About Town: A Slice of Heaven, Part I

So much of the layout and landscape of Fort Lee has changed over the last four decades. Italian delis have been replaced by the tastes of different cultures. Or by banks. There seems to be little left to remind us of the culinary capital that Fort Lee once was. 

Or so we thought. What began as a mission to introduce our Domino's Pizza-loving eight-year-old to great pizza like we were weaned on, turned into a journey to find if real pizza could still be found in town.

We’re talking old school pizza--hand-kneaded dough stretched and tossed, fresh tomato sauce with basil and oregano, fresh mootz--you know what we’re talking about. 

In the pre-McDonald’s, Burger King, Blimpie days, pizza was our fast food, made by local families who fed armies of kids they took an interest in knowing everyday.  

Great news! Old school pizza is very much alive and well in Fort Lee. How can this be in a place where very little remains the same? Because the places most of us grew up grabbing slices in are still in business and owned by the same people, many of whom can still be found manning the ovens and slicing pizza behind the counter. 

This column is in no way a critical review of these local pizzerias. This journalistic journey was never about determining which pizzeria made the best slice. That would be sacrilege; like determining whose nonna serves up the best Sunday gravy. Ludicrous.  

All of these pizzerias serve up the best slices. Otherwise, how else could they have survived intact all these years?  

However, what we did discover by visiting a pizzeria a day for two weeks straight is this--like the neighborhoods they inhabit, each one has their own distinct and identifiable flavors.  

Get your taste buds ready; here we go: 

Pizza Chef is still alive and well behind ’s on Parker Avenue. Next to the Hollow, this part of town will always be the Little Italy of Fort Lee. Not only is the architecture of the buildings on this little corner unchanged (so far), but as we walked along Parker Avenue we ran into some of our friends’ nonnas who still live on Cedar and English Streets, and after 60 years still speak broken English.

Although a younger generation mans the counter, not one thing has changed about the mouth-watering taste of Pizza Chef’s slices. The thin crust layered with oregano-infused sauce and a light coating of mozzarella cheese. 

While sitting at the small table an old friend from Fort Lee High School unexpectedly came through door and a conversation that was put on hold in 1979 was picked up again. 

Pizza Chef is located behind 144 Main Street on Parker Ave., 201-461-4512. 

(Disclaimer: we spent the better part of our childhood and teenage years sitting at one of the orange-bench booths with our friends. During one particularly bad break-up in 1979, Mrs. Pulice fed us eggplant parm free of charge and told us that no man was more important than eggplant parm--her eggplant parm. The years have proved her right.)  

What is there to say about this landmark pizzeria that’s called Coytesville its home for 40 years? 

The Pulice family continues to serve up delicious slices of pizza, just like we remember it. Thin crust, flavorful sauce and mozzarella that’s just slightly salty, just the way we like it. 

When Holy Trinity School had its reunion this spring, there was one over-riding request from people who came in from out-of-town: a slice at Fort Lee Pizza.

Not only has the taste of their pizza remained unchanged, but so has the interior of the former silver-bullet diner, which only adds to its charm. The owners never forget a face and talking with them is like taking a trip back in time.

Fort Lee Pizzeria is located at 2469 Lemoine Ave., 201-947-2420.

With the exception of , Linwood Pizza is the last man standing in Linwood Plaza.  

Gone is Kings (or Food Town or Food Fair, depending upon how you remember it), Linwood Movie Theater with the pond of gold fish, the bowling alley, Jack La Lane, Linwood Stationary, the dentist office and the bar that was located in the back of the plaza.

Not only does Linwood Pizza continue to serve up delicious cheesy slices, but they serve the largest slices. Two slices is like ordering a small pie. 

The counter is manned by Fort Lee’s own Anthony Occhipinti. Anthony does a great job of taking care of everyone!

Linwood Pizza is located inside the Linwood Shopping Plaza at 500 Linwood Dr., 201-944-6789.

You can move a pizzeria off Main Street and change its name, but Franco’s slices still taste like the original Main Pizza slices.  

It’s getting harder to remember that Franco’s began as Main Pizza on Main Street. As kids we always ran in to get slices after playing pinball at the Stationary store. As we got older we had our pizza sent next door to Tiffany’s Bar.

Also closing in on 40 years, Franco and his entire family still run a great restaurant, but their slices are still tinged with a familiar taste of Main Street. Thin, crisp, fresh sauce and mozzarella. A slice at Franco’s will send your tastebuds back to old Main Street. 

Franco’s Metro Restaurant & Bar is located at 1475 Bergen Blvd., 201-461-6651.

Still the reigning king of pizza in the junction, Pizza King continues to serve up a tasty slice--nice crisp crust, sauce with a hint of basil and lots of cheese. 

Feeding generations of kids from the southern end of town and neighboring Cliffside Park, nothing has changed about this place--not the great food, not the interior, not the owners. 

It’s not only the flavor-full slices that taste like they were made just for you that keep you coming back, it’s the conversation. The owner never forgets a face. If you ate there when you were 15, he’ll still remember you. Always for better, never for worse. 

Pizza King is located in the Junction at 807 Abbott Blvd,. 201-224-3070.

There’s a powerful connection between food and memory. Are you ready to come back home and have a taste for yourself?