Review: Millie’s Old World Meatballs & Pizza {Morristown, New Jersey}

As soon as we walked in the door, I could tell they hadn’t been opened for long. In fact, for a moment, I wasn’t even sure if they were open. And I wondered how our meal was going to go from there.

Luckily, I needn’t have worried. Although they’ve only been open for a few weeks, after that first few minutes, I couldn’t tell.

With Nick’s weekly workshop in Morristown, it’s given Madeline and I a great opportunity to try out new restaurants in the area. We alternate between one particular sushi restaurant and trying a new restaurant. This particular evening, Madeline asked for pizza, and Millie’s it was.

Huge doors made way to a gorgeous restaurant. From the wood, glass tiles, and lighting fixtures to the upholstered booths, gleaming tin ceiling, and shiny kitchen area, it was really pleasing to the eye. We were seated right away and, at that time, were the only patrons there. By the time we left, the restaurant was more than half full.

Seating is by way of tables, booths, and counter seeing (so you can see them making the pizza). We went with a booth (more cozy) and as soon as we sat down, we started poring over the menu. The menu reflects their specialties … meatballs and pizzas. And I love that. Although there are a handful of other items (salads, for example), they are concentrating on what they know well.

When I saw the Millie’s Signature Pie, we decided that that was the perfect way to start. While we waited for the pizza, Madeline busied herself taking a few pictures for me. She loved this huge print (made of aluminum) they have of a dog on the wall opposite where we were sitting, which is no surprise. And she remarked on the noise level, and she was right. The acoustics, particularly as the restaurant started to fill up, weren’t the greatest. She went so far as to say that it sounded like there were “a thousand families here,” and conversation became more challenging over the din.

Then the pizza came (under fifteen minutes). We ordered the small, which was enough for us with leftovers, and would be enough for two adults. But not necessarily two teenagers. It’s slightly bigger than a personal pan size, and this specific one is coal-fired. Their menu offers both coal-fired and Neapolitan wood fired pizzas. The crust was crispy and puffy and delightfully charred. And the tomato sauce? Ah-mazing. Fresh. Addicting.

The crust ratio to sauced section is a little larger than average pizza, so I asked for a little cup of sauce so I could dip the crust into. Divine. I had two slices and could easily have gone back for more (needed to save room for frozen yogurt down the street).

And now a few random notes:
There are no salt or pepper shakers on the tables.
The lemonade is a little on the tart side.
The napkins are a bit odd. They look like cloth, until you touch them. They are definitely disposable, likely eco-friendly. I meant to ask what they were made of, but forgot in our haste to pick up Nick.

The staff was very accommodating while we were there. The waitress checked on us a few times, as did (I believe) the owner. Our waitress didn’t charge me for the cup of tomato sauce, and when I asked if the air was on (the restaurant was chilly!), she checked and adjusted the temperature right away.

The prices are a little on the higher end of the spectrum for pizza, but it’s not your typical pizza (and isn’t the type that competes for our quest for the Best Pizza in New Jersey). It’s more specialized, and we wouldn’t hesitate to go back. The toppings and other varieties on the menu were positively drool-worthy.

If you stop in to Millie’s, you are walking distance to Taro and Strawberry Fields, which is the perfect light sweet treat to finish off your meal.

PS If you have a few minutes and scroll through their “blog,” you’ll see some great before and after pictures of the amazing renovation they did and you can learn more about the owners and their inspiration for the restaurant.

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