Amid the pandemic, a popular Italian restaurant opened its third location in Bay Shore this month. Butera's, which has a locations in Sayville and Woodbury, opened its latest eatery on 8 Third Avenue on Sept. 1. Owner Martin Butera, who opened the new restaurant alongside his wife, Laurie Butera; his brother, Gary Butera; his partner, Nick Zografos and brother-in-law, David Novack, says he has been receiving positive feedback from the community so far.

"I'm happy to say [the reception] has been very positive," he told Patch. "The feedback has been very good." While it might seem risky to open during the pandemic, the new eatery has been a long time in the making. Butera first got the idea to open in the Bay Shore area in 2013, before finally signing the lease in the summer of 2016.