In his youth, Christopher Columbus was an aspiring pizza chef, but his dreams were frustrated by the fact that before pizza could be invented, tomatoes and the rest of the Americas had to be discovered. Discover a delectable dish Columbus couldn't capture with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Italian cuisine at the dining room of Pappardelle's in Bethpage.

For almost half a century, Rose and Frank DiMartino and their equally able staff have been unfurling handrolled Neapolitan and Sicilian crusts, piled high with pizza-appropriate ingredients. Using family recipes brought over from Napoli, the brick oven torch is now carried stalwartly forward by their four children. Thin- and thick- rimmed crusts are laden with old standbys, including sausage, pepperoni, meatballs, anchovies, and peppers found on the Pappardelle’s supreme ($19.95/neopolitan) or more elaborate garnishments like fresh eggplant ($17.50/neopolitan). Beyond sauce-ensconced saucers, Pappardelle's invites diners to orally explore Italy with fresh salads ($6.25–$13.95), pasta al forno ($9.25–$14.95), and meaty entrees ($7.95–$20.75).

The casual dining room at Pappardelle's combined with its hanging 42-foot plasma screens invites families, sports fans, and fans of well-mounted electronics to spend an evening inside. Sitting back with a selection from the extensive wine list, a toasty hot drink ($5.50), or specialty martini ($6) sates inveterate imbibers.

Reviews

Three Yelpers give Pappardelle's an average of 4.5 stars, and 75% of Urbanspooners like it:

• Very family friendly. This is a Bethpage neighborhood staple, have always been served with a smile. – Chrysoula P., Yelp, 4/14/10