Here’s a small confession: Despite living in Jersey City for 30+ years, I’ve never been to Renato’s Pizza Masters. Yes, I know it’s considered by many to be the best pizza in Jersey City, but I never pushed myself to visit. Well, that finally changed a few weeks ago when I visited Renato’s for the first time.
The Menu: The pizzas at Renato’s are available by the slice or as pies. They’re served steaming hot and their menu features Sicilian slices, Hawaiian slices, Margherita slices, and (my personal favorite) grandma slices. Renato’s also offers a wide range of pastas, salads, and wraps. But for now, I’m only focusing on the pizza.
We Loved: Before I continue — I have to say I don’t have a favorite pizza in Jersey City. It all depends on my mood. If I want something fresh and light, I’ll go to Razza Jersey City. If I want a doughy pizza loaded with toppings, I’ll head to ITA Kitchen. Both of these spots offer great pizzas that I’d recommend in a heart beat.
Back to Renato’s. I went with the grandma slice. The crust is thin and slightly burnt along the edges. The slice is crispy enough to offer an audible crunch with each bite. My slice was topped with a generous amount of cheese, but it was the tangy and garlicky tomato sauce that really won me over. Naturally, I had to try their Margherita as well. Again, you get a razor-thin slice piping hot from the oven. I personally found my slice’s cheese-to-tomato-sauce ratio slightly off (I would’ve liked more of that tomato sauce), but that’s really a minor complaint.
Could Be Better: We all know that pizza isn’t health food, but the slices at Pizza Masters are very greasy. In fact, grease drips off your slice the second you lift it from the plate. (Due to the generous amounts of cheese piled on top).
Final Take: For those times you want an old-school, thin-crust pizza — Pizza Masters is a solid choice. If you’re into artisanal or seasonal pizzas — you’ve got plenty of other excellent options in JC.
Renato’s Pizza Masters | 278 Central Avenue | https://pizzamastersjc.com
