2007 Stonehedge Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

I'm really not too sure what some of the CellarTracker/Grape Stories folks are complaining about here, but at $12, this constitutes as one heck of a good QPR in my book. Picked this up at Trader Joe's in Princeton just out of curiosity, and figured if anything, it would make a good cooking wine at worst.

2007 Napa Valley for around $12 is worth a whirl in my book. Popped this open about two hours before we headed to Delorenzo's Tomato Pies in Robbinsville, and left it in the cellar. Poured when we got to the restaurant, and the first thing you'll notice is the dark, purple, inky color in the glass.

On the nose, nice blackberry and raspberry, and other jammy red and black fruits. Subtle nuances of spice, and just a bit of sweet vanilla oak round out the nose, with just a touch of alcohol. On the palate, the first thing you'll notice is that the wine is a bit thin, and seemed to get thinner as the wine warmed up to room temp.

On the palate, plenty of sweet jammy fruit, and subtle hints of spice and vanilla. Nothing really stands out here, but what do you expect at this price point? Some bits of raspberry and black cherry, with some currants, but that is about it. The tannins are smooth, and the finish is short, but I wasn't expecting much here. Again, at the price, it's a heck of a bargain, and a bit on the fruit forward side. 84 points...

Delorenzos Tomato Pies - Robbinsville, NJ

After a hellish work week, and an even more hellish weekend on the horizon having to work, what better way to usher in a “non-weekend” than by going to Delorenzo’s Tomato Pies on Route 33 in Robbinsville, located in the new Washington Towne Center.  Sure, we’ve been to Delorenzo’s a million times, but it is always worth a mention for our new readers, as they might be missing out on one of NJ’s best pizza joints!  This is their newer location, run by Sammy Amico, son of Hudson Street’s owner Gary Amico.  We waited about 5 minutes for a table and were seated.  Tony was our server, and as always, his service is stupendous.  He’s a good kid, and a heck of a great server.
 
We started out with the antipasto salad that we absolutely love!  Today, this came with salami, prosciutto, meat and cheese stuffed peppers, roasted red peppers, crunchy breadsticks, artichokes, cheese, fresh mozzarella, and I am sure that there is some other deliciousness that I am missing as well.  Regardless, this is always a great starter, and a really nice snack while waiting for the world famous pie to come out of the oven.
 
On the pie front, we went with our usual:  a large sweet pepper, with half sausage.  This came out quick, with the typical crispy crush, and delicious sauce.  You really have no idea how good this pie is until you try it.  The sweet red and green peppers are always fresh and crisp, and when you pair this with the sausage, you get heaven on a crust!  For the first time in a long time, I was starving, and even managed to finish my entire half, while Zelda left two pieces that I ate cold for breakfast the following morning.
 
In short, what is there to say other than awesome!  From the great service from Tony, to the best pie in New Jersey, it just doesn’t get much better than Delorenzo’s!  Cheers  -F. Scott

Delorenzo' Tomato Pies - Robbinsville, NJ

What is there to say about Delorenzo’s Tomato Pies other than awesome? Tonight, we opted to go to the Robbinsville location on Route 33, and there was about a half hour wait. That being said, we walked across the parking lot to Dolce and Clemente’s for find some fun Italian foods and snacks to bring home. We ended up leaving there with a Stromboli that was absolutely delicious for lunch on Saturday, as well as a prosciutto roll, some Boars Head hot dogs, and some tuna salad for Zelda.


We headed back to Delorenzo’s, and were seated about 10 minutes later, and our server was Tony, who we have sat with many times. He’s a great server, and always interested to hear about new restaurants we have visited. He promptly came over and opened our 2006 Carlisle Petite Sirah Yorkville Highlands and took our order.

We started off with the antipasto salad, and this is always a pleasure. A nice hard cheese, as well as some fresh mozz with a dab of pesto. Also served with a few fresh slices of prosciutto, salami, fresh beans, artichoke, roasted red pepper, breadsticks, olives, and two peppers stuff with fresh cheese and ham. There may have been more, but I cannot remember for sure at this point. Regardless, it was a heck of a great app, and absolutely wonderful like always.

