De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies Explained

De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies
Established:1947
Food-Type:Italian
Street-Address:2350 Route 33 #105[1]
City:Robbinsville
State:New Jersey
Zip:08691
08629
08611
Country:United States
Other-Locations:530 Hudson St., Trenton, NJ*(closed)[2]

De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies is a pizzeria that sells Trenton tomato pies in Robbinsville, New Jersey. It was founded in 1936 by Alexander "Chick" De Lorenzo and officially established in 1947 in Trenton, New Jersey.[3] Since then it has expanded to another location in Robbinsville and has closed its original location in Trenton.[4] It is the third oldest pizzeria in New Jersey that sells tomato pies after Papa's Tomato Pies and Joe's Tomato Pies.

History

Alexander "Chick" De Lorenzo established De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies in 1947. Zagat Survey reviews give it high marks for quality and taste,[5] it is a top pick on review site Roadfood.com,[6] and is now considered a landmark in New Jersey.[7] De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies opens at 4:00 pm and primarily serves dinner. Tomato pies are the only options on the menu.[8] Lines can grow to over 50 people before the restaurant opens. F. Scott and Zelda New Jersey Restaurant and Wine Critics described De Lorenzo's as a never disappointing meal. Sam Amico, Alexander's grandson, has taken over the company after the passing of Alexander. F. Scott and Zelda praises the new ownership as "a world class establishment".[9]

The restaurant was frequented by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in his student days. Alito considered De Lorenzo's a favorite restaurant. Other past patrons include Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, and Joe DiMaggio.[10]

New York Times food critic, Karla Cook, gave the restaurant a "Very Good", citing the excellent quality of the clam pie, canned whole baby clams, and the pepperoni and mushroom as a classic. She was, however, critical of the atmosphere citing that it was too crowded.[11]

In December 2011, the restaurant's ownership announced the impending closing of its original Trenton 530 Hudson Street location on January 15, 2012, as reported on NJ.com.[12]

In 2018, De Lorenzo's opened a second location in Yardley, Pennsylvania.[13]

External links

40.2111°N -74.7498°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adam Kuban. De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies, Redux. 2008-03-12. 2009-03-09.
  2. Web site: De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies. 2009-03-09.
  3. Web site: De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies . 2009-03-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090310043442/http://www.delorenzostomatopies.com/history.html . 2009-03-10 .
  4. Web site: Brooke Tarabour . DeLorenzo's fans, rejoice! New site has restrooms. 16 April 2008 . 2009-03-09.
  5. Web site: De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies . 2009-03-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100224082705/http://www.zagat.com/Verticals/PropertyDetails.aspx?VID=8&R=131170 . 2010-02-24 .
  6. Web site: De Lorenzo Tomato Pies - Trenton, NJ . 2009-03-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090311034154/http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=3207 . 2009-03-11 .
  7. Web site: Adam Kuban. De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies, Redux. 2008-03-12. 2009-03-09.
  8. Web site: De Lorenzo's Menu . 2009-03-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081030234053/http://www.delorenzostomatopies.com/DTP-Menu-08.08.pdf . 2008-10-30 .
  9. Web site: NJFoodies . De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies Robbinsville. 4 June 2008 . F. Scott and Zelda New Jersey Restaurant and Wine Critics. 2009-03-09.
  10. Web site: Tony Mauro . Alito's Tomato Pie Philosophy. Law.com. 2006-02-02. 2009-03-09.
  11. Web site: Karla Cook . RESTAURANTS; Thin Is In. The New York Times. 2002-07-28. 2009-03-09.
  12. Web site: Joyce J. Persico . 2011-12-16. Trenton's famed De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies on Hudson Street is slated to close. The Times of Trenton. 2011-12-16.
  13. Web site: Trenton pizza crosses the Delaware. Klein . Michael. Philly.com. 11 April 2018. 27 November 2018.