What: Tony Boloney’s Jersey City is a new pizza shop with roots in Atlantic City. The shop specializes in pizza, subs, fries, and wings with locations in AC and Hoboken.
Interior: One of the first things you’ll notice at Tony Boloney’s is their black and white mural. It’s a playful, graffiti-style mural that reminds you this isn’t a serious, “classic” pizza shop. You’ll find the same style of branding in their menu. The space itself is small with just a few tables and a big open kitchen behind the counter. The lighting is bright (think hospital room ER), but the times we’ve been the place is kept very clean.
The Menu: Tony Boloney’s offers over-the-top, in-your-face food. For example, you can order a Ramen Pie ($90) or a Taco Pie ($80). Even their “regular” pies sport unconventional toppings that range from dollops of mac and cheese (Ay Dios Mio-Mac) to pad Thai sauce (Bangkok Boardwalk). The menu can be overwhelming for first timers, so we recommend checking it out beforehand. In addition to pizzas, they also have a range of subs, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and salads. Slices are generally in the $4.50 range, medium pies (perfect for two) are in the $17 to $20 range, and the large pies (three or more people) cost about $30.
We Loved: The Burrrrr-ata Pizza is absolutely fantastic. It has a thin, crispy crust topped with a delicious vodka sauce and four domes of burrata that melt into the pie when sliced open. We also like Da Count, which is their “white pie.” It’s greasier than what I normally like, but heavy on garlic (in a good way) and pecorino. Make sure to try the subs. We loved the green papaya slaw and the Thai satay brisket in the Sammie Saigon. The meatballs in the Geppetto were also excellent and meshed well with the salted ricotta and pecorino. Although we had an issue with the Shitfaced Fries (see below), that honey stout BBQ sauce is addictive.
Could Be Better: On one occasion, we ordered the Sh#tfaced Fries (honey stout BBQ, fresh mutz, cheddar, fritos, smoked bacon), but our fries didn’t have a single Frito or piece of bacon. (Yet we were charged the full $10.50, which left us feeling a little sh#tfaced). On a different visit, we ordered the Pueblito Salad ($12.50), which is very filling, but our salad included a giant romaine lettuce core. Sorry, but a $12 salad shouldn’t come with an inedible core right in the center.
Final Take: Yes, Jersey City has a helluva lot of pizzerias, but Tony Boloney’s is offering pies that you simply can’t get anywhere else. Everything is over-the-top, but a lot of the stuff we had was pretty damn tasty. The BYOB policy and late-night hours add to the appeal. (Bonus points for the gluten free and vegan options).
Tony Boloney’s Jersey City | 363 Grove Street
