The pizza is unlike anywhere else and Al is a legend. Can't wait until they reopen! From how you order to the vibe in the space, Santillo's is worth the trip from anywhere. read more

I can't review the pizza. I ubered over here but the place is closed, even though Yelp says they are not. Looks like a remodel maybe. The owner answered the phone though, told me they are closed for a few weeks. Call before you uber over like I did. Pics look amazing. He even recommended another pizza restaurant across town. Stand up guy. I'll be back after they open and I'm looking forward to it. read more

I looked toward to ordering here sooo bad I called on a sat night 8:30 it says there open and guy answered rude I asked if they do delivery he gave nasty aditude and said nooooo where not open read more

Well worth the over 45 minute drive. Al works his magic again and both pizza and eggplant parmigiana sub were incredible! read more

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Not sure what the hype is. Overrated. Definitely did not meet my expectations given the numerous reviews. Definitely not worth the ride. Pizza was dry, not flavorful. read more

Mr. Santillo, you have created a legendary pizza joint that hopefully many people will get to enjoy at least ONCE in their lifetime, BUT..... This menu is unique and the different variations of pizza that can be had here will keep you coming back for more and more. Unfortunately, the price tag on a singe pie will leave you wondering if you'll ever come back any time soon to try any other menu options. The flavors are there... zesty, saucy, gooey, melty, crispy, chewy and tasty! The competition in the pizza world will give Santillo's a great score. I can't deny how well designed my creation was, but at $43 for a: large Sicilian with half sausage, half San Marzano tomatoes, full of fresh garlic with a sesame crust - will make you wonder did I break a window while I was here?!?! AND, I didn't even get the feel that there was a topping in every bite!!! The hours are also quite bizarre... only Friday-Sunday (3 days). What are we doing here? Teasing us with only weekend hours, astronomical prices, and cash only (or Venmo). Business fundamentals are not in favor for the patrons. Put this on your bucket list, but this might be one of those once in a lifetime eats or if you win a scratch off and are looking to splurge ALL of your winnings at Santillo's. read more

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Where's the six star button??? We finally got to head over to Elizabeth to try Santillo's famous Pizza. I read a lot of reviews on this place. My mind is getting ready for what we're about to eat. This can not possibly live up to the hype. We make a right into S. Broad and there it is. The iconic sign we see on social media. Now let me paint this picture for you.... There's a church to the left with a parking lot and a parking lot to the right. We parked in the church being that it appeared that we're not active at the moment. We ordered online via Santillo's website. If you go in person, it's cash only but if you order online, you can pay with your card. You walk down a little alley and there's a door leading into the kitchen. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we didn't get a view of the historic brick oven but I still be back plenty of times and I'm looking forward to seeing this in action. Before I even get into what we had, the owner, Al greeted us at the door. This guy is one of the most personable human beings I have met. First of all, the pride he has in the food he makes and the history of his establishment is bar none. Before he even gave us our pizza, he had no doubt we were going to be blown away. Now at this point, I'm still skeptical. How can it be this good??? Then we start talking about life in general. We went from talking pizza to talking about what's better... The Godfather film or the book. Al says the book, so now I have to read it. What did we order? We got the 2020 (you order the pie based on the year it was popular. ) He'll make you a 1957 which is a tomato pie, 1962, 1967. Check out the menu. You'll get the picture. The 2020 is fresh mozz and San Marzano tomatoes. Then you tell him how many minutes you want it cooked. We went with 8 minutes which is golden brown crust. Plus we got half with meatball after hearing the meatballs are made from scratch along with the eggplant While there, we're eyeing up the sausage bread, so yes, we had to get that as well. To wash it down, this establishment has a soda brand that they get exclusively. Like old style sarsaparilla? Creamy birch? Great way to wash it down. Al, I'm calling him like he's family because that's how he makes you feel, hands us the box and tells us to open it and look while he gets the sausage bread. Oh my God. This pie looked phenomenal. We then grabbed the sausage bread and I had to get a quick picture with this pizza legend. We get back to the car and grab the first slice. Fuhgedaboudit. This is hands down, the best pizza I've ever had. The ingredients are out of this world. I challenge you to match it. The meatballs were absolutely delicious. I'm now dying to go back to get a meatball sandwich. We haven't even gotten to the sausage bread. I believe he gets the sausage fresh from a local butcher. The bread is made consistently from the family recipe that brought the Santillo name to where it is. I usually avoid end pieces because it's mostly bread and little sausage... This bread is so good, you'll want to just eat the bread. Take the drive. His hours are tight. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We went straight from work. I promise you, you will not be sorry! read more

