The first European pioneer to set up home in the area where Berkeley Heights is today built a saw and grist mill on the land he was granted. That was in the early 18th century and he remained the only occupant of the area until his demise. The land and mills were inherited by his family for a couple of generations until one inheritant sold the property to a paper manufacturer. It was the paper manufacturer who finally began to build houses on the land and develop a village there. While the community did begin to evolve, the lack of work drove many settlers away and the village eventually became abandoned. It remained that way until a housing shortage in nearby Newark in the 1960s prompted town developers to reassess the suitability of Berkeley Heights as a bedroom community. After new properties were built, people finally began to relocate to Berkeley Heights and the community experienced a growth surge that saw its population reach thirteen thousand in the 1970s. It was during that era that an Italian entrepreneur also moved there with the intention of opening a restaurant. He was successful in his endeavour and Berkely Heights residents were finally able to enjoy eating pizza.

Berkeley Heights in New Jersey is known for Thin Crust Pizza

Berkeley Heights is known for thin crust pizza which is one of the more traditional Italian types of pizza. Usually thin crust will be blessed with names of either Neapolitan-style or Roman-style as Naples and Rome are the areas of Italy they originate from. Not in Berkeley Heights though. The pizzerias in Berkeley Heights just call them thin crust unless it's a large rectangular pizza that's been tray baked and then they call it grandma-style. There's no mystery to a thin crust pizza. It's exactly the same as a thick crust but with less dough used to make the base. Think half the amount and you won't be far off the mark. A thin crust pizza gets topped and baked the same way a thick crust would too only the cooking time is relatively shorter. That’s great when you’re hungry and in a hurry.

Best Delivery Pizza in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

To be able to get the best delivery pizza in Berkeley Heights you need to order from a pizzeria that's prepared to provide a delivery service rather than just curbside pick-up. That considerate pizzeria in Berkeley Heights is Clemente's Pizzeria and Italian Cafe, so take advantage of it. Clemente's Pizzeria and Italian Cafe is located on Springfield Avenue where it's housed in a medium-sized premises in a row of stores. The red checked table cloths in the dining area are a decorative nod to the home country, but not so much as the food that emerges from Clemente's kitchen. The grandma-style pizzas they bake here are just like the ones that moma used to make.

Best Takeout Pizza in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

If you're cruising up and down Springfield Avenue looking for a pizza, but can't decide which Italian restaurant to go to, here's the cure for your dilemma. Forget the rest and stop at Di Maio's Cucina and you'll get the best take-out pizza in Berkeley Heights. Make note that Di Maio's parking lot is at the rear of the building on Summit Avenue. Di Maio's Cucina has a large independent premises with an equally large terrace that's decked out externally and internally as a classy Italian joint should be. Bushes at the front entrance and pristine white cloths on the tables. The pizzas from Di Maio's are as impeccable as the décor and whether you choose red or white, it'll be almost like having a fine dining treat.

Best Pizza near Berkeley Heights, New Jersey

Newark

If you're starting to feel the cultural restraints of Berkeley Heights, all you have to do is make the seventeen mile trip east to Newark to solve the problem. In Newark you can spend an entire morning browsing the exhibits at the Newark Museum of Art or the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. If you're into music and the artists that get awarded for making the hits, you'll want to take a look around the Grammy Museum Experience. If none of that has helped you work up an appetite, take a walk along the water's edge in the Newark Riverfront park before going for a pizza at Napoli Pizza on Chestnut Street.

Morristown

You can combine history and outdoor activities together on the same day if you head north from Berkeley Heights for around twelve miles to Morristown. The Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is as educational and fun for adults as it is for kids. Take a look around the farm buildings which include a 19th century farmhouse intact with all its period furnishings, the stables and paddocks where the animals are kept, then take a ride on a pioneer wagon pulled by horses. If you love gardening you can make yourself jealous by wandering around the Frelinghuysen Arboretum before exploring the hundred and twenty acres on the paved nature trails. That will leave you feeling hungry, so pop in to see the Godfather of Morristown on Lafayette Avenue for some proper Italian pie.

Bedminster

If being in Berkeley Heights has left you feeling lazy and sleepily sloth-like, get out your walking shoes, your bicycle or even the dog's lead and head to Bedminster for a few hours. Bedminster is around a twenty mile drive from Berkeley Heights and where you'll find the Bedminster Hike and Bikeway. This pet-friendly paved trail is an eight-mile-long loop trail that winds through the town's parks, woodlands and alongside a scenic creek. If you're still hankering for more time outside and some more exercise, try visiting the Leonard J. Buck Gardens for a tramp around the flower beds before dropping by Panatieri's Pizza and Pasta on Washington Valley Road for a big slice of well-deserved pizza.