On the tomato pie front, we went with our usual of all sweet peeper, and half sausage. Do I really need to write about this pie? Absolutely as it was another Delorenzo’s classic! The crust was perfect, the sauce is as only Delorenzo’s does, the peppers were delicious, and the sausage was delectable. We even had leftovers to take home, which will make a great snack over the weekend.

All in all, what can I say other than awesome. We could eat here once a week and never get sick of it, and it’s just a great pie, in an awesome establishment. Kudos to Sammy and his crew over there, and we look forward to our next visit, as well as a visit to the original Hudson Street location in Trenton! Cheers!

2006 Carlisle Petite Sirah Yorkville Highlands

If there is yet another varietal that we do not drink enough of, it is Petit Sirah. I have yet to have a petite sirah that has blown my mind, but this one was very tasty. Popped and poured tonight at Delorenzo’s Tomato Pies in Robbinsville, NJ, this showed a very nice dark color in the glass. When I say dark, this was dark. On the nose, some very nice dark berries dominate, with some nice hints of earth and vanilla. The nose was rounded out by a bit of cherry and mocha tones, and it was very pleasurable.


On the palate, the wine showed very young, with some strong tannins and oak dominating, showing that I think this wine will easily age for another 4-5 years plus. More mixed berries on the palate, with a ton of black fruits strutting their stuff. This wine really started to open up at hour one, but the tannins and oak were still there. We put the cork back in the bottle and brought the rest home to finish, and it was a bit more of the same, but some blue berry started to come out as we got to the end of the bottle. There was a quite a bit of sediment in the bottle, so I don’t know if this is unfiltered, or if it was just a fluke. This bottle has been stored at 55 degrees since purchase direct from the winery thanks to our good friends Tom and Denise sharing their allocation with us.

All in all, a nice petite sirah, and I look forward to the other bottle we have in the next 3-5 years. 90 points. Cheers!

Delorenzos Tomato Pies - Robbinsville, NJ

It's been a while since I have gone on my Delorenzos Tomato Pies rant, and if I would have to guess, I probably only write about them 25% of the time that we actually go to visit their Hudson Street, Trenton or Route 33 in Robbinsville locations. Tonight, we happened to visit their Robbinsville location as it was a little more convenient for the errands that we were running. As usual, we started off with the awesome antipasti, consisting of roasted red peppers, artichokes, stuffed peppers, fresh mozzarella cheese, prosciutto, salami, dates, and black olive. This is such a good appetizer, and always hits the spot as we are waiting for a pie. Two pies came out, one for Zelda with sweet peppers, and one with sausage and sweet peppers for me. For the record, one pie will easily satisfy the both of us, however, how can you not love leftover Delorenzos the following day? The crust on both pies was nice and crispy, and cooked perfectly. I think that the ovens have gotten better and better with time, and the seasoning in these ovens makes them come out just as good as their pies at the Hudson Street location. nice dark bubbles of air filled crust made their presence known on both pies, and that is never a bad thing. The sauce is nice and chunky, spooned onto the pie, and absolutely perfect. The things I would do to get this recipe for my own pies at home! It is so good! The cheese is always perfect and bubbly, and just the right amount sprinkled across the pies, before being topped with a bit of oil. As always, the ingredients were good and fresh, from the flavorful red and green sweet peppers, to Trenton's finest sausage. These ingredients could not pair any better together, and are just a joy. As always, the pies were worth the wait, and Sammy Amico and his staff did a great job. Sammy has put his heart and soul into this new location, and it has really paid off. We could not be any happier to see him succeed in such a tough economy, but when you do pies the way they do, how can they not succeed. What is there to say other than yet another perfect visit? Kudos to the team! Wine tonight was a 2004 Lillian Syrah, so be sure to read about that below! Cheers! -F. Scott De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies 2350 US Highway 33 Robbinsville, NJ 08691 Phone: (609)341-8480 http://www.delorenzostomatopies.com/

2006 Tobin James Malbec

Popped and poured at Delorenzo's in Robbinsville, NJ tonight. You would never in a million years guess taht this is a Malbec if tasting it blind in the first 15 minutes this wine was in the glass. Nice color in the glass, but wasn't as dark as your typical Malbec. On the nose, nice hints of dark fruits, cinammon, and nutmeg. Great feel on the palate with nice hints of spice and clove, along with some nice dark fruits once again. Nice finish, and a great wine. This is a lot different from South American Malbec in my opinion, but leave it to Tobin James to take it over the top. What a joyous wine to drink! Only wish we had more. More notes to come when I get a chance. 88 points. Cheers!