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True Score: 5 Classic Stars Rear 5 star review. My favorite pizza in NJ. Been around the entire state and this is a special place. No one cooks a pizza like Al out of that amazing oven. We've only been able to grab take out since the pandemic so I haven't been able to meet the Al the legend yet. We've order several different styles, 57, 64, grandma. All great. TIP: Get the pie cooked to at least 7 or more. Bread needs to be crispy. This is a legendary place where the owner does NOT take shortcuts and you will get the highest quality pizza you can. The hard work shows. The only issue is that these pizzas are not cheap. A couple of pizzas with a couple of toppings is going to cost you at least 50 bucks. You get what you pay for so be prepared. ALWAYS AN ICON, you'll never have another pizza like it. Thanks read more

So, after seeing so many people post great things about this pizza, I finally drove over there to try it. The place is a little whole in the wall, and you get your pizza through the window as you can't come inside. They make the pizza to order, which is great, and you know it's fresh. The service was ok and they guy on the phone emphasized bring cash. To be honest, the pizza does not look appetizing, and it was just ok. The crust was great, but the sauce was missing something. I expected a bit more flavor. I liked it but not a place I'd be driving 20 minutes for. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Large round pie. - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

Preface: I was in only one night. Ordered delivery to hotel. Got this because of the great review from barstool. This was at best a high 6 maybe low 7. I really give it 3.5 stars but due to the price cant really give them the benefit of the doubt. I don't hold the delivery against them. I truest don't think this would have been much better fresh. Crust had good crisp but not much flavor. Not a fan of pizzas that use corn meal on their crust texturally. Nothing was particularly wrong with this pizza. They cooked it probably exactly how they intend to. I'm just not a fan of this particular style. Cooked sauce is pretty thick and rich, just ok flavor but too rich for my taste. Good amount of cheese but other flavors overpower, appreciated how thin it was and held up its crisp. When you bring everything together I wasn't a fan. Everything good could be countered by something I didn't like. It didn't feel like a particularly high end ingredient pizza. Not worth the hype or price. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

I was really excited about trying this place. I've read so many articles and post where they are mentioned as having the best. For 37 bucks for one pie, this ought to have been the best damn pizza ever. We asked for golden crust. Instead we got a thin crust, hard and burnt pie with hardly any cheese. I'm so confused as to why they think this is worth 37 bucks. Maybe it's only the Sicilian that's the best ‍ read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Burnt pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

The best pizza ever especially the 1964! Authentic thin crisp! Well done how it's made. Comforting location. Friendly staff especially Al

Best pizza in NJ. Looking forward to reopening! Great thin crust well done pies. Cash only.

This does NOT live up to the hype. There was nowhere to park for pickup and had to go around the corner. They hand you pizza through a tiny slit in the window. I got the 1964 pizza and garlic bread. I have no idea who would want to go and order that pie for $30. The crust was super hard, and the sauce was not great. The cheese was just ok. Tje garlic bread was maybe a step up from a basic homeade one, but for $18, I just would not order that. I would never go back, and I would never recommend it. It is so easy to find better pizza for less money. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1964 pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

I'm the type of guy that enjoys a unique tasting pizza; one that doesn't quite stick to formula. Santillo's crust is outrageously good, and the sauce has a distinct spice to it. The 1957 style is fabulously retro, and offers a refreshing reminder of how pizza used to be (and should be). The service experience was a bit weird, but hilarious nonetheless. They only have takeout at the moment, so shouting our order into the pizzeria through a locked screen door was a bit awkward - but it's all good. If you're looking for a place with old school attitude, this is your place. For a family spot with delightful service... you're better off elsewhere. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1957 Style Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

OMG! Why didn't I listen to the reviews??????? I was born and raised in Elizabeth. My Italian mother gave me pizza before she gave me formula so I know good pizza. Now I live in California and I wanted to give my family a treat so I bought 4 Santillo's cheese pizza from Gold belly for Christmas eve. Terrible. Exactly what the reviews said, dry crust, and to add insult to injury; corn meal on the bottom instead of flour. This pizza was absolutely tasteless. I'd give this an F. What a disappointment. Now I can't brag to my family how great the NJ Pizza is after serving this slop. I'll never live this down! read more

Good but pricey. Like many people, I had seen the review on One Bite, and wanted to try this place when I was in the area. Was up there Friday, visiting family and went for it. I got the 1964, the standard pie (on left), and a 2020 (pictured on the right.) You have to order from the outside, and wait there for your pie. We all agreed that we preferred the 1964. Very tasty pizza, tangy sauce, cooked to perfection. Just as Dave Portnoy said in his review, the crust is amazing. We were all impressed with the texture of the crust. We all agreed the pizza was very good. Just pricey. The two pies pictured cost $55. I guess that's OK for an occasional treat. This is real artisan pizza, made by someone who was born into the business and has been baking pies all his life. If I were to go back, I would just stick with the 1964. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

