ICYMI: Modern Italian Restaurant Osteria Umbra Opens In Smithtown

SMITHTOWN, NY — Osteria Umbra, a new Italian restaurant, officially opened in Smithtown earlier in September. Co-owner and chef Marco Pellegrini is at the helm of the kitchen, and he's providing a taste of traditional and modern cuisine inspired by his home region of Umbria, Italy.

Pellegrini, along with co-owners Daniel Bragoli; his brother Stephen Bragoli; and Stephen's wife, Diane Bragoli, sought to blend traditional with current as far as food and atmosphere go.

"We are in 2020. Some [Italian] restaurants are still on 1920 or maybe before," Pellegrini, 50, told Patch. "Osteria Umbra is a modern Italian restaurant. It's also modern on decor; it's not just modern on the food. Of course, we have tradition and we respect tradition: our BBQ and our way to make some sauces."

In Italy, every town has its own specialties, Pellegrini explained. Umbria features inland food.

"Typical Umbrian food is so much homemade pasta, of course, and the grilling," he said. "Real grilling on a wood-fire grill."

The restaurant's wood-fire grill, prominently displayed in the dining room, is the star of the menu, which is broken down into subsets: Lunch and dinner each feature starters, pastas and main courses. Under each of those categories are sections for traditional and Pellegrini's signature dishes.

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