I was back at it again, covering sports and eating my way through the tri-state area.
This time, I was back in Brooklyn for pizza, and out and about in Frank Sinatra’s hometown of Hoboken, N.J., for a slice of the classic Italian fare. Closer to my home in Chatham, N.J., I wound up at a South American joint in Madison, N.J.
Let’s read and eat, folks.
Torre’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza (6808 Bay Parkway, Brooklyn): 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. every day.
With everything changing in Brooklyn, it is good to know that the pizza is still up to par.
That is clearly evident for Torre’s Italian Restaurant & Pizza, located in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, which opened in 2006.
The pizza is as tasty as I remembered, as I ordered a regular slice (Napoletana) and a grandma–a thin- sheet pan pizza with olive oil, mozzarella cheese, plum tomatoes, garlic and oregano.
Although I ordered the pizza at night, when it is usually not at its freshest, it was still up to my hard-to-please Brooklyn standards.
Both offerings boasted stringy, delicious cheese, savory sauce, and a nice, crispy crust. It hit the spot after a long day of working two jobs. But the grandma sported that extra special thin-crusted snap to it.
The Sophia Loren Pizza is another crowd pleaser, with fresh mootz, garlic, tomatoes, sweet basil, and sharp Romano cheese.
From a cheese calzone and stromboli, to a grilled chicken Caesar wrap and Rigatoni Al Fileto Di Pomodoro (a rustic, red tomato sauce), there is something for everyone.
Pizza Republic — 406 Washington Street, Ste 2, Hoboken, N.J.: Opened Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. — 2:00 a.m.
I enjoyed the democratic process at Pizza Republic, as I badly needed a pizza fix on my way to cover a Hoboken High School football game.
The pizza options are plentiful, including the Spinach Mushroom Slice to White Spinach Artichoke Slice, and classics such as the Pepperoni Slice and Sausage Slice.
But I was pressed for time, so I ordered a Napoletana, and I was not disappointed. I tasted the oregano, which was backed right into the slice, right away. I love oregano, so it was a nice touch, if you ask me. The sauce was light and sweet, the moozt was supple and superb, and the crust was perfectly snappy.
The pizza seems to be the highlight of what Pizza Republic has to offer, but I hear the Mac and Cheese is surprisingly delicious (because it is a pizza joint, you know?
Therefore, on my next trip to Hoboken, I think I will try the Paneer Tikka Mac–Mac and Cheese, paneer cheese cubes, dressed with peri peri chipotle & cilantro lime sauce.
Delikositas — 42 Main Street, Madison, New Jersey — Open Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m., Sunday 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
It was as if I was back in New York City, where the ethnic options are plentiful and flavorful.
One such place in New Jersey is Delikositas, an authentic Colombian eatery located in Madison on Main Street.
Simple, clean, cozy, and affordable, Delikositas is one of the top spots for empanadas–a type of baked or fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling–in the area, as well as other South American dishes.
Maggie, my girlfriend, and I ordered a variety of the flavorsome baked goods. I had the guava and cheese empanada, and she enjoyed the beef and cicken offerings. We both shared the corn cake baked item, which was fresh and flavorful.
Hack: we added a little hot sauce and a creamy green sauce that made our pastries that much tastier.
Additionally, Delikositas offers gluten-free options such as the pandebono (cheese bread), and ham and cheese empanadas.
Please do not forget to top off your meal with a rich cup of Columbian coffee. Now where talking.
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— Jerry Del Priore
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 