‘Pizza Reviews’ Articles at Sweetnicks

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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When we went to Hershey for the weekend back in October, our first stop after checking into the hotel was the Hershey Museum. Once we were done there, it was mid-afternoon, and we were beyond ready for lunch. The cafe in the museum was crazybusy, so we decided to make our escape and go elsewhere. And why not when there was a small pizza joint, Fenicci’s, just across the street? It was the perfect time for our tastebuds to bite into a slice of what PA pizza has to offer.

Although it doesn’t help on our quest to find the best pizza in New Jersey, it was a welcome respite from the rain and hunger pangs, and hey, what kid doesn’t perk up at the word “pizza?” The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was the mention of their “world famous” Upside Down Pizza. This particular pizza was the first pizza introduce to Hershey back in 1947, and at just under $11, it’s a reasonably priced choice.

When it arrived on the table, I have to say, we were all surprised. Surprised at what it looked like. When you hear “upside down pizza,” we were thinking the crust would be on the top. You know, upside down from what it normally is, right? Instead, what they mean is that the tomato sauce and the cheese are reversed. Maybe Topsy Turvy Pizza, but not so much on the upside down, you know? That being said, I loved the bite and tang it gave to have your mouth meet the tomato sauce first. This wouldn’t work if their tomato sauce was not up to par, but no worries here, it was. Full, deep, rich, and just plain good. The crust was ok, but not the slightly crispy kind that I like, and with the tomato sauce on top, this pizza doesn’t have big bubbles. But that’s ok. Just a different way to go, and sometimes different is welcome.

Along with the pizza, we also took the opportunity to try some of their appetizers, going with Crab Dip and Loaded French Fries for the table. The french fries, well, let’s just say we did all but lick the plate clean. That would have been wrong. Right? Loaded with two kinds of melted cheese, sweet peppers, red onions, and crispy bacon, it was then drizzled with Ranch dressing. Love that. A very generous serving for $5.95.

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

Review: Fenicci’s Restaurant and Tavern, Hershey, PA