There is something special about eating pizza down the Jersey Shore; it just feels like an instant reminder of summer. Whether you prefer thin crust or deep dish, marinara sauce or vodka sauce, the Jersey Shore pizza scene has all those pizza preferences covered. The JSG gathered a town-by-town list of fan-favorite pizzerias good for a pit stop after spending the day by the beach- no matter what shore town you go to. Keep reading for a guide to pizzerias down the Jersey Shore.
Asbury Park
The Galley Pizza + Eatery | 1313 Memorial Drive
The Galley Pizza + Eatery, the recent winner of the APP.com’s 2024 Pizza Playoff, is the go-to spot for fun pizza options. The Detroit-style pan pizzas here are 16”; the cheese comes to the edge of the pizza and is crispy at the bite, + the dough is thick yet airy. The pan pizza options include chicken vodka, vegan roni, buffalo chicken + other red sauce, and secret cheese blends. It also has XL round pies and eye-catching signature pies like the chicken bacon ranch. JSG recommends looking out for the Chicken Mak Pie, which has organic Bell + Evans breaded chicken, mozzarella, American cheese, minced onions, lettuce, pickles, and house-made burger sauce.
Joe’s Rotisseria | 504 Main Street, Asbury Park
Joe’s Rotisseria’s pizzas are as good as they look on its Instagram. Joe’s Rotisseria is the home of the Triple Threat Pizza, which is pizza, calzone, and garlic knots wrapped into one serving. This pizza location prides itself on its creative pies: if a customer can imagine a wild topping combination, most likely, Joe’s Rotisseria can make it happen. Some unique choices made at this pizzeria include garlic knots, vodka chicken parm sliders, or hot dogs as the pizza crust. Joe’s Rotisseria’s pinwheels, which range from options like mac n’ cheese to cheesesteaks, are also a cool side option that can be added to these pies.
Talula’s Pizza | 550 Cookman Avenue #108
Talula’s is a restaurant with gourmet pizzas and toppings and a cool industrial-style aesthetic. Its red pizzas are made in-house with a four-hour tomato sauce. The JSG likes the Beekeeper’s Lament, which has house-made mozzarella, hot Calabrian soppressata, and local honey. There are also plenty of white pizza options, including a vegan pie called the Vegan BBQ Show. At Talula’s, customers can also add fresh toppings like meatballs, kale, farm egg, and basil; there’s even a wide selection of vegan toppings that make this restaurant inclusive to all pizza lovers.
Avon-By-The-Sea
Michael’s Pizzeria of Avon | 526 Main Street
Michael’s Pizzeria of Avon has all the classic pizza options. Customers can get a Margherita pie, BBQ chicken ranch, tomato broccoli, Sicilian, vodka, or white. Pie toppings can be added to half the pie, or patrons can choose two toppings that can be placed on each half of the pizza pie. Michael’s Pizzeria of Avon has cauliflower crust options and a Meat Haters specialty pizza that has pepper, onion, mushroom, broccoli, spinach, black olives, and fresh garlic.
Belmar
Federici’s On 10th | 705 10th Avenue
Federici’s On 10th is an Italian restaurant with a brick oven thin-crust pizza. Customers can select from an individual 9″, small 13″, or a large 15″ pizza. There is also a 10″ gluten-free cauliflower pizza or a classic 10″ gluten-free pizza pie. Premium toppings include prosciutto and bacon, or the standard vegetable toppings like artichokes and broccoli- and baby shrimp can be added to any pizza. Federici’s has specialty pizzas like buffalo, vodka, or white pies; the JSG thinks the Chicken, Bacon, Creamy Italian pie is a must- try.
Pizzeria ‘Lucci | 809 Belmar Plaza
At Pizzeria Lucci, all the pizzas are cooked welldone, and there are no phones, so customers either need to walk in or order online. There are five pizzas on its menu: the classics are a marinara with no cheese and a plain or white pizza. Additional toppings include provolone, pickled chilies, olives, or anchovies. The Lucci pies are combinations of the business’s favorite combinations that ask for zero substitutions. There is no ordering by the slice here, but customers can BYOB.
