Please forgive me for saying it again, but can there really be more pizza places for The Pizza Snob to discover in his hometown? Well, last trip home to Bayonne I found another. On a targeted trek to the now “made-famous-by television” Pizza Linos, I noticed Rana’s Pizzeria, directly across the street from Bayonne High School. So on this next trip, I worked it in among excursions into that great Pizza City on the other side of the Hudson.

It was late afternoon, and school had long let out making for a rather quiet time at Rana’s. My cursory review revealed an opportunistic business enterprise that capitalized on their proximity across the street smack dab in the middle of Bayonne High School. My two takeaways were their offering of a before-school light breakfast menu and their student-friendly pricing evidenced in the photo below.

There’s only room inside Rana’s for two round tables leading me to believe that they are mostly a “grab and go” business. I got to choose from two plain cheese slice selections: a regular for only $1.00 and a jumbo for $1.75. (I believe that the later comes from their advertised $17.00, 28-inch “Big Daddy Pizza.”) They also offered some varieties not normally seen in these parts such as stuffed and deep-dish slices. For my taste test, I went with the regular selection which was perhaps a little smaller than usual.

Well, these guys sure know what they are doing. This was a pretty darn good slice! Trim and economical, it was not a heavy filler-upper. The cheese, crust and tomato sauce were all perfect. Something though held me back from a perfect score on this one, and I think that just a little more seasoning and toasting might have taken them up to the top. While I did detect a slight touch of garlic, a further sprinkling of oregano could have possibly done the trick. Although Rana’s slice was good and crisp and set me up for a classic Fold and Rip, I think that another minute or two of reheat would have made this one a little hotter throughout.

Constructive criticism aside, this slice is certainly among the best that Bayonne has to offer. And like, Pizza Linos down the street, my thanks go out to these guys for providing a great affordable opportunity for Bayonne Bee students.

PIZZA SNOB RATING     ****½ Nearer Perfection

Rana’s Pizzeria
674 Avenue A (Between 29th and 30th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-823-2222
[No website]

Yes, I found another great pizza place in my hometown between the bays! This one even has a name that I could relate to: Mike’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant.

I was back home on a Sunday afternoon, and before the kickoff of the Giants game, I got hungry for a slice. Eagerly seeking out something new to the local scene since I lived here in the 70s, I found Mike’s, a pizza place as Jersey as a toll booth and as Italian as an eggplant parm.

Just a block west of Broadway, Avenue C is the city’s second most active thoroughfare, and Mike’s sits in a midtown storefront on its east side. Open noon to midnight, I caught Mike’s on the early side while things were slow except for a flurry of pre-game deliveries. I paid the price for my early arrival when Mike himself caught me snapping some photos before I indulged. Never wanting to out myself as the Snob, I got out of this one by explaining my love for pizza, and how I was a visitor thrilled to find a pizza joint named after myself.

I finally made my way inside to order a plain cheese slice ($1.75) with my English breaking the steady flow of Italian tongue. Surprisingly, the available slices were hidden from my view, but nonetheless were there in waiting.  There were things on which to dine other than pizza along the usual lines of pasta, salads and sandwiches.

My slice got quite a long reheat in the conventional oven behind the counter while I waited at a table in the small room. Upon delivery it looked classic although it was a little wider with more cheese than usual. It was also less crisp than I would have liked. But it was overall delicious and tastefully seasoned with oregano.

Although I quite enjoyed it, something I grabbed hold of today was how the combination of extra cheese and extra heat can make a slice difficult to eat. That hot cheese just has a way of being unfriendly to your mouth. Keeping a slice trim and thin still lets you toast it way up while still keeping it easy to get down.

It’s great that my namesake pizza joint makes a great classic old school slice. A little less cheese and a little more crispness would have taken this tasty treat to the top. While there are a lot of great other pizza choices in Bayonne, my namesake Mike does a great job of serving his neighborhood.

PIZZA SNOB RATING   **** Near Perfection

Mike’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
474 Avenue C (between 20^th and 21^st Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-437-9550
[no website]

It had been several months since the Mario’s Pizza location on Broadway went dark. Word was that a new joint called Old Fashion Brooklyn Pizza would take its place. Well on my last trip home, a walk by the location revealed that they either abandoned that name or someone else had slipped into the space. Whatever happened, on the spot now sits Lorenzo’s Pizza and Pasta serving up pies and slices along with some other Italian dishes.

