Top 25 Places for Pizza in North Jersey
If you have decided to read this article then we already have one thing in common; our love for pizza. Being a pizza lover goes beyond having a slice or two every so often or ordering a pie from your go-to spot in town with friends and family. I drove 25 minutes to Franklin Lakes the other day to try a new margherita pie I saw on Instagram. Yeah, maybe I’m a little bit more psycho than most about an extremely recognized unhealthy food but hey, we all have a different kind of thing we love. Mine just happens to be the perfect combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and dough.
Over the past few years, I started writing a list of all my GO-TO pizza joints in Bergen County and the general North Jersey area. Fortunate enough to live where I live, it’s hard to not find at least 2–3 pizza places in every town around this area. I wanted to keep track of every spot I’ve ever been to and I would have another list of places I wanted to go to and try. After 2 years in the making, it is my pleasure to give you my final list of the top 25 best places for pizza in North Jersey.
DISCLAIMER: I understand everyone likes different types and styles of pizza. Even though this list is merely based on my opinion and I haven’t had as much pizza as Dave Portnoy, I have had probably been to more pizza places around North Jersey than the other 95% of North Jersey. I am a credible judge of pizza. All towns listed are towns in North Jersey.
25. Linwood Pizza (Fort Lee)
— Linwood pizza is a classic New York style pizza joint 5 minutes near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee. Greatest thing about Linwood pizza that differentiates it from other slice shops? Availability. Linwood pizza is open till at least 2:00am every night, which allows for a quality late night slice option when almost every other place that sells pizza is closed.
24. Anthony Franco’s (Fort Lee & Paramus)
— While there are several Anthony Francos scattered around North Jersey, I grew up on the one in Paramus. I would come home on a half day from middle school, order a plain personal pie and garlic knots for $10 flat and go to town. What I love about Anthony Franco’s is their marinara sauce; it’s sweeter and tangier than most. Their individual slices are delicious too, my favorite slice is their upside down slice with the tomato sauce on top of the cheese at their Fort Lee location.
23. Bucco’s (Lodi)
— If Anthony Francos was my favorite spot in middle school, Bucco’s (or formerly Ray’s) became my favorite place to go to in High School. I was able to turn all my friends onto their pizza and we gave them a lot of business from 2007–2011. With a fantastic variety of slices from penne vodka, chicken franchaise, and classic Sicilian — not to mention their fresh pies, including a white clam pie — Bucco’s is one solid spot for Pizza.
22. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza (Englewood & Fair Lawn)
— I know there’s about 70 different locations, but I gotta say I don’t hate having several around North Jersey. Their Traditional Coal Oven Pie w/ Plum Tomato sauce and 2 different types of cheeses (Mozzarella & Romano) is a great choice for your first time. Probably the only chain place you’ll see on the list, definitely worth it if you’re in the mood for a beer and some coal fired Zah.
21. Sanducci’s Pizza Kitchen (River Edge)
— Sanducci’s is another spot that hits me very close to home, because its physically very close to my home. Sanducci’s Pizza Kitchen (not to get confused with its next door neighbor Sanduccis’ Trattoria, who on occasion will have Sanducci’s Pizza kitchen pies on the menu) only has 3–4 slices per day, but man are they freaking good. Closer to an NY Style take-out place, I would recommend their Grandma Slice: a light layer of cheese followed by a layer of garlicky tomato sauce and finished off 1 smaller slice of mozzarella. You can’t go wrong.
20. Foschini’s (Dumont & Lyndhusrt)
— Not crazy about the slices or the inside of these places, especially the one in Dumont. It’s not the cleanest place in the world and their slices are good, not great. It’s on the list at #20 because their personal brick-oven margherita is one of the hidden gems in North Jersey. I have driven 20 minutes on occasion to pick up a personal pizza for me and a sandwich for my girlfriend with every intention of eating 3–4 out of the 6 slices and saving 2–3 for the next day but I always end up finishing the pie that night. Because it’s THAT good. Flavorful marinara plus great mozzarella cheese keeps me coming back.
