Vespa Italian Kitchen taking over The Cuban in Patchogue

"Minimum it'll take four months to put together. It was a restaurant space already so I don't have to do a lot of the fundamentals, I would say it's probably 85% esthetics."

"I've been trying to make it work and it doesn't, with not enough room to make and ferment dough. That leaves about 80% of the menu the same as at the other Vespa locations."

"The customers on Long Island are amazing; they've been so supportive. That's what gives me the courage, if you will, to open up in another area."

Benedetto LoManto, owner of the LoManto restaurant group, recently signed a lease for the former Cuban restaurant space at 93 W. Main St. in Patchogue, planning to open Vespa Italian Kitchen & Cocktails in mid-July. This marks the third Vespa location, following successful openings in Farmingdale in 2016 and Ronkonkoma in 2023. The Patchogue location will require approximately four months of renovations, primarily aesthetic updates since the space was already a functioning restaurant. The menu will exclude pizza due to kitchen size limitations but will maintain approximately 80% consistency with other Vespa locations. Planned upgrades include an exposed wine room with tempered glass walls. LoManto expressed enthusiasm about contributing to Patchogue's ongoing development and credited Long Island customers' support for encouraging expansion.

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