I paid Lorenzo’s a visit to learn that they have been open for only four weeks. They were still in grand opening celebratory mode hosting an American flag flanked by two Italian flags on their front curb. It was still early on this Saturday afternoon, and I was the day’s first customer. I got the first cut of the day from a waiting plain cheese slice pie on the counter.

If you recall, Mario’s abandoned his joint offering any prospective new owner the opportunity to take over his existing equipment at the site. Lorenzo’s looks to have taken up Mario up on his offer, possibly garnering his pizza prescription as well. (Lorenzo’s slices seemed quite similar to Mario’s according to the Snob’s senses.) It also was the same small room on the inside, but perhaps white-washed over with a new coat of paint.

Gratuitously, the apparent new owner/operator (Lorenzo, I presume) asked me how I’d like my slice to which I replied “hot and crispy.” Like I said, it came out great matching what I though was a previously fine slice made by Mario.

It was served hot, and since it was not overdone with cheese, was quite comfortable to eat. About all I can say about a slice like this is that if you got it anywhere else in the world you would be raving about it. Up here in the Pizza State, standards are a little higher, and I just really couldn’t say that this one went over the top in the flavor department. While nothing was missing, it just didn’t have anything out-of-the-ordinary extra special about it—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing!

Lorenzo’s pizza seems to follow that same local Bayonne formula for a good slice. While it’s nothing you’d want to travel a great distance for, if you want a good-tasting basic New York slice of pizza, it’s there waiting for you! I wish the new owner success.

PIZZA SNOB RATING   **** Near Perfection

Lorenzo’s Pizza and Pasta
330 Broadway (between 15^th and 16^th Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-339-0191
[no website]

Original Review: 07/14/14

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

If you called Naples Pizza last week to order a pie, here is the recorded message you may have heard from a familiar female voice:

“Yes, I would like to inform my customers that this Sunday (12/20/15) will be our last night. Take advantage because Naples will no longer be around.”

The home of the “ultra-thin, get two for one on Mon-Wed-Sun pizza special,” is no more. The owner decided it was time to retire and shut down the oven. One of Bayonne’s true pizza legends is gone, and with all of the development going on in the Peninsula City, I’d be surprised to see a pizza joint show up in such a prime location.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Naples Pizzeria & Restaurant
191 Broadway Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-437-8879
www.naplespizza.org

Original Review: 06/14/15
First Update: 08/27/15
PIZZA SNOB RATING  R.I.P.

A little late on this news, but I waited to let the dust settle. Well, at least I tried.

Lorenzo’s Pizza and Pasta moved back downtown to its former spot (the old Mario’s Pizza location) on Broadway between 15th and 16th Streets. After a move to the former Ronny’s Pizzeria & Restaurant location on Broadway between 29th and 30th, it closed these new uptown doors shortly thereafter.

A joint called Pizza Bella, which I never got to visit, had moved into the Mario’s/Lorenzo’s location and then vanished upon Lorenzo’s return. Was there a connection between these two?

But, the story didn’t end there. As soon as I posted this news (after being back in Bayonne to check), Lorenzo’s closed again.

Maybe it’s time for Mario to return?

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING  R.I.P.

Lorenzo’s Pizza and Pasta
330 Broadway (between 15^th and 16^th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002 (201) 344-1612
[No website]

Yes, there are still more pizza places to visit in my hometown of Bayonne, NJ. On the recommendation of my younger brother, last time home, I set my sights on Fontana Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant. The twist this time would be my guest: our 87-year old Mom after a morning on line at the DMV to get her a state-issued ID card.

Fontana is uptown on Broadway in the middle of the block. It’s one of Bayonne’s long-standing pizza joints, and surprisingly, the more recently-established Goodfella’s brick oven joint is only a few doors down.

We got there a little after lunch time on a Friday and had the place all to ourselves. After ordering some cheese slices ($1.95 each) at the front counter, we took table seats in the back until we were summoned. In a wild mood, I even went so far as to order a square Sicilian slice in addition to my regular one.

While waiting, I checked out the menu. Like most of these Bayonne pizza joints, there are also other Italian dishes from which to choose. But, I must say that Fontana’s offers one of the widest selections (from Paninis to falafels) I have ever seen. It amazes me the talent and skill that it must take to manage such a large menu in terms of availability and ability.

Like a real pizza joint, the slices were out there waiting for us, and were soon ready after a reheat in the CPO (Conventional Pizza Oven). Getting right to the chase, what did Mom have to say about her slice? “Good, but little oily. Nice and crispy, but I don’t like when the oil drips.”

