Post by LoveTrains on Oct 30, 2014 12:00:28 GMT -5
A friend of mine posted this on FB today and I wasn't sure if some of my fellow pizza lovers had seen them. My note is that my father LOVES Kinchleys. I think it reminds him of his youth because he grew up in Ramsey.
1. Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza, Elizabeth. Walk down the driveway, open the screen door, and say hello to owner — and lovable nut — Al Santillo. There's no seating; take it to a nearby bar, or home. 639 S. Broad St., Elizabeth; (908) 354-1887.
2. De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies, Robbinsville. It was a sad moment when the De Lo's on Hudson Street in Trenton closed last year. Dry those tears; the Robbinsville location doesn't have anywhere the same atmosphere, but makes the same great pizza. 2350 Route 33, Robbinsville, (609) 341-8480.
3. Maurizio's Pizzeria & Italian Grille, Hamilton. The state's largest municipality is home to South Jersey's best slices. Try the margherita or sausage. 4125 Black Horse Pike, Hamilton; (609) 645-0028.
4. Star Tavern, Orange. The gold standard for thin-crust. Don't be fooled by the sports-bar atmosphere; this is a Jersey pizza shrine. 400 High St., Orange; (973) 675-3336.
5. Razza, Jersey City. Cozily enconsed in the former Bar Majestic, Razza is co-owned by Dan Richer, who also runs the highly-recommended Arturo's in Maplewood. 275 Grove St., Jersey City; (201) 356-9438.
6. Pizza-Town U.S.A, Elmwood Park. There is no better late-night pizza experience than this flourescent-lit roadside pizza attraction. Owners Michelle and Bruce Tomo say Pizza-Town was the first to sell slices in New Jersey when it opened in 1958. Also made my list of 20 Jersey Experiences You Must Try Before You Die. 111 Route 46 west, Elmwood Park; (201) 797-6171.
7. The Monk Room, Newark. Great pizza in Newark? Finally, with the opening of The Monk Room, across from City Hall. It's next to a bailbondsman, if you need another landmark. One standout: the 14 1/2 pizza, with hot sopressata, Calabrian chiles, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, homemade ricotta. 20 Green St., Newark; (973) 368-2771.
8. Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell. Great small town and pizza experience — lush garden, outdoor patio, communal table, and a bulbous blue-tiled oven that looks as if it dropped in from pizza outer space. 10 E. Broad St, Hopewell;(609) 466-6623.
9. Pete's Pizza, Columbus Farmers' Market, Columbus. Pizza in a flea market? It sounds so Jersey. Kate & Al's is also here, but I give Pete's the slight edge. Store 611, Columbus Farmers Market, 2919 Route 206 south, Columbus; (609) 267-0166.
10. Denino's, Aberdeen. You'll get much doughy debate over the best pizza in Monmouth County, but it's hard to argue with this spot. Owner Mike Denino is the son of Carlo Denino, who opened Denino's in Staten Island in 1937. The margherita here is one of the state's best. 1077 Route 34, Aberdeen; (732) 583-2150.
11. Kinchley's, Ramsey. I go back and forth between Nellie's in Waldwick and Kinchley's for best thin-crust in Bergen County; right now the latter gets the edge. It's a fun, old-time pizza roadhouse, open 77 years. 586 N. Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey; (201) 934-7777.
12. Big John's Pizza, Bridgeton. The state's guiltiest pizza pleasure is the double thick pizza, a cardiac-inducing delight at this spare, no-nonsense neighborhood hangout. 90 Commerce St. east, Bridgeton; (856) 455-3344.
13. Pizza Vita, Summit. I love this pizzeria, located next door to the Summit Diner, and its pizza truck, a fixture at fairs and festivals, even more. 7 Union Place. Summit; (908) 277-1400.
14. Tony's Baltimore Grill, Atlantic City. On atmosphere alone, this may be my favorite pizzeria in the state. The bar is lit by a Twin Peaks-worthy eerie red glow, and you've got to love a place with wooden booths and pizza boxes that look right out of a 1940s newsreel, with black lettering on white background. 2800 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City; (609) 345-5766.
15. Bruno's Pizza, Clifton. The state's best Sicilian slice is here, fat and sassy and bursting with tart tomatoey goodness. 1006 Route 46 west, Clifton; (973) 473-3339.
16. Slice, Washington Township. With a name like Slice, you'd better do them right. And they do. Trenton-style pies, thin-crusted, with the sauce on top. 137 Egg Harbor Road, Washington Township, Gloucester County; (856) 302-5099.