Delicious pizza! We had tried to stop by earlier in the summer but found that they were on vacation. I knew we needed to try again. Tonight was the night and I'm glad we returned. I brought my daughters and two of their friends. We ordered two pies, a square thicker crust and the "1964" a round thinner crust. Both were delicious, the sauce is perfectly balanced and the cheese and crust were excellent. The type of pies that you can eat a ton of before realizing you've overdone it. Their Coronavirus protocol is impeccable. No one gets past the door. They pass the pizza through the door and only take exact change. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1964 Style 16" Pizza was excellent. Great sauce, a crisp pie with enough heft. - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Is it possible to extract all flavors and taste from a pizza? Because somehow, they pulled it off. May God strike me and my family dead if I am lying... this is the WORST PIZZA EVER. Microwave pizza is much better. DID SOMEONE PAY THE NEWSPAPERS TO SAY THIS PIZZA IS AMAZING? The sauce is like out of a can without any taste. Zero taste. How is that possible? And the way they run the business through the side door, it's like a drug deal. With the surrounding A/C blasting so loud around you, you have no idea what they are saying. And they won't open the f*kn door. You have to talk down through the bottom of the door, like they don't even have a business and you are intruding on their family time. "Sorry to inconvenience you, can I get some overpriced cardboard pizza?" Like the pizza business is an afterthought, and they were never really going to have a restaurant at all. Are you trying to tell customers f*ck off? That's a good way of doing it. You can't see who you are talking to. You can't see who is taking your cash. Bought some pies... had 1 slice from each... gave the rest to my pets. So far no animal has been hurt in the process, but they might gag later. How are you charging over $20/pie for cardboard tasting trash? What f*kn nerve? If I see my pets laying face down tomorrow in the field... I will let you know. F*ck the newspapers for promoting this place. (Take from best food reviews on net) Call 7-Eleven, maybe they can teach you how to make a slightly better pizza. *If you're thinking of coming here, just save your $ ... Get a cracker, ketchup, and Cheez Whiz. This would be a better... cheaper option. If they would have let you buy 1 slice at a time, instead of having you commit to an entire pie, I wouldn't even bother writing a review. But it looks like I ended up paying $20 /slice, after I tossed most of this sh*t. Btw, I also gave the pizza to other humans, which I am sure violated some laws according to The Geneva Conventions of 1949 regarding torture. They were like WTF? I think I lost a friend. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - more garbage - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Toppings were good and tasty. But the crust was terrible... really burned. At almost $50 for 2 large pizzas, I did expect more. Note: -they allow parking in the church parking lot next door -cash only -takeout only -takes at least 30min to prepare read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Large sausage pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Back in town for work on a very rainy Sunday night. I have had pies from here over the years and I have never been disappointed in my orders. Yes, you have to take your order to go as there is no wait staff or dining area. Just Al himself taking your order and making it. There are several types of pies that you can order we had a 1964 and a Sicilian square with mushrooms and cheese. We took them down to the local bar and consumed our meal. One of the patrons asked if that was a pie from AL and I took him over two pieces to share with his date. We got into a very interesting conversation with several of the "locals" who support Al's when the purchase pies. Yes, some people will not like the oven baking pie because of some "charring" of the crust but that is part of the magic Al puts into his pies. If you are looking for Pizza Hut or Dominos type pie please go else were and do not slam the mans work. If you want a true Old World taste and flavor by all means go and find out what all of the buzz is about Al's pies. read more

I had the 1964. It was good but for me the Parmigiano and sauce overwhelmed the taste of the pizza. If it was lighter on both I would have loved the pie. The Sicilian or square is another story. It was really good. Good flavors and well cooked. A warning specify how you like ypur pizza cooked. If you don't it will cooked towards the well done side read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1964 - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Was our go to pizza when we lived up north, now we travel an hour from Toms River to get the best pizza there is. We eat some of it hot in the car then we bring some home to freeze and have in between our trips up north. Excellent pizza, worth the trip to get!!! read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Came here after seeing the Portnoy review of this place. For sure, the pizza at first glance is different from any other cookie cutter pizza. The pizza is surprisingly devoid of any grease, almost like they dabbed it off. I personally prefer a little bit of grease on top. The crust and undercarriage of the pizza is probably the crunchiest that I ever had with even browning from center to edge. The sauce is a bit salty, and heavy, but overall decent flavor. I would come again and try another style of pizza since the regular cheese pie isn't my favorite. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Large Regular Cheese Pie - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

