The Best of Gloucester Township: Pizza

Writer's Note: As a lifelong resident of Blackwood and, more importantly, someone who is completely incapable of cooking my own meals, I've had the opportunity to sample many of this township's fine restaurants. As such, I approached my editor about putting together a "Best of Gloucester Township" series in which I tour various dining establishments around town and rank each according my personal preference. 

Now, I have no formal training, nor have I previously moonlighted as a professional food critic, but I do consider myself quite a connoisseur of finer foods--you know, like pizza, hoagies, cheesesteaks and, of course, wings.

We begin the series taking a look at the best slice of pizza in Gloucester Township. Let's start with No. 5 on my list.

Ah, pizza. Is there any food more integral to the survival of American culture than pizza? It's quick, it's easy, it's cheap. And when it is made properly, it's good.

Whether it was my mom slapping down down a hot slice on a paper plate twenty minutes before a baseball game as a kid, my days as a broke frat guy at Monmouth University, or in the present, when I'm too lazy to cook and too cheap to go out, pizza has always been a staple of my diet.

There are many places to get a slice around town, but the question remains--where exactly is the best place? I visited just over a dozen pizza places over the last ten days, so hopefully I'll help shed some light to help answer this question.

Without further ado, let's begin.

No. 5: Santini Pizzeria

Located on Church Street in Blackwood, sits in a small shopping center right in the heart of Gloucester Township, only a few blocks down the street from Highland Regional High School. 

For nearly 20 years, Santini's has served those looking for a quick, quality slice of pizza.

Santini's fits the profile of a typical pizza shop. Though small in size (seats about 12-15 patrons), it's a clean restaurant, with a friendly staff that is more focused on the quality of their food than decor.

It's not the type of place you are going to bring a date or family for a sit-down dinner, but if you are looking for a quick drop-in lunch or meal on-the-go option, it will do the job. They also offer takeout and delivery options.

Upon sitting down with a friend, I grabbed a menu from the counter and was politely greeted by the man at the counter.

We both ordered a regular slice of cheese pizza.

The slice was fairly priced at $1.75—which seems to be about average for this area.

After only a couple minutes of waiting, the pizza was served fresh out of the oven.

Additionally, you don't get cheated in terms of slice size at Santini's, as they offered a slice that was larger than most of the others I consumed during my tour.

A slice from Santini's features a soft, thin crust with a sauce that's a bit on the sweet side, making for a nice blend. The crust, however, may not be for those of you like myself, who enjoy a crispier slice.  

Editor's Note: This article is part of an ongoing feature highlighting writer Bob Wankel's favorite foods in Gloucester Township. Bob will rate a food item (this week, pizza) he has recently tried at a township establishment, with an article appearing each day till we reach his No. 1 pick. Disagree with Bob's rankings? Feel free to tell us all about it in the comments.