Dave Portnoy has visited these Shore pizzerias. Here's how he scored them
The One Bite Pizza Festival takes place Sept. 14, and eight New Jersey pizzerias are participating.
All of the contestants — including Brooklyn Square Pizza in Jackson, Toms River and Manalapan, and Federici's Family Restaurant in Freehold Borough — were chosen by the festival's host, David Portnoy of YouTube's "One Bite Pizza Reviews."
Portnoy, who has reviewed more than 1,000 pizzerias nationwide on a scale of 1 to 10, has visited many Jersey Shore favorites in the past. Here's a look at his ratings for some local favorites:
Brooklyn Square Pizza, Jackson, Toms River and Manalapan
The score: Regular pie received a 7.8, 8.1 if they removed the sesame seeds; square received 8.9
What he said: While he loved the crust on the plain pie, he didn't enjoy the sesame seeds. He thought the famous square pie was delicious and told his camera man "you're going to love this slice, Frankie... this is going to be one of your premier slices."
Go: For Brooklyn Square locations visit brooklynsquarenj.com.
Del Ponte's Coal Fired Pizza, Bradley Beach
The score: 8.2
What he said: "It's a good-looking pie. Light. Really, really good. Oh man, this is good. Super fresh. This is really good stuff. This is really good pizza."
Go: 600 Main St.; 732-869-0070, delpontescoalfiredpizza.com.
Dusal's Italian Restaurant, Freehold
The score: 7.2
What he said: He said it had a big flop and it was falling apart, but it was a "very traditional pizza" that is " very basic ... a neighborhood pie place."
Go: 345 W. Main St.; 732-431-0004, dusalsoffreehold.com.
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Frankie Fed's, Freehold
The score: 6.8
What he said: He said "it's not my favorite bar pie," and that it was a little greasy with a little flop. He loved the customer service though.
Go: 831 Route 33; 732-294-1333, frankiefeds.com.
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Federici's Family Restaurant, Freehold
The score: 8.8
What he said: He liked the crispness of the crust and said it was a "good bar pie... good taste, good sauce."
Go: 14 E. Main St.; 732-462-1312, federicis.com.
The Galley Pizza & Eatery, Asbury Park
The score: 7.9; "a great bar pie is a low 8."
What he said: "It's very, very, very good. It's a tad greasy, but some pizza places get mad, say 'of course it's greasy, that means it's great cheese, great oil.' It's really good. I like this a lot."
Go: 1313 Memorial Drive; 732-775-7711, thegalleyasbury.com.
Grana Pizza Cafe, Matawan (Closed)
The score: 7.7
What he said: He loved the circles of cheese on top of the pizza, and said "that's a good looking pie ... well cooked pizza."
Go: 25 Morristown Road.
Johnny Mac House of Spirits, Asbury Park
The score: 6.6
What he said: Johny Mac's iconic process of 'buy a drink and get a free pizza ticket,' really stumped Portnoy, which made him make a whole new pizza category: "Free Bar Pizza ... it's the first of it's kind." He said it had a "strong sauce," and "I like it, but it's more like what I would expect, you're not getting Rosie's."
Go: 208 Main St.; 732-776-6666, johnnymacbar.com.
Luigi's, Middletown
The score: 8.1
What he said: "It looks really good, right up my alley. Really good stuff. Super crispy. This is really, really good stuff. We've had great pizza today."
Go: 650 Newman Springs Road; 732-842-2122, lincroftluigis.com.
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Maruca's Tomato Pies, Seaside Heights
The score: 7.5
What he said: "Better than I thought it was going to be. I always expect boardwalk pizza to go down a point or two, because it's boardwalk pizza. Pretty good. Pretty good stuff, real good."
Go: 601 Ocean Terrace; 732-793-0707, marucaspizza.com. Also at 1050 Ocean Ave. on the boardwalk in Asbury Park; 732-361-8551, marucaspizzaap.com.