I agreed with her 100%. As for the oil, this slice was definitely a dripper, but was just fine after a short drain before eating. Otherwise, everything was put together with perfection. The dimensions were on the money, and the great-tasting cheese and sauce were properly blended and delicately seasoned. There wasn’t really much to gripe about since it was also served at the precise eating temperature. But full disclosure make me want to say that maybe it could have been a little crisper, and there was a bit of cheese slippage.

It was fun getting Mom out of the house, and we sure enjoyed our slices together. Mom is a tough pizza critic who remains quite loyal to her favorite place San Vito. However, I could tell that she enjoyed her slice as much as I did mine.

Add Fontana to the list of can’t-miss Bayonne pizzerias! I really enjoyed it.

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

Fontana Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant
1011 Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-630-6460
www.fontanapizzanj.com

Original Review: 09/22/12
PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection
 
Last Update: 09/21/14
PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

In September 2014, one of Bayonne’s best and most-loved pizza joints gave us all a scare when it shut down suddenly without any warning or notice. Eventually, its owner (Tony’s son) told us it was just for a renovation, and Tony’s was soon back making pies.

However, on a recent trip home, my craving for a slice and a Mozzarella sandwich found another “closed” sign in Tony’s front window. I later discovered a May 24th post on the You Know You Grew Up in Bayonne When …. Facebook page speculating that Tony’s may have closed.

My call to Tony’s number went unanswered, and my attempt to reach the owner through Facebook is pending.

The Pizza Snob wishes the folks behind Tony’s the best. I will update you if I hear anything more.

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P.
Tony’s Pizza
250 Broadway (between 9^th and 10^th Streets) Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-792-4132
[No website]

Original Review: 09/22/12
PIZZA SNOB RATING   **** Near Perfection

OK-if you live in Bayonne, this is old news to you. But, in the fall of 2014, popular local joint Pizza Masters underwent a massive facelift. In the process, they more than doubled their space, redesigning and moving the counter from left to right and adding a separate dining room in addition to an oversized main pizza room. The outdoor storefront also was reconfigured to cover the new territory from the takeover. It’s a big pizza place and now the biggest in town!

Much to everyone’s delight, Pizza Masters managed to stay open during construction and has now long since been up and running in its new digs.

In town and itching for a slice of good pie, the Snob scored one and came away thinking he really underestimated Pizza Masters in his original review. Theirs is a strong slice.

Still offering a wide variety from which to choose, my regular plain cheese slice ($2.30) took just a few minutes to reheat. The eating temperature was right on, and I was instantly impressed how solid and firm the Pizza Master slice was. It’s also bigger than most and it took two paper plates on which to serve it.

Its solid state came courtesy of a good consistent char on the bottom. On top, while things were far from being over-spiced, it was no way dull in taste. Both the cheese and tomato sauce were balanced and well-proportioned and of high-quality deliciousness. About the only minor knock on this one was that it was a notch dry—it could have stood a bit more oil.

But, by gosh, this is a worthy slice. And like I usually say, if this was in Anytown, USA outside of the Pizza State, there’s be a line around the block to get in!

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection
Pizza Masters
532 Broadway (between 24^th and 25^th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-437-4802
www.pizzamastersbayonne.com

Recently back home in Bayonne, I stood on a Boulevard street corner talking with a gentleman from the neighborhood. I asked him what he thought of Three Brothers from Italy, the pizza place looming in our background. “Dirty,” was all he said.

Looking back, I agree that the storefront of Three Brothers could use a new sign, some paint and a pressure wash. But at the time, choosing not to have my acquaintance elaborate any further, I decided I’d take the risk and give the place a try. I left telling him that’s its sometimes fun to write about bad pizza. As it turns out, that was a chance I did not get, since this turned out to be yet another good Bayonne slice.

Stepping inside on a late Friday afternoon, the square room with a counter in the back looked just like any other small neighborhood pizza joint. And it was clean! The green granite table tops in the seating area were actually quite attractive and cool-looking.

I ordered a plain cheese slice (only $1.75) at the counter and it was reheated in a flash. It turned out to be more triangular in shape as compared to the usual slices one sees in these parts. I was immediately whammed by its strong garlic taste. But dang-this slice was quite good and tasty!

The Mozzarella cheese was a bit fluffy with a slight run to it and was coated with just the right touch of oil. The crust could have been crisper. As it was, the slice was light and docile, lacking any real firmness. The heavy dose of garlic eventually became a little too much for me.

All in all, Three Brothers is a great place to be your neighborhood pizza joint if you want to get something to the house while it’s still good and hot. But, as all my readers by now should know, there’s plenty of good pizza to choose from in my hometown by the Bay.

