Basille’s

Let me start by saying it’s an absolute rarity that you find decent pizza in NJ south of Bayonne but FINALLY I’ve found something! Of course it’s a Staten Island transplant that helped save Monmouth County. Basille’s was a Staten Island favorite on Forest Ave when I grew up and it was the go-to place. Also they are tied in with Artichoke Pizza, which is one of the most famous Pizzerias in NYC. Now on to the pizza...... First and foremost.... one of the most important factors in a good pizza is the quality of the sauce. This is a strong point for Basilles. It’s got a great, homemade, natural, fresh tomato taste accented with fresh herbs but not overwhelming. They let the tomato stand out . It has just the right amount of tang without going overboard. They use a good quality cheese, although not the best cheese I’ve ever had but decent quality nonetheless. The dough is nice and crispy with a little NY flop at the tip. By far one of the best non-neopolitan crusts I’ve had down here with the exception of Deninos in Matawn & Brick. There should be more of a crunch/bite but I’ll settle for what I got. The sauce and cheese are proportioned pretty well on the slice as well. This has definitely become my Monmouth county go to spot...... Frankie... I give it an 8.3!