If you’re a student at TABC, a resident in Bergen County, or even just a passerby looking for a quick lunch, the Plaza is the place to go. With around 15 restaurants on Queen Anne and West Englewood alone, it can be quite difficult to choose between them.
While I do have plenty to say about each restaurant, to keep this article short, I’ve focused in on the “Big Three” of Teaneck Pizza: Sammy’s, EJ’s, and Poppy’s. With this said, it can get quite heated when discussing restaurants, so know that this is my opinion only. You may disagree with my tastes (or lack thereof), but I’m just here to try and sort out who I believe has the Perfect Pizzeria on the Plaza.
When finding the perfect pizzeria, the first and most important aspect is obviously the pizza. For me, the difference between the regular slices at these places is minimal when it comes to taste. They aren’t spectacular but they also are definitely not bad.
But I can’t just leave at that. Although the difference is minimal, some aspects are obviously better than others. Sammy’s and EJ’s both have very good, fluffy crust, but if you prefer crispy, Poppy’s is the place for you.
Both Sammy’s and Poppy’s overdo it sometimes, as at Sammy’s the pizza is sometimes too saucy and at Poppy’s the oil is overwhelming. Due to this, EJ’s takes my vote with the slight edge for best pizza.
With that said, taste is only one aspect to consider. When it comes to the size of the pizza, Poppy’s trumps all. They consistently give the largest slices, while EJ’s and Sammy’s usually depends on the slice.
Finally, the price for slices at all three restaurants is very similar, with only a difference of a few cents between the most and least expensive.
But not everyone wants their pizza plain; many, including myself, enjoy toppings on their pizza. If you are one of those people, EJ’s is the place to go. With a constant rotation of options, all being extremely delicious, EJ’s serves up the best topping pizzas on the plaza.
Furthermore, if you are feeling extra hungry, EJ’s two-topping personal pie is perfect for you. Sammy’s also offers many topping slices, but they are not on the same level as EJ’s. Poppy’s, on the other hand, doesn’t offer very much in the toppings department at all.
But these stores all have plenty to offer past their pizza. At EJ’s, the cheese pretzel and garlic knots are popular alternates, and rightfully so, but most people still go for the pizza.
As for Poppy’s, they have plenty to offer: eggs, bagels, muffins and even frozen yogurt. But the best of the best is Sammy’s, offering delicious bagels, pastas, salads and even sushi. To top it all off, they make great drinks, both hot and cold.
Now that we’ve spoken about the food, let’s look at the other things that are important when it comes to a restaurant. One example is the service. Fortunately, all three restaurants have very friendly servers and I cannot think of any instance of trouble I’ve had personally with any place. As for the wait time, EJ’s is usually very quick, especially when serving pizza, but Poppy’s and Sammy’s don’t take too long, either.
Next, obviously the food has to taste good, but the place where you’re eating should look good too. When it comes to the overall atmosphere of these three restaurants, Sammy’s trumps all. The decor gives off a warm feel, and they even have a screen with recent news.
EJ’s isn’t as nice in terms of its decor, but it still has a very open feel, with all its tables up against the wall. The tables and chairs are simple ones compared to Sammy’s wooden tables and wide cushioned chairs. As for Poppys, they too have simple decor but are also packed much tighter.
The final thing to look at is the overall prices of these restaurants. EJ’s and Poppy’s are pretty close to one another when it comes to overall prices, and both easily have the upper hand on Sammy’s.
With that said, the Sammy’s bagels are not bad, as a very tasty plain bagel with cream cheese is only $2.40. Finally, Sammy’s and EJ’s both offer student deals that throw in a free drink depending on what your order.
All in all, while I do believe EJ’s has the best pizza, Poppy’s is better place to go when it comes to prices and size. Even better is Sammy’s - its combination of multiple great aspects wins Sammy’s the title of “best pizza place on the plaza.”