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S. Egidio: Neapolitan-style pizza in Ridgewood, NJ

S egidio ridgewood pizza

It took me a while, but I finally had a chance to grab a pie at S. Egidio, the small, Neapolitan-style pizza place on North Broad Street in Ridgewood, NJ.

While the dinner menu isn't very large to begin with, the lunch menu is even smaller. Some salads, sandwiches, meats, and pizza. Maybe even a pasta or two. Doesn't matter. I was there for the pizza.

I went right for a Margherita pie. A better baseline for comparison you will not find. And I caved and ordered soppressata as a topping.

While I didn't time the cook on this pizza, it clearly came out of that wood-burning oven in less than two minutes. The quicker the better for Neapolitan-style pizza.

The crust had a bit of leoparding, along with some larger blisters. I assume the dough is going through a slow, cool fermentation, at least overnight. It had a well-developed flavor, and, as Neapolitan-style pizza should be, was crisp on the outside, and light and tender within. It was also floppy, as it should be. If you think this is a flaw then you don't know what you're eating. So please, don't tell me it should be crispy and stand erect when held.

The mozzarella, which I believe is made in-house, was quite good. Luscious and creamy.

S egidio ridgewood under carriage

I'm not sure if it's because I haven't been eating much meat lately, but that soppressata was pretty damned good. The thick slices threw me off, though. I'm not sure why they didn't use that $20k slicer that they have in there to make paper-thin slices, as it appeared that the meat was sliced by hand. Not a show-stopper, as you'll be eating this pizza with a knife and fork anyway. Toward the end of the pie, I just ate the soppressata separately. It was really very good stuff.

The server was friendly. The place is small, and attractive.

There were no surprises here. I had assumed they'd be making a quality product, and that's exactly what they're doing. I have nothing else to say because I didn't eat anything else.

Yo, later dudes.

S. Egidio Pizza : 17 N. Broad Street : Ridgewood, NJ : BYOB

 

 

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