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Ah'Pizz
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jennifer R. said: "I've waited a while to write this review because I wanted to make sure Enzo is 5 star quality. My love for pizza sometimes blinds me but not only do they have really good pizza*, they also have good spaghetti and meatballs. If you were…" read more »
83 reviews for Ah'Pizz
Review Highlights
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"Great place for thin crusted, brick oven pizza." In 11 reviews -
"Great neapolitan style pizza." In 6 reviews -
"...Parmigiano Reggiano, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil." In 3 reviews
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83 reviews in English
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Review from Felicia K.
Bloomfield, NJ
4/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here a few times recently and am generally extremely impressed. The food is pretty awesome, nice atmosphere, and generally good service. The most recent time, we had tried to go to Cuban Pete's and, deciding that waiting in line until the end of time wasn't particularly appealing, ended up here instead.
Appetizers, pasta, and pizza were all fab. Their dessert nutella pizza is pretty great. Some of the better Italian food I've had in Jersey overall... much closer to the real thing, and flavorful and well-done.
Make a reservation if you can on the weekends, as they do get somewhat of a wait around dinnertime, although nothing like CP's. -
Review from Liz D.
4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Neopolitan-style pizzeria .... with many traditional (and some new and creative) Italian dishes. It's a bit of a breath of fresh air in the midst of restaurant-chaos that is Montclair. The decor is great. It's just a really nice restaurant. Earthy, rustic, warm, inviting - table arrangements have been well-thought out, they can pack a lot of people in and it really doesn't feel like you are being cramped. Like that a lot.
You get to watch your pizza being made, if you so desire... huge, open oven pit catches your eye as you first enter. Watch the guy(s) make your pie, it only takes a few minutes... no, really. Food is ordered and delivered *fast* - so take your time with your meal, order slowly, and relax. Definitely not a take-out kind of place. Host and servers are all professional and friendly.
The salad with fig-goat cheese... the Ah'Pizz insalata...oh my god... drool. I heard good things. Now, I got to try it. What the hell? How did I just INHALE a salad? That's unheard of. Peppery arugula, tangy vinaigrette, bright bursts of tomato, creamy and sweet speckles of goat cheese. Unreal. Get it.
Pizza is borderline orgasmic - crispy on the bottom, melty on the top, with hints of charcoal burnt-goodness as you dive in. I don't like to get crazy with the toppings...but anything done with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, or truffles.. you know it's gotta be good. Sold. $18 for a pie this good? That's fine by me, keep it coming.
Only thing that might need a slight, slight tweeking would be the more traditional dishes. Chicken marsala, tasty and definitely packed with flavor, but the sauce was a little weak, and the pasta needed to be cooked just slightly more... but still pretty good.. the best ever? Nope. But this is a pizza place. If anything, these dishes are secondary, still done pretty well, but not perfect. Hence the four stars.
Put it in high gear and make a date. -
Review from Bif P.
Manhattan, NY
4/26/2012
Ah'Pahleese
Pizza crust from "brick oven" should be crispy, this was soft and when you picked up a slice it collapsed all over. Pasta quite frankly didn't taste that great. Appetizer special was described of being stuffed and fried but was more like a greasy tempura dish. Waiter was good but busboy came over and started taking plates before we were done and were telling him were not done yet and he smiling at us and still taking plates. In the future Ah'Pass. -
Review from Ceci S.
Kendall Park, NJ
5/15/2012
The pizza was ok. My family and I went here before a show at the Montclair Theater and I was expected a bit more. I was hoping for really good Neapolitan pizza and I have definitely tasted better than this one. The atmosphere was really rushed although that might have just been because there were many people there most of them, like us, we're headed to the show. It's not terrible, but not as awesome as I hoped it would be.
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Review from Steve M.
Hoboken, NJ
5/2/2012
Probably the second best brick oven in the neighborhood. Great salads and pizza. The appetizers are average. Nice atmosphere, and good service. Not too pricey since it is BYOB.
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Review from Jim L.
Saddle Brook, NJ
3/26/2012
This review is limited to just the customer service.
