Zio's Trattoria Pizzeria - Hillsborough, New Jersey

Zio's Brooklyn Style Pizza

It's been raining here in New Jersey for about a week straight- almost non-stop. So while today wasn't exactly the most pleasant day, it is the first time in a long time when there were not buckets of rain falling from the sky, so we took the kids to the park to play for a while, then stopped off for a little lunch.

Zio's Trattoria Pizzeria is a place we've been to a few times, and it's quickly become a favorite. Today we tried something we didn't notice the last few times we were there- the Brooklyn style pizza. And it was well worth the trip!

Zio's is one of those places that you just want to keep secret. Their pizza is the best I've had without travelling quite a bit. They also have restaurant seating in the back, and a full menu of classic Italian favorites. They obviously put a lot of care into their food- the quality is high, and the atmosphere is casual and easy- the kind of place you'd easily go back to often.

The brooklyn pizza caught our eye when we walked in- cracker-thin square crust, chunky fresh tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil. The crust is crunchy, and the toppings taste as fresh as they look. You just can't beat that classic pizza marghertia combination of tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella.

We also had some of their regular round pizza- it's made with the same kind of care and attention to detail. The crust is fairly thin, but more substantial than the thin-crust brooklyn style pizza. They seem to know just the right ratio of sauce to cheese to topping to make it right. The underside of this pizza isn't firm and crunchy like the thin crust- but it has just enough tooth and body to it while still staying thin. The crust around the edge is thin enough to have a good crunch, but thick enough  to have a little chew to it as well.

We've had some of the dinners there as well- their menu has a wide selection of dinner items, salads, sandwiches, etc. Their pasta dishes, in particular are excellent. A personal favorite of theirs is one of the most simple things on their menu- Gnocchi with Tomato and Basil - soft pillows of hand made potato gnocchi in a light sauce made from fresh tomatoes with a few ribbons of fresh basil on top. Simple, and good. When you make Italian food right, the simple stuff is usually the best.

The unassuming menu has a wide variety of favorites

Everything I've tried here is made fresh, and with great care. You would be hard pressed to find a dish on this menu that you don't like. If you are ever in the area, I would highly recommend stopping there for a bite. Little family run, local spots like Zio's may not be high-class dining facilities with celebrity chefs- but they are the heart and soul of the food scene. Good local establishments are your neighborhood treasures- you should make an effort to enjoy and support them when you can.