Medusa Stone Fired Pizza, Asbury Park (Closed)
The score: 6.7
What he said: Neapolitan-style pizza is not Portnoy's favorite, and his ratings usually hang around a 6.8. He gave this one a 6.7. (Former co-owner Aimée McElroy opened a new spot called CatBird.)
Nicholas Barrel & Roost, Middletown
The score: 7.3
What he said: "It's very good. The cheese is super fresh. It's a restaurant, it's not a pizza place. It's better than what I would expect at a restaurant."
Go: 160 Route 35; 732-345-9977, barrelandroost.com.
Nunzio's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant, Long Branch
The score: 8.6
What he said: "This is spectacular pizza. This is great. This is very good."
Go: 230 Westwood Ave.; 732-222-9798, nunziospizzalb.com.
Romeo's Raintree Pizzeria, Freehold
The score: 7.4
What he said: He said the crust was thick but light, and described it as a "football pizza." He also said it was a "standard, solid, quality American pizza."
Go: 49 Village Center Drive Suite 2526; 732-308-0933, romeospizzafreehold.com.
Rosie's Pizza, Point Pleasant Beach
The score: 8.5
What he said: "That is right up my alley, by looking at it. I can see what all the hype is about. Really good pizza. Really, really good."
Go: 620 Bay Ave.; 732-746-3060, rosiesppb.com.
Sea Bright Pizzeria
The score: 7.6
What he said: Portnoy said he really liked this traditional, New York style pie. "This is a really good basic football pizza."
Go: 1068 Ocean Ave. North; 732-219-8770, sbpizzeria.com.
Squan Tavern, Manasquan
The score: 7.6
What he said: "Very crispy. Good, thin. The crisp is to die for on this thing. Super crispy. It definitely has a little tang to it. Very good pizza."
Go: 15 Broad St.; 732- 223-3324, squantavern.com.
Talula's, Asbury Park
The score: 7.1
What he said: Portnoy, who rarely goes above a 6.8 for Neapolitan style, said he loved this pie. "Everyone know Neapolitan isn't my favorite style [but] this is excellent Neapolitan style ... way above my normal Neapolitan rating." He said, "highly recommend for a date pizza or Neapolitan style."
Go: 550 Cookman Ave., Suite 108; 732-455-3003, talulaspizza.com.
Tommy's Tavern + Tap, Sea Bright
The score: 7.2
What he said: He said this pie was "a little floppy," but "it doesn't taste like boardwalk pizza ... good, quality, normal pizza."
Go: 1030 Ocean Ave. North; 732-842-5044, tommystavernandtap.com.
Three Brothers from Italy, Seaside Heights
The score: 4.8
What he said: "This is boardwalk pizza," he said of the large slice that he wasn't a fan of. He could see it being good for late drinking nights, but not for taste.
Go: 413 Ocean Terrace; 732-830-7580, orderthreebrotherspizza.com.
Urban CoalHouse Pizza + Bar, Red Bank
The score: 7.7
What he said: He said it was a little floppy, but acknowledged he ran late, and that the pie was likely crispier fresh. "You can tell the sauce and the taste is really good."
Go: 2 Bridge Ave.; 732-212-1700, urbancoalhouse.com.
Vic's Italian Restaurant, Bradley Beach
The score: 8.3
What he said: "There's certain places I just walk in, and 'I love this place.' That was the vibe I got. This is as standard a bar pie as there is, and I mean that in an awesome way. This is as good as a bar pie as you're going to have. Wow, we're having good pizza."
Go: 60 Main St.; 732-774-8225, vicspizza.com.
Zoni's Coal Fired Pizza, Middletown
The score: 7.2 on the plain pizza, 7.7 for a Margherita pizza
What he said: After the first pizza wasn't crispy (Portnoy admitted he called the order in too early), the restaurant prepared a second. "Good sauce, good tang, much crispier."
Go: 287 Route 35; 732-219-8800, zoniscoalfiredpizza.com.
Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected]. Follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: One Bite Pizza Dave Portnoy reviewed these Jersey Shore pizza joints
