Northfield was first founded by settlers of Dutch descent as a part of New Jersey known as Egg Harbour. After it had evolved into a sizable community it was divided into ten smaller boroughs at the start of the 20th century, one of which became Northfield. By 1910 Northfiend was still a community with less than a thousand inhabitants. What helped develop Northfield into the city it is today was the construction of the US-9 which made it easily accessible from several major cities nearby. When that route was followed by two more across state highways, folks began to take an interest in living there. By the time the 1970s arrived, Northfield had grown to encompass almost three square miles and the population had multiplied by eight. That was a number of prospective clients no Italian restaurateur could resist and it wasn't long before the first pizzeria opened in Northfield.

Northfield in New Jersey is known for old world Italian pizza

Considering that the first pizzerias in this New Jersey city didn't open until the late 1970s, it's unusual for Northfield to be known for old world Italian pizza, but it is. Rather than follow the food trends of the time and bake thin crust New York-style pizzas, the majority of pizzerias in Northfield bake the type of pies they've been eating all their lives and that are the ones their ancestors ate too. Old World Italian pizza is basically a round thick crust pizza that's baked in the traditional way by using a wood or coal-fired oven. The same as any other pizza, old world thick crusts are slathered in a rich tomato sauce then topped with mozzarella or a different type of cheese that melts well when cooked. It's the cooking method that makes all the difference as pizzas baked this way look and taste more rustic or if you prefer, artisan-made.

Best Delivery Pizza in Northfield, New Jersey

Chico and Sons is the pizzeria that makes the best delivery pizza in Northfield. There's plenty of hands in this pizzeria kitchen to make sure that the orders fly into the oven then into the box and end up at your door before you know it. Teamwork is what this family business is all about. Chico and Son's occupies an independent, bungalow-type premises on Tilton Road. Inside is decorated in a modern diner-style with lots of polished wood, brown furnishings and beige painted walls. In this pizzeria it's in the lengthy open-plan kitchen where all the action happens and where the dough, after it's risen, is converted into the best delivery pizza in Northfield. Best on the menu is the Cutlet Parm and the Bang Bang Shrimp. Give them a try and you'll agree after just one bite.

Best Takeout Pizza in Northfield, New Jersey

If you've just left the Tilton Square Theater and the popcorn you munched on during the movie did nothing more than make you hungrier, don't worry. A few minutes walk away on Tilton Road is Valentina's Trattoria Italiana where they make the best take-out pizza in Northfield. If you can get through the jungle of plants artistically arranged around the front entrance and on the patio, there's a lot to like about Valentina's and that's before even mentioning the pizzas. At Valentina's they bake authentic Neapolitan pizzas in a wood-fired oven that will make your mouth water. They're so good in fact, you might want to take a seat before you open the box in case you go weak at the knees when you see it. Why bother with a take-out? Stay where you are and tuck straight in.

Best Pizza near Northfield, New Jersey

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is a great place to spend the day and the bonus is that it's only a twenty minute drive from Northfield down the Atlantic City Expressway. Start out with a stroll down the Boardwalk and you'll be in vacation mode in no time, especially if you head for Steel Pier where there's all the fun of the fair and enough rides and amusements to keep you entertained for hours. Have a laugh a minute by visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not to peer at the weird and wonderful collections of curiosities there or enjoy the more peaceful sight of fish swimming around in the tanks at the Atlantic City Aquarium. Take a souvenir photo of the Absecon Lighthouse as the sun goes down then drop in at Molto Pizza on the Boardwalk for a slice of pie before you go home.

Ocean City

While Ocean City has a lot of the same to offer as Atlantic City there's more to do in this New Jersey resort city than play the slots and ride roller coasters. In Ocean City you'll find the Corson Inlet State Park where there are almost three hundred and fifty acres of unspoiled shoreline to explore. It's a world of tranquility away from the main stretch where the crowds accumulate. Hike the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail and you'll come across desert-like dunes and tidal pools where you can try to catch a crab or two. Aquatic activities like kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding can be done on Corson's Inlet itself as well as bird spotting for a multitude of migratory species. Finish up with a pizza at Manco and Manco on East 9th Street and you'll have had a memorable day.

Vineland

For a total change of scene go inland from Northfield for thirty miles to Vineland. As the name might suggest, there are plenty of wineries around the city where you can go for a tour and a sample, but there's also more to do besides try the local tipple. Visit the Vineland Historical Society Museum to discover interesting facts about the local area then head straight for the Parvin State Park. The Parvin State Park contains Parvin Lake and is a beautifully peaceful spot for a hike through the pine forests around the shoreline. Once you're there you won't want to leave, so pick up a pizza from Michael's Pizza on North Main Road before you go and you'll have a ready made picnic.