Is it really a trip to the Jersey Shore if it doesn’t involve a slice of pizza at some point? But we don’t mean those generic, overpriced, floppy boardwalk slices made for tourists. We’re talking about the artisanal sourdough crusts, century-old family recipes, and perfectly charred Detroit-style squares coming out of The 10 Best Jersey Shore Pizzerias.
From the iconic, swirl-sauced tomato pies at a Seaside Heights hot spot to paper-thin, tavern-style masterpieces in Bradley Beach, the Shore is a haven for high quality pizza so long as you know where to look. So come along with us as we journey to underground pop-ups turned legitimate brick-and-mortars; master bakers fermenting dough for 72 hours or more; and historic family institutions that haven’t changed their winning formulas since the 1940s. Are you ready to try The 10 Best Jersey Shore Pizzerias? Keep Scrolling to See the Full List.
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Featured from Ocean County:
Bird & Betty’s
Where: 529 Dock Rd, Beach Haven
Why It’s a Best of NJ Pick: Bird & Betty’s captures the spirit of a classic Beach Haven night spot. Late night crowds can expect dance parties, popular bands touring through, local acts, and an all-around good time. The menu is full of favorites, but their pizza program stands out in particular as a must-try option. Not surprisingly, the Margherita with fresh mozzarella is a popular order. But we also recommend original creations like the Clam pie with fresh garlic and littlenecks; the Fig pie with Gorgonzola dulce, arugula, and honey; or the Roasted Corn pie with Parmesan, Calabrian Chili crunch, and lemon. Their cocktail menu includes martinis and spritzers, as well as a selection of drinks either frozen or over ice. Meanwhile, their spritzers come in flavors like blueberry lemon, guava limeade, and jalapeno ginger lime. Of course, Bird & Betty’s also boasts an outdoor bar on their deck overlooking the water. Come for the sunset, stay for the exciting nightlife.
| Visit their Website | Reserve a Table | Shop their Merch | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 609-492-3000 |
Bakeria 1010
Where: Ocean City
Details: The fresh bread and pizza at Bakeria 1010 is the product of hard work and dedication. All pizza and bread is made on site using an all natural sourdough process that takes 36 hours to ferment. The pizza menu includes a dozen options available in half (8.5″), full (17″), and round (18″) pies. Locals love the Margherita and Tomato Pie in equal measure, but we also recommend the Funghi. It comes topped with a wild mushroom medley, caramelized onions, gruyere, mixed herbs, and fresh mozzarella.
Denino’s South Pizzeria
Where: Brick
Details: Denino’s is all about thin crust pizza. They have a big menu that mixes classic favorites alongside unique specialty pies, but most patrons keep things simple. (You know it’s a top tier spot when the plain cheese pie is their most famous option on the menu.) If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend either the Clam Pie or the signature Denino’s M.O.R. Pie. The latter comes with meatballs, fresh onions, and ricotta cheese. Fun fact: They intentionally cook the pies a little less here as opposed to the original Staten Island location.
Federici’s Family Restaurant
Where: Freehold
Details: This legendary spot is over 100 years old, yet continues to improve each year. From renovating their upstairs dining room with modern amenities, to perfecting the art of their famous thin crust pizza, Federici’s is the perfect family spot (both family-owned and family-friendly). Their pies come in Individual (9″), Small (12″), and Large (14″) sizes, with over a dozen toppings to choose from. This is one of the few spots that does a great Shrimp Scampi pie; but we also recommend the Eggplant Parm and Plain Cheese pies.
Maruca’s Tomato Pies
Where: Seaside Heights
Details: An icon of the Jersey Shore, Maruca’s Tomato Pies is genuinely beloved (thanks for ruining that word, ChatGPT). In business for over 75 years, they are of course famous for their tomato pies. These legendary pies are available by the slice, as a 12″ bar pie, 18″ large, or 24″ XL pie. Aside from tomato pies, their signature specialty pizza is the Maruca’s Deluxe, topped with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. While it’s not exactly the same, Maruca’s also offers nationwide frozen pizza shipping via GoldBelly.
Pizzeria Lucci
Where: Belmar
Details: Belmar’s not so secret gem for well-done, 16″ pies is Pizzeria Lucci. Their fan favorite classic pies include the plain cheese pie, white pies, and Marinara (cheese-less) pie. They also have a a selection of three ‘Lucci Pies. These specialty options cannot be modified (nor do they need to be) and include the Spinach Pie with heavy cream pecorino; Pepperoni with low moisture mozzarella and red onion; and the rotating ‘Lucci house special which features chef-inspired takes on whatever fresh, seasonal ingredients are available.
Rosie’s Pizza
Where: Point Pleasant Beach
Details: All the pizza at Rosie’s is made with a sourdough crust. The team uses non-bleached, non-bromated flours, then ferments the mixed dough for a minimum of 72 hours. This makes their pizza much lighter and, similar to the world-renowned pizza in Italy, more easily digestible. Each pie is baked well done and finished with EVOO and basil. Their round, thin-crust NY-style pies are great as-is, but can come with up to two toppings. We recommend either the ricotta, hot honey, mushrooms, or house-roasted red peppers.
Squares & Fare
Where: Somers Point
Details: Formerly an underground pop up made by pizza lovers for pizza lovers, Squares & Fare has since “gone legit”. Their now famous Sicilian square pan pizzas and slices are equally popular for lunch and dinner. While they offer the option to go half and half on a pie, we recommend sticking with any of their pre-designed specialty options. Their traditional pie is on point, but we also recommend the Bellucci; this perfect marriage combines their Vodka-Roni and Black Truffle pizzas to create an otherworldly flavor profile.
Tramonto’s Pizza
Where: Ocean Township
Details: Some folks come to Tramonto’s for burgers and cheesesteaks. But pizza aficionados know it is one of the Jersey Shore’s best spots for authentic Detroit-style pies. The handcrafted pizzas at this family-owned restaurant use house-made fermented dough alongside their scratch made sauces. Their huge pizza menu covers nearly every possible topping combination, but we have two favorites: The Detroit Drunken Vodka Burrata and the Sexy Italian (a white pie with chicken cutlet, prosciutto, roasted red pepper, ricotta, and basil.
Vic’s Italian Restaurant
Where: Bradley Beach
Details: This multi-generation family run restaurant has been in operation since 1947. In the nearly 80 years since Vic’s first started serving customers, they’ve developed a reputation for legendary thin crust pizzas. Pizzas come as either Mini (10″, six slices), small (12″, six slices) or Large (14″, eight slices) pies. All of their sauces and pizza dough are homemade, and can be cooked either well done or “lightly cooked”. We recommend sticking with their plain Cheese Pie, but their Special (cheese, sausage, and green peppers) is a winner too.
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