Union County Pizza Joints Among Best Old-School Pizzerias In USA

ELIZABETH, NJ — Two Union County pizzerias were named among the greatest old-school pizzerias in the United States recently.

The Daily Meal recently published its list of the greatest old-school pizzerias in the United States and Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza and Spirito's Restaurant, both of Elizabeth made the list.

"Santillo’s is something you just have to experience for yourself. It’s basically located inside proprietor Al Santillo’s house — inherited from his father, who opened the pizzeria here in 1957 — and you enter down a narrow alley into the small, no-frills pizzeria. And be prepared to order by the year — Al preserves every pizza style he can for posterity. They range from the 1940 Genuine Tomato Pie (no cheese) to the 2011 San Marzano 'Tomatoes Over the Cheese' Pizza," The Daily Meal said.

"Owned and operated by the Spirito family since it opened in 1932, the dim, wood-paneled Spirito’s is a restaurant where time — and the menu — stands still. Crowds gather nightly for three equally legendary menu items: ethereally light homemade ravioli, swimming in marinara; veal parm that’s so big it doesn’t fit on the plate it’s served on; and, of course, the pizza, with a thin, crisp crust, an oregano-heavy sauce, and just the right amount of cheese. That restraint makes this pizza one that mercifully won’t fill you up after a slice or two, even if you top it with sausage and pepperoni (which you should do)," The Daily Meal said.

Eleven pizzerias, including Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza and Spirito's Restaurant, from New Jersey made the list.

The nine others were: Reservoir Tavern of Boonton, Rome Pizza of Dunellen, Pizza Town USA in Elmwood Park, Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza and Spirito's Restaurant, both of Elizabeth, Star Tavern of Orange, Vic's Italian Restaurant in Bradley Beach, Benny Tudino's of Hoboken, Conte's in Princeton, Papa's Tomato Pies in Robbinsville, and Patsy's Tavern in Paterson.

Click here for The Daily Meal's complete list.

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