While traveling around New York, I met so many pizzeria owners that, naturally, I couldn’t write about all of them. But, what I can do is show you a few of the ones who really made an impression. Here are just a few of the pizzerias I visited and their owners.

Summit Pizza • 1013 Summit Ave. • Union City, New Jersey
(L to R) Andy Zonio, his father and Sam Zunio are the owners of this pizzeria in Union City New Jersey. PJ Giannini carried me to this pizzeria and I really loved the family atmosphere. These guys were great to talk with and really represent the typical all-American pizza joint. One of the nice features of their restaurant is a mural that covers nearly all of the walls and was painted by a customer.

New Park Pizza
156-71 Cross Bay Blvd., Howard Beach • Queens, New York
Chef Bruno carried me to this pizzeria in New Hyde Park. He said it was one of the pizzas he grew up eating and I now understand why he has such great taste in pizza. They built their own oven and when they open up the gas valve that feeds directly into the oven chamber, this baby really blows a flame. The oven cooks at almost the same temperature as some of the coal-fired ovens I have seen.

Anthony Franco’s
556 Rt. 17 N • Paramus, New Jersey
Ted Moustakis owns this pizzeria located in Paramus, New Jersey. They have a vast selection of pizzas on display where customers can look and choose their slice. One feature I liked about this pizzeria was the beautiful paintings that were tucked away inside the recessed niches around the walls.

Mama’s Pizza
922 Merrick Road • Copiague, New York
This pizzeria was established in 1970 in Copiague, New York and is operated by brothers Sal and Joe Pinello. Another great pizzeria. One of the things I liked about this place was the extensive menu offerings. It took me 15 minutes to decide what I wanted and I almost just settled for ordering one of everything. The white pizza was good, but I recommend the lobster ravioli.