The first European to set foot on the terrains where Hazlet is today was an adventurous English sea captain in the employ of the Dutch Trading Company. While he landed there at the beginning of the 17th century, he didn't stay and another seven decades passed before the area saw its first permanent settler. That settlement would eventually become known as Middletown, but as the community grew it was divided into several different parts, one of which was called Raritan. After the railroad arrived in the mid-1870s, Middletown and Raritan developed into bedroom communities for New York. Another split of the growing communities occurred and Hazlet came into being. The same as the other townships in the divided community, Hazlet continued to evolve as a bedroom community attracting a wealth of new residents. A few of those that moved there were of Italian descent and they're the ones who opened the first pizzerias in Hazlet.

Hazlet in New Jersey is known for Old World Pizza

Hazlet is known for old world pizza which, when broken down to basics, means the types of pizzas that originated in Italy and have been baked there for hundreds of years. There are several types of old world pizzas and you can get all of them in the pizzerias in Hazlet, although not all of the Hazlet pizzerias offer every type. The types of old world pizza you'll find on the menus of the pizzerias in Hazlet are thick crust, thin crust, Sicilian-style and pan-baked. The type with the main difference base-wise is the Sicilian as the dough used to make it is quite different to the other three. Thick crust, thin crust and pan-baked are all made from the same sort of dough while Sicilian has a spongier texture. Which you prefer to eat is a matter of personal taste. The best thing to do though is try them all before deciding which you like best.

Best Delivery Pizza in Hazlet, New Jersey

To get the best delivery pizza in Hazlet you really need to order from a pizzeria that offers you a wide choice of pie base, knows how to cook each one correctly and has an efficient delivery service. One pizzeria in Hazlet that accomplishes all of those three things is Salerno's Pizzeria. Salerno's Pizzeria has a premises on Bethany Road that's like the magic box that just keeps giving. While Salerno's may look small from the outside, inside it has a large and very stylish dining area and a kitchen you could get lost in. The chefs know their way around it though and they know their way around the pizzas. Fortunately, the delivery driver also knows his way around Hazlet so you won't be kept waiting for your pizza.

Best Takeout Pizza in Hazlet, New Jersey

There's nothing like walking around Allocco Park half a dozen times to make you hungry enough to devour a take-out pizza. If you're looking to get the best take-out pizza in Hazlet, you won't have far to go. You can get the best take-out pizza in Hazlet from a pizzeria on Middle Road called Luigi's Famous Pizza and that's not a name this pizza joint has for nothing. Luigi's Famous Pizza lays claim to have invented the rectangular pizza that's not tray-baked. How that came about is anyone's guess although it might be possible that the chef of the day wasn't too hot on his geometrical shapes. At Luigi's, rectangular pizzas rule the day and in honesty, they make a great take-out pizza especially when cut into squares or oblongs, depending on who's doing the slicing.

Best Pizza near Hazlet, New Jersey

Wall Township

Head due south out of Hazlet down the Garden State Parkway and you'll arrive in Wall Township where you'll have a choice of quite a few different things to do. An interesting place to start is the Info Age Science Center and Museums. You could actually spend all day here as there are several different science and history museums all on the same campus, and so whatever subject piques your interest you'll find something to suit. To combine some outdoor activity with a little more history the Allaire State Park is a truly fascinating place to visit. There you can explore a 19th century village and take a train ride before going to Pasquale's Pizzeria on East Hurley Pond Road for a pie.

Elizabeth

If you enjoy activities related to the bygone days then you'll enjoy visiting Elizabeth which is on the opposite side of Raritan Bay around twenty-five miles north of Hazlet. Step inside the Liberty Hall Museum and you'll feel as if you've been transported to the past. Liberty Hall has been the home to many well-known dignitaries during its existence who have all left their mark on the building, mainly by extending it until it reached its current size of fifty rooms. Still complete with many of its original furnishings, Liberty Hall also houses other collections too and has a fantastic garden with a maze. If you feel overwhelmed by Liberty Hall's grandeur, the best thing to do is pick up a pizza from Bruno's Pizzeria on Morris Avenue and head to the beautifully scenic Warinanco Park for a picnic while you recover.

Asbury Park

To make the most of a day by the ocean, a great spot to head for in New Jersey is Asbury Park. Asbury Park is around a twenty mile drive southeast of Hazlet and when you get there you can forget about the car for a while as you take a wander down this coastal city's beachfront promenade. You'll find everything there to make your day feel like a seaside vacation, even if it is a short one. If the weather is on your side and the sun is shining, there's no shortage of sand to spread your towel on at Ocean Grove Beach. You'll be entertained there too by watching the surfers trying to catch the waves as Ocean Grove is a popular surf beach. If there's no-one out on the water or it's too cold for sunbathing, you can head indoors and try to hit the highest score on the vintage pinball machines in the Silverball Retro Arcade. You'll be a winner all round if you have a pizza at the Crust and Crumble Pizzeria on Lake Avenue before you go home.