We were a group of 4. It was a sat nite and St. Patrrick's Day. Last table served is 10:30. We arrived at around 9:30 and the place was empty.
From the moment we walked in i felt they were trying to rush us out the door. Unfortunately for us, this feeling became a stark reality as the evening went on. The level of rudeness was apparent as both waitresses watched us eat like hawks and then wisked away our plates. Then they advised the kitchen "turned off the coffee machine" and then proceeded to never even ask if we wanted dessert.
Naturally, when the bill came the tip needed to reflect the service, which in our opinion was 10%.
The highlight of the evening came upon when we left. While standing in the parking lot and calling it a night, our waitress opened the rear door and yelled at us as she didn't appreciate the tip.
Although i really like the food here won't be back for a while. -
Review from Jen M.
Clifton, NJ
4/25/2012
Service was good, but the food is overpriced and tastes mediocre. They use thin crust (which I typically love), but half the crust on my Margherita pizza was burnt. It left a terrible taste in my mouth. There wasn't even much basil on the actual pizza. In addition, the crust towards the middle of the pie was completely soggy. I couldnt even pick up the slice without everything falling off.
I did try my sister's lobster ravioli which was decent but not worth the money. -
Review from TriBeCa g.
New York, NY
4/10/2012
YUM!
BYOB, great thin crust brick oven pizza, delicious salads!
And the Tortufo...amazing. -
Review from Laura N.
Montclair, NJ
2/9/2012
You guys...I really like this pizza. I once stopped her on my way back from the gym and ordered an entire pie for myself. The thin crust was calling to me!
The full menu is quite tasty, as well, including the salads and such.
I need to get the Nutella dessert pizza when I visit again. -
Review from Walt D.
Little Falls, NJ
4/18/2012
The pizza is overpriced - I don't mind paying for greatness, but it was mediocre. The Speck special ($18) was flavorless, and they forgot to put the Speck on it - it came separately on another plate. The other pizza we had, I forget the name, also didn't have much flavor and was soggy and falling apart. Also, for $40, it'd be nice to have some kind of complimentary snack like bread. Honestly I think chain pizza has more flavor.
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Review from D Q.
Morris County, NJ
3/29/2012
Love love love this place!!! Awesome pizza , salads and desserts
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Review from Asish P.
My Wife and i stopped by here, while we were in Town. Decided to sit at the bar, so we could see the kitchen and the guys making pizza.
It was definitely the right move... we were entertained throughout the meal.
We ordered the Goat Cheese and Ham croquetts...and also a margherita pizza. Food was fresh and tasted great. They did make a mistake... and made two pizza's by mistake.... So we got to take a free Pizza home!
The chef making the pizza was great to chat with... telling us the history of some of the food, the area he was from, etc.
Altogether a nice way to spend the meal.
We will be back! -
Review from catherine f.
Glen Ridge, NJ
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
ok yelp, i get it. you hate expensive pizza. but what if that pizza was freaking amazing? well this one was so shut it.
that being said, the gnocci was good but the ravioli was average. the caesar salad was grreaat and johnny bag-a-donuts was the best server ever.
nice. -
Review from Veronica P.
Montclair, NJ
4/13/2012
Casual elegant dining amidst charming natural brick architecture, floor to ceiling windows, and oven aglow makes for a relaxing and comfortable trendy setting.
Piping hot pizza served from fire to table in seconds, prepared with finest ingredients makes it even more delightful. I was pleasantly surprised by the creamy italian ravioli, freshest delicious salads, and homemade desserts - tiramisu, or nutella pizza!!
The place is impeccably clean, friendly staff, and NOT just pizza! Superb main courses. Side room perfect for parties or business. Pkng. Avail. Rare commodity in Montclair. Ahhhh,,,, Pizz gets my vote! -
Review from Emily R.
Union City, NJ
3/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The pizza was soooo fresh and delicious. The crust was so thin and crispy. I have a list of pies I want to go back and try. The salad portions were large too!
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Review from Christine R.