2005 Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Secolo

This was a recommendation on one of our friends at Canal's in Lawrenceville. Toni has never given us a bad recommendation, and we always look forward to what she has to offer. When popped an poured, had I been blind folded, I would have sworn that from the nose and by taste that this was a Zinfandel. But as the wine opened up, it became more and more obvious that the blend had some cabernet and merlot. Once you know it's in there, the malbec is also a stand out.

The nose was overwhelmed by black cherry and plum, with a cedar-y hint of cigar box and some plum. Upon getting the bottle home to finish it, I could also smell some gingerbread and maybe a hint of cinnamon/anise. The palate had some blackberry and black cherry, but that is all that really stood out to me, however, I could taste some plum on the short, but pleasant finish.

All in all, a very solid wine, however, I do think tha if I were going for a wine of this style, that I would opt for a Stefania Haut Tubee or a Bogle Phanton. Sure, neither of these wines would be considered identical to this wine, but I think either would be a welcome substitution. Regardless, this paired nice with a tomato pie from Delorenzo's Robbinsville, and is worthy of 86 points. Cheers!

Delorenzo's Tomato Pies - Hudson Street Trenton (01/18) -vs- Robbinsville (01/22)

So within the course of a week, we did and old school comparison of the two best Delorenzo's Tomato Pies. Yes, I prposely did not include Hamilton Avenue Trenton on there. Why? Because it just isn't the same. So what is the different between the two other than one being in Trenton and one being in Robbinsville you ask? I think that Gary said it best Saturday night when we were in Trenton: "Two salads and two bathrooms!" Pretty funny, and it is always great to visit Hudson Street, although they have kind of been snubbed on us since the new store opened.

Gary's son Sam is running the new Robbinsville location, and he is doing a great job over there, If I had to say who had a better pie, it would be a toss up. They are both the best in the world, and always delicious at both locations. Some might take offense to that, but kudos to Sammy and his staff for making as good of a pie as the original. It just doesn't get any better than either location!

But when it comes to ambiance, Robbinsville definitely has the upper hand. Yes, they have a few salads on the menu, they have 2 bathrooms, new plates, and even have wine glasses. The store is gorgeous, it's bigger, and has a great vibe...and Anthony is the second best server in NJ behind Bruce-y Boy at Oliver-A Bistro!

Hudson Street on the other hand is nostalgic, and it is always a pleasure to see Gary. Sure, they have no bathroom, no fancy salads, no wine glasses, etc. But Gary is a staple, the location is staple, and it's a great place to go, and a pleasure to visit.

So in short, you can't go wrong at either, and no matter which you visit, you are going to enjoy the best pie you have ever had, and the best you ever will. Kudos to the gang, and keep up the great work! It's always a pleasure, and great to see the new store thriving! Thanks!

