New Jersey is known for its great pizza establishments, and I have made it a point to visit as many as possible over the last six years. Trust me when I tell you I have had a lot of pizza joints, but who is complaining?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Yes, I have hit several of them along the way and here are three more places to add to my ever-growing list of delicious pizza parlors I have visited.
The Godfather of East Hanover — 200 State 10 West — East Hanover, N.J. (Morris County) — (973) 887-4830.
I have wanted to visit The Godfather of East Hanover for some time now, and I was not disappointed in the least bit.
The Godfather has been in business since 1975, and that is a true testament to its standard of excellence, as it has stood the test of time and countless picky customers, I am sure.
Every time I frequent a new pizza place, I start with a Neapolitan (regular round) slice to gauge the quality. It has a lot to do with my family’s Italian (Naples) roots and calling New York City (the home of the slice) my hometown for 51 years. A good regular slice says it all to me.
Well, the crust was light and crunchy, crispy, and the sauce was savory and bursting with enormous flavor throughout.
Up next was the Margherita slice — fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes. Let’s talk about an explosion a deliciousness and decadence. The fresh Mootz was spectacular, as the other natural, fresh ingredients just complimented the wonderful ingredient and making it all come together into a fantastic offering.
I could have gone with another slice, but I did not want to ruin the experience by over overindulging to the point of being bloated and weighed down. Next time, though!
Please do not sleep on The Godfather’s calzones and stromboli, as well as its brick over pizza varieties–there are many.
Rating: 9.25 out of 10.
Zio Gino Pizza & Grill — 650 Shunpike Rd, Chatham, N.J. (Morris County) — Phone: 973.377.3666
When it comes to Chatham pizza, there are five solid joints between the borough and township. Zio Gino Pizza & Grill is one of those places that had first opened its doors in 1984 and still is churning out pizzas at a fever pitch over forty years later.
I usually partake in one or more of these varieties: Neapolitan, Veggie (Peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, sliced tomatoes), Bianca (White with mozzarella ricotta, garlic, shaved parmigiano), Margherita or Mushrooms slices — whatever fancies me at the time.
I feel that whatever I land on, I am never disappointed. In this case, I was right on the nose. The slices were cooked to perfection, and the staff is always willing to help you make the right pizza selection, even for the hardest-to-please pizza snobs.
My last visit had me devouring mushroom and regular slices, like I was headed for the electric chair. Crispy slices with tasty fungi on the mushroom and mouthwatering sauce and mozzarella and a slightly charred crust on the Neapolitan had me thanking God I live in a quality New Jersey pizza town.
See you next time, Zio Gino.
Rating: 8.50 out of 10
Brooklyn Pizza of Union — 1014 Stuyvesant Ave, Union, N.J. (Union County) — (908) 686-1400.
Who does not like getting the best bang for their hard-earned buck? At Brooklyn Pizza of Union, that is exactly what you get when you order a regular slice.
First, the slice is freakishly huge. Next, it is rather tasty, with a crispy, crunchy crust, tangy sauce and gooey, stringy mozzarella, all melded into one appetizing offering. The two Neapolitans that I ordered hit the spot after a long day of shopping in Union.
But you do not have to stop there. Brooklyn Pizza serves up BBQ chicken, Buffalo and Grandma pizza slices, among other tasty varieties.
One of the most interesting slices is the Calabrese — black olives, anchovies and capers, with a healthy portion of Parmesan cheese scattered over it after it is baked.
That is a must-try for me next time.
Rating 8.0 out of 10.
— Jerry Del Priore
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