OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The first New York pizzeria in Omaha, Don Carmelo's Pizzeria, is open and is a great option for Takeout Tuesday.
"Carlmelo Magistro founded our restaurant in 1958," said owner Andrianna Magistro. "So we've been open for about 60 years, 40 of those years in Nebraska."
If you're craving homemade New York- style pizza, Don Carmelo's Pizzeria has two locations - one in Elkhorn and one in Rockbrook Village.
"Pizza is what I think we're primarily known for, but I personally love our calzones," said Magistro. "I'm a carbs girl. I would say our calzones are fantastic. We have strombolis, salads, chicken salads; we have beautiful pasta, it's like a rainbow and vegetables and pastas - it's gorgeous! We also serve pastas, which again, carbs, we have Philly cheesesteaks which are really good."
The pizzerias are run and managed by Magistro and her family.
"Don Carmelo's Pizzeria is named after my grandfather, Carmelo Magistro," Adrianna Magistro said. "A lot of times people think his first name is Don, and that's not the case. Don is like a sign of respect for an Italian man, kind of like, Don Corleone. That said, I don't think my grandfather was ever in the mob, that I know of."
For their pizzerias, COVID-19 didn't completely affect how they run their business, since they already had carryout and delivery established.
"So for our customers, it was just business as usual. They didn't have to think, 'I wonder if they're open,'" Magistro said.
But still, business is not the same.
"It's been scary, tumultuous, but still, there's been good in something everyday," Magistro said. "And to know that we can turn the open sign, unlock the doors, turn on the ovens and bring in a crew to work, it's just the most wonderful blessing right now."
Magistro said masks and gloves are available to employees, and they're limiting exposure by offering curbside pickup and allowing customers to pay over the phone.
While the pizzeria is doing its best to keep its distance from it customers, they're doing what they can to make people feel united.
"The other thing too that I wanted to mention, was that in talking to my dad yesterday, you know I said, 'Maya's going to come and talk about the restaurant. What's on your heart, what do you want me to share?' And he said, 'Really, I'm just grateful that we can keep loving our community and loving our customers,'" Magistro said. "And I said, 'Well, what do you mean by that?' And he said, 'Well, food is love.' Food is his love language, and I think he's instilled that in all of us too. To cook for someone is to love them. And so the fact that we can continue to cook for our community, to show love for our community, and then to see that love reciprocated, it's beautiful. And life is odd right now,and we're all experiencing it together right now, and we will continue to get through it."
LOCATIONS:
Elkhorn: 1024 N. 204th Ave. Elkhorn, NE 68022
Rockbrook Village: 10821 Prairie Brook Rd. Omaha, NE 68144
ADJUSTED HOURS:
Elkhorn: Monday - Wednesday: 4 - 8PM | Thursday - Saturday: 11AM - 2PM, 4 - 8PM | Sunday: 3 -8PM
Rockbrook Village: Tuesday - Saturday: 11AM - 8PM | Sunday: 3 - 8PM
SERVICES:
Curbside, delivery, carryout
CONTACT:
Elkhorn: 402-289-9800
Rockbrook Village: 402-933-3190