Princeton, NJ
10/31/2011
Had a pre-wedding pow wow with my bf, her fiance, and his best man the night before their wedding here. We wanted a chill vibe, and some good eats.
It is BYOB, like most places in Montclair. We settled for water and soda. We all got salads and me and my friend split the marinara pie since we didn't want any dairy- thin crust pizza with red sauce, basil, and garlic. Absolutely delicious!! Thin crust pizza has been on the top of my cravings list lately, and it absolutely hit the spot.
Her fiance got a white pie loaded with artichokes and best man got one piled with ham and sausage and other meats. Everything was so good-
Definitely a nice little place, was not disappointed with our meal at all. Might check it out again if I'm up north in the old 'hood. -
Review from Karl W.
Stanhope, NJ
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I thought this place was ok. The pizza selection was pretty boring, I like marinara on my pizza and a lot of them didn't have it. Also, I ate a fair amount of wood fire pizza in Italy and I don't remember having such a strong taste of burnt charcoal. I wasn't a big fan.
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Review from Jen S.
Morris Plains, NJ
8/16/2011
Deeeeeelish! This place boasts Naples style pizza. Well, I never got the chance to eat pizza in Naples when I was there but did have it at several other places in Italy and I would have to say that this is the real deal!
The crust is soft and doughy and slightly sweet. You can taste the charcoal flavor from being baked in a brick oven. All pizzas are small...maybe 8 inches across. For lunch I would say that two people could share one. I only ate half of mine.
I had artichokes and calamata olives on mine. The sweetness of the artichokes and the saltiness of the olives were perfect together. It was a little heavy on the cheese for my liking (though most people might argue that you can never have enough chesse). The mozzarella was fresh and stringy. It was also sprinkled with some Parmesan.
I also had the insalata salad. It was arugula with tomatoes, onions and shaved Parmesan. It was tossed in a light vinaigrette.
The restaurant itself is large, open and clean. There was only one other party in the place while I was there...1:30 on a Tuesday. Not sure how crowded it gets on nights and weekends. There is also a small lot next door for parking. -
Review from Brian N.
Montclair, NJ
7/2/2011
So, I'm hanging out with my favorite person on the planet; fixing her door, about to watch Machete, and I want pizza. I've heard great things about Ah'Pizz, and it's ridiculous that I haven't been there yet as it is so ridiculously close to me.
Called to see how late they're open: 11:00 pm. That's later than most spots in the area, and as the time was approaching 10:00, it gave me more time to fix this door without rushing. Note: Ah'Pizz doesn't deliver, and you can't call in an order for pickup (basically the pizze cooks up fast in their wood-burning oven, and they don't want you arriving to pick up a cold pizze.) Not a big deal as I'm barely 2 blocks away.
Perused their on-line menu; so many great things, but we narrowed our decision down to the Mezza Luna ( 1/2 Margherita pizze with Calamata Olives and 1/2 Calzone with Fresh Ricotta, Fresh Mozzarella, Sausage and Peppers) and the Ah'Pizz Insalata (Arugula, Fig Goat Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes with a Balsamic Vinaigrette.) How amazing does that sound, right?
We walk over, and the place is empty aside from one small group; not surprising as it was a quiet night in Montclair tonight. Nicolette came over to us as soon as we came in and greeted us. I gave our order and she passed it along as we took a seat at the counter to wait and watch as our Mezza Luna was prepared. I looked around and the place has a really nice aura. Dimly lit, candles, exposed brick; this would be a great place for a date.
They bring out our insalata as we wait. My friend could not resist delving into the fig goat cheese while we waited, and after I tasted it, oowee, I understand why. Sweet cheesus god bless that fig-eating goat, 'cause that was some amazing cheese, not to mention the vinaigrette - best I've ever tasted. Seriously. No, seriously.
We watched as the guy rolled out the fresh dough and created this thing of wonder; half pizze, half amazing. I mean calzone. Half pizze, half calzone. What a great idea. Slid it in the oven, put in a fresh chunk of wood, and within a couple minutes it was done, and we were on are way to see some Machete.
