The New Jersey Pizza Hunt

Date: 6/21/2019 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Pizza Ordered: Plain, White, and Sicilian Website: https://italysrestaurant.com/#home Italy's is a small local pizza joint that has the appearance of your typical neighborhood pizzeria. Lovely paintings of Italy adorn the walls and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. I was extra hungry, so I went with my usual plain slice and added a white slice and a Sicilian slice. The meal came with complimentary bread that was pleasantly fluffy and had a good mix of herbs and spices on it. The plain had pretty decent sauce and cheese and the charred crust was good, but a bit burnt in some places. The white was very fluffy with a good helping of cheese. The square slice had really great sauce and parmesan and a nice amount of fluff to the base. Overall, I would say Italy's puts out a good average slice of pizza.

Date: 8/25/2019 Location: Somerset, NJ Pizza Ordered: Janara (Tomato sauce / basil / mozzarella) Website: https://www.lucasristorante.com ​ Luca's Ristorante is a hidden gem passageway directly to the Gulf of Naples.  The interior of the restaurant is absolutely stunning, with beautifully painted murals adorning the wall, gorgeous hanging lights over the tables and lovely pottery all over the place. The staff is so friendly and goes out of their way to make the dining experience a positive one.  I also want to say that I love their NJ focused wine list. It's so uplifting to see restaurants supporting local wineries and the Pino Grigio from Hopewell Valley was lovely.  The pizza is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I decided to order the Janara, which is similar to a basic Margherita pizza. When it arrived at the table, it smelled amazing and fresh and I couldn't wait to dive in. The tomato sauce has a rich sweetness that balances out the pie very nicely. The cheese is milky and f...

Date: 1-13-19 Location: New Haven, CT Pizza Ordered: Plain grated cheese w/ garlic Website:  http://modernapizza.com/ Modern Apizza, one of the big three in New Haven, is truly legendary. Inside it is busy with wooden booths and wooden tables & chairs. Seated next to us was a group of people on a New Haven Pizza Tour. We decided on one of the pies they recommended, plain grated cheese with garlic. The pizza did NOT disappoint. The sauce was absolutely DELICIOUS. The fresh garlic adds great flavor. The pizza was oily but had great charring on the crust while simultaneously managing to not be overly burnt. Though the crust is crispy, the interior has a nice fluff to it. Overall, Modern is certainly a place to stop if great pizza is what you're searching for.

Date: 1-13-19 Location: New Haven, CT Pizza ordered: Mozzarella Pie Website: www.abate-restaurant.com/ Abate's Apizza is located along the busy Little Italy Wooster Street. There is ample parking and seating consists of a mix of booths and tables with chairs. The atmosphere is cozy and homelike. The waitress was stereotypically Italian in the best of ways and very inviting and friendly. I went with the mozzarella pie, which was pretty good. The sauce had a nice and tangy flavor while the base and crust were both a nice level of crispy. The cheese was good, though a little unbalanced in some places (specifically the middle had an overabundance of cheese). Overall, Abates puts out a good pie.

Date: 1/13/2019 Location: New Haven, CT Pizza Ordered: White Clam & Original Tomato Website: https://pepespizzeria.com/new-haven/ Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana is a bustling establishment situated along the historic Wooster Street. There was a line in the waiting room nearly out the door just to be seated. Everyone seemed to know the code: line moves clockwise and closest to the restaurant entrance enters when seats free up. The waiting area had antiques, historical relics, and a powerpoint slideshow of pictures. The seating area consisted of the classic booths. I decided to order the famous white clam pie and an original tomato pie. While I waited to enjoy some of the famous pizza, I had the opportunity to try the Foxon Park ginger ale and white birch beer. Both tasted fantastic. The original tomato pie has quality sauce and a great flavor. The crust and base were crispy and featured a good char (which got heavy on some parts of the crust). The fresh parmesan cheese a...

Date: 1/10/2019 Location: West Haven, CT Pizza ordered: Traditional Plain Pie Website: ​https://zuppardisapizza.com Zuppardi's, to me, is the quintessential neighborhood pizzeria. They're tucked into a residential area on the corner. There is ample seating inside in the form of classic booths and there is a friendly vibe. I decided to order the traditional plain pie and I was not disappointed. The sauce is legendary with a good fresh taste and a decent amount of sweetness. There is a dusting of parmesan rather than loading up with mozzarella like New York Style pies. The crust and base are very crispy and taste of fine bakery bread. This fabulous location came recommended to me from The Pizza Show featured on Munchies and it more than lives up to the hype!

Date: 10/17/2018 Location: Branchburg, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain and penne vodka Website: vinniespizzaandpasta.com/ Vinnie's is located along the busy Route 202 tucked inside a strip mall. There is ample seating in the form of classical booths and the service I received was very friendly. I decided to order a slice of plain and a slice of penne vodka. The plain slice was solid. Good cheese, sauce, and crust and the right amount of crispy. The penne vodka tasted delicious, though I wish the base were crispier to offer better support for liberal topping.

