By Cody Obropta
Since beginning my pizza blog in 2016, I have dined at over 120 pizzerias in the State of New Jersey. As Hillsborough Restaurant Week approaches, this is an opportune time to offer my preferences for finding great pizza in town.
Pizzerias have been central to the Hillsborough restaurant scene for quite some time. Excluding corporate chain establishments and restaurants where pizza is not the centerpiece, Hillsborough is home to ten pizzerias.
If you ask a room full of Hillsborough residents which local pizzeria is best, I’m positive every pizzeria will be named. Therefore, please approach this list with an open mind and remember that here in New Jersey, we are blessed with fantastic pizza.
Compared to pizzerias from most other states, every pizzeria in Hillsborough is a winner.
#1: AMA Pizza
AMA is the newest pizzeria to Hillsborough and if you haven’t had the opportunity to sample their delicious pies, I encourage you to add it to your list. AMA offers authentic Neapolitan pizza. This style of pizza has a thin base and a light, airy crust that gets nicely charred from the wood fired oven. Neapolitan pizza is less common compared to the typical New York style pizza and AMA does it perfectly.
#2: Joe’s Family Pizzeria
Not only does Joe’s offer a fantastic plain slice, but they also have a great variety of delicious specialty slices. You can expect a crispy, thin crust with an excellent sauce and quality cheese (plus plenty of spices on top).
#3: Pizza Brothers
I consider Pizza Brothers a local-chain. They have multiple locations but only in the State of New Jersey. Don’t let their “chain” status fool you. Their pizza is consistent, with one of the best plain slices you can get. The sauce rocks, the cheese is perfect. If I was going to mass-order large cheese pies, Pizza Brothers would be my choice.
#4: Roman Gourmet
Like the aforementioned Joe’s, Roman Gourmet stands out among the specialty slices. There are tons of options and their creativity knows no bounds. Love the classics? Their plain and margherita slices are great. Carnivore? You want the chicken-bacon-ranch or their meat-lovers. Vegetarian? Try the penne vodka or the tortellini slices.
#5: Angelo’s II
Like many of the restaurants around town, they’re huge supporters of the local sports teams. Their pizza also happens to be very good! They offer good variety for specialty slices and their plain slice is a solid contender.
#6: Bella Pizza
For walk-ins, options are more limited here but the standard plain slice is a great pick. With good sauce and the right ratio of cheese, it’s your standard issue, delicious Jersey slice.
#7: Alfonso’s Pizzeria
They’ve got some great lunch deals and you can usually find plenty of variety behind the glass when you walk in. Their plain slice is decent and so are the specialty slices. Their bread is tremendous!
#8: Victor’s Pizza
Victor’s is famous for their massive to-go slices. Recently they’ve renovated the interior and it looks great. The slices can be a bit inconsistent at times, but on a good day, the massive plain slice is fantastic and the perfect meal.
#9: Lenny’s Pizza and Pasta
To me, the pizza has always been a bit plain. Maybe that’s just my palate, but nonetheless, the pizza is definitely decent and they have a good variety of specialty options.
#10: Mariana’s Pizzeria & Latin Grill
Maybe it is my bad luck but I can never get a consistently good slice. Usually the base is too soft from either not enough time in the oven or the wrong sauce ratio. I once had an acceptable margherita slice but there is plenty of room for improvement.
To follow my pizza journey and see other reviews I’ve done, visit my pizza blog: https://jerseypizzahunter.weebly.com/pizzablog and follow me on Instagram @BoroPizzaHunter