We knocked off the rest of the insalata - amazing, and then this pizze/calzone. This was really good pizze. And a really good calzone. I was dropping expletives left and f$%^ing right about how tasty everything was. I can't wait to go back and try more of their delicious menu.Listed in: Montclair DestinATEshuns
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Review from Justin L.
7/5/2011
Ah' Pizz at first glance looks like a typical VPN-certified Napoletana pizzeria. Big wood burning oven, probably built by Stefano Ferrara. Serious pizzaiolo, probably trained by Enzo Coccia. Not stereotypical at all if you're new to these sorts of place. It looks really authentic then. But if you've been around these places a lot, they seem almost like a broken record after awhile. Thankfully the pizza we got was not just the same old pizza napoletana--it was much better.
The margherita pizza was a great example of why pizza napoletana is awesome. Pillowy, charred crust, bright fresh tomatoes, good fior di latte, and some good olive oil and basil to complement everything. Could've packed a bit more flavor, but very tasty and put together with care. The Ah'Pizz pizza was basically a margherita with cherry tomatoes added; just like the margherita. I only grabbed a quick bit of the cherry tomatoes, which were very flavorful. The mezzaluna was crazy. Its half margherita pizza with olives, and half calzone with ricotta, roasted red peppers and sausage. The better half was the pizza side; the calzone side was good, but the ok sausage and mediocre peppers held it back. Overall I loved the concept more than the execution, as it showed that Napoletana-style pizzerias can be creative when they want to be.
This place was a pleasant surprise overall. They are very serious pizza makers and very passionate about what they do--it shows in their product. My companions were discussing it being on par with Motorino and Keste in the city. I would go a step further and say that it's better than both for various reasons. The biggest is that they are much better are balancing the high quality ingredients so that they meld together beautifully. Its a simple formula really: use the best ingredients and don't fuck them up.Listed in: Best Pizza in NYC
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Review from Su C.
Paterson, NJ
6/13/2011
Welp, I've only been here, I think 3 times and each time I've been greeted with a friendly attitude and have left with the satisfaction of eating good quality food, that makes one feel gooood.
Not the type of place where you'd find pepperoni (and i love pepperoni), definitely more of a gourmet pizzeria. If you like that brick oven flavor and quality ingredients you don't find at a typical pizzeria I would definitely recommend checking out the website (the photos are accurate) to entice your appetite and take a ride.
The menu by the way is pretty simple but I love the choices of ingredient combinations. The simplicity of the menu may be limited for some, but it gives those indecisive eaters (ahem) a break from a barrage of options. Everything on the menu as well as the specials sound great so you can't lose. Close your eyes and pick something, you'll be sure to like it. -
Review from Violeta A.
Montclair, NJ
12/4/2011
Great place for thin crusted, brick oven pizza. I had a special called Jerusalem with artichokes, arugula and a sliced hard boiled egg on top. It was one of the most delicious pizzas that I have ever tasted, including many in Italy. The reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the caprese was missing basil leaves, which in my book is essential for this salad. Overall I will definitely visit this place again.
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Review from Wonjae Y.
Chatham, NJ
5/8/2011 3 photos
The pizza, the other food, the decor, and the service was perfect.
First, the pizza. It was perfect. We ordered two pizzas and each one was terrific. The toppings complemented each other well and all the ingredients were fresh. Also, I've never been a big fan of, or noticed, the crust, but this one was so particularly good that I took notice. I rarely ever eat the end crust, but I went out of my way to eat the crust because it was so chewy, crusty, doughy good.
Separately, the other dishes are very gourmet and way more upscale than what you'd expect at a friendly, casual pizza place like this. The food was delicious and the presentation was mouth watering. The salads are big and they look so appetizing. We got the grape/candied walnuts/goat cheese salad and it was terrific. Also, the rice balls are great. They come out really piping hot, and the balance between the crusty outer rice and the moist inner rice, the sauce, and the meat was perfect. Last, but not least, the gnocchi is possibly the best gnocchi that I've had. It just melted in my mouth.