17. Federici's, The combination of history and excellent thin-crust merit inclusion here. (Federici's and Star Tavern would make for a great thin-crust showdown.) 14 E. Main St., Freehold; (732) 462-1312.
18. Patsy's Tavern, Paterson. Atmospheric, old-school bar with a crackery-crusted, pleasantly greasy plain pizza. Not easy to find, but worth the effort. 72 Seventh Ave., Paterson; (973) 742-9596.
19. A Mano, Ridgewood. This spot opened seven years ago with the mission of "bringing authentic pizza Napoletana to the USA.'' It's authentic, and first-rate. (A bit pricey, but this is Bergen County.) 24 Franklin Ave., Ridgewood; (201) 493-2000.
20. Arturo's, Maplewood. Dan Richer, co-owner of Arturo's, must be doing something right; he has two pizzerias on this list (No. 5 Razza is the other.) Be warned: Arturo's can get quite busy on the weekend. 180 Maplewood Ave., Maplewood; (973) 378-5800.
21. JoJo's Tavern, Mercerville. You need at least one bar that does great bar pies on the list. This is a neighborhood hangout with pizza that packs some attitude; the sauce is tangy and assertive. 2677 Nottingham Way, Hamilton; (609) 586-2678.
22. Krust Co., Long Branch. Anthony Spina's pizzeria is located across the street from a Domino's, but he hardly seems concerned. The grandma here is one of the state's best, and the 9 Whole Grain Pizza is different and delicious.
23. Pizza Terminal, Verona. For variety and quality of slices, this pizzeria, formerly known as Mr. Bruno's, is unequalled. 50 Bloomfield Ave., Verona; (973) 857-0323.
24. Sam's Pizza Palace, Wildwood. An essential boardwalk experience. 2600 Boardwalk, Wildwood; (609) 522-6017. Here's my Real Jersey Shore profile of Sam's.
25. Mario's Restaurant, Clifton. Another in the hallowed tradition of old-school pizza hangouts. Dining room to the left, bar to the right, with honest, straightforward thin-crust pizza. 710 Van Houten Ave., Clifton; (973) 777-1559.
ON THE RISE
These are places visited by me or highly recommended by faithful pizza tipsters. They can be established or newer places; we'll see if they make it into the Power Rankings in the coming months.
Brooklyn Boys, Edison
Holy Tomato, Blackwood
Joe's Drive-in Pizza, Union
Kate & Al's Pizza, Columbus
Lombardi Pizza Co., Martinsville
Luna Pizza, Three Bridges
Luigi's, Ocean Township
Nick's Pizza and Pasta, Cinnaminson
Osteria Procaccini, Kingston
Palermo's, Bordentown
Pizza Amore, Delran
Porta, Asbury Park
Reservoir Restaurant, South Orange
Tony D's, Caldwell
FALLING OFF THE LIST
What becomes a pizza legend most? Well, popularity, mostly. But these pizza legends haven't done enough to crack the power rankings as far as I'm concerned; will they regain their cheesy luster?
I've only been to #4, Star Tavern. It's good, sure, but The Venice has better thin crust pizza.
We still haven't had really good pizza since moving to our current town three years ago There are some places on this list that may be within delivery distance, or at least where it's not unreasonable for me to call it in and go pick it up myself. I'll have to try them out.
They are also missing an entire portion of the state that has just as good, if not better pizza.
Which part? I see 201/973/908/732/609/856
A good section of the far NW side of the state. I don't see one place in Sussex County on the list, and we have some great pizza up! I think most people tend to forget it's part of the state.
Post by jillboston on Oct 30, 2014 13:20:21 GMT -5
Glad to see Federeci's is still there - cannot believe Vic's in Bradley Beach has "fallen off". When I first started dating DH and told him I'd take him anywhere for his bday when we were in Asbury Park for the Christmas shows (when I made 4 times what I make now...) - he said "vic's".
A good section of the far NW side of the state. I don't see one place in Sussex County on the list, and we have some great pizza up! I think most people tend to forget it's part of the state.
That's a good thing!! The rest of the state can keep its development and leave the cows and cornfields for us
The Denino's in Aberdeen is good. It's not as good as the original in Staten Island, but it's far better than a lot of the other options in that area. It's at least a 20-25 minute drive from my parents but they will go there anyway just to skip all the other stuff in their hood.
I actually like the other food at Grimaldi's almost more than the pizza.
Also, what about Pete & Elda's? Come on. That pizza is so unique.
A good section of the far NW side of the state. I don't see one place in Sussex County on the list, and we have some great pizza! I think most people tend to forget it's part of the state.
That's a good thing!! The rest of the state can keep its development and leave the cows and cornfields for us
That's true. I would hate for people to start coming in and building everything up. I just wish some of the lesser known places got the recognition they deserve!