19. Angelo’s Pizza (Maywood)
— Classic NY Style pizza shop. Better to get a fresh pie than a slice; only slices they offer are plain and pepperoni usually. Whether you’re getting sausage, plain, or pepperoni, their pies always have the perfect amount of pizza grease, not too much but enough for you know it’s there. Add a little garlic powder on your slice and you’re good to go.
18. Urban Tomato (Fort Lee)
— I recently tried Urban Tomato for the first time a few weeks ago. I had noticed their pizza on Instagram I’d stop in. I can only vouch for their slices, of which I had 2, but I was thoroughly impressed with what I had. Not a standard slice shop, Urban Tomato offers pizza with a twist, their margherita having extra cheese cooked on top when heated up in the oven. I had a margherita (which definitely looked the tastiest) slice and a pepperoni & banana peppers slice. I was surprised at how much I loved the Pepp & BP slice, definitely wasn’t blown away by the spice and the balance between those flavors combined with the sauce and cheese was phenomenal. I wasn’t as blown away by the margherita (even though it took a few extra minutes to cook than the pepperoni) but still, I really appreciated their modern take on pizza. Would come back and get a fresh pie next time.
17. Marra’s (Emerson)
— I haven’t been here in a few years, but a great pizza leaves a lasting impression. This nice sized Italian Deli in Emerson offers a fantastic margherita and white pie. One of the few deli’s on the list, Marra’s is a great choice for premium pizza takeout.
16. Bergen Brick Oven Bar & Grill (South Hackensack)
— Don’t let the dive-bar appearance fool you, these guys know how to make pizza. Their Brick Oven Pies are 16" and include options such as the garbage pie (pepperoni, ham, meatballs, sausage, broccoli rabe, peppers, onions, eggplant, black olives) and a classic margherita. Their signature more traditional pizza is called the OLD JUDGE; a thin crust bar pie with 70–30% sauce to cheese ratio. One of the best thin crust pies around.
15. Dough Artisan (Caldwell)
— Although it’s a little bit outside Bergen County, this delightful farm-to-table restaurant offers a variety of different wood-fired pizzas from fresh ingredients. They partner with local farmers in the area and while it is BYOB, they sell 1/2 and Full bottles of wines from local wine-makers. I would recommend getting several pies (they are smaller) and splitting them. I went with 3 other people (4 in total) and we were able to finish 3 pies fairly easily. Popular pies include the Shroom pie, and The Roxy Pie (salame, jalapenos, burrata, honey).
14. Vesta Wood Fired Pizza (East Rutherford)
— Vesta has some extra significance to me since it was the first date I went on with my girlfriend. Nevertheless, when I worked near the Meadowlands, I was at Vesta once a week to grab a personal pizza. Similar to Dough Artisan in that the pizzas are smaller than normal (12"), Vesta is a bit more traditional with their pie selections but just as tasty. They have a full bar and delicious appetizers (the rice balls are to die for). Their tomato sauce has great flavor and the cheese to sauce ratio is perfect. I never had Vesta wood fired pie that I didn’t love — I recommend trying their margherita pie first.
13. Star Tavern (West Orange)
— Star Tavern might be the most famous place on this list. A recognized staple for quality Thin Crust pizza for the last 25 years, I went to Star with my parents on Father’s day. We ordered a plain pie and a white clam pie. Both were out of this world. If you like thin crust and enjoy a good clam pizza, Star Tavern is a must try.
12. Alessandro’s (Haworth)
— Take-out, sit-down, fresh pie, slice, it doesn’t matter. Alessandro’s has it all. I have met old friends for lunch here, had a sicilian slice and was more than satisfied. My girlfriend’s family loves Alessandro’s so much, they drive 20 minutes out of there way to pick up a grandma pie from there once a week. A small family restaurant in the quiet town of Haworth, Alessandro’s has a variety of quality traditional NY style pizza options that will leave you more than satisfied.
11. Woodstack (Pine Hills)
— This uniquely designed wood-fired pizza tavern is a great choice for a artisan wood-fired pie and a beer. With ovens imported from Naples, their Instagram bio does not lie when they say “not your typical pizza joint.” The Burrata pie, their Grandma pie, and their Tartufo pie are definitely pizzas to try. Get several to share.
