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Photos by Andrew Theodorakis | Yellow House Images
The people who brought you The Rust and Gold are getting set to introduce their take on coal-fired pizza to Huntington, with 1653 Pizza Company.
Located at 80 Gerard St., in the old Massa’s pizza spot, 1653 Pizza Company will be offering a completely new experience to Long Islanders when it comes to Neapolitan-style pizza and more, the partners told greaterhuntington.com.
“The oven here is very unique to Long Island because there’s not too many coal-fired ovens that have been built on-premise,” said Frank Antonetti, 40, one of the owners. “We’re taking a concept that’s pretty traditional, twisting it, and giving people a new approach to pizza.”
Antonetti, along with co-owners Lou Cohen and Jay Janawsky, opened The Rust and Gold at 70 Gerard St. five years ago, but only recently decided to open a second restaurant. They had their eye on a few different towns, but when the space next door became free, they knew expanding in Huntington was meant to be.
Antonetti, originally from Valley Stream but now in Huntington, says the restaurant is named after the year Huntington was founded, giving a nod to the history of a town the group is so passionate about.
Then there’s the food.
“We’re focusing on a level of food here that will emphasize fantastic ingredients, cool twists on traditional Italian fare, a modern approach to pizza making, and have that complemented by great wine lists and an advanced cocktail program focused on modern, experimental twists on a lot of classic Italian cocktails,” Antonetti said.
Special coal-fired creations include the mortadella pie, bacon jam pie, white clam pie, and wild mushroom pie.
The menu will also offer a variety of pastas, appetizers like mozzarella prosciutto, eggplant parmigiana, and fried calamari and shrimp, and entrées like coal-fired half chicken, brown butter rib eye, and monkfish piccata.
Imported Italian beers, coffee, and espresso will be available.
The partners are also working on more healthy options for diners.
1653 Pizza Company’s grand opening is being planned for Friday, June 4, and Antonetti says the community response has been “phenomenal” so far — in-person and on social media — without even being open.
“Something at Rust that we’ve always done is look for ways to give back to our community and give the love back to a town that has been so amazing to us,” he said.
Tap here to follow 1653 Pizza Company on Facebook, or here for Instagram.
Top: Frank Antonetti and Lou Cohen at 1653 Pizza Company (Andrew Theodorakis).
Frank Antonetti and Lou Cohen. 
