The New Jersey Pizza Hunt

Date: 12/13/2017 Location: Somerset, NJ Slices ordered: Plain & meatball Website:  http://www.lubranospizzeria.com/ Lubrano's is your average NJ pizzeria. Located in a somewhat challenging-to-reach strip mall, this establishment services the hungry commuters that frequently take Route 287 and Easton Avenue. There's usually no issue finding parking and there is plenty of room to sit once inside. The staff is polite and friendly. There wasn't much of a selection to choose from, so I went with a meatball slice and a plain slice. The slices were pretty decent. The meatballs on that slice were pretty flavorless, but the slice was filling. The plain slice was salty and greasy, but overall not awful. It was a pretty average slice from a pretty average pizzeria. Cheap, reliable, and unremarkable.

Date: 12/6/2017 Location: Hamilton, NJ Slices ordered: Plain and tomato pie style Website:  http://www.brotherspizzaon33.com/ Brother's Pizza is one of the many fantastic pizzerias in the Hamilton area. There is ample seating available and the staff is very polite and helpful. I was happy to find such a large assortment of slices to choose from behind the counter. This is a big plus in my book. I ended up going with a plain slice and a tomato pie slice. Both slices featured crispy crust and base. The plain had stretchy cheese and a pleasant saltiness with a delicious sauce. The tomato slice also benefited from a rich, flavorful sauce with plenty of spices and a pleasant onion / olive oil taste. The crust and base on the tomato slice were exceptionally tasty. Overall, this is a great spot to try and I would definitely recommend it.

Date: 12/6/2017 Location: Metuchen, NJ Pizza ordered: Margherita Website: www.slicenj.com/  Antonio's is a small brick oven pizzeria in the heart of Metuchen. The atmosphere is casual and I really appreciated the various paintings, awards, and art hanging around the restaurant. This decor really added a level of comfort to the restaurant that gave it more of a friendly, neighborhood restaurant feel. While the restaurant is small, there is still a decent amount of seating. The service was quick and our server was very friendly. We decided to order the Margherita pie. The crust was beautifully browned in the manner that only a wood oven can do. It was fluffy and had a pleasant smokey flavor. The cheese was fresh and the tomato sauce was rich and tangy. The added tomatoes also tasted great and added a level to this Margherita pie, though they also brought an added bit of messiness, as they had the tendency to slide off of the slice. Overall, I was very pleased with the flavors ...

Date: 12/5/2017 Location: Hazlet, NJ Slices Ordered: Plain, Margherita, Chicken Bacon Ranch Website:  http://www.angelapizza.com/ I stopped into Angela's on the way to Atlantic Highlands and I was fairly impressed. First off, the exterior window was beautifully decorated for the holiday season. The inside is on the small side, but there are still a few tables for seating. The atmosphere is casual and friendly and the staff was quick to help. The chicken bacon ranch was deceivingly good. The slice looked like a pile of ingredients with some dressing, but the flavors melded together nicely with good quality chicken and a good ratio with the dressing. The plain slice was generic with a bit too much seasoning, but the crust and base were both pleasantly crispy. I also tried a Sicilian-styled margherita which was extremely delicious. The thicker base combined with quality cheese and a rich tomato sauce really brought the whole thing together.

Date: 12/1/2017 Location: Hillsborough, NJ Slices Ordered: Plain and Sausage Website: www.damianisoven.com/ Damianai's is the new guy in town located at the previously Sal's Gourmet Pizza location in the CVS shopping mall along Triangle Road. There is plenty of parking and the restaurant looks very similar with the kitchen, counter, and drink selection right as you walk in and a spacious seating area to the left. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, as is the staff. I decided to go with a plain and a sausage slice. The slices were average, with good cheese and a lingering taste of garlic and salt. The sausage was also decent but didn't stand out much compared to anything else I've had in Hillsborough. I'm sure I will stop in again to see if I've missed anything.

Date: 11/24/2017 Location: Three Bridges, NJ Pizza Ordered: Margherita and Marinara Website: www.njlunapizza.com/ This restaurant feels like you are eating in an Italian family's living room. Through the front doors, you will find the perfect date night or family dining atmosphere with lovely interior decorations and authentic, delicious food. It gets even better as the restaurant is BYOB so you can enjoy a bottle of Italian red while you dine at one of New Jersey's best-kept secrets. My girlfriend and I decided on the Margherita and the Marinara pizzas. These authentic Neopolitan pizzas are made with the freshest ingredients which is plainly evident in every bite. Both pies were perfectly crisp with a charred, but fluffy crust. The Marinara pie, despite having no cheese was full of flavor with a nice, tangy tomato sauce, delicious garlic, and quality olive oil. It was by far the best cheeseless pizza I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The Margherita was everything I ...

Date: 10/27/2017 Location: Washington, NJ Slices ordered: Plain and Chicken Bacon Ranch Website:  https://www.leospizzeria.com/ Leo's Pizza was only a quick stop for me, but I still had plenty of time to get a feel for the restaurant. There is ample space in the parking lot and the interior is cozy, clean, and well decorated. There is plenty of seating, so whether you are in a large party or by yourself, I wouldn't expect a long wait. I also was impressed by the large selection of slices available at the counter. I appreciate the opportunity to pick and choose out of what looks good. The pizza itself is pretty average. It doesn't stand out as the best I've had, but certainly isn't bad in any respect. It is a bit on the greasy side, but the cheese and sauce are good and the crust is standard. The chicken bacon ranch slice was my specialty pick for this day and it was filling. It would have benefitted from a tad more ranch dressing and chicken, but otherwise, ...