After a decade as a fixture on Patchogue Village’s restaurant row, Locale Gastro Bar & Pizzette, the family-owned Italian eatery known simply as Locale, has closed its doors.
The Main Street restaurant, which opened in late 2015 and became a popular destination for handcrafted pizzettes, classic Italian entrées and community gatherings, is no longer operating at its longtime location at 15 W. Main St. on the ground floor of the New Village at Patchogue complex, ownership confirmed while noting their 10-year lease expires Jan. 31. The eatery served its last meals on Saturday.
Locale was launched by patriarch Fabrizio Castelli and his children — Ariana, Francesco and Guiseppe Castelli — building on a multi-generation tradition of Italian cooking that stretches back to Sicily and several family restaurants in New York. In earlier coverage, the Castellis described Locale not just as a business but as an extension of their home and family heritage, emphasizing hospitality, Italian classics and artisanal pizzettes.
“We are in a different place than we were 10 years ago,” Francesco Castelli told Greater Long Island. “Me and my sister both have kids and want to be around for them more. My wife is also a speech pathologist in a school, so having opposite schedules was difficult.
“The lease was up this month and we both thought it was best to turn the page,” he continued. “It’s a challenging business and if you’re not 100% committed it won’t work. Priorities have changed.”
Over the years, Locale became a staple of Patchogue’s dining scene, drawing locals and visitors alike for its casual yet refined Italian fare and hip vibe. Locale’s menu featured favorites ranging from tender veal saltimbocca and chicken Milanese to a diverse selection of wines and hand-tossed pizzettes, paired with a vibrant bar program and occasional live and DJ music.
A shift in landscape
Leaving Main Street is bittersweet, Francesco Castelli said.
“We’re thankful for our time at Locale. The community welcomed us with open arms. We’re very appreciate of our employees both current and former, our regulars and all the restauranteurs/small business owners on Main Street,” he said. “Even though it’s competition, every business owner and manager genuinely wanted to help each other. It was a special bond and we were fortunate to have such great neighbors.”
Locale’s departure marks another shift in Patchogue’s bustling restaurant landscape, where several Main Street businesses have come and gone in recent years amid changing market conditions and competitive pressures.
Notably, The Cuban, another popular Main Street establishment, also closed in 2025, prompting customers to note the pattern of longtime restaurants shuttering their doors.
Longtime patrons have already begun sharing their reactions on social media, expressing nostalgia for the meals and memories made at the restaurant that was, for many, more than just a place to dine. The closure appears to have caught many customers by surprise, with some discovering the news only upon arriving for dinner.
“That breaks my heart. We had our small wedding there and went every year for our anniversary,” wrote Eileen Masterson in a Facebook discussion about the closure.
Others shared similar sentiments.
“We spent many hours enjoying drinks and meals with the family there,” posted Vicki Paulie Perez, along with a family photo taken inside the restaurant.
“What! My fiancé is heartbroken,” Beverly Jean reacted, while Lisa Sesso simply said, “Ohhh no. My favorite place.”
Lights may be out, but it was a “great run”
Locale in Patchogue turned down the lights after serving its last meals last weekend, on Saturday (Brian Harmon photo).
Francesco Castelli agreed that the family had a great run with Locale.
“I’m sure everyone will miss my dad’s stories at the bar,” he said. “I learned everything there is to learn about hospitality from him. No one is better at entertaining guests and no one loved it more than him.
“My mom also played a tremendous role in the family dynamic,” Castelli continued. “Always kept us in check. She’s the strongest woman I know.”
Top: GLI photos taken by Brian Harmon
Prior GLI coverage
Dining and Cooking