Date: 2/7/2019 Location: Manville, NJ Pizza Ordered: Plain and Fresh Tomato Website: [none listed] Phone: 908-725-3020 Adam's Pizza & Italian Restaurant is a small corner pizzeria across from the CVS plaza along the bustling S. Main Street in Manville. Upon entering, you will see classic tiled walls with a few tightly packed tables to sit at with a TV playing near the sodas and drinks. There is a bit of a cluttered appearance, and the counter-top display for slices is a bit concealed. There wasn't much selection, but I went with my usual plain slice and a tomato slice. The pizza was actually quite good! The plain, while very greasy, had good flavor and a decent cheese to sauce ratio. The bottom was perfectly crisp. The crust was rather plain, but the slice as a whole was a good, average slice. The tomato slice featured a crunchier crust with the same perfectly crisp base. The tomatoes were fresh and juicy and provided good contrast to the cheese. Once you get past the c...

Date: 10/17/2018 Location: Branchburg, NJ Slices ordered: Tomato and Meat Lovers Website: www.trattoriaunonj.com/ Trattoria Uno lies along the busy US Highway 202. There is a medium-sized parking area in front of the plaza the pizzeria is a part of. Inside lies a welcoming interior with good lighting, clean tables, and great decorative wall hangers. The staff was very polite and friendly and the slice selection was excellent. I decided to go with the meat lovers and the tomato slice. They were not stingy on the meat with this slice...it came fully loaded. Very filling. The tomato slice benefitted from amazing sauce. There was a good amount of cheese and the ratio to the sauce was excellent. Both slices had a nice crisp crust and base. The tomato slice is a real winner, and one of the better ones I've enjoyed in Somerset County. Overall, this place has my approval! Excellent pizza!

Date: 6/31/2018 Location: Asbury Park, NJ Pizza ordered: Sausage, Margherita, Vegan supreme Website:  https://talulaspizza.com/ My girlfriend and I stopped into Talula's after a day at the Jersey Shore. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the trendy atmosphere. They also have a tremendous classic rock selection playing in the background. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that Talula's has a fantastic vegan selection! I decided to start with the Savile Bourbon mixed drink. It had a nice herbal flavor to it and tasted great! My girlfriend tried the Gin and Jam which started with a zesty lemon taste that was instantly sweetened by the delicious jam. I am definitely trying a Mezcal flight next time we stop in. For pizza, I decided to try the sausage party and the Margie. My girlfriend went with the Temple V vegan pizza. All three pizzas came out very fast. The sausage party had amazing, fluffy crust that was charred and bubbly. The flavor of the spicy sausage...

Date: 6/23/2018 Location: Somerville, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain and Chicken Parmesan Website:  http://www.centralpizzerianj.com/ I stopped into Central Pizzeria at the end of a pizza crawl through Somerset. There is a decent amount of seating and the wall decorations are funny and entertaining. There wasn't much selection, but I went with a classic plain slice and a chicken parmesan slice. The chicken parm slice was okay. There was a mix of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses on the slice. The chicken was plain and the crust was generic and didn't stand out. The plain slice was slightly gummy and undercooked, but did have a nice mixed cheese flavor. The slice was a little light on sauce and overall wasn't much to brag about.

Date: 06/23/2018 Location: Somerville, NJ Pizza ordered: Margherita Website:  http://alfonsostrattoria.com/ Alfonso's Family Trattoria is a bustling pizzeria in the heart of Somerville. The wooden floors, brick walls and large variety of photos and pictures that adorn the walls all contribute to a warm and cozy atmosphere. If you were asked me to picture the epitome of friendly neighborhood restaurants, I would probably picture Alfonso's. The service was excellent and incredibly fast. The complimentary bread tasted great and had a pleasant mix of spices and herbs. I decided to go with a classic Margherita pizza and was not disappointed. The crust tasted fantastic. It was perfectly browned with a crispy base. The mozzarella was fresh and had good stretch, but did not suffer from the all-too-common cheese slide. The red sauce was extremely tasty and matched the pizza perfectly. Overall, I would highly recommend Alfonso's to anyone in the area looking for a good meal.

Date: 6/3/2018 Location: Bound Brook, NJ Pizza Ordered: (red)Vine Website:  https://blazepizza.com/ Blaze Pizza is the newest pizzeria on the block in the Bridgewater/Bound Brook area. They provide a chipotle-style pizza building experience with fresh ingredients, delicious options, and a spacious and trendy seating area. The first thing you appreciate when walking in the door is a warm atmosphere and trendy, modern adornments. The tinted windows bathe the restaurant in a beautiful glow. There are plenty of delicious options to create, or you can DIY and customize your order. They create a perfectly circular pie that gets toasted to perfection in their oven. They have a huge selection of ingredients and toppings and they even offer vegan cheese!! I decided to go with the (red)vine pizza with a side of "donuts" (their version of garlic knots) and the blood orange lemonade. My girlfriend opted to create a plain pie with vegan cheese. The (red)vine had a fantastic red sa...

