13 New Jersey Pizzerias Carrying On Their Family Pizza Legacy
New Jersey has a rich pizza history that spans generations. Many pizzerias across the state remain family-owned, with recipes and techniques passed down from grandparents to parents to children.
These beloved establishments serve more than just delicious pies – they preserve traditions and create memories for entire communities.
1. Papa’s Tomato Pies – Trenton
Walking into this place feels like stepping back in time. Papa’s Tomato Pies opened its doors in 1912, making it one of America’s oldest pizzerias still operating today. The original owner’s descendants continue running the business with the same dedication their great-grandfather showed over a century ago.
What makes their pizza special is the thin, crispy crust topped with tangy tomato sauce. They still use the coal-fired brick oven that’s been baking pies for generations. Every bite connects you to New Jersey’s deep pizza roots, and the family takes pride in maintaining those authentic flavors that made them famous decades ago.
2. Star Tavern – Orange
Since 1945, this family has been serving up thin-crust pizza that locals absolutely rave about. Star Tavern started as a neighborhood bar where workers would grab a cold drink and a hot slice after their shifts. The family recipe has remained unchanged through three generations now.
Their signature style features a super-thin crust that gets wonderfully crispy in their brick oven. The cheese-to-sauce ratio is perfected to create that ideal bite every single time. I love how the current owners honor their grandfather’s original vision while welcoming new customers into their extended pizza-loving family with genuine warmth and hospitality.
3. De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies – Robbinsville
Family disagreements led to multiple De Lorenzo’s locations, but each branch carries forward the same incredible legacy. The Robbinsville location maintains the traditions established when the original shop opened in Trenton back in 1936. Current family members still hand-make every pizza using techniques learned from their elders.
You’ll notice their tomato pies arrive at your table with cheese underneath the sauce, which is the classic Trenton style. The crust achieves that perfect balance between chewy and crispy that keeps people coming back for decades. This family’s commitment to quality ingredients and time-tested methods ensures every pie tastes just as amazing as it did generations ago.
4. Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza – Elizabeth
Three generations have tended the coal-fired brick oven at Santillo’s since 1918. The current owner learned the craft by watching his father and grandfather work their magic with dough and fire. That hands-on training created a master pizzaiolo who now teaches his own children the family trade.
Their pizza dough ferments slowly to develop incredible flavor and texture. The coal-fired oven reaches temperatures that create those characteristic charred spots on the crust that pizza enthusiasts seek out. I find it remarkable how this family has resisted modernization, choosing instead to preserve the authentic methods that made their pizza legendary throughout New Jersey’s pizza community.
5. Kinchley’s Tavern – Ramsey
Did you know this tavern has been owned by the same family since 1938? Kinchley’s started as a local watering hole that happened to serve incredible pizza on the side. Over the decades, their pies became so popular that people now travel from all over just to taste them.
The family recipe produces a thin, crispy crust with a slightly sweet sauce that’s absolutely addictive. They top each pie generously with quality mozzarella that melts into pure deliciousness. What I appreciate most is how the family treats every customer like a neighbor, creating that warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to return again and again to their cozy tavern.
6. Vic’s Italian Restaurant – Bradley Beach
Summer vacations at the Jersey Shore just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Vic’s. This family-run establishment has been feeding beach-goers since 1947, with the founder’s grandchildren now managing daily operations. Their location near the boardwalk makes them a beloved tradition for countless families who return year after year.
Fresh ingredients and generous portions define every pizza that comes out of their kitchen. The family sources local produce whenever possible and makes their sauce from scratch daily. You can taste the difference that care and quality make in every single bite, which explains why generations of customers consider Vic’s an essential part of their Shore experience.
7. Reservoir Tavern – Boonton
Nestled in a charming small town, this tavern has served the community since 1936. The same family has operated Reservoir Tavern through wars, recessions, and countless changes in the pizza industry. They’ve stayed true to their roots while watching the world transform around them.