By the way– my new friend knew his stuff and name-dropped Pizza Masters, Pompei and San Vito as his three Bayonne favorites. I guess I need to tell him that his neighborhood joint is not too shabby either.

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****Near Perfection
Three Brothers from Italy
646 Kennedy Blvd. (corner of 25^th Street)
Bayonne, NJ  07002
201-823-1055
[no website]

So here’s a post-mortem on a pizza joint in my hometown that I never visited. Advertising their wood-fired pizza with the slogan “We do it with wood” had little appeal to me in a town with more conventional pizza ovens than fire hydrants! Sorry, the Snob likes his pizza the old-fashioned way.

Although not as tragic as the recent closing of Tony’s Pizza, I hate to see any business bite the dust. But, it’s hard to imagine such an untraditional style of pizza surviving in Bayonne. (Yet for some reason there still is a Domino’s!)

It is worth noting that it was on the top floor of Wild Wood’s building where the March 2013 fire started that burned down Harry’s Liquors next store on the corner. Harry’s (pictured below) moved into a new building across the street while an empty lot still sits on the corner next to the now vacant Wild Wood store front. It so happens that this popular liquor store is where yours truly earned his spending money delivering booze during my college days.

Here’s an old photo I found of Wild Wood before the fire possibly taken before it even opened. Looks like they dropped the word “fire” from their name after the blaze.

Anybody out there ever had a Wild Wood pie? How was it?

WHERE IT WAS
Wild Wood Pizza and Penne
293 Broadway (corner of 13^th Street)
Bayonne, NJ 07002

Here’s a little Bayonne “mapography” from the Pizza Snob to preface this review. The streets running north-south on this narrow peninsula start with Avenue A on the west and end with a short Avenue F on the east. Kennedy Boulevard (Hudson County Boulevard until renamed for JFK) is between A and C and the retail district of Broadway takes the place of an Avenue D.

Avenue B is an oft-forgotten street that starts at 36^th Street where the Boulevard circles to the west at the County Park. Driving about one day, I decided to tour Avenue B from its start through its termination at the city line with Jersey City. The street is predominantly a sedate tree-lined residential area with only a handful of retail locations. Surprisingly, one of them is a pizza joint called Prima Pizzeria & Restaurant.

Listing it for a future visit, I recently got my chance when I needed to spend a week visiting a family member staying in a Jersey City hospital. Despite this unfortunate circumstance, I managed a full week of different nearby pizza lunches with Prima as my first stop.

It was a midweek late afternoon, and I easily found street parking near Prima which was empty this time of day. I noticed that Woodrow Wilson grammar school was right across the street explaining why Prima was half pizza joint and half deli. Hungry and in need of lunch, I ordered two plain cheese slices ($1.75 a pop) from an awaiting pre-made pie. I then waited at a nearby table where I did my usual IPhone business.

The slices were served quickly and looked great. I loved their economically-thin look—just the right amount of cheese, sauce and crust with no excess to waste. However, when I lifted the first one, it immediately sagged not having any crispness for support. It was also not hot enough. Most seriously though, its taste was dull and flat. It just had no life and was rather dry on both top and bottom. I chose not to season them which regretfully resulted in a lingering bad aftertaste.

Not a home run out of the park, this was just a mediocre slice that scored all its points from its good and compact construction and decent ingredients. In the pizza-prolific city of Bayonne, there’s just so much better. But, if I was on my lunch hour at Woodrow Wilson, I’m sure I’d find myself there at least once a week to scarf down a slice or two. Remember that generally speaking, “there is no such thing as bad pizza.”

PIZZA SNOB RATING ***1/2 Working on a Good Thing  
Prima Pizzeria & Restaurant
328 Avenue B (corner of 56^th Street)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-339-3100
[no website]

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of discovering a great “street slice” place in Jersey City called Prince of Pizza.  While devouring one of their perfect slices, I was surprised to find that they also had a joint in the northern end of my neighboring hometown of Bayonne. News to me, I can only assume it to be a recent venture. So, on my next trip back, my daily activities in Jersey City offered me the chance to travel a few blocks across the Bayonne border to see how this satellite Prince of Pizza location compares to the original mother ship.

On my usual late lunch hour, I hit the place at about 2pm in the middle of the week and was their lone customer. POP-Bayonne is located in a small storefront in the middle of the block on uptown Avenue C. I was surprised to see that their outdoor awning doesn’t capitalize on the traditional Italian-flag logo of the Jersey City site. Instead they have designed a fresh new modern-looking design emphasizing on-line ordering.

