If you’ve visited Montauk in the past few years, you may recognize the name “Primavera Pizza” as you drive by the new red sign on Main Road in Mattituck.
While it’s swapped one waterfront community for another, Primavera Pizza is indeed the same authentic New York pizzeria that used to service Montauk.
“Montauk is a really small community,” said owner Enzo Burriesci. “We were all like family over there. It was very hard for me to leave that spot.”
Due to Montauk’s more seasonal nature, Burriesci felt the North Fork would be a better fit for a year-round pizzeria.
The menu at Primavera Pizza includes New York-style pizza, Italian dinners and will soon feature focaccia sandwiches. While it’s a small storefront with limited space, Burriesci said he’s emphasizing quality over quantity.
“Everything is homemade,” he said. “I make the bread. I have a different recipe for the pizza, all fresh ingredients. Quality is the No. 1 thing. I use the best ingredients.”
Burriesci also plans to source locally when the farm season picks up.
“I can’t wait to introduce myself to the local farms and use fresh, local ingredients,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to come out here.”
No stranger to the East End food scene, Primavera Pizza is not the only restaurant Burriesci has owned. He’s run multiple restaurants throughout the Hamptons, including Il Mulino New York in Water Mill.
Burriesci’s family also owns and operates Luigi’s Italian Specialties in East Hampton, named for his father, who came to the States from Sicily.
“My father’s the hardest working person I know,” Burriesci said. “He didn’t speak English and he was thrown into a pizzeria in Brooklyn where he just started making pizzas. He just taught himself. He’s so talented with food.”
Burriesci’s family eventually moved to the East End and operated several different pizzerias, where Burriesci grew up learning from chefs his father brought in from Italy, as well as from his mother and grandmother.
“They knew authentic Italian food,” he said. “Little by little, that’s how I learned.” Burriesci also previously lived in Mattituck for a few years and worked at Porto Bello in Greenport, which endeared him to the North Fork.
His extended family also has North Fork restaurant roots. His uncle, John Gambino, owns Il Giardino in Aquebogue, and his cousin, Frankie Venesina, recently opened Shelter Island Slice.
“I love the area,” Burriesci said. “I think this is going to be a great opportunity.”
Primavera Pizza is currently having a soft opening at 13500 Main Road, Mattituck.
