Mezza Luna — Restaurant in Town of Islip

We visited Mezza Luna in Hauppauge while in town for a work trip and decided to have dinner with a group of coworkers — and we’re so glad we did. From start to finish, our experience was nothing short of exceptional.

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, perfect for unwinding after a long day. The staff was incredibly attentive, and the owner personally made sure our group felt welcome and well taken care of — a rare touch that elevated the entire evening.

The food? Absolutely phenomenal. I had the rigatoni Bolognese, and it was hands down one of the best pasta dishes I’ve had in recent memory — perfectly cooked al dente, with a rich, flavorful sauce that tasted like it had been simmering all day. One of my coworkers ordered the clams and couldn’t stop raving about them, calling them the best clams they’ve ever had. That’s no small compliment coming from a seafood lover!

We also had a vegan in our group, and they were pleasantly surprised by the number of plant-based options available. It’s not always easy finding a spot that caters to everyone, but Mezza Luna delivered across the board.

We ended the evening with a perfectly made cappuccino — the kind that leaves you lingering at the table a little longer, not wanting the night to end.

If you’re looking for a restaurant that combines incredible food, warm hospitality, and a menu that caters to all, Mezza Luna is a must-visit. We’ll be talking about this meal for...

Our experience at this place was wild... and not in a good way. Service was atrocious. I asked for 3 different drinks, not anything complicated, to which they said they could not make any of them. I asked if they had a drink menu, they said they did not. I went to the upstairs bar separately and paid for a drink. After 25 minutes of sitting without anything in front of us, we finally had to ask for a food menu for them to bring it to us. My husband and I both ordered steak. It said nothing on the menu about it coming with sides, so we figured it was a la carte, as is normal with steak at most restaurants we go to. We ordered 2 sides, only for both steaks to come with mashed potatoes. It would have been nice if the menu was more clear. My husband's plate also had a smattering of lettuce and shredded carrots that were definitely from someone else's salad back in the kitchen, but we did not even bring this up to the waiter because of the attitude we had already received. Coming from a food service background, we are usually very understanding, but this was just really expensive for the poor service and...

Mario Restaurant (the predecessor to Mezza Luna) was the best Italian restaurant on Long Island. How do you improve upon that? Well, Mezza Luna has. Same delicious food and same great friendly and professional staff. But the dining room has had a major facelift, and is now elegant and contemporary. The food, while still the best you will find, now has a more upscale presentation. Of course, the prices went up accordingly, but that's okay.

What's not okay, however, is that when the check arrived, it reflected a 3.5% surcharge for using a credit card. You might expect that from a diner or a bakery, but not from a high end restaurant whose clientele probably mostly uses credit cards, where the check will likely be over $200, and where they could just have well have added $1 - $2 to the entree prices.

Mezza Luna should consider removing this negative characteristic, especially when it is the last thing the customer experiences after a...