Jersey Pizza Take 2: Reservoir Tavern, Parsipppany

Well, I found the Reservoir Tavern, more specifically "Belaqua's Resevoir Tavern" as the sign says.

Reservoir Tavern. 90 Parsippany Blvd. PO Box 185 Parsippany, NJ 07054

Do not use Google or Yahoo Maps to find it -- they'll put you at Parsippany Rd, not Blvd. From where Google puts you, drive three stoplights north to Lakeview Rd, and make a right, over Rte 287, and you're there.

So much better than Frank & Son.

I really crave calamari, so I ordered again. $10 got me a huuuuuge plate of lightly floured crisp squidbits. The tentacles were very tender, the bigger rings chewier, but much fresher and tastier than the other night's offering. Offered with either "hot" or "sweet" sauce, of course I chose "hot". A very spicy tomato sauce was a nice foil for the calamari. Accompanied by two very crisp pieces of garlic bread which were also excellent dipped in the sauce.

Pizzas come in three sizes: Bar, small and large. I thought "bar" might mean a rectangular piece, but no, it's the size you'd order at the bar, still a hefty 12" pie. I ordered the "Capri" for $9.75, which had broccoli rabe, roasted peppers ("We roast our own"), garlic and "wet" mozzarella. A thicker crust than I'd anticipated, giving a good chew. The sweetness of the peppers and rabe, along with the fresh mozz gave it a flavor like a stick of butter had been melted over my pie. A truly outstanding pizza.

I finished neither dish, and took 2/6 of the pie back to the hotel -- even cold it will be much better than the hotel hot breakfast.

The place is charming, with the formica tables and rustic wood panelling that, to me, says wisconsin fish fry. The service was not stellar, but very friendly. Seek this place out.

(But what's with charging by the glass for iced tea? This is the second Parsippany resto to do this to me, and I just don't get it.)

Joel,

I'm glad you found the place. I really wish I could go back there and go through their pizzas and other stuff to describe what they do that really makes it special. But I went there before the age of digital cameras and blogs, and before I really understood that there wasn't a Reservoir Tavern everywhere. Then I moved away and suddenly there was none. An unexpected loss can be devastating.

Resevoir Tavern..simply the best pizza I have ever had the pleasure of ruining a diet over..and yes, it is very hard to find (Yahoo maps are worthless for this one)...but worth the effort....

Also excellent (though not in this league) are Pete's and Suvios..both in Morristown....