0
of
0
Springfield BID co-chair Michael Scalera, Pizza Rustica co-owners Michelle Bellina and Antonio Costagliola with Springfield Township Committee member Marc Krauss and Deputy Mayor Jerry Fernandez.
Photos (2)
Photos
Springfield's newest pizza shop, Pizza Rustica, celebrated its grand opening in late October. Taking over for long-standing restaurant Jolly's Pizza, the Morris avenue pizzeria has already gained fans in the Springfield community.
Like many businesses in the area, Hurricane Sandy presented unique and extreme challenges, forcing Rustica to shut its doors for two weeks. Owner Antonio Costagliola said that while it was a burden to take such a hit to the business so soon after opening, he was happy to see that people have already started to come back for pies, slices and more.
Editor's note: the original version of this story got the address wrong. I changed it in the text.
john l
6:00 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
It is on Morris ave
Adam Bulger
11:14 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Woops. Will change. Sorry.
Carolyn Seyler
7:00 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
That's what I thought too. Morris Ave.
bob groder
9:13 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
I have been there and its quite good.
Elizabeth
12:10 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Nothing can compare to Jolly's. I thought Jolly's was just closing for renovations. What happened to them? Why did they close? Did they move somewhere else? We really miss them!
Called this place to order a pizza and they charge at least 5 dollars more than Jolly's and Larchmont (pizza places in the area). The woman asked the owner how much for xtra toppings etc. guy seemed to be making it up as he went along.
Guess I'll still with Larchmont.
Elizabeth
12:14 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Larchmont on Morris ave. Union is a good pizza place.. the sauce has a funny taste sometimes and it's no Jolly's, but at least they don't charge $18.00 for a pizza like these guys do. They should have purchased Jolly's pizza recipes when
they took over.
Anyone know what happened to Jolly's?
Jim Shamrock
1:47 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Elizabeth...nobody likes change... Jolly's owners retired
and now live on a tropical island.... (let's hope)
Rustica has Great Pizza (went there and had a fresh pie with my daughter). Unfortunately, this economy is Not very Jolly....and we see a lot of businesses close down or sell....Good luck to Rustica!
Elizabeth
2:13 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
I wish Rustica well too... don't get me wrong. But he should make his prices comparable to the other local "Real" Italian pizza places like Larchmont.
I just wish Jolly's would have made a statement after all these years in business. They have been there for over 100 years. They won "best pizza" for many years as well. So a 'fair thee well' would have been nice.
Good luck Rustica. I hope you reconsider your prices.
john l
3:35 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Adam, you changed the address in the story, how about changing the address in the title of the story
Adam Bulger
3:42 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
d'oh! Fixed.
Rich Citrin
4:37 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
The best item on the menu there is their Chicken Alfredo pizza. Courteous service to no end, I would pay a little more for all this and support a local merchant!
Casey
5:10 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Elizabeth,
How is $12 for a large Margherita pie too expensive? Cioffi's charges almost $20 for the same thing! If you order a specialty pie then it's more expensive just like it is in every other pizzeria or restaurant. And because the girl asked for prices that you just assume "he's making up the prices as he goes along?"
I realize that prices are part of a decision making process we use to rate a place, but I hardly call these prices so expensive. I have eaten from almost every pizza place in Sprinfgield (including Jolly's/Larchmont) and to me the pizza was at Jolly's was terrible. I'm originially from Brooklyn, which has some of the city's best pizza and I can say that I know good pizza when I eat it. To me this place was pretty damn good. Pizza Rustica is my family's new place and we will definitely be going back.. Sometimes cheaper doesn't mean better and that may be the reason they closed.
And BTW... You didn't mention if you liked the pizza or not?
Elizabeth
5:22 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
And BTW... You didn't mention if you liked the pizza or not?
>>>>
I didn't try the pizza. I was quoted $18.00 for delivery so I said forget about it. I know pizza and love it. Jolly's was fantastic. Larchmont is pretty good, but a little salty. I think I tried Coffi's awhile back.. not good. Neither was "Toms." (on Mountain ave?) I think that's the name.
Larchmont makes excellent subs. Domino's shouldn't be allowed to call what they make pizza. I will give it a whirl, again, I hope they do well.
Elizabeth
5:17 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Jolly's pizza won best pizza in this area, it was anything but horrible.
I asked her how much for an Xtra cheese pizza, I was quoted (after much back and forth with I will assume, the owner) $18.00. This was for delivery.
I will certainly try this pizza at that price, ya'll have me curious now. I know us humans don't like change.. so I will give it a try. I do hope they are as good as you say. But please, don't put Jolly's down because they were the best around. I lived in many places here and NY. I know good pizza. They had the best.
