A warmly run Staten Island coal-fired pizzeria with excellent dine-in pizza and Italian dishes, though delivery temperature, occasional kitchen mistakes, and some seafood inconsistency warrant caution.
Ungaro Coal Fired Pizza Cafe delivers strong food quality anchored by enthusiastic praise for its coal-fired pizzas, pasta, and appetizers, supported by attentive service in a warm, comfortable neighborhood setting. Inconsistency between dine-in and delivery experiences, particularly with temperature and execution on off-premise orders, prevents a higher grade. The restaurant earns loyalty through reliable core dining but lacks the consistency that approaches grade A territory.
Ungaro is a small, cozy Forest Avenue pizzeria where the first impression is less factory-line pizza counter and more welcoming neighborhood cafe. Reviewers repeatedly describe owners and staff greeting guests like family, while the room feels intimate, stylish, and comfortable. One recurring sentiment is that the hospitality makes people want to return, not merely finish the meal. The cooking centers on coal-fired pizza with crisp, charred edges and a softer interior, but the kitchen reaches well beyond pies: vodka-sauce pasta, artichoke-spinach pizza, calamari, burrata, meatballs, panini, and Nutella pizza all receive enthusiastic mentions. Dine-in food is the clear strength. Delivery is the less dependable lane, with several reports of cold or delayed orders, occasional burnt pies, and a few order-accuracy problems. The result is a strong local restaurant for eating in or collecting takeout promptly, with more caution advised for large, time-sensitive deliveries. Families are well served by the familiar pizza, pasta, wings, meatballs, chicken dishes, and calamari; repeat diners specifically mention bringing children and say the staff is welcoming toward them. No current kids' menu was provided, so younger picky eaters may need to share from the main menu. The small dining room can also make birthdays or larger groups worth arranging ahead.
Area vibe: Working-class residential and commercial corridor with local shops and eateries.
Safety: Generally safe during day; quieter at night with limited late-night transit and some poorly lit stretches.
What's nearby: Near Forest Avenue commercial strip, Staten Island University Hospital North Campus, bus routes and local shops.
The coal-fired pies are the main event, but the artichoke and spinach pizza, hot-honey Pepperoni Sicilian, and Nutella pizza give you several distinctive ways to order.
Plan around the small dining room and treat delivery cautiously, especially when timing and temperature matter.
Expect a cozy, stylish neighborhood room where warm hospitality is part of the appeal, provided your party fits comfortably inside.