Mariella’s Pizzeria Serves up a Slice

Mariella’s Pizzeria, owned and managed by Allessandro Gambino and his family, has been serving oven-hot slices for almost two years now, and in that time the restaurant has become a Village staple. Mr. Gambino came to the U.S. in 1969 from Palermo, Italy on the island of Sicily. “I came when I was 16 years old,” he said in his heavy Sicilian accent. Subsequently, Gambino has been in the Italian food business for over 33 years. He has over five restaurants and pizzerias under his belt, and there are several “Mariella’s” restaurants still operating to this day, including the famed restaurants in New City and the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens. In total, there have been 9 Mariella’s Restaurants opened by Gambino; the Haverstraw location is now the only one owned by the Gambino family.