Personal Pizzas Without Feeling Like A Kid

Singas Famous Pizza has opened its doors in Hauppauge serving up something dishes. The homegrown Elmhurst-based chain serves up personal 10-inch pizzas instead of the slices or large 18-inch New York style pies common to the area. 

Director of Operations Enrique Almela said its based on Singas personal approach. The dough is handmade on premises each morning, pieces cooked to order.  There's no counter with a display of pizza that limits the customers to what's baked that morning, unless they want to wait or order in advance. 

Hauppauge area is home to a number of longstanding community chains, and Singas' location at 387 Nesconset Highway puts them in the middle. Between a straight shot from Mama Sburro's to Ciro's, and directly across from Branchinelli's, local residents are pizza connoisseurs. 

Promising a unique experience, we had to stop and grab a bite. 

The Dish: Onion Pizza ($5.99) or Sausage ($5.99) 

What's Inside:  A handmade dough crust rubbed down with pesto before its allowed to rise is layered with Singas' custom sauce and mozzarella before being layered with chopped onion  or pieces of sausage, respectively. 

How's It Taste:  The 10-inch personal pizzas went against all my trained instincts as a New Yorker who wants to ask for the slide, and expect a hearty piece of an 18-inch New York style pie. 

It brought back a certain youthful joy, having my own pie and being able to deck it out in whatever I liked. Onion was recommended as a high seller and it didn't disappoint. 

The pizza crust was was crispy at the edge while maintaining a soft center, cut into small eighths that allow you to eat any portion you want easily. The tomato sauce is slightly sweeter than others, but not too sweet seasoned lightly with herbs without a strong taste. It's a prime no-frills tomato sauce that focuses on the quality fresh taste over Italian herbs or seasoning. 

Now you may have thought who orders Onion on a pizza and nothing else? We were just as curious to have a bite. The onion provided a crispy, crunch tangy taste that complimented the tomato sauce well. 

Eat This: It's a personal onion pie that lets the ingredients speak for themselves. Their menu, in compliance with Suffolk County laws, list the calories as 426 - 505 calories for the 10-inch pie. It's a sizable pizza indulgence that doesn't undo your diet. 

Read Patch's business story on Singas Famous Pizza opening its doors in Hauppauge