Date: 4/15/2018 Location: Hackettstown, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain and 4 Seasons Website: www.mamascafebaci.com/ ​ Mama's Cafe Baci is a definite win. Not only is the menu expansive with so many options, they offer a huge variety of vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free dishes. The selection alone is amazing, but the quality of the cocktails and pizza is nothing short of fantastic. I started off with the 201st Fifth cocktail which had a deliciously fruity cranberry flavor. In addition to trying the plain pie, I also went with the four seasons pizza. The plain pie was solidly constructed. The bottom was toasted to perfection and the crust had a fluffy interior with a crisp, crunchy exterior. The four seasons pizza was a fantastic way to experience different topping combinations. The chicken tomato portion was delicious and flavorful, the Primavera had a rich flavor profile with good spinach, the ham and sausage had just the right amount of spice and the...

Date: 4/13/2018 Location: Neshanic Station, NJ Slices ordered: Plain and Sicilian Website: www.lastradacafes.com/ La Strada Cafe is a small Italian restaurant in the heart of Neshanic Station. It has a cozy interior that feels like you're at home sharing a family dinner. La Strada also has outdoor seating as an option. The decorations and pictures that adorn the walls and shelves add some character to this endearing restaurant. There weren't many options to go with at the counter, so I tried the Sicilian and the plain slices. The pizza was basic and just average. The crust and base were pleasantly thin on the plain slice. They were toasted to a nice crunch. The cheese was decent, but both slices were lacking in the sauce department. The Sicilian only had a thin layering of sauce and the cheese didn't reach the right level of melt in the oven. The atmosphere had everything there, but unfortunately, the pizza just didn't stand out.

Date: 5/31/18 Location: West Phillipsburg, NJ Slices ordered: Plain and Penne Vodka Website: bellamiapizzanj.com/ Bella Mia is a small pizzeria tucked away in the busy Shoprite/Home Depot shopping center. There is ample parking that is shared with the nearby shops and Bourbon Street Liquor Store. There are a few folding chairs and a small table set up outside as a make-shift outdoor eating area. The inside is slightly more spacious than it appears. The counter had a great selection of specialty slices and the staff was friendly. I decided to go with a plain slice and a penne vodka slice. Both slices had a good, fluffy crust with a thin, crispy base. The plain was a bit greasy, but a good, reliable slice. The pasta slice was filling with a great vodka sauce and a good ratio of cheese to sauce. This spot is a good go-to in my opinion.

Date: 5/26/2018 Location: Raritan, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain and Grandma Website:  http://www.4sisterspizza.com/  Four Sisters Pizza is a small pizzeria located along the busy West Somerset Street in Raritan, NJ. Since there is no dedicated parking lot, parking can be a bit of a challenge, but you can usually find something in close walking distance. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is quaint with plenty of plants and the classic chalkboard of specials. I decided to go with a grandma slice and a plain slice. The grandma sported a crispy base and crisp, delicious crust. The sauce was awesome, but a tad unevenly distributed along with the cheese. The taste plain slice reminded me of school cafeteria pizza. The cheese slid right off the slice and either wasn't the best quality or there was too high a ratio of cheese to sauce.

Date: 4/12/2018 Location: Franklin, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain, Chicken-Bacon-Ranch, and Mac&Cheese Website: franksinsomerset.com/ I stopped in at Frank's for lunch on the way home from some field work with an appetite and they delivered. The restaurant itself has ample seating and decent parking in the shopping center lot. Staff was friendly and I appreciated the large selection of slices to choose from. I decided to try the chicken-bacon-ranch, mac & cheese, and plain slices since they all looked quite good. The plain slice was on the greasy side with some seriously stringy cheese. The crust was pleasantly fluffy, though the sauce was run-of-the-mill and average. The mac and cheese slice was very filling but very plain. It definitely had a blend of cheeses, but nothing really stood out. The chicken-bacon-ranch slice was alright but had a lot of empty real-estate that could have better been utilized by toppings. The pizza here was pretty average but not bad overall.

Date: 4/9/2018 Location: Somerset, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain and Tomato Website:  www.cafealfredos.com/ Alfredo's Restaurant & Pizzeria is tucked away into a strip mall along the busy Easton Avenue. There's ample parking in the outdoor lot and plenty of indoor seating available. The staff was polite and very friendly.  I decided to go with the plain slice and the tomato pie slice. Both slices featured a fluffy crust with a crispy exterior and a crispy base to the pizza. The tomato slice had some quality sauce with good flavor. The plain slice went a little overboard on the cheese and needed some more sauce to even out, but overall was a perfectly average slice.

Date: 4/3/2018 Location: Somerset, NJ Pizza ordered: Plain and Buffalo Chicken Website:  http://mezzalunasomerset.com/menu.php Mezza Luna is tucked away in a strip mall along the busy Easton Avenue. There is plenty of room to park and a good amount of indoor seating. The staff was friendly and there was a moderate selection of pizza available at the counter. I went with the buffalo chicken and my usual plain. Now I'm not much of a buffalo chicken fanboy, but this particular slice was quite good and very filling. There was plenty of blue cheese and chicken with a good quality buffalo sauce. The plain was a bit underwhelming. It was slightly gummy and seemed undercooked with a stringy/gooey cheese.