Restaurant Review #230: Villa Pizza (Middletown)

Still searching for pizzeria food that is better than just average, we landed on Villa in Middletown. This being different from the copious amounts of Villas in the area. Last year they celebrated their 30th anniversary. The inside bears some remnants of the times. The menu board is vintage. There is an unexplainable old-school vibe. This was an odd night as there was no pizza in our order (but it looked good behind the glass). I had an enormous Chicken California hero which was as big as my arm. A sub roll was packed with chicken cutlets, lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. I added hot peppers, and they gave me a ton. It was so big I could not finish it. My mom had a panini with prosciutto, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and balsamic. It came with a choice of fries or salad. She chose the latter and was given a full salad complete with peppers, olives, and the usuals. It was large considering it was just a side. She enjoyed both. 3 out of 5 stars.

Restaurant Review #229: Milano’s Pizzeria (Perth Amboy)

This was as quick of a visit as you could get when Justin and I literally stopped in for a single, solitary slice en route to somewhere else. This was the pizzeria of his childhood. While he had raved about it, I wanted to see for myself. This plain slice was indeed one of the best I have ever had. It wasn’t thin crust, yet it was crunchy. The crust had a curious, grainy texture underneath which aided in providing a crackly sound with each bite (possibly due to cornmeal—I ate it too fast to study). There was minimal sauce (which was on the sweeter side) and just the right amount of cheese. There’s a lot of decent pizza in New Jersey, but I cannot remember the last time I said, “Wow!” I long to bring a whole pie back from Milano’s. Had they been closer, my search would be over 4 out of 5 stars.

Restaurant Review #228: Roma Pizza (Keansburg)

Just days after an awe-inspiring slice at Milano’s, I was again craving pizza. My quest for the perfect slice a little closer to home continues. I live in an odd spot: I am practically on the border of four towns. This one is located a little more than two miles down the street from me. A straight run, how I was hoping this would be the place that would silence all others! The place that would finally allow me to stop looking. Well, think again. Roma’s pizza tastes nearly identical to all the others in the area. This doesn’t mean its bad. On the contrary, I thought it was better than alright. But it is also exactly what I expected for a pizza cooked in Keansburg. The crust was thicker than the norm for a regular pie, but at least it was crispy. The sauce was bland but the flavor of their meatballs (sliced thin as a topping) was actually delicious. I was all set to give them a great review when we tried their fried calamari. They were cold, rubbery, obviously frozen, and so utterly gross that I nearly gagged. Would I order from here again? Yes, but nothing but pizza. 2.5 out of 5 stars.