Portnoy Reviews Panko Pizza In Middletown, Plus Nearby Pizzerias

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Dave Portnoy was in Monmouth County two weeks ago, where he visited several pizzerias in the area.

And one of them was in Middletown.

On July 28, Portnoy stopped by Panko Pizza on Rt. 35, which used to be Basille's Restaurant and Pizza.

One bite, everyone knows the rules. Here's what Portnoy had to say of Panko's (which he pronounced Paahnko's) in Middletown:

"First of all, you can get this for 10 bucks (their 18-inch Round Panko Pie for $9.99). This is the America I know," Portnoy marveled. "Where can you get this for 10 bucks? This look like an $18 to $20 pizza. How are they even earning a living here?"

He gave Panko's a 7.4 out of 10, a similar score to what he gave Via Sposito in Old Bridge/Red Bank (7.4), Talula's pie at Alternate Ending brewery in Aberdeen (7.2) and Salerno's in Hazlet (7.3). Watch his visit to Panko's here.

(In Patch's opinion, he should have tried Zoni's if he was in the Middletown area.)

"Interesting .... that's an interesting undercarriage," Portnoy said of Panko's signature crust. "Good, sweet sauce."

Again, he raved about the price: "This may be the most ... value pizza of the year."

Panko's pizza is unique because, as their name implies, they use panko Japanese breadcrumbs in the crust. Panko's crust is made using "homemade pizza dough, coated in olive oil and then dipped into panko breadcrumbs, resulting in a crispy crust that adds unique texture and crunch. Finished with a cooked tomato sauce, made in-house daily, that accentuates the mozzarella, Pecorino Romano cheeses, and additional toppings," reads the restaurant's website.

That same day, Portnoy also visited Gigi's New York Style Pizza in Sea Bright and The Sauce Pizzeria in Oceanport. Those reviews have not been posted yet.

Last Wednesday, Aug. 7 Portnoy was back on the Jersey Shore, where he reviewed three more pizzerias: Via Sposito pizza on Rt. 516 in Old Bridge, the pizza served at Alternate Ending Beer Co. in Aberdeen and Salerno’s in Hazlet. Here are his reviews:

• Via Sposito pizza on Rt. 516 in Old Bridge - 7.4 from Portnoy. “Thin, looks good, ewww a little flop,” said Portnoy upon first bite. "Taste is great. My only thing is it could have more crunch, but that could be because of the box. Good stuff ... I wish it had a little more crisp. But still good quality pizza." (Watch the review)
• The pizza served at Alternate Ending Beer Co. in Aberdeen. (Their pizza is made by Talula's): A 7.2 from Portnoy. Portnoy said their pizza was good, but "just heavy." He also said pizza should be like an offensive lineman, as it should “look heavy, but be light on your feet." Watch the review. Talula's pizza in Asbury Park is known for being very doughy and bread-heavy.
• Salerno’s Pizzeria in Hazlet (Bethany Road): A 7.3 from Portnoy. Of their regular pie, “It's a lot floppy, is it always this floppy? Great taste … great taste, traditional New York pizza taste, but it does have quite a bit of flop.” Watch the review

This is not Portnoy's first foray into New Jersey: He will dedicate the money from his One Bite Pizza Festival next month to support the rebuilding of Santillo's pizza in Elizabeth. This will help Santillo rebuild his brick oven pizzeria, at 639 S Broad St., which burnt down in January.