The decor is perfect for this place. They strive for perfect pizza and gourmet food in a friendly, neighborhood smart casual environment, and the decor helps you visualize that environment much like the aromas help you smell that environment. The open brick, exposed ceiling, and huge arched windows set the mood for a place where you can go for a nice Saturday night dinner without having to take yourself too seriously.
Finally, the service. From Mike, the host, to Ann Marie, our waitress, the service was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Ann Marie knew the specials, as she should, but she also explained the dishes well so that we knew what to expect. She checked up on us frequently to make sure that there was a constant flow of food on our table - you can't ask for much more than that!
One side note on the service, kudos to the guy who cuts the pizza. You can tell that he is hellbent on making sure that the pizza gets out of the oven and into the customers' mouths in 15 seconds or less. As soon as he cuts it, he gives an intense glare to the waitstaff to get the pizzas to the table PRONTO!
After we ate (stuffed ourselves silly!), we got the check and it was only $68 for the four of us. We were convinced that they must've left something off the bill and kept rechecking because the bill was way too cheap for the amount of awesome food that we had.
As for the reviewer who didn't like the take out pizza, you are missing out big by not eating in the restaurant. This is not take out pizza. Ah Pizz is an event - you go there to eat (overeat!), enjoy good company in jolly spirits, and soak in the decor and lively ambience. The pizza is meant to be eaten within seconds of being taken out of the oven. I would probably agree with you that this pizza doesn't taste great after being in a box for some time. In fairness, to Ah Pizz, you should try the pizza in the restaurant before giving it such a negative review. -
Review from Shannon B.
West Milford, NJ
3/28/2011
So I had plans to grab dinner with a friend of mine on Friday. We were going to try Veggie Heaven on Valley Rd but decided we were in the mood for pizza instead. I saw this place on yelp and after reading the reviews (and looking at the pictures!) we decided to try it out.
Let me start by saying that I have pretty high standards regarding my pizza. There is an amazing brick oven pizzeria near my parent's house in Warwick, NY and I have yet to have anything better....until Friday.
We saw the size of the pizza's coming at as we were waiting and decided we would each order our own pizza and then just take the leftovers home for lunch. I ordered the Pizza di Montclair ("Truffle Oil and Porcini Mushrooms in a mixture of Pecorino Sardo and Parmigiano Reggiano Cheeses, topped with Cherry Tomatoes, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil" sounds great, right?). My friend ordered something else...something beginning with an N (I can't find it on there website right now). Hers looked really good and I know she was enjoying it...and mine was delicious!!! The minute I took the first bite I knew that I had gone to pizza heaven! It was cheesy and creamy and so so good (I'm drooling right now as I type).
As if the pizza wasn't amazing enough...we saw them making a Nutella Pie!! We are both very passionate about nutella and decided we MUST order one to go and eat it back at my apartment....and I am glad we did!! Heavenly.
For the 2 pizzas and the nutella pie I believe our bill was $48 which I do not consider to be terrible...especially for the quality. We had a pleasant experience with the staff and an amazing experience with the food. I am sure we will be back very soon! -
Review from Melissa N.
Passaic, NJ
11/6/2011
Best pizza ever...second only to Lombardi's in NYC.
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Review from Susan C.
Passaic, NJ
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is for take out.
So after reading all the wonderful things about Ah'Pizz, I really wanted to try their pizzas. I got the margherita. It was a bit small for $12 but if it's good than it's all worth it! Well the drive home was 15 mins and my car smelled so good and I couldn't wait to eat eat!
Now the bad part: Went to pull a slice out and it ripped off at the crust cause the dough was super thin like paper and wet. I thought maybe its because it's been sitting in the box for 15 mins. (but I've ordered pizza from elsewhere and I never had that problem) I wasn't too happy about a messy pizza, and than I had the first bite... Eww! I'm not a pizza snob and I'm not too picky about food, but this was the WORST pizza I ever had. Never knew you could mess up pizza... until today.
For a pie this small and $12!!! (and the taste...) Not worth it. I'll be going back to Leone's, where I can get a LARGE margherita pie for $15. And it tastes very good!Comment from chris d. of Ah'Pizz 4/19/2011
Dear Susan, Were sorry to hear about your experience,… More » -
Review from Karyn V.
