Finding top-notch pizza in North Central NJ isn't hard—we're fortunate that pizzerias and Italian restaurants are aplenty! Modest hole-in-the-wall gems, great family-owned restaurant stories, and farm-fresh ingredients are the norm around here. These are some of our favorite local pizza joints. We hope this list will help you discover a new favorite place!
1. Trattoria La Strada
177 Washington Valley Road, Warren
Trattoria La Strada's menu is incredibly diverse with 100+ menu items to ensure you can visit time and time again and still try something new.
What's the secret to their amazing pizza?
"Everything is done fresh, every day. It's done the same way, over and over. That's what makes it good, that's what makes La Strada good." says Rosario, the owner of Trattoria La Strada. Watch the video for a closer look at the pizzeria.
Other menu items include soup, salad, pasta, veal, seafood, Philadelphia-style steaks, hot and cold sandwiches, calzones, dessert and more.
2. Panatieri's
68 Mountain Blvd. Warren (Warren Village Center), and 1910 Washington Valley Rd, Martinsville
Chris Panatieri opened the now-famous Panatieri's Pizza & Pasta, known for making everything fresh daily from excellent and quality ingredients. There's a second Panatieri's location in Martinsville, too!
Other menu items include the famous sausage snaps (delicious bite-sized sausage tossed in sweet & tangy sauce on a skewer), Cajun wings, Buffalo wings, hot and cold subs, salads, and pasta dishes & more.
Tip: Check out their weekly specials!
3. Ciro's
101 Reinman Road, Warren
A Warren staple when it comes to pizza, Ciro's is lauded for having "THE BEST" pizza and excellent customer service. These guys might offer even more subs than they do pizza! Ciro's has a huge selection of salads, wraps and more.
Tip: Regulars recommend trying the Sicilian pizza.
4. Café Agira
125 Washington Valley Road, Warren (Quail Run Center)
Named for the small town of Agira in southern Italy, Café Agira offers classic pizza and specialty pizza like Cheese Steak Pizza, Scampi Pizza, and Chicken Parmigiana Pizza.
Other menu items include subs, soups, desserts & more.
Tip: There is an entire gluten-free menu that includes pizza and a wide variety of pasta.
5. Natales
600 Valley Rd, Gillette
We hear the Chicken Caesar salad, chicken parmesan, and vodka sauce here are amazing. Regulars keep returning for super-reasonable prices and mouthwatering dishes.
Other menu items seafood, chicken, steak, and dozens of hot and cold sub-options are all available.
6. Lombardi Pizza Co.
1958 Washington Valley Rd, Martinsville
Lombardi Pizza Co. takes their authentic, wood-fired pizza Napoletana seriously, and they believe that it "should be a balance of all its ingredients." Bright tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, aromatic basil, olive oil, and a deceptively simple crust are all part of their delicious philosophy.
Other menu items include salads and small plates, but the pizza is where it's at!
7. Figaro Restaurant & Pizza
403 King George Rd Ste 107, Basking Ridge
Cafe Figaro offers a mouthwatering pizza menu filled with New York-style and gourmet pizzas like Montebello Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Cheesesteak Pizza, and Baked Ziti Pizza.
Other menu items include salad, pasta, steak and more.
8. Joe's Pizza
1938 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville
The folks at Joe's Pizza pride themselves on using fresh, quality ingredients, and providing customers with excellent customer service! Joe's gourmet pizza list is long and varied and includes pies like the Eggplant Marinara Pizza (fried eggplant on top of white pie with Parmigiano cheese and marinara sauce), the Garden Pizza (chopped tomatoes, onions, basil, Parmigiano cheese, oil, and vinegar), and the unique Clam Pizza.
Other menu items include salads, soups, hot and cold sandwiches, wraps, and more.
9. Alfonso's
99-101 West Main Street, Somerville, NJ
When Aniello and his wife Yolanda came to the US from Naples, Italy, they brought their delicious recipes and passion for food with them. It was during this time that Aniello developed his pizza recipe (that they still use now!) while operating a pizzeria in Brooklyn, NY. Aniello and his family eventually moved to New Jersey and opened up Alfonso's in 1978. Now, his children and relatives run Alfonso's and have stayed true to his original vision.
