Pizza has been a staple of American high school and college students since the 1950s. With kids and teens making up the largest demographic of pizza-eaters in America, it’s no wonder so many students proclaim pizza as one of their favorite foods. After a movie, concert, football game, school dance, or on any regular night when parents don’t want to cook, pizza has been a staple for Nanuet students throughout the years. But which pizza place in Rockland County has the best rendition of this Italian dish? We asked some students to uncover the truth.
Martio’s
Martio’s is one of the oldest pizzerias in Rockland, created in 1958 on Main Street in Nanuet. Approximately 0.6 miles from the high school, the 66-year-old brick-oven pizzeria with an attached gelato stand claims to be the first pizzeria with a wood-burning brick oven in the county. Martio’s serves up thin-crust slices, calzones, heroes and more for the whole family to enjoy.
“When I went there I got the food super fast. I love their vintage-vibed room, it makes the eating experience very appealing”, says Athena Theodoropolous, a sophomore.
Although constructed in the ‘50s, the décor is timeless. From the “Casablanca” poster on the wall and the reminiscent jukebox to the old-fashioned wood paneling and a light pole from Grand Central Station in Manhattan, Martio’s runs on nostalgia while providing a superb dining experience for all generations.
Patsy’s
Patsy’s Pizzeria is a restaurant that specializes in coal-oven pizza but also serves other Italian dishes. Located in the Shops at Nanuet for the past 10 years, they originally opened at the Nanuet Mall in 1969. They serve up a variety of pizzas, including Margherita, Caprese, polpette, Napoletana, and alla vodka, along with an assortment of salads, soups, and paninis.
The atmosphere is a clear positive for Patsy’s. With a vintage motorcycle at the entrance and aesthetically-pleasing signage, Patsy’s is fighting for curb appeal and to not be forgotten among the sea of establishments at the Shoppes at Nanuet.
Some believe the coal oven gives the pizza a unique flair. According to Samantha Mazariego, a junior, Patsy’s pizza “has the classic brick oven homey taste” that she describes as “rustic and authentic.”
Posa Posa
A cult classic among Nanuet students, Posa Posa is the behemoth of Nanuet pizzerias. Located only 0.6 miles from the high school, they serve pastas, salads, seafood, and gelato, but are known primarily for, of course, their pizzas. From BBQ chicken pizza to deep dish, the restaurant has a large selection of carb-intensive meals. They have Hawaiian pies, the Fisherman pie topped with seafood, Fresca pizza, Grandma pizzas (a Sicilian tomato and mozzarella slice), and penne alla vodka pizza. A slice pairs perfectly with a scoop of Carvel ice cream, located just across the parking lot. It’s no wonder many students attest to its dominance and even seek employment here.
It seems Posa is the default option for many due to its convenient location and prevalence over the years. One passionate supporter of Posa’s pizza is Peter Mammen, a junior.
“[Posa is] the closest to my house,” he said. “The quality of the pizza is consistent, the prices are great, and it’s a short distance from my house. It’s mostly just the prices. They’re still charging decently low amounts for the quality of the pizza.”
Many students find Posa Posa as an integral establishment in their community that they’ve grown up loving, and many have grown accustomed to their favorites from the restaurant.
“I’ve been going there since I was a kid and grew up on their bacon chicken ranch,” said Swapna George, a junior.
Some students frequent Posa Posa for the sheer convenience and vicinity to the high school, such as junior Nate Mendler.
“I like how close it is to the school,” he said. “They hire local kids, which is nice. I’ve seen a lot of kids from school working there.”
Mia Chindemi, a sophomore, said she appreciates the popularity of student employees at Posa and adds that Posa is “convenient since it’s closer to the school and the prices are pretty good.”
“I also like how most of the workers there are chill,” she said
The strong sense of community is clear at Posa, and it’s hard to stop by for a meal without seeing some familiar faces.
Pizza City
A small pizzeria on North Middletown Road, Pizza City in Pearl River has a variety of pies, including baked ziti and Sicilian, and also serves burgers, heroes, and paninis. Opened in 1976 by Elizabeth Badigian, she has been running the restaurant ever since. Although much closer to Pearl River High School than ours, it is still less than 3 miles from Nanuet High School and has a few supporters.
Kristen Schmid, a freshman and passionate pizza enthusiast, took a more factual and specific approach to determining the best quality pizzeria and testifies to the superiority of Pizza City’s slices. She claims that “the sauce-to-crust ratio is perfect.” She also finds that the crust is more advanced than those of other pizzerias.
“There’s these diamonds imprinted on the bottom of the pizza, and it makes the pizza taste better,” she said.
An important factor in choosing a favorite pizzeria is not just the quality of the pizza, but the quality of the service.
“I like Pizza City because we know [the owner] very well and there’s a nice lady that runs it,” she said. “It’s a family thing. She’s very nice and welcoming there.”
Although pizza preferences are subjective, Kristen puts it matter-of-factly.
“It’s quality pizza,” she said. “You can’t argue with that.”
Franco’s
Confident in their quality, Franco’s declares itself the “Best Pizzeria in Nanuet.” Located in Nanuet on Route 59 next to P.C. Richard & Son, Franco’s offers cauliflower pizzas, pizzettas, calzones, and unique options such as lasagna pizza and salad pizza. A fan favorite is their French fries, which have received rave reviews from a plethora of students. Since its humble beginnings in 1979 as a family business, it has expanded through the years and has gained a large following among Nanuet students.
Liam Dowd, a Franco’s Pizzeria employee and Nanuet sophomore, says he enjoys working at Franco’s and advocates for the arduous process of pizza-making.
“Working there has opened my eyes to how hard people are working in the back and the front,” he said. “Making pizza isn’t really easy. There are a lot of factors that go into it.”
According to Dowd, Franco’s is popular among many students.
“I see a lot of seniors,” he said. “From time to time, my friends come to visit.”
Conclusion
As Nanuet students, we are lucky enough to live in New York, where pizzerias found their first home in the U.S. and the thin-crust slices are unlike anywhere else in the country. So support local businesses and check out the amazing pizzerias Nanuet has to offer!