Ridgewood, NJ
3/10/2012
This place is just average. The sausage pizza, cheese pizza and the Nutella pizza was just ok.....nothing special. I was expecting better... For similar wood/brick oven pizza of a much better quality, I would suggest trying "A Mano" in Ridgewood, NJ. The service here was just passable. There are so many better restaurants in Montclair, so I will not be back.
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Review from Brian C.
4/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Went here on a Friday night and was fortunate to be able to get a table. I hear it can be very busy at this place.
The moment you walk in, everything smells great. They have a brick oven churning away and the decor is very modern. It reminds me almost of american flatbread. A great feature is that it is BYOB.
The pizzas aren't huge, but not too small. The ingredients are very interesting, fresh, and delicious. We got the montclair pizza and the ah pizz pizza. Both were wonderful. If one thing had to be improved, I would probably like mine a little more well done as the bottom of the pizza was a little soft for my taste.
Service was friendly, we were there for a whle and were not rushed or anything like that.
Leftovers were great the next day in the toaster oven.
Will go back again to try the dessert pizza.Comment from chris d. of Ah'Pizz 4/19/2011
Dear Brian, Thank you for the stars!!! On your next… More » -
Review from k r.
Glen Ridge, NJ
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was hoping I'd like Ah'Pizz more than I did. It just doesn't live up to the prices. The ingredients tasted a little cheap and the flavor just wasn't there. The balsamic dressing on the salad I ordered should have been the tip off. Tasted like it came off the shelf at A&P. Too bad.
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Review from monika c.
Montclair, NJ
3/3/2012
I would give this place 3 stars for the pizza and 1 for the calamari and service we had. The pizza was pretty good, a bit on the soggy side for me but still tasty. The calamari appetizer was by far the WORST I have ever had in my life, no exaggeration here. It was of sickly pale color, with no taste and super rubbery texture. When the waitress asked us how we liked it ( I assume after seeing that most of it was not eaten) I told her that it was just OK... trying to be somewhat polite but dropping a hint that it wasn't good at all. I then saw her going over to a man who was either the manager or owner and tell him about our appetizer fiasco. He just shrugged his shoulders and didn't seem to care the least bit. Well, at $12 for this travesty, he really should have cared a little bit more.
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Review from Adriana O.
Montclair, NJ
4/10/2011
Great for quick and good pizza plus! The best arugula salad anyplace in this area. New space created by expanding - friendly and pleasant staff.
We had 3 pizzas for 5 people and a 2 year old - ample - and the white pizza very good - the calzone - delicious - Saw some one eating the Nutella dessert and it looked great - handy location - we can walk there and have on several occasions - quality of ingredients excellent!Comment from chris d. of Ah'Pizz 4/19/2011
Dear Adriana, Thank you so much for the kind words!!… More » -
Review from Kim B.