10. Napoli Wood Fired Pizza & Bakery (Cliffside Park)
— I recently tried this place as I was on my way to Fort Lee to see a friend. As I walked in I noticed the gigantic pizza oven over a bunch of wood immediately. More on the casual side, these guys know how to make pizza. I ordered their standard 12" margherita pie(my order every time I try a place for the first time) and was impressed with, for a thin crust pie (all their pies are thin crust) how perfect the crust was; not burnt at all. The cheese and tomato sauce blended perfectly with the EVOO and Basil. This might be one of the best Thin Crust margheritas in NJ.
9. Cassies (Englewood)
— Your standard brick oven pizza spot that also offers Italian comfort food. Cassies, similar to the next place on the list, delivers a near perfect margherita. These pizzas are bigger and can be shared among several people. I am a huge fan of their mozzarella sticks too.
8. Brooklyn’s Coal-Burning Brick-Oven (Hackensack, Ridgewood, Edgewater)
— A go-to staple in my life for maybe 15 years, BBO (Brooklyn Brick Oven) has the greatest old school margherita around here money can buy, and the majority of folk around here will agree with you. Their pizza is cooked in an open fire coal brick oven. The margherita includes homeade fresh thick mozzarella, delicious tomato sauce, olive oil and some seasonings. I would also recommend trying the White w/ sausage as well. Sizes vary from 10" (personal), 14", 16", 18".
7. Aquila Forno (Little Falls)
— My girlfriend and I came to this cozy little gem off my mother’s recommendation (mother doesn’t eat a ton of pizza since it’s “unhealthy” but somehow always researches and finds the best pizza places around). The restaurant was definitely on the smaller side but cozy and had a great ambiance to it; the wood-fired ovens were cool to look at. We ordered a their margherita (1st time I go to a place, blah blah blah) and their Bianca pie — ricotta, speck, radicchio, fresh garlic. Both had ingredients that tasted very fresh. The wood-fired pies are definitely small enough where you could split 2 pies between two people. Not to mention, the owner came over to introduce himself and couldn’t be nicer. Really enjoyed the pizza and the overall dining experience. Definitely recommend for a nice date night or smaller dinner with a few friends.
6. Pazza (Franklin Lakes)
— I tried Pazza pretty recently after seeing some great looking pictures on Instagram (where I find most of my prospects). I came by myself and ordered THE QUEEN (standard wood-fired margherita — Fresh mozzarella, San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Basil & EVOO). It instantly became my favorite wood fired pie in New Jersey. They use a classic Red wood-fired oven like you see in Rome. This pizza was so good, I had to include it in my top 10.
5. Sorrentina (North Bergen)
— Sorrentina is a fantastic Italian restaurant that happens to have delicious pizza. My parents think they have the best pizza in New Jersey! It’s just about one of the best brick oven pies you can get around here. Their pies range from margherita, quattro formaggi (4 cheese), Funghi, Sorrentina, & Pizza Tri Colore — trying this White pie w/ Mozarella, ricotta, cherry tomatoes & pesto the next time I come here. You can’t go wrong with any pizza selection here.
4. Circolo (Waldwick)
— Interesting and unique, but really freaking good. That’s the best way I can describe Circolo. We are ordered their Circolo pie, which you could easily split with two people. It was a square margherita pie w/ basil, garlic & oregano added. The pizza had an 80:20 cheese to sauce ratio but the streaks of San Marzano tomato sauce and EVOO with the basil was an amazing combo. Haven’t been here since my first time a few weeks ago but can’t wait to come back. Great Italian music and classy vibes!
3. S. Egidio Pizza (Ridgewood)
— They say the perfect pizza doesn’t exist; well I don’t think they’ve been to S. Egidio. S. Egidio offers one of the most delicious Neapolitan style pizzas in NJ. They get their ingredients, including the dough, straight from Naples. I have been here with my girlfriend, my family, and my brother all on separate occasions and can’t stop coming back. They have unbelievable selections like my favorite the Tirolo — fior di latte, fresh ricotta, speck, hazelnut, local honey or you could try the Pugliese — burrata, cherry tomato, shaved black truffle, parmigiano basil and many more. If you want to be blown away by pizza, come here ASAP. WARNING: No matter what night you go on, there is always a wait and they don’t accept reservations so when you do go, either anticipate the wait or arrive much earlier or later than the dinner rush. It’s also fairly small.
