⭐️RISING STAR ALERT⭐️ Founded in 2021 by Chef Cello & his wife Nicolle, Grumpy’s officially opened in January of 2022. Despite offering 10” personal pies & XXL square pizzas, I opted for the 16” Classic Cheese “Thin Crust” pie. Aesthetically awesome, this is a much fancier looking pizza than a traditional standard football pie. The composition of the pizza definitely gives off Margherita vibes; particularly the cheese, which is a shredded mozzarella blend with true fresh mozz flavor & consistency. Rich & creamy, oozy & gooey, the cheese is terrifically tasty with a marvelously melty lava-like flow to go along with beautifully browned cheese bubbles in signature Margherita fashion. Through a fantastic fermentation process the sourdough is incredibly firm with zero flop, magnificently crispy & crunchy throughout. The blackened undercarriage combined with the tremendously charred crust assist in producing a smokey & delicious sourdough flavor. Thick & sturdy, the dough provides an outstanding base for the rest of the components of the pie. With such well-rounded taste & texture, the dough is a special combination of flavor & crunch. Not to be outdone, the sauce is made with sweet & robust San Marzano tomatoes, bursting with phenomenal flavor. Slightly savory & scintillatingly sweet, the sauce is hearty, chunky & deliciously filling. Despite light tang & zest, the sauce has just enough pizzazz to punch through & shine. The combination of the dough, cheese & sauce really sings, working in beautiful harmony. They even include some fabulously fresh basil on the side, which I dispersed atop the pie, adding a touch of class & bringing out some extra flavor from the sauce. Overall, this is shockingly good pizza, deserving of way more buzz & hype. Travel-worthy as is, this pie has potential to become elite with a few small adjustments like thinning out the dough, slightly crisping it more & adding a touch of tang to the sauce. They also have some astonishingly delectable specialty pies & gigantic must-try sandwiches with creative ingredients. Since they’re relatively new to the pizza game, it’s hard to call this joint a hidden gem or sleeper spot; but there’s no doubt Grumpy’s is a rising star on the Jersey pizza scene.