Delorenzo's Tomato Pies - Robbinsville, NJ

A great night for some tomato pies with Zelda's family! Zelda's parents and her uncle picked us up, and off to Delorenzo's we went. Upon arrival, you could see about 15 people waiting outside for a table, and another 10 or so inside waiting. It was absolutely packed tonight, but that was expected. If it weren't, then we'd be worried! That just goes to show just how right Sammy and his crew are doing it over there! We were told the wait would be an hour to hour and 15 minutes, but we were seated in about 50. As I always say, it's worth the wait! There is nothing like Delo's, and it cannot be beat! . With 5 of us, they say us in one of the nice, cushy booths, and we had plenty of room! We opted for 2 salads as appetizers, and this was the first time that we have had these. Very good appetizer that hit the spot, with the fancy lettuce, candied walnuts, and the slightest drizzle of dressing that did not overpower the salad at all. Nice slices of fresh green apple topped this salad off nicely. It was the perfect starter! . For pies tonight, we ordered 3 larges. Uncle B opted for the broccoli and mushroom, Zelda and her Mom went for the sweet pepper and mushroom, and her dad had 1/2 pepperoni, while I opted for 1/2 sausage and sweet peppers. Uncle B's pie came out first, and he and Zelda dug right in. The cheese was still bubbling when it arrived, and our mouths started watering! Next came the 1/2 sausage and sweet pepper, and 1/2 pepperoni. In we dug, and this one too was hot, bubbling, and covered in sausage and sweet peppers! The last pie came out, and we were all some happy campers. Even Uncle B was commenting on how good the pie was, and he lives near a great pizza place up North. But as he stated, this is a lot different than a pizza, it's a tomato pie! That said, it was another tasty meal, with great service, and you have to love the fact that it is BYOB. See the review of the Chalone Cabernet Sauvignon that we brought along as well. Kudos to same and the staff at Delo's! Look forward to seeing you guys again soon!

Delorenzo's Tomato Pies - Robbinsville NJ

What can I say? We absolutely love this place and frequent here or Hudson Street at least once a week. Always a great pie, and tonight was no different.
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We got there early tonight, and less than a 5 minute wait when we arrived. It doesn't get any better than that. Tonight we opted for no vino for a change, but did have two delicious birch beers. As usual, the antipasti salad came out and was a meal in itself as seen at the left. Delicious fresh roasted peppers, bread sticks, salami, olives, fresh mozz, and another type of cheese. Tonight we filled up on this, and disappointingly, only had room for two pieces of pie. That's what happens when I eat lunch so late, but it will be a pleasure to have some leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
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We ordered our usual sweet pepper and half sausage pie, and as usual it was a hit. Sammy has the pies down to a science, and they are every bit as good as Hudson Street. Who would have thought it with brand new ovens? Regardless, the peppers were tasty and tasted fresh as always, and once again, the sausage was to die for. I wish I could explain just how good this sausage is, but you would never get an appreciation for it unless you go and try it for yourself.
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As usual, Sammy and his staff were great, and these guys really have their act together in forming a world class establishment. I only wish that we could share the enjoyment of these pies with all of you that remember Charlotte's Pizza in Barrington, IL. The pies are every bit as good and then some.

That said, kudos to Sammy and staff for another great meal, and for making the best tomato pies in the country. Keep up the great work guys, and we look forward to seeing you next week!
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Phone: (609)341-8480

2350 US Highway 33, Robbinsville, NJ 08691

Our Menu I Directions & Map I Construction Photos Below

Tomato Pies - Salads - Take Out - BYOB

Hours:Lunch - Tuesday - Friday, 11:00-2:00

Dinner - Tuesday - Sunday, 4:00-10:00

Closed Mondays

2005 Taz Pinot Noir Fiddlestix

Another fine example of a Santa Rita Hills pinot noir, and just another reason we love pinot from this area.

We have yet to have a pinot noir from the Fiddlestix Vineyard we have not liked. They are a great source for grapes, and sell to many different wineries in California like Taz, Fiddlehead, Ortman, Summerland, Hitching Post, Tyler, and many more.

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This bottle was popped and poured tonight, and drank well right out of the bottle with no decanting, and nothing more than a few swirls in the glass. The first thing to notice about this wine is how floral it is on the nose. Also, tons of cherry, a hint of earth that is so common in the Santa Rita Hills AVA, raspberry, strawberry, and the slightest hint of spice.

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On the palate, the cherry/cherry cola dominated, with the slightest hint of caramel. The finish was very pleasant, and lingered for a good 20-25 seconds. There is nothing at all offensive about this wine, and it's actually quite a pleasure, and drinking very well right now. There is a good chance it will get even better with a year in the bottle, but who can wait? It's drinking that good right now. Wine Spectator only gave this wine 87 points, but I think it's worth of 91. Will definitely purchase another bottle in the future. Good QPR at $25. Highly recommend. Cheers!