With the afternoon news blasting on the tube, I ordered the pair of cheese slices with my name on them ($1.75 each, tax included) that were sitting on the counter in the back. I then took a table where I multi-tasked listening to the brutality of the current election news and reading some work e-mails on my phone.

Although the room was small, it was probably twice the size as the tiny Jersey City “grab and go” spot. However, sitting at one of their tables today was a challenge. The air conditioning wasn’t working, and a giant fan doing its best to provide comfort on this hot 90-degree day.

After a two-to-three-minute heat up in the pizza oven, the slices were mine and they were fantastic! POP has successfully brought its pizza perfection into Bayonne.

The POP slice may be a little heavier with cheese and oil than some others, but it is far from being overdone. The slices were really good and hot although the way through—a cautious eat, but I suffered no roof-of-mouth casualties. I got some help from the solid-charred bottom crust which let me do a full fold from tip to end crust which protected my mouth from the hot scrumptious contents. Neither overly-seasoned or bland, the blend of the cheese and sauce tasted downright delicious.

I felt like I was eating my slices in a dream-like state, simply lost in the enjoyment of just how good they were. To the best I can recall, the pie was pretty much the same as the JC location which says a lot.

If I lived in uptown Bayonne or lower Jersey City, this would definitely be my go-to place for a quick slice or a pie to bring home. But, like its parent in Jersey City, POP isn’t the kind of place you’d take your date after the prom. Nonetheless, this is East Coast NY-Style pie as good as it gets.

PS—This now poses a question to my fellow Bayonnites: Is Pompei Pizza still the city’s best? After a recent repeat at Pompei, the Snob still ranks it #1 on the peninsula. What do you think?

PIZZA SNOB RATING ***** Sets the Standard
Prince of Pizza
1102 Avenue C (between 53^rd & 54^th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-858-1691
www.princeofpizzabayonne.com

This is getting to be an old story. A simple brick storefront downtown on Bayonne’s Broadway continues to change hands—remarkably remaining its configuration as a pizza joint. Morphing from “long-standing” Mario’s Pizza to the “move uptown and then shut down” Lorenzo’s Pizza & Pasta, and after a blink of an eye as Pizza Bella, the spot is now home to Grandpa’s Kitchen.

And, in a somewhat strange full circle, the owner of the new place is named Mario! Although their website says he owned a restaurant outside of Rome, Italy for two decades, the new sign at the Bayonne location says “Since 1975.” Could this be the return of the original Mario?

Back in town for a few weeks taking care of some family matters, I had a short rope on my Pizza-Snobbing travels and needed to stay close to home. Thus, a pie and a big grilled chicken salad to bring home on this weeknight seemed in order. However, to test the chef, I requested a cheese slice ($1.50) while I waited and watched the rest get prepared from scratch right in front of my eyes.

Scoping the place out, the inside had not changed from its previous incarnations. I did notice the rather extensive menu of dishes which also surprisingly included breakfast options! Most notably my observations found the reason behind the joint’s new name. Starting some small talk, I got to meet Mario, his wife and their darling young grandson! Our chatter continued, and I found them to be some of the nicest people you will ever meet. And, what a great gig they have! Run a restaurant from 9am to 8pm (closed Sundays) while babysitting your pride and joy!

As to my slice on-site, Mario, or “Grandpa,” asked me if I wanted it “hot.” Replying in the affirmative, it came to me in what I would describe as a cautious-eating state. Looks wise, the slice was more triangular in shape than one finds in these parts. Also, the bottom crust looked pale, more perhaps from choice of flour than the lack of a char.

Taste wise, it was a little below my norm. Not enough of a pizzaologist, I was unable to pinpoint my mild dissatisfaction which seemed to point to an unfamiliar taste in the tomato sauce. All-in all though, it was quite enjoyable, tasty and not overdone with sauce or cheese. Despite the lack of char, it was crisp and made for a classic Fold & Rip finale.

This may not have been the best slice one can have in Bayonne, but this is a great place run by some genuinely lovely people. I wouldn’t hesitate going back and suggest you give them a try as well.

PIZZA SNOB RATING ***1/2 Working on a Good Thing  
Grandpa’s Kitchen
330 Broadway (between 15^th and 16^th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-471-2471

www.grandpamarioskitchen.com

Excuse me for saying again what I have said before, but after having been to 27 pizza joints in the town of my birth, Bayonne, NJ, could there really be any more that I have yet to visit? Well, I was back home again looking for some new pie to try. Thinking back to when I was younger, I recalled how Bayonne used to have a bar on just about every corner that cooked pizza. So, using Google as my lure, and “Bayonne bar pie” as my bait, I caught The Starting Point Bar & Grille.

