Name of Restaurant: Jo Jo’s Tavern and Restaurant

City, State: Trenton, NJ

Specialty pizza: Mustard Pie (not on regular menu); can order spicy brown mustard or regular.

1. Crust (flavor, crispiness, how well it holds the ingredients, how it was cooked?): 1-5

2-2.5 on thickness level; 2 ½-3 overall, holds ingredients well, under crust was a little underdone, good flavor

2. Sauce (flavor, quantity, viscosity): 1-5

Regular pizza sauce: fresh, seasoned well (garlic/herbs), smooth viscosity

Spicy mustard: added extra spice and flavor, added acidity which gave balance to the whole pie, very interesting flavor but I’m definitely a fan! 3 ½ stars.

3. Cheese/Toppings (flavor, quantity, technique used): 1-5

Good amount of cheese and good flavor, pizza we got with hot cherry peppers added spice and they remembered to take stems off which some restaurants often forget (which shows that they pay attention to detail). 3 ½

4. Overall quality/Taste: 1-5

Very good pizza, well balanced, good sauce, could have been crispier. Mustard pie is a unique concept and is a must try! 3-3 ½ stars

5. Presentation of the Pizza: (how it’s sliced, served): Bar pies: small pizzas, around 12” with 8 slices, also offer regular sizes.

6. Ambiance/Décor of the Restaurant/Friendliness of the staff: Bar/Casual, several TV’s on the walls, type of place where there are several “regulars”, very friendly and attentive service

Pete and Elda's Review

Name of Restaurant: Pete and Elda’s

City, State: Neptune, NJ

Specialty pizza: Supreme- if you can eat a super extra large (16”) you get a free T-shirt ( I think Maurio is determined to go back and accomplish this)

Background: Pete and Elda's has been specializing in Thin crust pizzas for 50 years, using the same recipe! It was voted the #1 Pizza Bar in the New Jersey Monthly in 2007 and the # 1 pizza in Monmouth/Ocean counties by The Asbury Park Press, Reader's Choice Awards.

1. Crust (flavor, crispiness, how well it holds the ingredients, how it was cooked?): 1-5

1-thinness scale, very thin, very crispy, stood up to the no bend test (not flimsy), holds together on its own. 4 stars overall

2. Sauce (flavor, quantity, viscosity): 1-5

3- not much sauce at all, there was more focus on the cheese

3. Cheese/Toppings (flavor, quantity, technique used): 1-5

Overly abundant on cheese. Not good for lactose intolerant or people with a weak stomach. Forgot to take off the stems on the hot peppers. 3 stars

4. Overall quality/Taste: 1-5

Place is very popular and has earned all of it! Brings out competitive people and pretty much every type of person. 4 ½ stars

5. Presentation of the Pizza: (how it’s sliced, served):

Big slices and extra thin

6. Ambiance/Décor of the Restaurant/Friendliness of the staff:

Really old school, brings families and bar patrons, very nice staff.

Vic's Pizza Review

Name of Restaurant: Vic’s Bar and Restaurant

City, State: Bradley Beach, NJ

Background of Restaurant: In 1933 Vitorrio “Vic” Giunco opened Vic’s Bar. After World War 2 Vic and his son John expanded, opening Vic’s Restaurant in 1947. Vic’s thin crust pizza pies and delicious signature Italian dishes helped the restaurant become popular on the Jersey shore. The business has been up and running for 40 years.

Specialty pizza: Cheese, onions and hot peppers

1. Crust (flavor, crispiness, how well it holds the ingredients, how it was cooked?): 1-5

4- on thinness factor, Not as thin as the other places but still had good flavor and was very crispy. It held up well to the ingredients and wasn’t flimsy. 4 out of 5 stars overall

2. Sauce (flavor, quantity, viscosity): 1-5

Comments: We gave the sauce 4 out of 5 stars. It had a hint of sweetness, smooth texture, with a little spice, they didn’t put too much sauce so it didn’t overwhelm the pie.

3. Cheese/Toppings (flavor, quantity, technique used): 1-5

Comments: 4 ½ stars, Very good quality cheese, just enough cheese to balance out the sauce

4. Overall quality/Taste: 1-5

Cheese was mouthwatering and melted in my mouth (could have been because it was my first New Jersey slice). All the flavors balanced well together. The hot pepper pizza was a little too hot for me and took away from the flavor (however, Maurio would disagree with me). I give it 4 1/2 stars overall.

5. Presentation of the Pizza: (how it’s sliced, served):

Served on metal bar servers (which apparently the misconception is that we don’t have any in Texas), normal slices

6. Ambiance/Décor of the Restaurant/Friendliness of the staff:

Homey/Family style restaurant, very antique looking. The chairs at the table were very close which made you feel even more like a family!

*So far Vic's is at the top of the list..