2. Aumm Aumm (Englewood & North Bergen)
— The only reason Aumm Aumm gets the nod over S. Egidio is because of distance and accessibility; I rarely ever have to wait for a table and their Englewood location is a bit closer than Ridgewood, not to mention this space is much bigger than S. Egidio so seating is better. Aumm Aumm not only matches S. Edigio in quality and variety of pies, they also offer several homade calzone options including the Mezza Luna — 1/2 calzone 1/2pizza! Their crust is fluffy and delicious, closer to the traditional Neapolitan style, with the middle of the pizza sauce heavy and wet. My favorite pie here is the Bufalina — tomato sauce, fresh imported bufalo mozzarella & basil.
- Patrizia’s (Old Tappan)
— And my #1 FAVORITE place in New Jersey for Pizza is Patrizia’s in Old Tappan. This pick might be a bit controversial, since I already had a great impression of Patrizias when I first had at it at their Kips Bay (Manhattan) location about a year and a half ago. I thought their Mezza Luna, the 1/2 calzone 1/2 pizza, was the greatest thing I had ever had in my life. When I found out they were opening a location in Old Tappan, I was ecstatic. I was disappointed to learn this location didn’t offer the Mezza Luna, but once I tried their pizza I didn’t care about the Mezza Luna anymore. This wood-burning (their version of wood-fired) pizza was the real deal. I would highly recommend their classic margherita and the Pizza A Stella, their signature pie, that includes ricotta stuffed crust, tomato sauce, arugula, cherry tomatoes, & shaved parmesan. It takes a lot for me to dub a place the #1 place for Pizza in New Jersey but I have to give credit where credit is due. Patrizia’s is number 1.
Places that didn’t make the cut but are still solid go-to spots near me:
— Calabria (Oradell) — classic pizza shop, River Edge Pizza Kitchen (River Edge) — classic take-out pizza shop, Nonnas (Paramus) — Classic pizza shop, Biagos (Paramus) — bar pie, Prestos (Hackensack) — Classic Pizza shop w/ bigger personal slices, ASAP Pizza (Hackensack) — Classic Pizza shop, Sopranos (New Milford) — Gigantic individual slices-Boardwalk Style, Kinchleys (Ramsey) — classic Thin Crust Pizza (whole pies only), Jersey Pizza Co. (Woodbridge) — Unique pizza with a twist on the NY classic, Baggio’s (Fort Lee) — classic traditional NY style spot, great Sicilian pie), Grand Street Cafe (Dumont) — Great Bar pizza, would be right outside this list)
Places I haven’t been to within the last 2 years and can’t remember how good they are:
— U-Pie (Englewood) — Personal Pizza place, Tenafly Pizza (Tenafly) — classic pizza shop, Andiamo (Haworth) — Italian restaurant, Savino’s (Oradell) — classic take-out pizza shop, A Mano (Ridgewood — wood fired pizza, Tomato & Company (GSP in Paramus) — personal pizza place, Marios (Maywood) — classic pizza shop, Uncle Franks (Dumont) — classic pizza shop
Places that are on my list to try but haven’t gotten around to checking them out yet:
— Porto by Antonio’s (North Bergen) — Wood-fired Neapolitan style pizza, Razza (Jersey City) — Artisanal pizza spot, Bivio Pizza Napoletana (Montclair) — Neapolitan style pizza, Rasco’s (Edgewater) — classic NY style pizza, PorinosPizza (Little Ferry) — classic pizza shop w/ interesting sicilian pie, Al Santillo’s Pizza Oven (Elizabeth) — old school famous classic take-out pizza shop, Joe’s Rotisseria (Roselle Park) — Place with sany pies, home of the 1/2 calzone 1/2 pizza separated by Garlic Knots, Lidos (Hackensack) — Thin crust old-school spot, Ralph’s (Nutley) — Thin Crust pizza