I’m not an expert on every ethnic food, but I know pizza. I’ve tried all the major American styles – New York, Chicago, New Haven, California – and the ancestral versions in Naples and Rome. New Jersey’s best stands up well against all comers.
Don’t see your favorite pizza place? Share yours. I’ll add the most popular to the list, and to the map. Looking for New Jersey’s best Italian?
DeLucia's - Raritan
My Favorites
- DeLucia’s, Raritan
- Star Tavern, Orange
- Ah’ Pizz, Montclair
Worth a Visit
- Arturo’s, Maplewood
- Callandra’s, Bloomfield
- Central Pizzeria, Somerville
- Cranbury Pizza, Cranbury
- De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies, Robbinsville, Trenton
- Emma’s Brick Oven, Cranford
- Grimaldi’s, Highlands
- La Rustique, Jersey City
- Miller’s Tavern, Annandale
- Pizzeta, Millburn
- Squan Tavern, Manasquan
- Stella Marina, Asbury Park
- Strawberry’s Pub, Woodbridge
- The Landmark, Livingston
Star Tavern - Orange
On My List to Try
- A Mano, Ridgewood
- Antonio’s Brick Oven, Metuchen
- Bar Cara, Bloomfield
- Buona Pizza, Westfield
- Denino’s Pizza Place, Aberdeen
- Frankie Fed’s, Freehold
- Fratelli’s Restauarant Pizzeria, Middletown
- Guido’s Famous Pizza, Eatontown
- Kinchley’s Tavern, Ramsey
- La Sicilia Pizza & Cafe, Belleville
- Luigi’s Famous Pizza, Ocean
- Luigi’s, Point Pleasant Beach
- Luna Restaurant. Three Bridges
Cranbury Pizza
- Maria’s Italian Cuisine, Manasquan
- Maruca’s Tomato Pies, Seaside Heights
- Michael’s Pastaria, Nutley
- Mr. Bruno’s, Lyndhurst
- Nellie’s Place, Waldwick
- Nomad Pizza Company, Hopewell
- Nonna’s, Florham Park
- Osteria Procaccini, Kingston
- Palermo’s, Bordentown
- Panatieri’s Pizza & Pasta, Martinsville
- Papa’s Tomato Pies, Trenton
- Patsy’s, Paterson
- Paulus Hook Brick Oven, Jersey City
- Ralph’s, Nutley
- Santillo’s, Elizabeth
- Semolina, Millburn
- Spirito’s, Elizabeth
- Stan’s Chitch’s Cafe, Bound Brook
- Sun Ray Pizza, Little Falls
- Tomato Pie, Morristown
- Tommy’s Coal Fired Pizza, Brick, Oakhurst, Red Bank
- Top Road Tavern, Trenton
- Tuzzio’s, Long Branch
Squan Tavern - Manasquan
- Val’s Tavern, Rumson
- Vic’s, Bradley Beach
- Vesuvio, Belmar
I Didn’t Like It, But You Might
- Joe’s, Union
- Pete and Elda’s Bar, Carmen’s Pizzeria, Neptune City
Links
The Star Ledger’s Peter Genovese and his “Pizza Patrol” completed a monumental state-wide tour searching out the best Jersey pizza, county by county, visiting 330 NJ pizza joints and eating 3000 slices. I’m happy to see my top three among his top six.
25 Perfect Pizzas
Best Pizza in N.J.
Help finding the Best Pizza at the North Jersey Shore?
Marcia
on Aug 11th, 2010
@ 9:34 pm:
Where does SO’s Reservoir fall on this list, I wonder. I haven’t been there in a long time — it’s kid-friendly but not baby-friendly and that’s how long ago — but I think not going back was convenience rather than choice. They seem to stay under the radar, tho business looks brisk. Maybe it’s the Chicken Murphy that draws the crowd.
Anthony
on Aug 11th, 2010
@ 11:09 pm:
I pass Reservoir often, but have never tried it. Just looked at the Yelp reviews, and it may be worth a visit to try the Italian. I’d be stunned if the pizza is in the same league as Star Tavern.
