The Best Pizzeria In New Jersey Is...

Even if you live as far south as Cape May, or as far north as Mahwah, you may want to make a day trip to get the best pizza in the state, according to a newly released ranking.

This pizzeria has an owner described as having "tomato sauce running through his veins." His pizza place has topped at least two recently released lists identifying the best pizzerias in New Jersey, and it's ranked among the best in America.

That place would be Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza, at 639 S. Broad St. in Elizabeth.

Santillo's was described as the top pizza place in New Jersey by the well-respected foodie site, The Daily Meal, in its newly released rankings that identifies that best in each state. Santillo's also topped NJ.com's list of the 25 best pizzerias in the state, which was released last fall.

The Daily Meal, which released its list this past week, described Santillo's as the "least well-known great pizza tradition curator in America, the gatekeeper to three generations of pizza-making and one of the most unique pizzerias in America. "

The owner, Al Santillo, "preserves every pizza style he can for posterity," according to The Daily Meal. "They range from the 1940 Genuine Tomato Pie (no cheese) to the 2011 San Marzano 'Tomatoes Over the Cheese' Pizza. But there are other intriguing options like Lasagna Pizza, thin-pan, Roman-style, Italian bread, and an off-the-menu grandpa pie as well."

The Daily Meal said the restaurant has the feel of "Al's living room," housing "the massive cathedral-like oven that requires a 20-foot-long peel to retrieve the pizzas. And be prepared to order by the year — Al preserves every pizza style he can for posterity."

You can find the whole Daily Meal state-by-state list here.

Santillo's also was the highest ranked New Jersey pizza place on The Daily Meal's rankings of the best 101 best pizzerias in America, which was released last fall.

Read more: 5 In New Jersey Are Among 101 Best Pizzerias In America

In October, NJ.com described the pizzeria thusly: "Walk down the driveway, open the screen door, and say hello to owner — and lovable nut — Al Santillo. There's no seating; take it to a nearby bar, or home. 639 S. Broad St., Elizabeth; (908) 354-1887.

You can find the NJ.com power rankings here.

Santillo's also was ranked high on other power-rating sites, getting a four-star review on Yelp which made note of the old-fashioned atmosphere.

"One conversation with the owner and you will come away impressed with the craftsmanship he puts into every pizza,” one commenter said.

Delivery is not available, the site said. But it doesn't matter.

“It is not a restaurant though. It's pickup and delivery only. But totally worth it," another commenter said.

Patch file photo/Santillo's photo