‘Best Pizza in New Jersey’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Review: Scalici’s Pizza {Randolph, NJ}: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

August 21, 2012 · Narrative

The kids and I were on our way to meet friends for a picnic lunch at a local farm, taking full advantage of this past weekend’s 70 degree temperatures. Because it was a spur-of-the-moment plan, I didn’t bring lunch from home, so I started scouting for a pizzeria to dash into along the way.

And really, all you have to do is look for a strip mall. Because goodness knows, every strip mall seems to have either a Chinese restaurant or a pizzeria.

Even better, the place we chose was somewhere we hadn’t been yet.

Even though we pass it all.the.time.

There were about ten assorted pies in the display case ready and waiting, making it the perfect choice for a grab-and-go lunch. Madeline went with plain slice, Nick chose the baked pasta pizza, and I got with the eggplant parm pizza.

Three slices, three drinks, $14.75.

Seems a tad on the pricey side to me.

They warmed up the slices, we grabbed handfuls of napkins and straws and away we went.

Nick nibbled at the pasta pieces on the way to the farm and said it was stale. I reasoned that hopefully it was just an odd piece or two and to wait until we were sitting down eating.

But, alas, he was sort of right. Not stale, but more so slightly overdone. Luckily not so overdone that he couldn’t finish the slice.

Madeline plowed through about three-quarters of her very generously sized cheese slice, and I stole the last few bites so I could get a taste.

You know the pizza you got in grade school on pizza day?

This is that.

But a bit blander. Non-descript tomato sauce, no big bubbles or charred bits, chewy crust, and no stringy cheese.

It was ok, but nothing special.

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La Piazza: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

July 19, 2011 · Narrative

“Have you ever had Grandma Pie before?” Mystic asked me a few weeks ago.

Um, no. What is it?

He didn’t tell me.

“Ok, that’s what we’ll do on Friday night then.”

I didn’t even Google it, figuring the element of surprise was way more fun, and being a somewhat adventurous eater, I figured it wasn’t code for fried bugs or cow tongue, so I was safe.

I love when he’s all decisive like that, even if it’s something small like making a decision about dinner. I hate the whole “what do you want to eat?” “I don’t know. What do you want to eat?” “I don’t know. Whatever you want is fine.” Once in awhile when you just can’t hone in on what you’re needing is fine. On a regular basis, it is not. Although I might be a bit of a *cough*control freak*cough, I am also an all-or-nothing kind of girl. Take 100% of the control and run with it so I don’t have to give it a second thought. Or let me do it all. None of this in between stuff.

Even when it comes to a decision about what’s for dinner.

Grandma Pie it was.

When I found out what it is, I felt like more of a lousy Italian than I usually feel like. I mean, how had I never even heard of it before?

Baked in a square Sicilian-pizza style pan, it features a scant amount of mozzarella, topped with dollops of crushed tomatoes (you can track down a few more specifics here). We ended up at La Piazza in Florham Park for my maiden voyage. A small restaurant, it features a few bar stools on a side counter, which oddly just face the wall, and about a dozen or so tables. The tables are a bit of a tight squeeze, as in you’re sitting very close to your neighbors, so it’s not the place to go if you want a private conversation or to break up with your girlfriend or discuss your upcoming bankruptcy proceedings. Just sayin’.

“We’d like to start with the stuffed mushrooms, please.”

You do know they take a really long time to make, right?

“That’s ok, we’d still like them.”

Certainly an interesting way to sell an appetizer, eh?

Of course had she said “oh by the way, they’re mushrooms stuffed with, um, mushrooms and in a really weird sauce,” we might have been appropriately disuaded. But alas, she didn’t, so we weren’t. Note to you: skip the stuffed mushrooms.

Now for the pizza. Strong, slightly crispy crust and less doughy than a more traditional Sicilian slice. I wish the basil was sliced slightly bigger so you could taste it more (nothing like fresh basil!). The crushed tomatoes were very crushed tomatoes. As in, nothing else. No other taste of herbs, seasonings or salt coming through. Not terrible as an overall slice, but not especially memorable either.

Plenty of parking available.
Service is reasonable, although a bit slow on a Friday night
Credit cards accepted and web site available

La Piazza Cafe Ristorante & Pizzeria
184 Columbia Turnpike
Florham Park, NJ 07932
Phone: 973-301-9660
Open Daily: 10am – 10pm

Was it New Jersey’s best? No. The search continues.