Hey Al, what's up? I can understand a price increase but not a decrease in quality! The Sicilian pie I got today was nothing more than a regular pie stretched out. I order the Sicilian because I want a thick crust. Get back to the basics and the thick crust. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

The pizza here is fantastic, every time I've gotten a pie from them it's been exceptional. Anyone can open a pizza shop, not everyone can make a pizza. They know how to make a pizza!!! read more

Haven't been able to go recently due to the fire. But this and Delorenzo's tomato pie in Robinsville are my two favorite pizza places in NJ. I like most of the pies. The Sicilian is good but the 1957 well done is the best. Tad expensive. No place to eat there clearly. But it's just so good. read more

The 1957 thin crust pizza is by far my favorite from Santillos. We also got their Sicilian pie with peppers, pepperoni, and sausage. Tasty and saucy ! Not a place to sit just pick up but it is 100% worth it. My friends and I have been countless times and eaten in the parking lot! read more

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The pie here is absolutely tremendous! Got the 1964 and the 2020 and they both had great (and distinct) flavor. Al really is a master because these pies were delicious but at the same time unique. Each pie had its own truly unique flavor profile. And the crust on both of these pies was unreal. I can see why Al won so many awards. Every single bite Every had a delicious crispy crunch to it. EVERY. SINGLE. BITE. Probably the best crust I've ever had in my life. By the time I got to the end, I was really savoring each little bite of the buttery crust. Al is a real character and all heart. Got the chance to talk to him for a little bit and you can tell he truly loves what he does and it shows in everything he does. When I told him I came all the way out from Queens to try his pizza he said "I love meeting people who are as excited about good pizza as I am!" The 1964: --slightly sweet sauce --FULL OF FLAVOR and Italian spices. --delicious all around flavor The 2020: --THIS ONE FOR ME WAS MY FAVORITE. The fresh mozz and San Marzano tomatoes take this pie to a whole other level. --Delicious buttery crust --Tomatoes taste like they were plucked right off the vine, then seasoned, and then cooked right on my pizza. So so so fresh!!!! PRO TIPS --Be sure to look at the menu and see how you want it cooked. Each pie is baked to order so for me, I ordered my pizzas Dark Golden Crust and I'm gonna order it like that every time. --Let the pizza cool off for a few minutes and you'll really get a chance to taste even more flavors. --No credit card. Pay with EXACT cash or VENMO. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1964 Style 16" Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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The most DELICIOUS PIZZA EVER!!!! Just wow!!! Everything was perfection. The sesame crust is a must. The sausage and jalapeño combination was delicious. The only thing that would have made it would be the sesame crust. Pro tip: There's only street parking and no parking lot. You can park at the church parking lot and eat in your car. Do not park in the lot on the other side of Sangillo- it's private property! read more

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Respect. Real Deal. Worth driving into Elizabeth, as much as that is a pain. Worth waiting in the alley. Worth trying to find a parking spot. Worth it to say I met The Man. This is TRFGS! GIVEITAME!!! read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - S&M & a plain cheese. Excellent. - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Harry P. and I were watching a pizza review on Barstool (link below) and it was super entertaining. We decided we would have to go as soon as we heard the audible crunch of the guy's first bite. We went in and he was slammed. We walked in at 1:30pm and he told us we wouldn't get a pizza until 2:30pm. No big deal, we placed our order, left to get beers, and came back. He had to stop taking orders by 3pm because he was out of ingredients. At least he was honest about it. The restaurant has zero seating, so we ate off the hood of the car. It was really good. We got the plain 1964. I like that he has different pizza styles named by year depending on what was popular at the time (see menu). The sauce was tangy and very well spiced/seasoned. The cheese had depth to it. And the crust was thin, crispy, and delicious. It was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Only negatives, kinda expensive at $23 and not filling at all. I could have eaten that whole pie by myself easily. https://www.barstoolsports.com/boston/barstool-pizza-review-santillos-elizabethnj-bonus-old-school-italian-pizza-maker read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1964 - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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Wanted to try this place since it's 4 stars and had many positive reviews. Paid $50 for the San Marzano Tomatoes over the cheese and large pepperoni, light golden since the pictures show golden crust to be too burned. Even with light golden the pizzas were so hard to chew and pepperoni pie was burned. The San Marzano tasted bland and the tomato sauce on the pepperoni tasted like it's from the canned. The only reason we ate it was because we were starving. We normally save leftover pizzas but opted to chuck it out as we know we definitely won't be eating it again. Also my upper palate are scratched after eating the pizza. I don't like leaving negative reviews but this was not good. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Pepperoni Round Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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If you want old school, quality, italian pizza, this is as authentic of a NJ slice as you are going to get. This place stands up to all of its hype, and the owner is a character worth coming to see on his own (he needs a reality show). He uses an old school brick oven. A lot of people say to get the 1964, which is their basic pie finished with olive oil and parm, so we did. All of their pies on the menu are named by year/styles that have come and gone over the years. There is no seating in the place, so we ate off the hood of Nick C. car. The pizza was amazing, very thin, crispy, with a sauce that I could eat by itself. You really can taste the quality and his dedication to the craft of pizza. I would def call ahead to order, especially if you are coming from a distance so the pizza is ready when you get there. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - The 1964 ...so good - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

