Italian restaurant Patrizia’s opens in Hicksville

An oft-revolving restaurant location on South Broadway is now the first Long Island outpost of Patrizia’s, a moderately-priced Italian chain with five branches in New York City and one in Red Bank, New Jersey.

Most recently, the cavernous space in the Planet Fitness shopping center was DeBello’s Restaurant & Bar, which took over from original tenant, Pizza Fabbrica (which later shortened its name to “Pizza Fab!”).

In December 2013, when Pizza Fabbrica opened its doors, the main attraction was three tiled, beehive-shaped wood-burning ovens imported from Italy. The ovens are still there putting out pizza, but the ledge in front of them has been stacked with cans of tomatoes and other comestibles and it’s no longer possible to see the pizzaioli at work. Other than that, the decor hasn’t changed much since its last tenant.

In addition to 18 pizzas available all day, Patrizia’s also serves about a dozen panuozzi (wood-oven-baked sandwiches) before 6 p.m. Twelve-inch pies are between $11 to $16; 18-inch pies, $18 to $22; panuozzi, $10 to $12. Starters, $12 to $15, include grilled baby octopus, seafood salad, eggplant rollatini, clams oreganata and portobello mushroom stuffed with pesto and goat cheese.

Patrizia’s pastas are all under $20 and include fioretti alla bosciola (homemade “purses” in a mushroom-prosciutto cream sauce), orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, baked manicotti and baked penne alla Norma (with baby eggplant and ricotta salata). Most mains are under $24 and include a variety of Parms, Marsalas and Franceses, plus a few steaks, chops and fillets, including sole oreganata topped with shrimp and served on a bed of spinach.

Patrizia’s is at 1040 S. Broadway, Hicksville, 516-932-1600, patriziasofbrooklyn.com

Correction: The street address of Patrizia’s was incorrect in an earlier version.

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