That's a good thing!! The rest of the state can keep its development and leave the cows and cornfields for us
That's true. I would hate for people to start coming in and building everything up. I just wish some of the lesser known places got the recognition they deserve!
Dominick's in newton is catering my high school reunion.
Post by snipsnsnails on Oct 30, 2014 13:29:51 GMT -5
Married to a NJer. We have had so many pizzas from Vic's and Pete & Eldas over the years that I feel defensive to see them " falling off." If there's a family occasion and it's a Sunday night, we're at Vic's. Ha.
That's true. I would hate for people to start coming in and building everything up. I just wish some of the lesser known places got the recognition they deserve!
Dominick's in newton is catering my high school reunion.
YUM!!!!
H's 10 yr reunion is at The Stadium. Ug. I feel like a snob, but they really couldn't have picked a nicer place then a sports bar?!
There are some good ones, but it's also missing a bunch of good ones - Papa's, the other DeLorenzo's, Conte's, and Osteria Proccacini to name a few.
I (heart) Papa's.
It'll never make a list like this, but we also think that the margarita pizza at Mama Flora's, which is in the strip mall with our joint favorite ShopRite, is perfection.
There are some good ones, but it's also missing a bunch of good ones - Papa's, the other DeLorenzo's, Conte's, and Osteria Proccacini to name a few.
I (heart) Papa's.
It'll never make a list like this, but we also think that the margarita pizza at Mama Flora's, which is in the strip mall with our joint favorite ShopRite, is perfection.
There are some good ones, but it's also missing a bunch of good ones - Papa's, the other DeLorenzo's, Conte's, and Osteria Proccacini to name a few.
I (heart) Papa's.
It'll never make a list like this, but we also think that the margarita pizza at Mama Flora's, which is in the strip mall with our joint favorite ShopRite, is perfection.
Haven't been there, the SR with the police substation?
A good section of the far NW side of the state. I don't see one place in Sussex County on the list, and we have some great pizza up! I think most people tend to forget it's part of the state.
Hahaha -- I am from NW NJ and from my pizza experiences out there, I figured there was a reason it was not well-represented on the list
But it is the best part of the state for many other reasons
I am so glad they listed Pete's above Kate and Al's. We did a taste-off a few weeks ago, and Pete's is the cheaper pie (by $.25) and the shorter wait time. Pete's and Palermo's (for tomato pie; a different location is closer to me though) all the way!
I figure that has to be the explanation for Grimaldi's, and since Tacconelli's is pretty nationally famous, that might be it?
While I have you here, you may want to check out the latest issue of Travel & Leisure. Providence got all sorts of awards on the best cities list (including #1 best city)
Oh and Nomad, how can I forget Nomad? Osteria Proccacini (now with a location in Chesterfield) and The Vault in Bordentown are good too, but nothing compares to the tartufo pizza at Nomad!
I love Federicis but I grew up in freehold so it just feels like home to eat there. I also really like kinchleys. I haven't been to any of the others. I have been to deninos on SI. There is a place called strawberries that is near the outer bridge that is also very good.
A good section of the far NW side of the state. I don't see one place in Sussex County on the list, and we have some great pizza up! I think most people tend to forget it's part of the state.
Hahaha -- I am from NW NJ and from my pizza experiences out there, I figured there was a reason it was not well-represented on the list
But it is the best part of the state for many other reasons
There are definitely some places that are just EH ... or worse . There are also a few places that have gotten MUCH better recently. Where have you tried?
I figure that has to be the explanation for Grimaldi's, and since Tacconelli's is pretty nationally famous, that might be it?
While I have you here, you may want to check out the latest issue of Travel & Leisure. Providence got all sorts of awards on the best cities list (including #1 best city)
LOL I know! They (local places) have been tweeting the SHIT out of that magazine for the past couple of weeks. I have all this local stuff I follow and everyone is promoting it.
Do you get the actual magazine? I get it (used some expiring FF miles for it - like 800 or something) and there was a cute blurb and a nice picture.
I'm convinced that Buddy Cianci is paying someone off over at T&L because we were noted so many times.
However I'm just now really reading through everything and I am amazed. Where are these magical bakeries that are driving us to #1? I want to go there. And while I love our brunch scene, do we really qualify as #3?! And #1 for diners makes no sense whatsoever.
But we got #2 for hip/cool and #1 for geeky which is kind of fun!!! and #3 for cocktail bars (we have great and CHEAP cocktail bars).
I am going ot have to try to find what establishments they are using to guide us on these things. Because #2 for pizza is questionable ( I think we discussed this last year!!).