West Orange, NJ
2/26/2012
I rarely write food reviews but after reading the raves on here and visiting for my first (and last) time last night, I felt compelled to give my two-cents. Loved the decor and atmosphere and was really looking forward to the whole experience. The host told our party of four there would be at least a 30 min wait and we said no problem, although we were all starving. We were pleasantly surprised to be seated only 10 mins later. My friend and I both ordered salads to start and were very happy with them. I had the Insalata Ah'Pizz and it was delish. My friend ordered a salad from the Specials of the Day menu and she enjoyed it, as well. My husband, on the other hand, had the rice ball appetizer and barely finished it saying the rice was mushy, the coating was not crispy and it was disappointing in taste. He barely finished it. When the waitress asked how it was, he said fine. I asked why he didn't tell her the truth because that's what helps restaurants improve (hopefully) and he said he didn't feel like possibly having the host or chef come over and he have to explain what he thought was wrong with it since that is what food critics are for. That is what also prompted me to write this review. Not that I'm a food critic! Lol We each received a pizza for our entree. Having lived in Northern NJ my whole life and LOVING pizza, I must say I was very disappointed and I do not even consider myself a pizza snob. My friend and I ordered the marinara (no cheese) pizza and luckily we both added veggie toppings, otherwise they would have barely had any taste. I could have gotten over that except for the fact that the pizza dough was raw and soggy in the middle. That really surprised me! My husband ordered the uovo pizza which has a roasted egg in the middle. He was looking forward to it since he previously had something similar at Porta Pizza in Asbury Park and it was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. The egg in last night's pizza was totally raw and runny in the middle. Our friend asked if the menu might have said "raw" egg, not roasted. We rarely send food back but my husband skieves runny eggs (I don't but prob wouldn't have eaten it that raw, either) and asked that the pizza be cooked a little more. The waitress obliged but my husband was disappointed again that the egg wasn't cooked well the second time either. We joked that he should just cut out the middle of the pizza since he liked the crust. We all agreed that maybe 90 secs in the oven is not enough time to fully cook a pizza, no matter how thin it is. So, to the reviewer who had the same problem when taking home her pizza, the problem didn't happen during the ride home. At least Ah' Pizz had free beverage refills!
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Review from Tom S.
Belleville, NJ
1/3/2011
Oh so close to 5-stars, but its just too expensive. 1 pizza is not enough for 2 people, and 2 pizzas is too much. So instead of making us buy 2 pizzas and walking out with 1-2 slices each (ok, fine, I ate all mine, but I was def stuffed!) they should make a larger pie and charge $20. Then we would supplement with an appetizer or dessert.
But the pizza is soooo ridiculously good that they're almost justified in charging $10-$16 for an 11 inch pie. I got the one with sausage and all the ingredients were delicious and fresh. The oven gave the crust a nice charred flavor. It quickly awoke my taste buds.
The interior is a little odd. It is a very open space with high ceilings. It almost feels unfinished, especially with the back wall still unpainted. You do get to watch the chef prepare and cook your pizza though, which is cool. There are some TVs and the service was friendly and attentive. It is also BYOB. We'll probably go back, but it would have to be an occasion, because at the end of the day, its still just pizza. -
Review from Blondie M.
Jupiter, FL
12/12/2010
Drop everything and get yourself over to this place for pizza the way you get it in Naples. Please don't leave a review if you like the fold over grease-fest pizzas served in millions of little holes around NJ. You will not like this pie because it tastes like a ton of fresh ingredients landed on your plate and you might be confused.
For those of us who worship at the alter of a wet, charred, crumbling slice of Neapolitan style bliss, consider Ah'Pizz your church. It took over my previous first place ranking of Trattoria Zero Otto Nove on Arthur Ave in the Bronx. Their dough is too salty and sometimes the pizzas come out underdone. I sampled the Montclair and the Ah'Pizz pizza styles and both were divine. I thought the Montclair was genius, covered in black truffle oil. Perfection.
While anyone who imports their oven from Italy can rightly claim to love pizza, you can taste the love in the food at this place. I can be this effusive because I appreciate good food way more than nitpicking about noise factor, decor, design, whatever. Give me a break! I would go out of my way to eat this pizza if it meant I had to sit on the curb outside in the rain.
It's that good. Plain and simple. -
Review from Daniel C.
Clifton, NJ
12/31/2010
I've experienced "Ah'Pizz" three times and each time it did not disappoint.
Depending on the style of brick-oven pizza you prefer, and the mood I am in, I enjoy this style from Naples on occasion. It has a thin crust with a heightened doe base, making the doe a bit thicker.
The stand out of Ah'Pizz is the top notch ingredients.
I usually have the traditional "AH' PIZZ" from the menu, which consists of:
Fresh Mozzarella Di Bufala, Crushed Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
If you need a little back round of Neapolitan pizza, the owner is friendly and will explain to you the history. Also, the last time I was there about 1 month ago, they were doing construction, they increased the size to add more tables, and will also be expanding the menu to include pasta dishes. -
Review from Peter S.
