When the kids and I were celebrating Spring Break a few months ago, we had all sorts of adventures. There was the Cape May County Zoo, a visit to the Atlantic City Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and more still-yet-to-be-blogged shenanigans.
And there was pizza. It’s been awhile since we had a pizza review, and as we make plans to head down the shore next weekend (and likely go back here), it was time to share this newest spot with you.
Joey Tomato’s Gourmet Pizza is on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. Which means if you’re heading to the shore yourself this summer, this is a good place to duck into for a bite to eat. Flanked by arcades and cotton candy, how could you go wrong?
We had some time to kill in between getting up close and personal with sting rays and penguins (more on that coming soon), so we asked for a suggestion for a bite to eat. I swear I have Rachael Ray in my head saying, “If you need a food recommendation, ask a local.” She’s, of course, right. Eat where the locals do and you can’t go wrong. We did, and ended up at Joey Tomato’s.
We haven’t visited it in the summer yet, but if the Spring crowd is any indication, it will be crowded and busy. There are some tables inside, and more outside. Better still, place your order and head to the beach. Or a less crazybusy spot. Unless you’re lucky enough to get a table. While we were in line, I spied one open up, and sent Nick and Madeline (still within eye sight) to stake it out. The inside of the restaurant is quite loud, from an acoustic standpoint, so if you have babies in your crew, you might want to scope out a quieter area to chow down.
There are tons of ready-to-order pies on the counter, each one seriously more tempting than the next. Decisions. Decisions. They also have a good variety of specialty pies you can order. The regular pies are $20, and the slices are $3.25. Slices with toppings are $3.75 (one) and $4.25 (two). Drinks (pre-bottled, i.e., water, Gatorade) are a small fortune at $3 each, so we got cups, ice, and split two.
Regular readers know that we’re fairly picky when it comes to our pizza, in our ongoing quest to find the best pizza in Jersey. Joey Tomato’s pizza had good bubbles, is not greasy, and their tomato sauce is pretty solid and well-seasoned. The cheese is a little stringier than I’d like (as in, sometimes the toppings all slide off with a bite of the cheese), but I loved the gourmet slices. One of the slices I got (pictured above) had a thin layer of spinach, which was then topped with mushrooms (fresh, not canned) and cheese. Loved that one, and would totally have it again (and fully intend to make it at home).
How cute is that little face? The kids? Inhaled the pizza. $25 got us lunch for three: five slices, two drinks. A little on the steep side when it comes to pizza, but for a joint on the boardwalk, about average.
Was it Jersey’s best? No, I don’t think so. But we would definitely go back, and plan to.
- Service is quick and efficient
- Parking behind the restaurant (paid) or on-street (free)
- It’s a Pepsi joint
- Credit cards accepted
- Restaurant and bathrooms were clean
Joey Tomato’s Gourmet Pizza
311 Central Avenue
Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 295-2624
Miss our other pizza reviews?
La Piazza in Florham Park
Luigi’s in Succasunna
Reservoir Tavern in Boonton
Margherita’s Pizza & Cafe in Hoboken
Star Tavern in Orange
Grimaldi’s in Hoboken
Annabella’s Pizzeria in Parsippany
Fenicci’s Restaurant & Tavern in Hershey, PA
M&S II Pizza in Rockaway, NJ
Patsy’s Tavern in Paterson, NJ
Bonus Photo
I normally eschew carnival type games, but Madeline saw stuffed animals as the prize, and that was the end of that. I started to say no, but then Nick, being the smartypants that he is, said that if they play together (and no one else), one of them would win and he would give her the animal. Very proud Mama moment.
yum all these pizzas look so good, especially that broccoli one! if i’m ever in the area, i’ll have to give it a try!
I love hearing about your ongoing pizza quest! The quality of the pizza does sound remarkably good, especially for a boardwalk joint.
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We had pizza last night. our own toppings on ready made crust. not as good as them, but not bad.
he’s a good kid, i know i keep repeating that…but, i’d have liked to have had him for a brother
Please don’t tell me that slice without cheese is for Nick. My Nick (who likes cheese) always makes me take the cheese off his pizza.
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Ha. You’re not going to like the answer. ;) That slice in particular was mine (comes that way, straight tomato sauce, no cheese chaser). But, Nick *does* take off his cheese. Not all the time, but more than half. Kills me to look over and see a pile of cheese on his plate.
I usually end up eating the cheese that gets pulled off. I am powerless in the face of melted, gooey cheese. When I make pizza at home, I leave the cheese off of a couple of slices for him.
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Hi! I landed here from the link on the Land O Lakes site for the upcoming posts and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Point Pleasant NJ. I’m from NJ not far from Point and well I’ll agree just by looking at the pizza it is NOT NJ’s best. I LOVE pizza and miss it so, now I live in So Cal. The boardwalk does have a great pizza place, I just can’t think of the name of it, it’s on the water side of the boardwalk I know. You can tell good pizza by looking at it :) I do like Pat’s Pizza on Rt 88 in Point, they have good philly cheesesteaks too :) I’m from Freehold, so if you are in that area on Rt. 9 Vinnies is the BEST and well I could name at least a dozen other great pizza places. Palumbos in Old Bridge has a great regular pie and their eggplant parm pizza is wonderful. Ok enough of my rambling. Can’t wait to see where you’ll eat pizza next!
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