Read More: The Best BYOB Restaurants in Asbury Park, New Jersey
Bradley Beach
Vic’s Italian Restaurant | 60 Main Street
Vic’s Italian Restaurant is a family-owned restaurant serving the Jersey Shore since 1947. Customers can order a large 14-inch pizza with eight slices, a 10-inch pizza with six slices, or a small mini 10-inch pizza pie; gluten-free options are available. Barstool fans—Dave Portnoy loved that Vic’s serves what he calls a “bar pie” and ranked the pizza here an 8.3.
Long Beach Island
BLVD Pizza | 503 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City
BLVD Pizza is LBI’s local pizza shop that serves traditional and gourmet slices and pies. The square pies are made with G-MA crusts (which are airy, fluffy + crunchy) and are topped with different options like the plum tomato sauce or its parma rosa sauce + fresh mozzarella. The Grandpa Pie, for example, has mozzarella, plum tomato Sauce, homemade meatballs, free-range chicken, and ricotta, finished with basil, EVOO, and Pecorino Romano. The round pizza here includes the white pie (locals rave about the fresh + creamy ricotta), the Fig Poppa (Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, Fig Jam), + the standard topping variations like sausage, peppers, mushrooms, + onions. Customers can order a Plain Jane or Pepperoni pizza by slice, yet because BLVD values quality over quantity, it is not the type of pizzeria that will have a ton of pies on display from which to purchase a quick slice.
Long Branch
Nunzio’s Pizzeria | 230 Westwood Avenue
Nunzio’s Pizzeria has old-school round pizza pies. Nunzio’s team makes the classic pies using its secret sauce, like the “Headstrong” NY Style, Upside Down Sicilian, or Louie’s Special, which also has mozzarella, sweet sausage, and green peppers. Its 30-inch pizza pie allows customers to pick up to three different styles, and the 12-inch pizza pies include four cheeses. Dave Portnoy’s pizza ranking for Nunzio’s is 8.6 (IYKYK: this is a high ranking).
GiGi’s NY Style Pizza and Restaurant | 140 Brighton Avenue, Long Branch, 1142 Ocean Avenue North, Sea Bright + 18 1/2 Wolfhill Avenue, Oceanport, NJ
The pizza menu at GiGi’s is broken up into rounds, thin Sicilians, specialty pies, and New Haven Apizza. Round pizzas include everything from a standard plain to vodka or white slices and classic topping combinations like the Hawaiian pizza. Thin Sicilian pizzas have names like the Drunken Grandma, which is a good fit for anyone with trouble picking a sauce. It has fresh mozzarella, pesto, vodka sauce, and marinara. Its specialty pies continue the fun name trend with options like The Best Pizza Ever (which was named by customers) and includes grilled chicken, spinach, and garlic cream sauce. Its New Haven-style pizzas are very well done- JSG recommends the El Prez, which is a thin crust, extra cheesy, fresh basil, and extra crispy- no toppings or modifications are allowed on this one because it is that good as is.
Manasquan
Qua Pizza | 179 Main Street
Qua Pizza serves Roman-style pizza in Manasquan. The crust at Qua is different from other square pies because it is made from long-fermentation and high-hydration dough baked in blue steel pans that create a crisp crust and an airy inside. Qua uses Fior di Latte mozzarella and non-GMO tomatoes imported from Italy. The flour that is used at Qua has no additional additives or enzymes. Qua has specialty pizza selections and a build-your-own option, which lets customers pick a base and either half or full toppings. Qua has a Take + Bake, which allows customers to order the pizza, pick up the assembled pie,, and bake it at home.
