South Amboy was first settled by European explorers as early as the late 1600s. Whether they remained there from exhaustion after their lengthy travels or stayed because they realised the potential of its location at the mouth of the Raritan River and on the edge of Raritan Bay isn't clear. South Amboy's location was instrumental in its development though, so the 17th century settlers turned out to be pretty smart. Over the ensuing decades, South Amboy evolved as a major transport hub which attracted various large manufacturing companies to relocate there. Employees of the companies gradually swelled the settlement's population count, but it took until the 1950s and the opening of several highways for the number of people living in South Amboy to surpass eight thousand. When a few Italians from New York started searching for somewhere less competitive to open their businesses, they came across South Amboy. It seemed ideal and was. They soon set to work and when they opened the first pizzerias in South Amboy, they made sure the locals had great pizzas to eat.

South Amboy in New Jersey is known for Thick Crust Pizza

With South Amboy being so close to New York and with the city's first pizzerias opening up when they did, you might expect South Amboy to be known for New York-style pizza, but it's not. South Amboy is known for its classic Italian pizzas which are thick crust and Sicilian-style. Thick crust when it's made without extra topping ingredients is a simple bake consisting of bread dough, tomato sauce and cheese which is usually prepared to be around the size of a dinner plate. In South Amboy they like to make their pizzas a little bigger than the norm, so what you'll get is a pizza that's even more satisfying than usual. That said, though, there's always a pizzeria or two that likes to kick over the traces, so if you search you'll find New York-style pizzas if you want one.

Best Delivery Pizza in South Amboy, New Jersey

If you're going to get the best delivery pizza in South Amboy you need to go to a pizzeria that makes pies the authentic Italian way. Don Giovanni's Restaurant is a place that does just that and with a name like Don Giovanni you couldn't really expect anything else. Don Giovanni's Restaurant is located on Main Street and occupies an independent, villa-style premises that gets a big thumbs up for style and character both externally and internally. Order your delivery pizza from Don Giovanni's and you'll be spoiled with a proper Italian pie that's incredibly flavorsome. You get to pick your base type too as here they bake a wide variety as well as old world thick crust.

Best Takeout Pizza in South Amboy, New Jersey

If you've been passing a few hours of your day tramping around the Judge Joseph C Hoffman Wildlife Refuge or stretching your legs on the trails in the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, you may well be dreaming of pizza. If you are and want to grab the best take-out pizza in South Amboy you won't have far to go. You can get the best take-out pizza in South Amboy from Amano Pizza on Bordentown Avenue. At Amano's they specialize in New York-style pizzas so if all you want is a slice they're happy to serve you that too. Don't be too startled by the décor when you walk through Amano's door. It's smart, spacious and while it looks more like a trendy coffee shop, it is a pizzeria and one that bakes excellent pies.

Best Pizza near South Amboy, New Jersey

Union Beach

If you're bored with the shoreline in South Amboy, have a quick change of scene by driving the eight or so miles southeast to Union Beach. It's a great place to take the kids for a fun day out as there are endless activities they'll go totally crazy over. It might break your outing budget, but start in the Runaway Rapids Waterpark where there are enough chutes to exhaust them in under three hours. Follow that by a couple of hours in the Keansburg Amusement Park which is likely to bankrupt you, but they'll be ecstatic. Calm them down with a stroll on the beach and if you've still got cash to spare, treat them to a posh pizza from Princess Maria's Pizza and Restaurant on Union Avenue.

Trenton

Just sometimes it's good to do something that's not associated with beaches or coastal shorelines. If you're hoping for a day like that then you could do worse then head for Trenton. It takes around forty minutes to get from South Amboy to Trenton so don't forget to fill up with gas before you set off. In Trenton there are lots of museums to visit. Two in particular that are of general interest are the New Jersey State Museum and the Old Barracks Museum. You can get a good art fix and some outdoor exercise by visiting the beautiful Grounds for Sculpture where the flowers compete for attention with the stunning artworks. If you want to eat pizza before you go home, try Jerry's Pizza on South Broad Street.

Middletown Township

For a quick day out without going too far Middletown Township is not a bad choice. It's just a twelve mile drive from South Amboy, so easy enough to get to without having too much stress. Start the day with a visit to the Monmouth Museum which houses a variety of collections related to the arts, science and nature. For some peaceful exercise the Henry Hudson Trail in County park is unbeatable, or if you prefer somewhere with some interesting historic sites, you might enjoy the Hartshorne Woods Park more. Don't leave Middletown though without stopping by the Tre Colore Pizzeria on the NJ-35; you'll be surprised at just how good the pizzas there are.