Last weekend, we headed out on our second stop on our quest to find the best pizza in New Jersey. In case you missed it, our first stop on the tour was Grimaldi’s in Hoboken. This time we headed to Orange to Star Tavern. It’s a place that is pretty well known to anyone who is on their own personal quest for the best pizza in the Garden State, and the tavern even made it as a stop on the Munchmobile Pizza Tour last year.
The interior is very traditional bar with wooden tables and chairs, the requisite big screen TV blaring the current games, and two video games in the front. Nobody came to greet us, so we seated ourselves in a booth near the door. Within a few minutes of sitting down, the waitress came and plunked down a few menus and took our drink order. For die-hard soda fans, be warned. They’re not serving Coke or Pepsi products here, it’s all RC. Blech.
We already knew we’d be getting pizza, but took a look at the appetizer section as well, just to see if anything popped out at us. Mmmm, Mussels Marinara. Sold. For the pizza, we did half plain and half everything.
“Including anchovies?” the waitress asked when we ordered.
I glanced at The Husband, who laughed.
“Yes, it’s ok. I’ll pick them off.” In their ordinary form, I hate anchovies. But melted into a pasta sauce or used in Caesar Salad, and I’m fine, and love the saltiness they impart. Today I was being brave so The Husband could have them.
The mussels arrived and the sauce was a rich, deep red. Nearly a burgundy color. We dug in. Mussels Marinara should come with bread. How else to eat all that wonderful sauce? No bread came with it, but we requested and received some (no charge). The sauce was terrific, with crushed red pepper flakes spotted throughout. It was fairly spicy, so I was surprised that Nick kept going back for more (for the sauce, not the mussels) , but it was almost too good not to. One caveat though. They gave us paper plates to dole out our portions. Um, have you tried putting a thick tomato sauce on a thin paper plate? Not such a smart idea, and by the end, everything had soaked through to the table. Hello? And the napkins are the paper thin kind that are dispensed on your table. Between the pizza and mussels, we went through a lot; they’re just too thin for this type of food.
Just as we were finishing our mussels, the pizza arrived. If you like thin, crispy pizza, this is the place for you. The edges are a little bit charred (love that!) and while the pizza side that had everything on it was full and generous, it wasn’t so much that the thin pizza base couldn’t hold up to it. No flopping here, which was good. This pizza is more sauce than cheese, and the sauce is an interesting one at that … I spotted a few strips of red peppers, so it’s a little off the beaten path.
The vote? Nick said if we tried all the pizza in the world, this one would be his favorite. He ate 2-1/2 slices, which is a lot for him. Oh, that reminds me, the slices are a little bit smaller than the average pie. The Husband said he liked this pizza, but that Grimaldi’s is still his #1 so far. As for me, I love the charred bits of the crust, and I love that it’s a thin pizza, but I think Grimaldi’s is my one to beat for now.
If you go at night, particularly on the weekends, be prepared for a little bit of a wait as they get pretty busy. There are quite a few tables (placed fairly close together) and booths, and additional seating at the bar.
The prices? $31 got us three drinks plus one refill (that they charge for), Mussels Marinara and the pizza. Not too bad. Bar pizzas (smaller, more individual size) are also available for $4.50, but be careful if you add toppings, because they can be as much as $3.50 each.
Star Tavern
400 High Street
Orange, NJ
(973) 675-3336
Looks like I would like this pizza. I’m not a big fan of the Chicago style deep dish stuff. We went to Grimaldi’s when we went to NYC this summer and it was SOOOOO good! LOVED it! It was actually the only place that I got a soda to drink…they had diet Sprite and it just was perfect with that pizza. Though not too badly priced, sounds like they were a little cheap on the dining ware for those prices! ;-)
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We ate Star pizza all the time growing up. One summer their food was a daily thing. I worked next door at my aunt’s business – which is no longer there.
Need to get back to Essex county for some after reading this.
Sounds heavenly. But if you’re trying pizza in NJ…my ultimate favorite is Mack N Manco’s on Ocean City’s boardwalk!
the pizza looks good, we like it thin like that and not “floppy” as you know from my pizza experience in NYC. I don’t get the thin paper plates that they use in these places, it leaves more of a mess for them to clean up.
Patsy Kreitmans last blog post..Another Food Tour in NYC
What a fun tour! I like Grimaldi’s too but if you want good pizza in Hoboken, Margherita’s…they have every topping imaginable and I think it’s better than Grimaldi’s
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Ok Maris, I’ll make you a deal. We’ll head down to Hoboken this weekend and check out Margherita’s – if you say it’s better than Grimaldi’s, it’s got to be good — and you head to Sweet and get your cupcake on!
Oriolegal – haven’t heard of the place, but thanks for the tip — will add to our list when we’re down the shore this summer.
Patsy – exactly! Besides all the waste, so much more cleanup for them.
Claire – a cold refreshing soda is the perfect accompaniment to the pizza…
Kris – love those little charred bits.
Wow, this place sounds awesome. Too bad I’m on the west coast. You’ve totally given me a craving.
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I might have to go here next time I’m home in New Jersey. I had similar pizza today, but the pizza in Boston just doesn’t cut it. Now that I’m here I miss New Jersey and craze good pizza, bagels, and (interestingly) Chinese food, all the time. They’re just not the same in Massachusetts!
Howdy!
Have you tried Village Pizza on Easton Ave. in Somerset, yet? It’s our favorite. They make a great whole wheat pie with eggplant, too.