Miss our other pizza reviews?

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

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Patsy’s Tavern & Pizza: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

June 22, 2011 · Narrative, Pizza

On Twitter a few weeks back, someone linked to my pizza reviews while they were on a Pizza Tasting Tour in New Jersey. At the time, they were at Patsy’s in Paterson, a place that we haven’t been to yet. They also mentioned another place in Montclair, and I asked the head chief reviewer which he would recommend first. He said to go to Patsy’s if you love idiosyncracies. And so it was.

So if you’re from New Jersey, you’ll likely know that Paterson isn’t really where you want to hang out. A non-descript building in a not-so-good area of town, I could see how Patsy’s wouldn’t get more than a passing mention, if that. But Mystic and I were out sans kids, so considered it a safe bet. Or generally speaking anyway.

The outside brick facade is at complete juxtaposition with the interior of the restaurant. Once inside and seated, it felt like we were at our Italian grandmother’s kitchen table. Cute booths boasting 1950s Formica tabletops and food arriving on mismatched old-fashioned plates. Love it. I didn’t go around the room and query the other dinner guests, but I would have bet most of them were Italian and either grew up in the neighborhood way back when, or moved away and were coming “home.” It felt like home. Like Sunday dinner any night of the week.

I’ve noticed a few things when Mystic and I have gone out to eat lately. 1) He always orders an appetizer. 2) He is into food the way I am. 3) He understands the need for the perfect food photo before we dig in. Relationships have been built on far less. He gets #3 to the point that we now bring home some of our food so I can take more pictures at home, where I have the opportunity to play with lighting and take my time. I love that about him.

When it comes to ordering pizza in our ongoing quest to find the best, I have one hard and fast rule. You have to taste the restaurant’s cheese pizza. They need to be able to conquer the standard pie before mucking around with toppings. And so our pizza was half cheese, and half black olive and mushroom.

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M&S Pizza: The Best Pizza in New Jersey?

April 19, 2011 · Narrative

For the last few Fridays during Lent (you know, that time when we’re not supposed to be eating meat), we’ve gone the pizza route. A new tradition seems like the best way to combat the fact that I sometimes forget it’s No Meat Friday. And a perfect way to add another pizza review to our ongoing quest for finding the best pizza in New Jersey.

M&S Pizza has two locations. Both in Rockaway. About a mile apart from each other. On the same street. I don’t get it either, but imagine maybe there’s a fun story behind the “why” of it. In the meantime, although we’ve lived in the area for nearly 10 years now, this was our first visit to either of the M&S locations.

I love old school. I love things that remind me of being 16 years old again. Well, some things anyway. Sixteen was not exactly the rosiest of years. Just ask my mom. But M&S is old school in a charming way. Which is a good thing, because if you don’t appreciate its charming, old school ways, you’d walk in and think the restaurant is very dated. See? It’s all in your perspective.

That picture would be Nick’s perspective. The very familiar, very hard red booths. The little pads of paper that they use to take your order. And my favorite? The honor system. You place your order. Sit down. They bring it to you. And you settle up when you’re done. I love that, in this day and age, there are businesses that still believe in the honor system. And trust it. And are old school.

Now the pizza. Speaking of school… remember pizza day when you were a kid? Remember what the pizza tasted like? This is that pizza. The same exact taste. The same kind. The familiarity of back then. This is not OMG pizza. This is not the best pizza in New Jersey. But this is the pizza you grew up with. And that, my friends, is in a class all by itself.

No massive air bubbles that I love. Not an overwhelming amount of charred little bits along the crust. No thin and crispy crust. It’s more on the doughy side. But it’s packed with cheese. Behold the cheesiness.

It’s standard. Familiar. Tasty. Serves its purpose. Will I get a craving for it any time soon? No. Will we stop back in? Sure.

A few details:

Coke establishment
Very friendly staff and plenty of seating
They take credit cards
Decent size menu of standard fare
Busy on the weekends, but enough staff to meet the demand
Very reasonably priced. Four slices, a salad and two drinks was $13.50

M&S Pizza II
456 US Highway 46
Rockaway, NJ 07866
(973) 361-9137

PS – I hear their Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a must-try.

Miss our other pizza reviews?

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