Our top North Jersey Neapolitan pizzas have fluffy crusts, tasty cheese and juicy tomatoes

If I had a dollar for every time someone said they dreamt of "eating pizza in Italy," I wouldn't be working at The Record anymore — because savoring a slice on the coast of Campania is on the bucket list of everyone from teens to boomers.

Pillowy crusts, flavorful mozzarella and juicy red tomatoes; the pies of Naples and beyond are known for their fresh ingredients and elegant simplicity. On the grounds of the European boot, people say, the pies are simply unparalleled.

I've been to Italy, and — as great as the pizza is — it would be an overstatement to say there aren't comparable (or at least similar) pies in other countries. San Tommaso Restaurant in Spain boasts a menu of authentic Neapolitan pizzas, and Una Pizza Napoletana in New York is currently ranked as the top pie in the world (according to 50 Top Pizza).

But none of that matters, North Jersey! Because we all know Garden State residents live and die in Jersey.

So, if you can't afford a trip to Europe, hate leaving Bergen or refuse to be coerced into paying the $16 Lincoln Tunnel toll, read on.

Here are seven pizzerias turning out serious, real-deal Neapolitan pies right on our home turf.

S. Egidio, Ridgewood

S. Egidio in Ridgewood epitomizes a pizzeria Napoletana with its use of San Marzano DOP tomatoes (the DOP referring to a certification that confirms tomatoes are indeed of the San Marzano variety), house-made fior di latte cheese and extra virgin olive oil — each hallmarks of an authentic Neapolitan pie. A gorgeous brick oven sits in the restaurant for diners to watch their pizzas being fired, and the smell of flour fills the air.

Grab a prosciutto-topped Delizia pie, or a pesto and sausage-loaded Genovese, and be wowed by the quality of the ingredients on your dough. From the smallest herbs to the largest cuts of meat, everything the spot serves is an ode to the genre's focus on freshness and unprocessed taste.

Emilio’s Wood Fire Pizza, Nutley

Truffle Gorgonzola pizza at Emilio's Wood Fire Pizza.

Ok, Emilio's is favorite pizzeria Napoletana in the state, so if you live in Bergen or Morris, get ready to hop in the car and make the ultimate Italian food drive.

Run by twenty-something Ralph Ruiz — a former electrician who left power system repairs to pursue his dough-tossing dreams — the Nutley spot is widely regarded for its creative pizza flavors and canotto-style crust; the latter of which being a variety of crust so puffy and airy you can almost see through it (when looking sideways, like a telescope).

When I visit, I always order the caramelized onion, bacon and mascarpone-topped "Olivia." Smothered in creamy cheese and salty meat, the decadent pie juxtaposes rich, dense flavors with light, pillowy bread.

Song'E Napule, Rutherford

Ciro Iovine and his wife Austria Maldonado, owners of Song'E Napule.

As aforementioned, New York City is currently home to "the best pizza in the world," and Song'E Napule in Rutherford comes straight from Manhattan. Opened in 2021, the Bergen County spot is the fourth location of the small Neapolitan chain, and the only one on this side of the George Washington Bridge.

Each Song'E Napule store is owned and operated by Ciro Iovine, a NY-metro-area pizza wizard who's been crafting pies since the young age of 13. Showcasing red pizzas topped with vibrant Eccellenze Nolane sauce (Eccellenze Nolane are the crowning jewel of San Marzano tomatoes), and white pies decorated with anything from Bufala mozzarella to fried eggplant, the chef's menu is packed with delicious creations.

Indulge in my personal favorite, the gorgonzola cream-based 4 Formaggi, and be impressed by soft dough and melty imported cheeses.

Bivio Pizza, Montclair

A Funghi Pizza at Bivio Pizza Napoletana.

Bivio — an authentic pizzeria Napoletana — recently reopened in Montclair under new management, and the spot is (in customers' opinions and mine) as good as ever. After a brief hiatus to make sure the incoming owner gained all the wisdom previous chef Tommaso had to offer, the restaurant is once again turning out top-tier pies made with "the highest quality ingredients imported from Italy."

The secret behind Bivio's crowd-favorite pizzas is the team's use of a "27 year-old natural yeast culture" and the "finest Italian 00 flours" to craft their dough. When baked into a fluffy crust; and topped with Calabrese soppressata, Bufala mozzarella, Sicilian sea salt and more; that mixture simply soars.

A Legna Wood Fired Pizza, Morristown

A Pizza Classica from A Legna Wood Fired Pizza.

Can you make a perfect pizza in only 90 seconds? The team at A Legna in Morristown thinks so — as long as you use an Acunto Wood Fired Brick Oven handmade in Italy. Set to a scorching 900 degrees, the imported apparatus cooks each pie to the ideal texture in less time than it takes Dean Martin to sing "That's Amore."

Over the short two years the hidden gem has been open, it's quickly become a local favorite. Currently ranked (by the public's star ratings) in the top three pizzerias in Morristown, customers rave about its "quality ingredients," "fair prices" and "soooo good crust."

"Truly," a first time visitor said, "one of the best pizzas I’ve had in my life."

Culto Italiano, Bergenfield

A neapolitan pizza with hot soppressata from Culto Italiano.

Spicy Diavola, pancetta-topped Amatriciana and an anchovy and olive Napoletana — if it's a traditional Italian pie variety, Culto Italiano in Bergenfield is selling it. Offering fare that will "take you to Italy with its aromas and flavors," the spot is known for its commitment to Neapolitan excellence.

Some popular pizzas on the menu include a Genovese with slow-cooked veal and Al Pesto with fior di latte, but (from sweet sausage to prosciutto di parma) this local hole-in-the-wall has all of your Italian needs covered.

Culto Italiano Pizza Truck, Mobile

The Culto Italiano pizza truck is a mobile pizzeria Napoletana.

And, if you don't feel like getting out of bed? Culto Italiano also has your needs covered with a food truck.

So, if you're willing to pay for a private party for one? A pizzeria will come to you.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Our top North Jersey Neapolitan pizzas have fluffy crusts, tasty cheese and juicy tomatoes