NJ Pizzeria Challenges Lombardi's On "Oldest Pizzeria" Claim

Photograph of a nearly completely demolished Lombardi's pie by Digiart2001 | jason.kuffer on Flickr

It's a pizzeria showdown between a beloved NYC joint that started selling pizzas in 1905 and an upstart in Trenton, NJ that started its pizza business in 1912: The Garden State's Papa Tomato's Pies says it's the oldest pizzeria in the country because Lombardi's shut its business for ten years. Oh, it's on!

Papa Tomato's owner Nick Azzaro tells the Star-Ledger, "On [the Lombardi's] website, they claim they were closed for ten years between 1977 and 1987. They're not really the oldest pizza restaurant.'' The Star-Ledger notes, "Actually, Lombardi's, which opened as a grocery store in 1897 and started selling pizza in 1905, was closed between 1984 and 1994, according to its website."

Diner's Journal weighed in, "Ed Levine wrote [in his book Pizza, a Slice of Heaven] that Papa’s was the third pizzeria in the country, after Lombardi’s and the late Joe’s Tomato Pies, also in Trenton. If you consider the present Lombardi’s as a newcomer, Papa’s is the last standing of that triumvirate, and thus the oldest pizzeria in the country. Mr. Levine, by the way, awarded it three pies on a four-pie scale."

FWIW, Lombardi's celebrated its 100th birthday with 5-cent pies in 2005... which means Papa's better be serving 12-cent pies next year!

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By Jen Chung in Food on July 27, 2011 6:46 PM

Comments [rss]

Roark

They can fight over timing, anyone who has any taste and knowledge knows

The best pizza in America comes from New Haven

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N...

And if you didn't know this then its time to have your head explode and experiance the best of the best.

ktinnyc

Lombardi's claim that it's the oldest pizzeria in America is complete bullshit. Not only was it closed for a decade it's not in the same location as the original Lombardi's. It would be like if I changed my name to George Washington and claimed I was the first President of the United States.

gtraindelay

Just for a slice, suburban jersey pizza wins on odds (for taste). In the north you have literally hundreds of independent pizzerias - which vary in quality, but again - I am talking about a regular slice. Here in Manhattan, by my office I have... 2 bros.

whatidsay

From my own sampling, I'd say Jersey pizza definitely tastes like the oldest pizza around.

Sinchy

Last time I ate Lombardi's the pizza was inedibly salty. Other family members alsohad the same experience. anyone else think Lombadi's sucks?

zombie_cakes

Trenton isn't South Jersey but nice try (though yes, South Jersey version of the street slice in the NYC/North Jersey style is a pile of crap). Also who cares, I've had them both and neither is anything fucking special.