My Both Sides Of the Table posts with Ali will give you more of a review, so check back here in the next day or so for those. You can also read the Munchmobile’s blog soon for a more detailed explanation behind my rankings (assuming they post it. I was kind of a last minute add-on). But here they are with a very short intro to why my #1 is #1.

5. Brother’s
4. Pizzatown USA
3. Sciortino’s
2. Caffe Capri
1. Santillo’s

Let’s just say, I don’t drive very much, but I will learn how to drive to Santillo’s.

As we made our rounds, none of what we tried quickly jumped to “best” on any of our lists. No one was stumping for “their favorite” with any convincing gusto. Either we were realizing our expectations were far too high or we were really off the mark on what we thought would quickly be winner. I mean, pizza could easily be declared “the” state food and we had only eaten at four places, so what were we thinking? It couldn’t be that easy… right?

And the problem wasn’t that any of the pizza was bad. In fact, nowhere did I feel the cheese or gravy were sub-par (although Pizzatown’s slice was so floppy it was nearly impossible to eat). But even while some were truly distinctive, none could be described as “bring your whole family - now!”

Then we went to the fifth place on our agenda which had already previously been declared #1 by the Star Ledger: Santillo’s in Elizabeth which was inside a house, its entrance on the side, down an alley. Inside there was just a tiny counter - no seats, no tables, nowhere for all of us to even stand. But, as Pete correctly opined, “You can’t eat ambiance.”

With one bite I knew this was the pizza I think I had been looking for. And to top it off, we ate it in the middle of an alley, hovering around the box like we were strangers to this thing called pizza, grease dripping down our hands because we couldn’t dare wait for paper plates. And this after being filled to capacity with pizza.

I’m not sure what “did it” for everyone else, but for me it was like all the positive points of the previous pies (”this one has yummy sauce”, “this one has the best crust”, etc.), were finally melded together into one truly flavorful pizza. The kind that makes you go on a 7-hour road trip until you find it. I mean, let’s face it - most people want their pizza delivered, they don’t go pick it up unless it’s truly special. A pizza you can’t forget.

Of course, I did half-wonder if knowing it had already been ranked #1 subconsciously made us enjoy it more than if we hadn’t known. But the warmth of the owner and the pride he took in his old-fashioned, seemingly-mile-long brick oven, made me think only happy thoughts as I sat cross-legged in his driveway, devouring his creation.

— by Donna M.
Donna is both a Jersey native and recent transplant from NYC. She is executive editor and a co-founder of GoOutJersey.

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