A labor of love, Italian style

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Spiaggia Cucina Italia
40 E. Park Ave., Long Beach
(516) 208-8810, www.spiaggiaLB.com

Simply put, we loved everything about this new restaurant. Italian food can be redundant or hidden under heavy sauces…but not here. Cuisine is fresh and creative. Everything is homemade – even the mozzarella cheese and pasta. Options abound that will please even the pickiest or limited eater: the calorie watcher, gluten-free, allergies, you name it. One of my favorites was spaghetti squash in light marinara sauce baked in its shell, lush with vegetables, topped with low fat mozzarella. Have a special request? If the ingredients are available, or if you need something omitted or substituted, the chef will happily comply.

Owner/Chef Saverio Bosco is extremely passionate about cooking. His greatest pleasure, he says, is making people happy with his food. While he seems to be the driving force behind Spiaggia, he gives credit to his family, and says they are a team. Bosco started at age nine in his family’s restaurant in Brooklyn. He attended culinary school in Manhattan, and co-owned and operated Gino’s Tuscany in Islip. Working with him now are his son, Saverio Jr., his son-in-law and sous chef, Ryan, his daughter Michelle, the wine connoisseur, and his wife, Jane, who handles the books. Together they share ideas and have fun doing it. Spiaggia Cucina Italia runs seamlessly as a family venture of love.

Décor is striking, rendered in warm earth tones. Music is soothing, and servers quite personable. Every night is special — Martini Mondays, Teacher Recognition Tuesday (sangria with entrees), wine dinners on Wednesday, and Thank You Thursday, honoring firemen, EMTs, nurses, etc. Live entertainment of all varieties livens up Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday caters to families.

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