Dario's Pizza Is Coming to Massapequa Park This Summer

Dario's Pizza, ranked among the top slices on Long Island by multiple local food writers, is opening a new location at 4952 Merrick Ave. in Massapequa Park this summer, taking over the former Sgambati's Pizza space at the Southgate Shopping Center.

The move brings one of the Island's most closely followed pizza operations to a stretch of Merrick Avenue that has been without a dedicated pizza restaurant since Sgambati's closed. For residents near the Massapequa Park train station, the space fills a gap on a commercial corridor otherwise well-stocked for takeout but thinner on sit-down dining.

Dario's built its reputation through word-of-mouth before drawing consistent coverage from Long Island food media. The original location earned a following for its thin, crispy crust and direct topping combinations, a deliberate contrast to the more elaborate pie construction that has dominated the Long Island pizza conversation in recent years. Lines on weekend evenings have been a regular feature since the restaurant established itself.

The Massapequa Park location will be Dario's second Nassau County presence. The menu is expected to mirror the original, with the same crust recipe and core topping selections that built the restaurant's following in Suffolk County. No changes to the core formula were indicated in available reports.

Sgambati's had operated on that stretch of Merrick Avenue for years before closing, and its departure left a visible hole in the shopping center's anchor lineup. Several neighboring tenants have continued operating through the transition period.

A specific opening date had not been announced as of Friday morning. No phone number or posted hours were listed for the Massapequa Park location. The restaurant's social media channels are expected to carry the first opening announcement when the date is confirmed.

The Massapequa Park address sits near the LIRR's Massapequa Park station on the Long Beach branch. The station sees moderate weekday ridership and heavier weekend use during summer, when beachgoers use the Long Beach line in both directions. The foot traffic from a nearby rail stop could extend the restaurant's lunchtime reach beyond the immediate driving area.

Long Island's pizza market has seen a notable wave of expansion by independent operators over the past two years, with several restaurants growing from single locations to small regional chains on the strength of loyal followings. Dario's fits that pattern: one location, built deliberately, now moving into a second market with similar demographics.

The Southgate Shopping Center is accessible from both Merrick Avenue and the Southern State Parkway. Parking is available directly in front of the retail strip. Updates on the Massapequa Park opening timeline will appear on Dario's social media pages as the summer launch approaches.