Santillo's is a true New Jersey pizza experience - one that every Jerseyian should have at least once. I won't go into too much history of the place but they've been around for over 100 years and the art of baking has been passed down through the generations. When you order a Santillo's pizza, you are getting a pizza made by non-other than Al Santillo - a guy that knows a thing or too about pizza. Take a look at the menu and it will take you through a brief history of the pie - dating all the way back to 1940 Genuine Tomato Pie. But Al has got you covered throughout the decades with likes of the 1967 Pop's Style to 1990 to 2020 style. Al also provides the option of 'doneness' measured in minutes - 6 for a soft crust up to 10 for brown/black crust. Our group checked out some photos and decided on two 64 style pies - one round, one square, each cooked at 8 minutes. We also got a loaf of pepperoni and mozzarella bread. We all agreed that the pies were delicious from the cheese, to the sauce down to the crust. But secretly, I liked the pepperoni bread a tad more - it was still super hot, even after being transported home and was generously filled with slightly gooey pepperoni and cheese. Don't forget, Al is a baker and knows a thing or two about bread. It's not the best pizza I've ever had, especially for the price. And not the best in Jersey but that's also personal preference. I would definitely order again and try a different pie, possibly cooked longer or shorter depending on the pizza. Santillo's may not have as many combinations as Domino's but they sure as hell beat them in the quality department. Like I said, everyone needs to try it at least once. If you haven't done so yet, then what are you waiting for? read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - 1964 Style 16" Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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This man and his pizza are legendary! We came from Florida and will be back for more. The 1964 round pie was super crisp and delicious. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Front - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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A super solid 4. I was in the area and had to stop by after seeing Dave's review. I struggled with the menu, since there are so many options, but went with their traditional 1964 pie as was recommended by the guy at the door (not Al, his employee). I also got the "garlic knots". The pizza was cooked beautifully. I'll admit it wasn't for me at least not one of the best tasting pies I've ever had but it was because of the type of pie, which is intentionally more oily and with Parmesan. I felt the cheese flavor was a bit overwhelming. It's definitely not a usual pie. That said, it was still very good and clearly very high quality. The garlic knots were more like a Long Island bagel twist with garlic. Delicious. Overall, I really enjoyed it, am excited to try it again in a few hours, and would definitely come back to try some of the other styles. Really really good place. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

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The best pizza in NJ for sure. It lives upto the hype. Well crusted, not soft crust. Don't open the door, speak your name through the small window. Terrible customer service but the pizza is worth all of that. We ordered 20 inch 1964 pizza- 30$. Also got the vanilla icecream soda which was excellent. Would recommend to all read more

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Me and my brother go around to pizza places that were reviewed by Dave Portnoy and do our own rating. Of the 25+ we have been to so far, this place ranks #1! Amazing pizza that was the perfect thickness, cooked perfectly and high quality ingredients. This place is takeout only and cash only as well. We paid about $20 for the plain pie but was well worth it. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Standard pizza pie - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey

If you're planning on paying by card, place your order on their site or through yelp; however, if you'd prefer to pay with cash, bring exact change. When you arrive, go to the side entrance and then you can pick up your order from there. Make sure to mention your name at the door so they won't have you waiting for a long period of time. Once you pay for your order, check your pizza to make sure it's exactly what you wanted. I failed to do and wish I would've as my pie was more cooked than I expected. My family and I still enjoyed it! The sauce had to be my favorite part of the pizza and can see myself ordering the sauce on its own. As far as price, I'd say that their Sicilian pies are a tad bit pricier than my local pizzeria. For instance, if you'd like toppings added to your pie, you'll have to pay $4 per topping regardless if you'd want it to be the full or half of the pie. If you do decide to drive, there are limited street parking so please keep that in mind. read more

Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza - Sicilian Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Elizabeth, New Jersey