Locating it on the map. I realized that this place used to be Cavanagh’s Corner. While I don’t recall whether or not Cavanagh’s made pies, I do remember it as a place that hosted many softball game after parties when that sport ruled Bayonne. (Can you believe that today there isn’t one single league in town!) Further to my surprise was word from my brother that our cousin Billy bartended there on Friday afternoons of which this day was one.

I made my way to the far southwest corner of the city where the Starting Point stands in a small building under the shadow of the “under-elevation” Bayonne Bridge. Across the corner lies an eerie desolate area where the Texaco plant once stood. My thoughts went back to my grammar school days and our Geography textbook calling Bayonne “the world’s largest petroleum refinery.” How things change.

Making my way through the side door on the First Street side, I immediately hollered at the bartender. After getting my cousin’s attention, we spent a few minutes catching up before I ordered my large pie to take home. Looking around, I was surprised to see more of a rock music than sports motif in the main room. How things change.

It was after work and the place was lively with many people talking about one last fling down the shore for the weekend. I enjoyed the friendly welcoming atmosphere of the Starting Point and was surprised to see they also present live entertainment. My wait was a little longer than I expected, but I eventually said my goodbye and took my large pizza ($11.75) home to eat with Mom and Dad.

The standard for a Bayonne bar pie has always been the Venice. Cousin Billy tipped me off that the Starting Point pie would be just like it, and he sure was right. It was ultra-thin, crispy, lushly coated with a sheen of oil, and light on both the cheese and the sauce. It was also downright delicious.

By the time I got it home, it had managed to stay warm. It had been a while since I’d had one, and I had forgotten just how awesome a Bayonne bar pie can be. This one was just short of being a clone of the Venice in that it was not as charred, black and crisp on the bottom. Likewise, as I expected, it was floppy from being so thin, but its end crust was good and crunchy. Tasty all about, in a thin pie this this, it is however all about the oil—the true star that makes this pie shine so flavorfully.

Our pie was gone in a flash. Like an eating machine, I blazed right through it and couldn’t stop. I could have gone back for another and eaten the whole thing myself. It’s that good—light on the tummy but heavy on the enjoyment meter!

A Bayonne bar pie needs to be on any pizza lover’s bucket list and The Starting Point is a good place to try one. Take my word. But, as to whether it’s better than the Venice—that’s still a toss-up!

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection
The Starting Point Bar & Grille
2 Avenue A (at 1st Street)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-243-0092
[no website]

Guess what? I found another pizza joint in Bayonne. Driving back home along First Street after picking up my amazing bar pie from The Starting Point, I spotted a storefront that I had never before noticed: Bayview Pizzeria. In the nightly mode of bringing home dinners while taking care of my folks, the next evening I thought I’d grab a quick slice and bring home a big juicy meatball sandwich to split with my Dad.

It was about 7pm on a Saturday when I parked along the bay (the Kill van Kull) that separates our fair city from the New York City borough of Staten Island. Crossing the street, I found Bayview looking so dark and empty that I wasn’t even sure it was open.

Making my way inside, I discovered that those lights were off to help keep it cool inside. The room was a bit uncomfortable with a large fan was doing its best to overcome an apparent broken air conditioner. I ordered as planned at the counter and sat at a table in the sparse and unkempt room with my attention wavering between my phone and the television on the back wall.

Just before I ordered, I watched the woman behind the counter make a pizza. Since there was nothing out on the counter, I surmised that I would be waiting for my slices to come from this new in-process pie.

My two slices ordered to go were ready before my meatball sandwich (which was good, but quite salty), so I ate one while I waited. This resulted in the sauna-like experience of eating a piping hot slice in a hot muggy room. Eating it so fast to prevent burning my mouth, I barely tasted what I was eating. While, not overly enamored by what I just scarfed down, I would wait until I finished my second slice at home before passing my final judgement.

As presented, the slice didn’t look quite right. On the top it was much more yellow in color than red—a usual foreshadowing to disappointment. On the bottom, the crust looked more like a pastry than a pizza. Eating through such a hot slice also made me lose some cheese along on the way. Surprisingly, it wasn’t all that bad tasting as its looks may have presented. On the plus side, it was toasted to a solid charred bottom.

None of the individual tastes were bad, but were just slightly off of the norm for a Bayonne slice. The light color from being light on the tomato sauce made it lag in flavor from the lack of the accompanying seasoning. The cheese was OK.