Delorenzo's Tomato Pies - Route 33 Robbinsville, NJ

Another outstanding pie, or two at Delo's tonight! Upon arrival, we were told there would be a 30 minute wait tonight. If I had to guess, it wasn't more than 10 minutes, and we were seated promptly. It's great to see this location packed with a line of people waiting as usual, and good to see that those who are afraid to go support Hudson Street based on their opinions of Trenton coming out to support them here. Sure, this neighborhood is a lot safer, but the Hudson Street location is not that bad, and there are always police officers there ensuring everyone's safety. I really don't think this is necessary, but it is nice and reassuring for those who might be a little intimidated.

As usual, Sam greeted us while we waited, as well as when sat. As always, he was friendly, and he and his team are great people. Great staff with great food! Bonus!

Tony waited on us tonight, and came right over and opened up our 2005 Taz Fiddlestix pinot noir. Review on that to come as well! He took our order for the antipasti salad, as well as a large sausage and sweet pepper, and another large sweet pepper. This will leave for delicious leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

The antipasti came loaded up with cheese, fresh mozzarella, olives, roasted red peppers, salami, sesame bread sticks. This salad is huge and a meal in itself that could easily be a great snack for 4 people. So damn good, but so much food! Regardless, we ate a lot of it, and not enough of our tomato pies!

As always, our pies came and were absolutely gorgeous as seen at left. The sweet pepper is seen on the top, and my sausage and sweet pepper is on the bottom. These pies are absolutely perfect. Look at the nice bubbles, thin crust, and tasty cheese! YUM!

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Tomato pie just doesn't not get any better than this. I've said it before, and I will say it again! Gary and Sam have it down to a science, and there is nobody that can even come close to duplicating these pies. From the crust, to the sauce, to the fresh sausage and other fresh ingredients, everything is first class.

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The crust still is a little different from Hudson Street, but that is not a bad thing to say the least. I really think that it is the Trenton water. =) Regardless, it is just as good, just a tad different. Almost as though there is a little more air and density to it. The sausage and sweet peppers on the other hand were perfect. There is no other sausage like this on a pie in New Jersey. The sweet peppers are magnificent as well, and always taste as though they are right off of the vine.

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All in all, another great meal at Delorenzo's with great food, great wine, and great service. Kudos as usual to Sam and his crew, and to Tony our waiter. Keep up the great work an outstanding pies!

Delorenzo's Tomato Pies - Route 33 Robbinsville

Ended up here tonight on a whim after we went to hit a bucket of balls in Hamilton. Unfortunately we didn't think of bringing any wine tonight, but Delo's does serve a mean birch beer!

We were very lucky to get seated right away tonight. Upon walking in, Sammy was on the customer side of the counter, and greeted us with a handshake.

You gotta absolutely love the antipasti here. If only the Hudson Street location offered it as well. It is great to keep you occupied as you sit and drool, waiting and watching others eat their pies. Great roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, another type of cheese, an Italian salami, olives, and sesame bread sticks. They give you so much food! It is perfect for 4 people!

The pie came, and was absolutely cooked to perfection. We ordered the usual, sweet peppers on the whole pie, with sausage on my half. The crust was perfect, but not as crunchy and crispy as Hudson Street. It also seemed to have a little more dough to it than Hudson Street. Maybe this is because of the water in Robbinsville...or maybe the are just making the crust a little different. Doubtful, but there has to be some kind of explanation. They also use bit more cheese than the original, but that is not a bad thing at all.

The ambiance is definitely nicer than Hudson Street, but I really do appreciate the Hudson Street location, and look past all of that. The biggest bonus today however was being able to wash my hands after going to the driving range. You just can't do that at the Hudson Street location.

In short, another killer pie from the best tomato pie family in New Jersey. Keep up the great work guys!

