Pizza — by the Slice — Returns to Sag Harbor

Growing up on Long Island, there are culinary certainties you can count on: great bagels, egg sandwiches and the ability to grab an affordable slice of Neapolitan-style pizza from your local pizza parlor after school or a big game.

In 2017, the Venesina family served their last slice at Conca D’Oro, the family-owned pizzeria that was iconic to Sag Harbor Village for more than 40 years. It was a celebratory, but solemn, October afternoon, as Frankie Venesina and his parents, Tony and Lina, sold slices and pies to a community sad to see them go.

Frankie — to the delight of Conca D’Oro fans — went on to open Shelter Island Slice, just a South Ferry ride away from North Haven, where Tony still makes the dough, sauce and meatballs that helped make Conca D’Oro an institution. Shelter Island Slice solidified itself as a popular mainstay, supporting local events and charitable organizations, as well as the school — just like the family did in Sag Harbor when Conca D’Oro called Main Street its home.

It’s not that Sag Harbor has been without one of New York’s most popular foods since 2017, though. Sag Pizza took over the Conca D’Oro space, offering wood-fired pizza pies, as well as salads, pasta dishes and weekly specials. Just across the street, Lulu Kitchen & Bar also serves a small menu of wood-fired pizzas, including its khachapuri pie, with egg, raclette cheese and yogurt sauce on the side.

And now there is Pizza Pizza.

Michael Gluckman, a longtime restaurateur on the East End, opened Cluckman’s in summer 2024. It was an instant hit, filling a void in a village known for its restaurant culture, Cluckman’s offered a relatively affordable, casual and family-friendly menu of fried chicken dishes, smash burgers, salads and milkshakes, joining a diverse group of eateries that have opened in the last two years, including What The Falafel and Nikki’s Not Dog Stand on Division Street. All offer elevated, or at least fresher, versions of fast food-style cuisine, ready to grab and go for a quick lunch or dinner.

Last month, Gluckman and his wife and business partner, Lila Beudert-Gluckman, recognized the void left in Sag Harbor with the departure of Conca D’Oro. Sag Harbor needed a “slice shop,” and fortunately, Cluckman’s had room for one. And Pizza Pizza was born.

“It’s been almost 10 years since Conca D’Oro closed and no one has built a New York City slice shop to replace it until now,” said Gluckman, adding that he wanted to offer a casual, everyday slice shop that accommodates everyone — children, families, or someone who works downtown and just wants a quick slice as a snack or lunch, or a whole pie for dinner.

“We use the finest flour and mozzarella cheese,” he added, “And we make dough from scratch every day.”

Pizza Pizza has a signature slice Gluckman said has been hugely popular since Pizza Pizza’s opening on March 24 — it features pepperoni, charred jalapenos and Mike’s hot honey.

“It has an amazing salty, sweet flavor,” he said.

Other slices guests can enjoy outside of the traditional cheese pizza include a pie with sausage, roasted garlic, sautéed spinach and caramelized onions, a fresh salad pizza, a classic Hawaiian with pancetta and a spicy Buffalo pizza.

And at $3.75 per slice, Gluckman feels like he is offering a price point inclusive of all budgets.

“We are open every day, and we can make any slice you want,” he said. “We never say, ‘No.’”

Cluckman’s and Pizza Pizza are located at 22 Long Island Avenue in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit cluckmans.com.