At home for the second slice, I noticed that it carried much more dough than I cared for. In fact, the more I dwelled on this slice, it reminded me of those rare times when I broke down and tried a Papa John’s or Domino’s slice at a pot luck spread. Just nothing special.

Bayview isn’t a place I’d return to in this city full of great pizza. It’s a place that I would recommend only out of the convenience of its location and late hours.

PIZZA SNOB RATING    *** Better Than Dominos

Bayview Pizzeria
35 West 1st Street
[between Avenue C and Kelly Parkway]
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-535-5552
www.bayviewpizzabayonne.com

Like the recent shuttering of Tony’s Pizza, this is another hard hometown hit for the Pizza Snob. After a recent change in ownership, word is that the new folks running the show at the Venice Restaurant just couldn’t make things happen. The permanent closure is confirmed, but unexplained at their Facebook page.

There is some solace in that I have since learned that the fabulous bar pie at The Starting Point is actually the handy work of the most recent Venice chef. So the good news is that this wonderfully thin crusted delight of a pizza still lives on in downtown Bayonne.

However, both Tony’s and the Venice locations look fresh and ready for someone to step in and bring them back to life. We’ll see what happens.

Original Review: 11/12/13
PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Venice Restaurant
31 Cottage Street Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-339-1115
[no website]

Yesterday’s posting about the closing of Venice Restaurant led to the Bayonne Facebook page notifying me of another tragedy—the closing of Chris’ Corner. This is a tough one for The Pizza Snob since theirs was the first pizza I ever tasted while growing up just down the block from this Bayonne landmark.

It’s certainly sad to see our old hometown change as rapidly as it has lately. And with the way Bayonne has been developing, the Chris’ site seems ripe to turn into a residential location.

With the recent fall of Venice, Chris’ and Naples Pizza we have lost three of the cities’ great thin crust bar pies. To my knowledge that leaves The Starting Point, Big Apple and my latest discovery, Kuhl’s Tavern, left to carry the flame. Let’s hope these recipes somehow survive for generations to come.

Here is the message posted yesterday (12/3/16) on the Chris’ Corner Facebook page.

Wanted to take a minute to say thank you to all of our patrons, friends and family for your years of giving us business and friendship here at the CC. We regretfully must close after 57 years on that corner. We are heartbroken. There will be a lot of memories from so many wonderful people we have met over the years. We just can’t do it anymore. I needed to tell all of my staff before putting something official on Facebook. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. Much love to all. Thanks for the memories.

Original Review: 12/10/13
PIZZA SNOB RATING     *** Better Than Dominos

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Chris’ Corner
117 West 2nd Street
[corner of Humphrey Avenue]
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-436-8181
www.chriscornerrestaurant.com

The pizza news from my ever-changing hometown seems to be never-ending. Following the recent closing doors of Venice and Chris’ Corner came talk that the Big Apple was next. This news was confirmed yesterday by its owners.

Bayonne’s surprisingly amazing Mexican Restaurant, El Aquila Dorada, will be moving down Broadway from the corner of 38^th Street to the much bigger Big Apple spot between 18^th and 19^th Streets.

Now they strange part—they will be adding a thin-crust pizza to the menu! The Snob looks forward to giving them a try. If they can make pizza like they make Mexican food, we are all in for a treat. No word though on whether this will still be a place to watch the game!

Here is the message posted by the departing owners yesterday (12/09/16) on the Big Apple Facebook page.

Letter of Thanks

After over 40 years in business, The Big Apple Sports Palace and Restaurant has decided to change hands and let the family of El Aguila Dorada take over. We can’t put into words the gratitude we have for each and every one for your business and support for so many years. Working with the citizens of Bayonne has been nothing but an absolute pleasure. It was a hard decision but our family felt it was time.

On behalf of the entire Bottino Family and extended family, we would like to say with the upmost sincerity, THANK YOU!! for all you have done for helping us build The Big Apple into what it is today. We would not have been able to do it without you. Thank you to all the local sports organizations including the PAL, Bayonne High School, Bayonne Youth Soccer Association(BYSA), Bayonne Little League, and Bayonne Cal Ripken (to name a few) for allowing us to sponsor you and the children of this community for so many years. One thing we always prided ourselves in was to give back to the community and especially the children of Bayonne. They are our future.

Thank you to all the professional sports players who have come to support The Big Apple and allowed our community to meet you and have a few laughs. Thank you to the Police Department, Fire Department, and all the public service people of city hall for keeping us safe over the years and for your love and support.

