I finally stopped by the new Buon Appetito location on Grove Street today. I indulged in a slice of pizza topped with pepperoni and it was fantastic!

Here's what was even cooler -- I was surprised that the two guys behind the counter immediately recognized me.

It took me a moment, but then I realized they were the really nice pair of Egyptian brothers who used to operate Esperanto's a few years back right by the end of my block!

After they sold the establishment to another family, I felt Esperanto's pizza -- while still edible and very convenient to my home -- went downhill pretty darn fast.

It turns out that, for the last couple of years, the brothers were working out at a place in Queens, but now they're quite happy to be back here as part of Buon Appetito's expansion from Bayonne into Jersey City.

In my opinion, Buon Appetito's pizza is a heck of a lot better than the handful of pizza places I've tried while living in Downtown Jersey City over the last 7 years.

I look forward to grabbing a slice from there again soon (and maybe a sandwich and a salad too).

YUM!

Rustique is my top choice.

2nd choice, believe it or not, for a no-frills pie, is Stella's.

(John's = YUCK)

Without a doubt, it's John's on Sussex. Been there three times since they opened and it's been great each time.

John's Pizza
87 Sussex Street

Sorry to tell you this but to all you JC transplants, and those of you who refuse to travel too far from your little neighborhoods, but I've eaten in them all. Been around since Larry and Joe owned and worked in Larry and Joe's when Three Guys from Italy ( the original one, by the way they were the best back then, they just didn't deliver ) was on journal square and when Villagio's was on route 440 and I remeber Vinnie from Vinnie's on Kennedy Blvd in the heights (before he met his untimely passing ). Best pizza now is definitely Stella's on grove, best Italian food Carmine's on Mallory, Best grilled chicken sub Larry and Joe's on Newark ave. Best Italian deli Andrea's on Central ave. Runner's up Carmine's on Brunswick makes agood pie and the Italian food is pretty good. Another good pie is at Vincent's on Kenndy blvd and Linden ave, they deliver late anywhere in the city( good for the summer too sometimes he's open til 3am). So for all you people who don't know anything other than Christopher Columbus and Washington Blvd,break out the phone book and you can look on the maps or just look them up and try them out before you tell me how great NY pizza is and Hoboken pizza is, which in my opinion is too thin and not cook enough, and what ever jar sauce he is using please switch. Check them out and give me your opinion.

forgot to mention the Grandma's Pizza truck that can be found outside Harborside Financial Plaza 10 on weekdays between 11 and 3. It's the best pizza I've actually had since moving to jersey from long island

I grew up on Gino's and Pizza Master's pizza and both of them are great. Yet the real underdog in the heights is def. Rizzo's.

They have HUGE "Benny Tudino's"-style slices that are great. And it's easier to find parking at their location which is across the street from Pershing Field.

Not to mention as previously posted Central Ave. Liquors next door, who has a selection that could rival Sparrow's in Hoboken.

Carmine's.

Carmine's without a doubt.

In my sorta new to JC totally not expert opinion:

Lisbon Pizza, no contest.

Gino's Pizza is The Best.........without a doubt.

La Rustique

in the heights:

Pizza Masters on Central near Hutton.

Amazing - comparable to Brooklyn pizza.

I just moved to the heights, and I'm going to put in a vote for Gino's on Central Ave. The Margherita is awesome, and the 6 topping special is the real deal if you're feeling super-indulgent.

Laicos is my favorite thin crust by far. And I prefer Stadium to Vinnie's 3 and Vincents.

Havent tried many places but
PRINCE OF PIZZA on BERGEN AVE
is pretty good

Had occasion to revisit Stellas recently and must say the pizza was pretty damn spectacular.
Perfect balance of sauce and cheese. The sauce in particular was a delight to my tastebuds, slightly sweet but not offensively so.

carmine's is pretty okay.

and spring for the bonny doon big house red while you are at it.

I will say it loud and proud: Rizzos. I have family coming from South Jersey just to get some.

I tried Stadium Pizza after reading this thread. Delicious--never a slice leftover in the house. Had it three nights in a row, basically blowing the pre-holiday diet. And all the staff are remarkably nice and friendly. Eggplant parm was very tasty as well.

This is a great thread.

We're not pizza connoisseurs by any stretch of the imagination (we like Bertucci's, that should tell you something) but I wanted to try some local delivery pizza tonight for a change.

Hamilton Park Pizza came quickly in just under 30 min. The crust was thick and chewy and overall had a good taste.

However, after reading through this thread I think next time we'll try La Rustique or Carmine's. Besides Bertucci's, I actually prefer thin crust :)

gino's on central and vinnies 3 on 440/danforth

rizzo's is getting better and better too...

i've also heard that stadium pizza is excellent too...i must stop by there and check it out.

Yeah, we used to love it too. I don't mean to knock it and hope that I did just catch a few bad days. I think it may have been very hot days when we got the bad bread. It used to be great, as was the pizza. I'll try again though.

Still no excuse for the $3 slice! I think most places in the city are cheaper than that. I think its a better deal to just get a pie there.

I used to be a HUGE Esperanto's fan, recommended them to every new-comer to the neighborhood and am now embarrassed that I did so... things took a severe turn for the worse in the past few months. The Large pie is much smaller (I'm talking a delivered pie- not by the slice in the shop), the cheese seems low-quality and the dough is barely cooked. It just looks rushed and sloppy, all around. I've heard they're under new management, not sure how long.
It's a real shame, I used to CRAVE an Esperanto pie, so owners, if you're listening...please take some advice from a fan and follow the recipe/technique that many of my friends and I were so fond of about a year ago.

For now, I order from Carmine's if I want a pie delivered. They've been consistent, well-priced and damn good.

I'm kinda partial to Stellas right on Grove. Sometimes it's a miss, but on the weekends it's always great.

Mama Mia's is also awesome... and the slices are as big as your damn head!

Stadium Pizza on 440 is really good but the best in Jersey city is Gino's Pizza on central ave. Really Great, Nice thin and very crispy. delicious crust, they also make a great Buffalo chicken Slice..MM MMM good.

Nico's Pizza on westside is good. Very nice crust, and not too greasy.

Rustique nearly every friday night - white pizza with extra spinach does it for us, but we did buy a vegetarian pizza from fresh direct and we were happy with it also.

Then again any pizza seems ok with a bottle of merlot to help it down!

White Star has a good thin crast pizza too.
Their Pizza Margherita(sp) was very Americanized, but taste good. And Cheap!

For takeout pizza, you should definitely try Mama Mia Pizzeria (a.k.a. Frank's Pizza) at Monmouth around 3rd or 4th Street - next door to 3 Boys From Italy Pizza.

Great classic thin crust pizza and cheap! (only $5 for a whole pie).