See More: Unique Pizza You *MUST * Order in North Jersey
Neptune City
Pete & Elda’s Bar / Carmen’s Pizzeria | 96 Woodland Avenue
Pete and Elda’s/Carmen’s Pizzeria has served its thin-crust pizza for over 50 years in Neptune City. The pizza at Pete + Elda’s/Carmen’s comes in sizes like small, large, extra large, or double extra large, and the bar pie is only available at the bar. There are a ton of toppings to pick from. Since this pizza spot specializes in thin crust, if you want a thicker crust, let Pete + Elda’s/Carmen’s know, and it will make the adjustment for a one-dollar upcharge. The XXL pizza here is 18 inches in diameter, and The Whole Eater Challenge requires a customer to eat the whole pie in one sitting in 30 minutes- the prize being a Pete + Elda’s / Carmen’s t-shirt (plus bragging rights).
Ocean City
Manco + Manco | Multiple Locations
This family-owned restaurant has been serving its thin and crispy pizza in Ocean City since 1956. Manco Manco’s signature 18″ pizza has options like a Meat Lover’s or a Veggie Lover’s, buffalo or barbeque chicken, or an Everything Pie that gives customers the option of picking six toppings. It also has white, Sicilian, or gluten-free pizzas. It has three locations, but one is directly on Ocean City’s boardwalk, so pizza lovers can stop here after the beach to see its skilled pie makers spin out dough for the complete Manco Manco experience.
Roma Pizza | 656 Boardwalk
Roma Pizza is home to the Ocean City boardwalk pizza cone; try a plain, pepperoni, or buffalo chicken. Its 22-inch pies have options like plain, white, or pickle pizza. Other signature options include Sicilian (get the MVP, which has three sauces), hot honey pepperoni, or a 10′ gluten-free pie. Roma Pizza also sells pizza by the slice, which sounds like a good option before the drive home from the beach.
Point Pleasant
Rosie’s Pizza | 620 Bay Avenue
Rosie’s is an artisan pizza shop in downtown Point Pleasant Beach. The menu is straightforward: guests start with a 16-inch square or round pie with fresh mozzarella, milled tomatoes, and fresh garlic. Toppings can be placed on either half or whole pizza of choice. Rosie’s pizza has topping choices like sausage, pepperoni, spinach, anchovies, red onion, and meatballs.
Sea Bright
Sea Bright Pizzeria | 1068 Ocean Avenue
Sea Bright Pizzeria has been serving craft pizza in Sea Bright since 2006. It uses San Marzano tomatoes and Grande mozzarella. Specialty pies like the Forgettabouta A Pizza or Cono’s Famous Eggplant Pizza are made with ingredients imported from Italy. For those who have a sweet tooth, try Sea Bright Pizzeria’s Homemade Nutella Pie.
Seaside Heights
Maruca’s Tomato Pies | 601 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights + 1050 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park
Maruca’s Tomato Pies is a classic Jersey Shore pizzeria that has been around since 1950. Its signature sauce and cheese swirls make picking out a Marcua’s pie easily identifiable. Maruca’s Tomato Pies has locations in Asbury Park and Seaside Heights. It has a 24″ extra large pie, an 18″ large pie, or a bar pie that is twelve inches. There are also white, Margherita, or specialty pies like the buffalo chicken and plenty of toppings. JSG Tip: When Asbury Park has its Stony Pony Summer Stage open, Maruca’s Tomato Pies is an easy grab + go option while listening to the music on the boardwalk.
Wildwood
Poppi’s Brick Oven Pizza | 4709 New Jersey Avenue
Poppi’s serves hand-crafted Neapolitan-style pizza in its 900-degree brick oven, which makes for a quick cooking time and crispy crust. Its pizza options include everything from the classic Margherita to the Truffle Pie. Its pizzas are all 12″, and there is also the fig, Caprese, vegetable, and buffalo pizza or a build-your-own option. Customers can also make the pizza a 9″ gluten-free crust, and BYOB is a bonus for those dining in.