Dawn
on Aug 17th, 2010
@ 1:51 pm:
Antonio’s in Metuchen is good pizza but I would endorse (from your To try list) is that you get around to Spirito’s in Elizabeth. Thin, crisp crust, simple, clean sauce.
Anthony
on Aug 17th, 2010
@ 7:44 pm:
Thanks, Dawn. Spirito’s is currently my favorite red sauce Italian. I’ve got to try their pizza next time.
meade
on May 17th, 2011
@ 4:23 pm:
In my opinion, Rondo’s on Drum Point Rd. in Brick has the best pizza in town. I like their sausage pizza.
meade
on May 23rd, 2011
@ 4:16 pm:
Vic’s in Bradley Beach has the best pizza I have ever had.
meade
on Jun 6th, 2011
@ 5:04 pm:
I don’t know what it is about pizza in Ocean or Monmouth County I am from up North; the pizza tends to be flat crust and runny/ not cooked. If you tried to sell this pizza up North, they would run you out of town. It is hard to find good pizza down here. You have to ask for it cooked throughout or nearly burnt. I have heard the argument that it’s the water but to me that’s B.S. I don’t think they take the time to sell quality, honest food. They rush the orders to make volume. Anyway that’s my two cents/opinion.
Anthony
on Jun 6th, 2011
@ 9:48 pm:
I do like a real crust – not a cracker – and some char on the bottom. The “fold and hold” test is crucial for me. Squan Tavern has a decent crust, but no char. There must be places in Monmouth and Ocean that qualify – plenty of places on my list to try.
meade
on Jul 13th, 2011
@ 3:26 pm:
I wanted to write a review of Tommy’s Coal Fired Pizza. They have locations in Oakhurst, Brick, and Redbank. I ate at the Brick location. I ordered the Carlito’s Way. It has Sausage, San Marizano tomatoes, imported olive oil and Italian hot finger peppers. It was an excellent pizza. The crust was somewhat thin, but had a nice crisp bite. The slice passed the fold test. I also ordered the Italian salad. The olives were very good. They have several drink specials and Karaoke on Tuesdays. An interesting note. The owner is often present. He is also Mike the “Situation”s from the Jersey Shore’s accountant. Overall I think this is some of the best pizza around. I don’t drink, but it seemed like a good bar scene/good vibe.
Anthony
on Jul 15th, 2011
@ 8:32 pm:
Meade – you’ve convinced me. Just added Tommy’s to the Pizza “On My List to Try.” Sounds good, and good to know the “Situation” has an accountant.
Lisa
on Jul 23rd, 2011
@ 5:45 pm:
Denino’s South, owned by the same family as the original
Denino’s in Staten Island, opened a location at 869 Mantoloking
Road in Brick. The brick oven pizza is out of this world. I am also
a big fan of the calmari and the pasta fagioli soup. Really haven’t tasted anything there
that I didn’t like. Love the MOR pizza. Try it – you won’t be disappointed!
Michelle
on Aug 25th, 2011
@ 9:28 am:
One of my favorite pizza places was Napoli’s in Hoboken. They specialized in margherita pizza. I enjoyed it even more than Grimaldi’s, which is more well-known. Now that we’ve moved to Union County I have yet to find anything comparable.
Anthony
on Aug 25th, 2011
@ 9:40 am:
Michelle, have you tried Emma’s Brick Oven in Cranford? Decent thin crust, but I’m partial to the Jersey “standard” crust (DeLucia’s, Cranbury Pizza) and Neapolitan style (Ah’ Pizz, De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies). There’s a new place in Summit – Pizza Vita – that I’ve been meaning to try.
Michelle
on Oct 14th, 2011
@ 3:17 pm:
Yup, I’ve been in Emma’s. In fact that’s my in-laws new favorite restaurant! I think it’s okay but I agree with you that it’s not my favorite style. They use too much cheese for my taste. Of course since I just got back from Italy it’s hard for me to find any pizza to live up to those standards.
Anthony
on Oct 15th, 2011
@ 3:22 pm:
Ah, Italian pizza. Naples? Hard to beat. Try Ah’ Pizz in Montclair when you have a chance. (Much better than Summit’s Pizza Vita, which I’ve now tried.)