Hawthorne’s Best Pizza

We LOVE Hawthornes Best!
Moved into the Hawthorne area a couple years ago. I saw the name of this place and was like. «They better be good, naming their place that!». And wow! they delivered. Literally. Tried all the other places around here and I have to say they truly are Hawthornes Best! So what, the place looks a little rough. Get over it. It’s the perfect neighborhood pizzeria. Their sandwiches are great, their salads too. No complaints. When I first went there, I told them I just moved into the area and they welcomed me as a family run establishment should. With a free 2L soda! Don’t mess with Hawthornes best!

After reading the pity party comment that a worker posted I would like to say that Hawthorne’s best pizza is still the WORST pizza and I do not know anybody at Enzos or work at any pizzeria I am just someone who knows good food. This is what Unilocal is for informing people of terrible places like this. If you think this is harsh I dare you to go and try. Yuck!
To the worker who assumed things… well you kno :(

Mehh… pizza is ok. I hope its not Hawthornes Best, that would be pretty depressing. The place looks like it was remodled in the 70’s and hasn’t been touched since, also place smells kinda like motor oil

Best and cheapest pizza In Hawthorne, must get pizza before it gets cold. I like the thin crust and sausage extra cheese. The rest of pizza in Hawthorne is terrible and can“t figure who buys the stuff. Patsys in Paterson the best in area

Out of the 5+ pizza spots in Hawthorne this is by far not the «best» in town. I don’t really know why you would name a business «Hawthorne’s Best» if you aren’t something spectacular. Especially when there are pizza places that have been in town well over 10 years and you’re a bit of a «newcomer». I stopped in here once and didn’t like the pizza. But I decided to give it another go and was again let down. Then a few months later I went to my mothers and she had ordered a whole pie. I took a bite, was not happy at all and asked where she got it. Of course, it was from Hawthorne’s best.
Unfortunately the nickname of this place is (no surprise) Hawthorne’s Worst. Sorry Hawthorne’s Best. You need to step up your game. I really wish this place was better. But about 2 blocks away at Puzo’s you can get a phenomenal slice.

I like the old man and the son is a good guy too, but twice i went in there at 9PM for slices (not that late for a pizza place), and they were absolutely the worst slices i ever had to eat (endure!). I understand that they keep some slices out, but after a few hours, there is no flavor left at all. On both visits, Leo the owner slid the 2 slices onto a pan for the oven and they looked soggy and so old, flopping onto the pan. I couldn’t believe he had the stones to serve them to me!
If your going to own a pizza joint, accept that maybe you have to throw some slices away, but don’t insult your customers! I haven’t been back since.

I’ve been to contless pizzerias in the area (Patterson, Haledon etc) and haven’t had very much to say about their food.
Hawthorne’s Best is noticeably better all round in terms of cheese/​sauce/​crust and variety on hand at any one time.
They have delivery service and some pretty attractive family deals to offer. They are even kind enough to include Italian bread with many of their salads as sides.
The staff if friendly and polite which is one reason I support this famiy owned and operated pizzeria. If you are in the area it is well worth taking a stop (the sicilian slices are great with a heafty layer of cheese and sauce with some real flavor!)
The storefront is somewhat hidden and the enterance is shared by a nearby shoe repair store which kind of threw me for a loop.
All in all– Great food, great price and a definite standout for the area.

It’s a whole in the wall joint. Tasty pizza. All slices range from $ 1.50−3. Cash only. Looks in need of a facelift, but it tastes clean.
General Italian pizzeria fare. Got a sausage slice for 2.50. It was a big, well done thin crust slice. Filled me up.

Maybe this place should be called, Hawthorne’s 3^rd best Pizza. The prices are decent and delivery is fast but eh, better choices all around.

The reviewer who said this is tough to find is on the money. I’ve worked a few doors down for about a year and often find myself walking past it when I’m headed there for a few slices. Hawthorne’s best pizza? I haven’t sampled enough of Hawthorne’s other pizza establishments to make that judgment, but I’m very picky about my pizza and this place makes the cut.
It’s far from the best pizza I’ve ever had but it is a huge leap above the countless ordinary and awful pizza establishments that cover northern NJ like grains of sand on a beach. Good pizza is so hard to find in New Jersey and Hawthorne’s Best makes good pizza.
I haven’t delved too deeply into their menu beyond pizza, but Hawthorne’s best ‘s selection consists largely of basic NJ pizzeria fare, subs, antipasto, pasta, fried calamari, etc. You’ll find few surprises on their menu.
I’ve tried the meatball and sausage parm and they are topped with an above average tomato sauce and as good as you’ll find anywhere. For an Italian sub I don’t hesitate to pass by the nearby Subway and head here and pay the extra buck for a sub with some meat on it. Garlic knots are nice and garlicy, they don’t skimp on the garlic. Cold antipasto is rather ordinary and mostly iceberg lettuce. I don’t understand why so many pizza establishments miss the boat on cold antipasto and serve what can only be described as an Italian sub without the bread and with less meat and more lettuce. The simple act of replacing the tasteless iceberg with a quality lettuce such as green leaf or romaine would go a long way towards improving the dish. And why even bother with those light pink, styrofoam tomatoes that are ubiquitous from about November to June. I’m a tomato lover and I throw that nonsense out. Hello all 500,000 north Jersey pizzeria owners are you listening?
There décor is somewhat dingy and can use updating. It not the sort of destination where you’d bring the family or a date to linger over dinner. It’s more of a place to wolf down your meal and go.
Warning, it is cash only. They don’t take plastic. There have been numerous times when my wife called and asked me to bring a few pies home for dinner and I had to stop elsewhere because of this.
I wouldn’t urge anyone to drive miles out of their way for to visit Hawthorne’s Best Pizza, but if you live in the neighborhood or are passing by it is certainly worth a stop. Solid all around for what it is, a simple neighborhood pizzeria.

It’s a little tough to find this place. We were walking and actually walked past it TWICE while looking for it. I think they need a sign that sticks out, or a posterboard sign on the sidewalk to draw more attention to them.
It seemed like everyone who was buying had already called ahead and their pizzas were ready. I’ve gotta do that next time. The wait without calling ahead actually wasn’t that bad though.
The pizza was A-​OK. Decent price for a carry out pizza, and decent quality. I would definitely be back to eat here again.

The name is very misleading it is at its very «BEST» an average pizzeria.

Very good pizza. Heavy crust but good sauce makes out work. This place and tasty pizza are my two «go to» pizza joints in town.

This is one of the best pizzarias in town for sure! Plus they deliver pretty quickly. Their pizza is really yummy and so are their garlic knots. I also had minestrone soup from here it is was possible one of the best minestrone soups I have ever had! They have a nice size menu for a pizzaria and very good prices!

I secretly admire the old Italian man who is always here, always, always. He’s a whipper snapper.
A whipper snapper who serves up some good cheap (7.95 take out special) pie. And who actually understands that garlic knots mean GARLICknots.
Whipper snapper.

4-​stars if you order THIN CRUST pizza… I don’t care what kind, just say «thin crust» and you will be pleased. Too thick and doughy if you just order a pie. Dinner meals are just ok. I am still looking for great italian take-​out/​delivery in my area.