They won best pizza in this town and then some not long before they closed.
Casey
5:34 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
That's not saying that they weren't good, it saying that I didint like them. And if it Jolly's was so great, then why would they close? I would think that a place that's doing well is open is crowded on the weekends, they never were. Anyway, give these guys a break, taste the pizza and then if you think it's not good, then so be it., but at least it will be a fair review.
Elizabeth
5:47 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
They retired after over 100 years...
Casey
5:56 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Giving these people a bad review isn't gonna bring them back..
Elizabeth
9:59 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Giving these people a bad review isn't going to bring them back!? No, it just discounts over 100 years of good service!
john mac
6:30 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
best pizza..reservoir in So. Orange........across from cameron field. Best in NJ
Aleksandr Kardonov
8:32 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
So im sitting here eating my sub i just got @ Rustica as i read all these comments.. and what i got to say is that: the food is GREAT, prices are GOOD, the place is CLEAN, crew is professional and friendly, unlike other places!! so go troll some other article! cause, as we all know! the bad troll is bad! and good food is good! kthxbye
Elizabeth
10:03 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
I am not giving anyone a bad review! And I'm not a troll! Obviously the two of you work for them (Rustica) and will have to prove yourself by good service like any other new biz, not by playing games and calling people trolls and dismissing other establishments who ran an excellent business (Jolly's) for many many years! Jolly's was an excellent take out place. We have enjoyed their pizza and everything else for many years. They were always busy, and obviously were good enough to win them "BEST PIZZA" in Springfield.
You want to play games, play with somebody else. Your place will have to prove themselves like everybody else. Not by playing "Internet games!"
Aleksandr Kardonov
7:41 am on Sunday, November 18, 2012
@ Elizabeth! obviously you are a Troll you been bashing on this thread since it was open! why you mad? now! most important thing- my name is Aleksandr Kardonov i am resident of Springfield and i do not work at Rusticas neither do i know any one who works there! ok!? now back to you sweety, you keep talking bout some pizza place from 100 years ago, jeez! how old are you now seriously!?!? why not try the food here first b4 talk stuff? as you stated i n one of your comments you self you HAVE NOT tried they food yet! in fact, ill buy you some food from there! just so you can keep your fingers busy with something way more pleasant then bragging about some jelly pizza thats been out of business over 9000 years ago, are you jelly owner of jollys pizza? xD this is not about them and its not about who is best in what major! so please don’t be offended or anysort and just leave this thread alone i mean no offence or disrespect to you just DONT bash something you never had kthx
Elizabeth
4:29 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
Broken English... naw, you aren't the owner..@@
BTW, I am 45. When your place closes down after 100 years in service to the public, I'll make sure to trash your place as well.
bob groder
10:12 am on Sunday, November 18, 2012
I think there is a misunderstanding about their prices. 1st of all the delivery prices must be marked up as i just ate there yesterday and a small margeritta pizza for example was 8.00 and a small whole wheat pizza was 10.00. a margeritta in the place in summit i go to is 16.00. my guess is they charge a lot for delivery and extra toppings but their plain prices when you eat there are reasonable.
Jane Alfano
9:06 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
Jolly's was not there for a100 years. It wasTony's before it was Jolly's.
Elizabeth
9:17 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
...groan! I no longer give a flying fig!
NJ Transplant
8:22 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
Attempted to try Jolly Pizza but the place looked so dirty that I walked right out. Tom's pizza needs to go too also kinda gross looking
L Howe
9:26 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
Tom's is the best pizza in town!
CATHERINE HINES
6:22 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
C HINES
Pizza Rustica is the best pizza we have had in Springfield ever. My husband and I
have had their Nonna's pizza, sausage and peppers and meatball sandwich all delicious. They also donated a tray of Penne Vodka to a fund raiser I had for Veterans on Nov 11th this was very generous and delicious, everyone loved it.
Thank you Plzza Rustica.
Lou
12:28 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Very Nice people -Very Good Pizza
Tom J
8:15 pm on Thursday, November 22, 2012
To everyone who has commented above praising Jollys I would like to do the same. I've known the owners for quite some years now and they had excellent pizza. I have yet to try Pizza Rustica but I think supporting a new, local pizzeria is what our community should do, for heavens sake this is someones job and life we can at least give them a chance! As for the Jolly's owners they did not close because of poor sales, they closed for the simple reason they were tired and wanted to do something new. I believe they opened 25+ years ago, so they have been in business a while and their pizza was phenomenal. After working almost everyday for 25+ and building a successful business I think its fair to say they deserved to retire and start a new life. I hope Pizza Rustica is as good as some say it is, and will try it soon. Have a nice holiday everyone
-Tony