Bruno Zacchini, the owner of Pizza Bruno, has a special emphasis on serving Jersey-style pizzas at his pizzeria in College Park.
Despite the abundance of pizzerias in College Park, the arrival of a new one operated by Bruno Zacchini, known as the pinnacle of pizza-making in this city, is not a cause for complaint. Pizza Bruno, Zacchini’s neo-Neapolitan pizza establishment on Curry Ford Road, has gained a significant reputation in its nearly seven years of existence. However, their attempts at expansion, first with a counter service location within Orange County Brewers in 2018, and then with Slice by Pizza Bruno, a concept that never took off, were puzzling.
Pizza Bruno College Park has proven to have lasting success, unlike previous attempts. Unlike Pizza Bruno Curry Ford, the location is not a replica, with its own unique Jersey-style pies rather than wood-fired Neapolitan rounds.
This restaurant offers a specialty, the Jersey-style pizza known as the tomato pie, priced at $18. My husband loves this pizza in particular. It consists of a generous amount of crushed tomato sauce, oregano, Sicilian Green Gold olive oil, and sea salt. Similar to the traditional tomato pies in Trenton, it is circular. However, unlike the tomato pies in Philadelphia, this pizza does not contain any cheese. I don’t see the point of having no cheese, but whatever floats your boat. I’ll take mine with cheese, thanks.
Zacchini expresses that he spends a significant amount of time in Cape May County and South Jersey and is inspired to pay homage to his love for Jersey-style pizzas. He aims to create a unique and personal twist on the classic pizza by incorporating his preferences. Through crafting New Jersey-style pies, he hopes to differentiate them from the popular New York-style or Neapolitan pizzas.
When it comes to the tomato pie, it is not limited to Trenton-style or Philly-style. Regardless, it is a delicious pizza, just like the classic cheesy pizza ($24) and pepperoni pizza ($26). However, I have experienced some inconsistency issues at the College Park location. There have been times when the 16-inch pizzas were perfectly crispy and chewy, while other times the bottom was burnt. In some cases, the edge of the pizza, known as the cornicione, was too wide, taking up valuable space for toppings and sauce. However, Zacchini deserves credit for making necessary adjustments, whether through training or personnel changes, resulting in significantly improved pizzas.
At lunchtime, customers can choose from a variety of PB’s pies including their “Classic” and “Specialty” selections. I found the “Wodka Pie” ($4) to be quite delicious with its combination of meatballs, hot cherry peppers, and basil in a vodka sauce, topped with a blend of mozzarella. Although my companion wasn’t fond of the unique mix of flavors, we both agreed that the meatballs were exceptional. These beef and veal balls are also available as a starter ($16 for three), just like they are at their Curry Ford Road location.
The garlic knots at this establishment are similar to zeppoli, but they are fried instead of baked, giving them a satisfying crunch. The bread program was reduced due to low demand for hoagies in College Park, but the homemade seeded Italian bread with cacio e pepe butter is still available and pairs well with the exclusive pasta dish.
The pastas are produced and extruded in-house, and they have consistently maintained their desirable texture, whether it’s the cacio e pepe with spaghetti ($19), the malfadine ($18) with bacon, tomato, red onion, chili, and pecorino, or the orecchiette ($24) with shrimp, asparagus, peas, and garlic confit. The only potential flaw in these dishes was the lack of one essential ingredient: salt.
Beginning May 12th, this restaurant will no longer be serving their house-made pastas. According to Zacchini, they were unable to keep up with the demand for their pizzas. However, he also revealed that he is currently working on opening a new restaurant that will specialize in serving delicious and traditional pasta.
The interior of the restaurant features booths made of light wood and a bar area, creating a cozy atmosphere for enjoying a slice of pie. The outdoor patio is a popular spot among those who prefer to dine al fresco and indulge in their favorite pizza while sipping on a cold beer, a glass of Italian wine, or a refreshing sangria. Don’t forget to try the delicious zeppole dusted with sugar ($7) or the creamy soft serve ($6). No matter where you decide to sit, you can always enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of Pizza Bruno College Park, reminiscent of a typical day in New Jersey.