Suffern, NY
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great pizza, and rivals anything in New York City. My only complaint is that it is somewhat expensive, although deservedly so. A wide variety of truly authentic Italian dishes, and the quality of ingredients is second to none. Try just the plain pizza, and if you want to spend a little more try the buffalo mozzarella pie, which is truly excellent. They have a special oven which apparently cooks the pizza in about 90 seconds, and from what I can remember it's right on the mark. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the chefs have to train in Italy before they are allowed to cook the pizza. Great find.
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Review from Greg B.
Montclair, NJ
12/3/2010
Best "real" pizza in the Montclair area! The crust is just the right amount of chewy and the sauce is just the right amount of tangy for me.
But you have to go there, wait a bit, sit down, be patient, and enjoy it. If you want quick delivery pizza then there are plenty of other choices in the area. -
Review from Joseph C.
Riverdale, NJ
12/7/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Great Owners.
great food.
Perfect service.
I Have been here a couple of times and every time the owners go out of there way to make sure our experience is always perfect!
Get the Pizza that is half Pizza half Calzone!!! -
Review from Adam M.
1/31/2010 2 photos
We got a little taste of this place pre-opening. We were on our way to elevation burger up the street and walked by here, looked in and saw the ovens and went in to check it out and get a menu. The owners told us they weren't "officially" open till next week, and didn't have menus or all their specialty meats, but offered to make us a Margarita Pie to try, and it was a good price, so we decided to check it out. When we walked in we were the only customers, but by the time we left about 3 or 4 other couples had come in curiously after us....
The look of the place is nice, a lot of brick, open layout, big windows, plasma TV's and clearly visible bar of ingredients.
The pizza was out fast.....really fast...like 3-5mins. They have the authentic wood burning super hot ovens....not one of those normal ovens that only go up to 500deg.
This place is Neapolitan pizza nirvana!
Great ingredients and they really know what they're doing. The sauce was nice and lite and sweet, tasted like the imported san marzano tomatos....VERY good cheese (we saw the pkg and its the authentic Buffalo motz....goooooood stuff). Nice fresh basil.....topped off with a little pecorino romano. The crust was nice and light and airy, thin, perfect amount of chewiness. Anyone who likes Patsy's or Grimaldi's will probably dig this....just dont expect it to be overly crispy but it's by no means soggy. This pie is the real deal. great stuff.
The service was good, for now at least it was the two guys, very nice, polite, attentive and talkative. Seem like good guys, hope they do well with this venture.
Keep in mind these are not large pies (one size only) and rightfully so there does not seem to be slices. Cutting this into saleable slices would be a barbaric act against a piece of food art/food porn.
The closest your going to get to this is Amano in Ridgewood....after a little chatter with the owners, they say they used to work for Amano, and have even gone to Naples to learn to make these pies so authentically. Personally, I liked the crust better here compared to when I had Amano's pie.
It was only a matter of time before something like this came to Montclair. Montclair is a mecca of good food joints, but it's always fallen short when it came to pizza (surprising for a college town). It really is about time a good pie has moved in....and this is a damn good pie. hehe
I will DEF be coming back to this place once they're all setup so I can try with some other toppings (altho its hard to improve on the classic cheese/basil pie). I hope this place lasts and prospers...if so it will definitely be making it into our usual spots :)
If your into the Neapolitan Style pizza, be sure to check this place out. -
Review from Alyssa C.
Clifton, NJ
7/20/2011
So I wanted to give this place a try, since it is one of the most highly rated places to eat in Montclair. Well, to my disappointment, it wasn't all the rave. I decided to order the "AH' PIZZ " which was $16 for a thin, 6 sliced pie. More like a personal pie! The ingredients were obviously fresh, but the crust and dough were so thin and soggy, that everything practically fell apart. I do believe that thin crust can be good, but you have to make it crispy and thoroughly cooked. It's such a rip off when restaurants sell thin crust only, and do not give you your money's worth. I also had a salad that was $10 with very few ingredients. The waitstaff was friendly enough and pollite, and the restaurant looked very clean. Probably won't go back, there are plenty of other places worth the money that give you a reasonable sized pie.