Alfonso's menu features a long list of gourmet red and gourmet white pizza varieties, and each delicious creation can be customized with a long list of fresh toppings.
Other menu items include soups, salads, pasta, seafood, sandwiches, and more.
Tip: Check out their 40+ item gluten-free menu, and follow them on Facebook for updates on deals.
10. Trattoria Bolu
100 Marketplace Center 25 Mountainview Blvd Basking Ridge
Inspired by Mediterranean cooking, Bolu is a family-owned restaurant that is dedicated to fresh and organic ingredients and supporting local and sustainable farms. Fillings and pasta are housemade, and all of their flour is non-GMO.
11. Marcello's II
260 Main Street, Stirling
With 100+ items on their menu, Marcello's II is sure to please everyone in your group! Their 25+ pizza options include red pizza, white pizza, classic and specialty pies. There are some unique combinations on the gourmet list too, like Portofino Pizza (mussels, clams, shrimp & garlic.), Fiorentina Pizza (tomatoes, prosciutto, mozzarella, olive oil & parmigiana), and Specialty Pizza (mushrooms, sausage, onions, peppers, pepperoni, ham, meatballs, olives & extra cheese).
Other menu items include pasta, soups, hot subs, cold subs, wraps, casseroles, chicken, veal, and seafood dishes.
Tip: They have a great online ordering feature on their website.
12. DeLucia's
3 1st Avenue, Raritan, NJ 08869
When it comes to serving up incredible Italian food, the DeLucia family has almost an entire century of experience. These guys were voted New Jersey's Best Plain Pizza by NJ.com's Pizza for a reason.
In 1917, Costantino DeLucia opened a bakery in Raritan, and in the 1930s, he began serving pizza. DeLucia's has had a pizza-only menu since the 1950s, and now a third and fourth generation of DeLucias operate the restaurant!
Tip: No credit or debit cards. Bring cash.
13. Chimney Rock Inn
800 North Thompson Ave. Bound Brook, and at 342 Valley Road, Gillette
Established in 1863, Chimney Rock Inn is in its 3rd century of business—how many American restaurants can say that?! As you'll notice from visiting, things have come a long way since the 1800s! They've been serving up top-notch thin-crust pizza for over 50 years, and now even have two locations. Of course, their pizza menu is where they really shine, and pies like Margherita Rosa (a classic Margherita pizza that features their classic homemade pink vodka sauce) and Chicken Pot Pie Pizza (topped with grilled chicken breast smothered in their signature buffalo sauce) are not to be missed.
Other menu items include soups, salads, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, and a wide variety of appetizers.
They even feature a gluten-free menu with 20+ items.
14. Cafe Rustica
3188 Valley Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Cafe Rustica offers a cozy atmosphere and an impressive menu of authentic Italian food. Their five featured pizzas are all packed with mouthwatering ingredients: for example, Cafe Rustica's #3 grilled pizza is topped with grilled chicken, pesto, bruschetta tomatoes, mozzarella, arugula, and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Other menu items follow in the same example of their pizzas—they packed with quality ingredients and big flavors, whether it's pasta, a meat dish, or an appetizer.
15. Pizza Brothers
1982 Washington Valley Rd, Martinsville, NJ 08836
Pizza Brothers is a must-go-to place if you want to have one of the best pizzas in town! They offer great pizzas and amazing wings at a great price! They also have other store locations in Bedminster, Raritan, Hillsborough, Greenbrook, Scotch Plains, and their new one in Edison!
Other menu items include salads. calzones, wraps, hot and cold subs, desserts and appetizers.
They also offer Gluten-Free Pizzas
16. Uproot
9 Mt Bethel Rd, Warren, NJ 07059
"Uproot yourself from the ordinary" as they say, this American Bar & Restaurant serves up Artisanal Pizzas during Dinner Service. Their pizzas are made with 100% US Organic non-GMO flour, local produce, 100% NJ tomato sauce and topped with their house-made mozzarella! Truly something spectacular!
Other menu items include entrees, salads, sandwiches and a variety of sides!