Thank you to every single person who walked through our doors and patronized our establishment. Thank you to each and every employee who has worked for our family through so many years. Countless of you have become like family to us and that is one thing we will truly miss. We have had so many great times with so many of you and those are memories we will truly always remember.

We have been assured by the family of El Aguila Dorado that they will be adding the famous “thin” pizza and Buffalo wings the Big Apple has been known for to their menu. We wish them all the luck and continued success in their new endeavor and hope you give them the same respect and support you have given the Bottino Family for over 40 years.

Thank you!
The Bottino Family

Original Review: 1/22/14
PIZZA SNOB RATING     **** Near Perfection

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Big Apple Sports Palace & Restaurant
414 Broadway (between 18^th and 19^th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-858-1075
www.bigapplesportspalace.net

After a failed change in ownership that resulted in closing of the Venice Restaurant, there was quite a bit of chatter about a possible reopening.

Back in Bayonne for the weekend, my walk down the street revealed the following notice on their door.

My sources tell me that this is a different ownership group. And with the Venice cook now at The Starting Point, we will all have to wait to see if the Venice can regain its place as one of the Garden State’s best bar pies.

Previous Update 12/03/16
Original Review: 11/12/13
PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

NEW PIZZA SNOB RATING     R.I.P
Venice Restaurant
31 Cottage Street Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-339-1115
[no website]

Yes, another place in Bayonne. And better yet, it’s a place that serves a classic ultra-thin Bayonne bar pie! I first got word of Kuhl’s Tavern from a reply on the Bayonne Facebook page to my write-up about the great bar pie at The Starting Point.

So, late one night while back in my home town, I was in need of some dinner and thought I’d check out Kuhl’s for a pie. Unsure of its exact Prospect Avenue location, I was surprised to see it on the corner of 22nd Street, a spot I drove by a million times before the Route 440 back highway was extended through to the Bayonne Bridge. I really shouldn’t have been surprised since they have been there since 1954. I guess I just never thought of it as a place for pizza.

Parking was a nightmare as it seems to be in most Bayonne neighborhoods these days. It took a scouring of several city blocks to find a spot. I finally made my way into the small barroom at about 7:30pm and was greeted by some of the friendly locals watching football while nursing some beers. I didn’t know much about Kuhl’s, but was later told it was a big sports bar. In fact, I learned that it was one of the first places around where you could watch football games on satellite television.

Making a beeline for the bartender, I ordered a large cheese pie ($9.50) to go since the room was small, and I didn’t see anyone else eating, although it looked a few tables were there for that purpose. He asked me if I had called in, and I would soon find out that I wished I did. Spotting the opening to the kitchen in the rear, I saw that there was only one woman back there making the food. So I sat reading my phone and waited, and waited and waited.

After it got to the uncomfortable point where I started to worry that they may have missed my order, I asked the barkeep about my pie’s status. He nicely told me that there were a lot of people in front of me, the kitchen was small, and that I should call ahead next time. When I finally got my pie after about a 30-minute wait, he was very nice and apologetic. Not being in a hurry and being totally understanding, I made my peace with him that I was in no way upset. And, I made sure to leave a healthy tip for the hard working lady in the kitchen.

So I took the pie home and opened the box to see a beautiful looking bar pie–excluding one small hole that was understandable since it was so thin. It had a beautiful dark pink color, almost as if it were made from a vodka sauce. The cheese on this ultra-thin eight-slicer was so light you could barely see it under the pink sauce and a sprinkling of oregano. The end crusts had the usual dull look on a bar pie and they easily cracked. The cook knows how to keep the oil under control unlike some others in this genre of pie.

I started right in and devoured this pie in no time flat. (I did commit one slice to the freezer for my brother to try). Kuhl’s bar pie was absolutely delicious. Light and crisp, every bite was a tasty delight.

Maybe I do like The Starting Point’s bar pie just a little better, but this is certainly a fabulous effort by Kuhl’s. I just hope and pray that these great recipes survive an ever-changing Bayonne. So. give it a try—but you probably want to call in first! The kitchen is open at lunch through 10pm.

PS – The next morning (Thanksgiving Day) I drove over to Kuhl’s to get a daytime outdoor photo for the blog. Imagine my surprise when I saw someone entering the place in a full Nordic Vikings outfit! When I later found out that Minnesota playing in the game today and my brother remembered that the owner was a Vikings fan, this made sense.

PIZZA SNOB RATING ****1/2 Nearer Perfection

Kuhl’s Tavern
53 Prospect Avenue (at 22nd Street)
Bayonne, NJ 07002
201-858-9469
[no website]