The Bottom Line
- Fresh sauce and dough prepared on site.
- Extensive menu goes beyond pizza.
- Fast, efficient service.
- Thick-crust lovers out of luck. Only offer thin.
- No table service.
Description
- Cuisine: Pizza, Italian
- Pizza John's
113 Back River Neck Road
Essex, MD 21221
Phone: 410-687-7733
Fax: 410-687-0641 - Hours: Tues. – Sun. 11 a.m. -11 p.m. Closed Mon. Closed: New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and first week of July
- Recommended for kids: Yes
Serve alcohol: Yes
On-site parking: Yes
Carryout: Yes
Full table service: No - Price: Inexpensive - Moderate
Guide Review - Pizza John's - Essex
The giant pizza guy out front is the only vestige of this Essex institution’s origins as a 1960s takeout joint. The owners completely revamped the building in recent years adding a Tuscan-chic style with unexpectedly plush touches. A clock embossed with the original owner’s name greets visitors. Richly painted, textured walls, dark woods and decorative tiles set the tone in the airy dining areas.
Despite the pleasant surroundings keep in mind this is still a take-out joint. Placed orders at the counter for both eat-in or carry-out meals, then listen for your number and pick up your food. Friendly dining room attendants help tidy up.
The pies, unlike the dining room, are nothing fancy…and that's a good thing. Because what Pizza John's lacks in trendy toppings, it make it makes up for in quality. Toppings trend toward the basic – no pineapple or crab – but they are fresh and some, like the sausage and meat sauce, are made on site. Of course, the star of the show, the hand-tossed dough, is made there as well. The thin, crispy crust stands up to the weight of extra toppings and is not soggy in the middle.
Besides pizza, there is a full menu of Italian entrees plus Maryland dishes like crab cakes or shrimp. Beer and wine are served as are desserts such as cannoli and five kinds of cheesecake.