Delorenzo's Tomato Pies - Hudson Street - Trenton, NJ

I'm sure some of you have heard me talk about "Delo's" a million and one times, so what can I say? This place is the best of the best!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Trenton, all I can tell you is that if you are ever in the area, and you are a connoisseur of greatness in the land of tomato pies, then this is the place for you!

First off, let me state that there are two Delorenzo's in Trenton, the best being on Hudson Street, but another being located on Hamilton Avenue, which we have only tried once. Maybe this tells you something? They have also added a third location at the Washington Town Center on Route 33 in Robbinsville, NJ. Gary Amico's son Sam is running this location, and you can check it out at: http://www.delorenzostomatopies.com/

So back to the original, located at 530 Hudson Street. We've been going there for years now, and it is one of those places that I could just never get tired of. They were actually established in 1947, and are located in the old part of town, across from an old abandoned steel mill or something. The building is an old row home, and is run by Gary and his wife. Note that now they are only open Thursday through Sunday, from 4PM-10PM now that the new store is open.

Don't go to Delo's looking for ambiance....don't even go there looking for a bathroom. Yes folks, that is correct, you will not find a bathroom there. How can this be? Well, they have been there for that long, that they were grandfathered in.

There have been many times that we have waited for close to an hour outside on the street, in lines with many others. The last few times we have gone however, we have gotten right in. Unfortunately, this was not the case last night, but we only waited outside for 15 minutes or so, then stood inside for another 5 minutes until a table opened up.

Once seated, we opened our wine case, pulled out two Riedel's, and popped open our wine, which you can read about in the previous post. Yes, Delorenzo's is BYOB friendly. The bus boy came over with our mint green plates and some silverware, and we ordered our two birch beer, which is a staple for us.

Just a few moments later, Gary's wife came over and we placed an order for a large pie, all sweet peppers, and 1/2 sausage for me. Meanwhile, Gary and another gentleman who I can't ever remember seeing before were busy making the pies, running back to the kitchen for more dough, cheese, etc, and pulling pies out of the oven. Some of the pies went from oven, to tray, then were cut, and sent to tables, while others were put into boxes for carry out. They did have the phone on the hook last night, so they were taking phone orders. There are times when they are extremely packed, and they will take the phone off the hook, preventing people from ordering over the phone. How can they afford to do this you ask? Well, they just can! They do that much business.

Our pie came out later, and I have no idea how long it took. Realistically, I could really careless how long it took, because it's Delorenzo's, on Hudson Street no less. Upon arriving at the table, I saw yet another gorgeous pie, cooked to perfection. The crust had nice golden brown edges, with traces of black from where some edges cooked faster than others. My sausage prevailed on my half of the pie, peaking through the most wonderful sauce, accompanied by sweet peppers, with slight amounts of cheese scattered all over the pie.

I wish I could explain just how good these pies are, but it is just so hard to put into words. Say what you will, but their sauce is one of a kind. It has such a great taste, and there are no traces of seasoning in the sauce whatsoever! The tomatoes are crushed for the most part, but you will find chunks of tomato on occasion as well. The crust is nice and crispy, and extremely thin, and usually a nice golden brown color. The cheese is scarce, but it is still good, I would say perfect, but some of you might consider ordering them with extra cheese if you are a lover of a pie covered in cheese. I can't say enough about the sausage they have, purchased from City Beef in Trenton from what Sam has told me. And the sweet peppers! WOW! I would love to get a bottle of these to eat right out of the jar! They are the best!

All in all, another great pie from Delo's, and just one of thousands to come in the next many years from us! Keep up the great work over there guys, and keep those awesome pies coming!

2005 Calera Pinot Noir

A fun wine to drink tonight at Delo's on Hudson Street! I let this wine breath for almost an hour before we left, and once poured it was a bright ruby red color in the glass. The nose was filled with cherry, strawberry, and raspberry tones, with the slightest hint of earth and spice. On the palate, more of the same bright red fruits, served up in a light and refreshing manner. The finish showed a tiny bit of tartness and mineral, along with a bit of spice, as well as tannins a bit more showing than with most pinot noir. For the price, this is a great wine, and even shows at bit of terroir. 90 points! Cheers