocolate, bananas, apples, strawberries, caramel and powdered sugar; Chocolate Fondue with a coffee liquor and served with strawberries, pineapple, bananas and marshmallow. In addition, a gluten-free menu is offered as well as take-out.