Their pizza features a distinctive thin crust with a satisfying crunch that comes from their well-seasoned ovens. The family guards their sauce recipe carefully, passing it down only to trusted members who prove their dedication to quality. I admire how they’ve maintained their neighborhood tavern feel, where regulars know each other by name and newcomers quickly become part of the extended family.
8. Denino’s Pizzeria & Tavern – Aberdeen
Originally a Staten Island institution, the family expanded to New Jersey while maintaining their legendary standards. Denino’s has been perfecting their craft since 1937, and the Aberdeen location brings that same family dedication to the Garden State. Multiple generations work side-by-side in the kitchen and dining room daily.
Their thin-crust pizza comes loaded with toppings that extend all the way to the edges. The family believes in giving customers great value along with outstanding taste. Each pie gets cooked to golden-brown perfection in ovens that have been calibrated through decades of experience, creating that signature Denino’s flavor that keeps loyal fans coming back week after week.
9. Rosie’s Wine Bar and Pizzeria – Randolph
Sometimes family legacy means honoring tradition while adding your own creative touch. Rosie’s combines old-world pizza-making techniques passed down through Italian ancestors with a modern wine bar concept. The family owners learned authentic methods from their grandparents but aren’t afraid to experiment with innovative flavor combinations.
Wood-fired ovens produce pizzas with beautifully blistered crusts and smoky undertones. Fresh mozzarella, imported Italian ingredients, and house-made everything define their commitment to quality. What sets them apart is how they’ve created a sophisticated yet comfortable atmosphere where families can enjoy excellent pizza alongside carefully selected wines, proving that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully under one family’s vision.
10. Nomad Pizza – Hopewell
Not all family pizza legacies start in the old country. Nomad Pizza represents a new generation creating their own traditions to pass down. This family built their business around a mobile wood-fired oven, bringing artisan pizza to farmers markets before opening a permanent location in Hopewell.
They source ingredients from local farms, creating pizzas that celebrate New Jersey’s agricultural bounty. The family’s commitment to sustainability and community connections defines their approach to pizza-making. Their children already help with the business, learning values of hard work and quality that will shape the next chapter of their family story, proving that legacy isn’t just about age – it’s about dedication and love.
11. Café Bello – Bayonne
Family recipes from the Amalfi Coast inspire every pizza at Café Bello. The owners immigrated to Bayonne and brought their culinary heritage with them, opening a café where they could share tastes from their homeland. Now their American-born children run the daily operations, blending Italian traditions with Jersey influences.
Fresh basil, San Marzano tomatoes, and quality olive oil form the foundation of their simple yet flavorful pizzas. The family believes that great pizza doesn’t need complicated toppings – just excellent ingredients treated with respect. You’ll notice the love they put into each pie, along with the warm hospitality that makes every guest feel like family, whether you’re a first-timer or a regular.
12. Brooklyn’s Coal Burning Brick Oven Pizzeria – Hackensack
Coal-fired ovens are becoming rare, but this family refuses to abandon the old ways. Brooklyn’s has maintained their coal-burning tradition since opening, believing it produces superior flavor that gas or wood simply cannot match. The family patriarch taught his sons the art of managing coal fire temperatures for perfect pizza every time.
Their pies emerge from the oven with distinctive charred edges and a chewy-crispy crust that’s absolutely irresistible. The intense heat caramelizes the cheese and creates complex flavors throughout. I respect how this family has invested in keeping their antique oven running despite the extra work involved, because they know their coal-fired legacy is what makes their pizza truly special and worth preserving.
13. Conte’s Pizza – Princeton
College students and Princeton residents have relied on Conte’s for generations of great pizza. The family opened their shop decades ago and has watched countless students grow up, graduate, and return with their own children. That continuity creates special bonds between the family owners and their loyal community.
Their recipe strikes that perfect balance between classic and creative, offering traditional favorites alongside innovative specialty pies. The family stays involved in every aspect of the business, from dough preparation to customer service. What makes Conte’s remarkable is how they’ve become part of Princeton’s fabric, creating memories and traditions for families just as they’ve built their own multi-generational pizza legacy in this historic college town.
