Day 27, 2017: Mercato Tomato Pie (Newark, NJ)

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DAY 27: OCTOBER 27th, 2017

LOCATION: Mercato Tomato Pie (212 Market St, Newark, NJ 07102)

GUEST(S): Robin Rothman, Terry Jinn, Alexis Saarela

ORDER: 2 slices of Margherita, 1 slice of pepperoni, 1 slice of sausage with extra tomato sauce

REVIEW: 
Coal-fired family-friendliness. Minutes from Newark’s Penn Station, in the shadow of the Prudential Center, is Mercato Tomato Pies. Italian for “market,” the appropriately named Market Street pizzeria serves as the perfect place for groups seeking coal-fired pizza. Whether it be an office get together, a family lunch, a pre-concert dinner, or a post-hockey bite, Mercato's spacious dining rooms are standing by. The tomato pies might not have the cheese on bottom, sauce on top that you come to expect from other New Jersey tomato pie-rias but it is every bit as tasty and more. Brought out in paper-lined cookie sheets, the ultra thin circular Margherita is good enough for Queen Margherita herself. The expertly layered savory tomato sauce complements the creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and basil both in flavor and aesthetics. Although the underside is crisp and the outer edge slightly charred, the toppings retain their moisture atop the thoroughly baked crust, indicating that not only does Mercato have a hot burning coal oven, but they know how to use it. I can't wait to return with a larger party to share the wealth of Mercato!


PHOTOS:

Margherita pie

Pepperoni pie

Sausage with extra sauce

Slice of Margherita

Underside

Slice of Sausage with extra tomato sauce

Slice of Pepperoni

Coal-fired brick oven

Day 27

MISCELLANEOUS:

Robin, Alexis, Terry, Sean

1. By some random twist of fate, all four of us were able to meet for lunch in Newark, NJ. The big coincidence was that Alexis Saarela happened to be on jury duty in Newark just down the street.

Terry and his beverage

2. Continuing with a tradition that began back in 2002, when Terry Jinn used to post a picture of his beverage of the day, today was the annual crossover day.

Halloween screening of Rocky Horror

3. After pizza, Robin Rothman and I attended a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Cinépolis Chelsea.  If you haven't been, I highly recommend it.  In addition to seeing a cult classic projected on the big screen, there are live actors that perform, an audience full of devotees that yell and throw things at fun times and practically everyone wears costumes - regardless of the time of year.  Robin dressed up as the character Magenta and I dressed up as a slice of pizza.

RATING:

 4.29/5

• VALUE:
   3.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   8.5/10


• SERVICE:
   3/3

18/21 = .857 x 5 = 4.29