Hey everyone, how’s your summer going? I’m in full lazy days of summer mode and feeling it! I’m not looking for new and exciting places to eat right now, but I had an idea that I’d like to share. I was driving down the road and it suddenly struck me that there are so many places to eat that I pass by everyday, and I’ve never once gone inside to try them. This got me thinking that maybe it’s time to do just that and stop inside some of these places and give them a try. I’ve also been told countless times about certain restaurants that “I have to try”… So after hearing from one reader about a place that has pizza so good their family calls it “Crack Pizza” I figured I should give it a go.
Kinchley’s Tavern has been around since 1937, so they must be doing something right. Located at 586 N Franklin Turnpike in
Ramsey, NJ. Kinchley’s is an easy drive for those coming from Rockland . I know its a little bit of a schlep but sometimes you have put on your adventurers cap and go for it. I have heard about this place for years, people tell me they use to go every week as a kid and they all have fond memories. Upon entering the building you’ll notice, it has a local family atmosphere and you’ll also notice it’s packed and there will be a wait. Is it worth the 20-30 minute wait?
The wait staff is super friendly and I can tell many of them have been there for years, as they know certain customers by name. I’m also impressed that they are super excited that I’m here for the first time and they have lots of recommendations for me. Their menu has a full array of Italian dishes, salads, sandwiches and of course their famous thin crust pizza. My server tells me they are famous for their meatballs too, but I have a slight dislike of meatballs because so many have that flavor of Alpo. I don’t know what it is but I avoid them unless I’m making them myself. Also when I try a new place I like to try the simple dishes because if they can’t do a plain cheese pizza right, nothing else is worth trying. I figure calamari is a simple Italian appetizer along with a house house salad and a plain cheese pizza. The family’s pizza recipe hasn’t changed in 75 years, so I’m very excited to try it.
The calamari and salad came out very quickly. The salad was fresh and crisp, just as it should be for summertime. I liked the calamari because it wasn’t just the rings but also a few little tentacles which give it that extra crunch. I wouldn’t say either dish was memorable but both tasted great and the freshness was there. I looked around the room and even though some people had ordered entrees, there was at least one pizza on every table. That gave me high hopes for the coming attraction.
I didn’t have long to wait for the pizza to arrive. Being a thin crust the cooking time is much shorter. I’ll admit it looked amazing and smelled even better. Thin crust isn’t for everyone, but I enjoy it because it’s a departure from the usual pizza we get in New York and the edges can get crispy, giving you that added dimension. The first bite and I was hooked. The mozzarella was perfectly complemented by the sauce. 75 years of preparation was evident in this pizza. Basically it was perfect. My server waited for me to get down to just a few slices left before she came over to ask if I wanted to order another pizza. At first I thought she was joking but now I understand her logic. As I got down to only a few slices left my mind was doing something strange, it was telling me that I would soon be out of this delicious creation and it wanted more! I could see now why it’s been described as “Crack Pizza” not the most flattering name, but fitting.
The trip to Kinchley’s Tavern was well worth the extra 20 minutes I had to drive. I would recommend this place to anyone wishing to try some old school goodness. Be prepared for a wait and maybe take a few people with you so you can try as many things on the menu as possible. If you do try the meatballs please report back to me. If you have a place you think I should try please leave it in the comment box below and I’ll do my best to get there. Thanks for stopping by and as always, Boone Appétit!
