The Best of Gloucester Township: Pizza

OK, I'll admit it. 

When I first drew up this idea to tour local pizzerias in search of the best slice, the first place that came to mind, was, well, the same place that ended up first on my countdown—.

Coppola, located in the ShopRite shopping center on Chews Landing Road, for years has been one of the most popular restaurants in all of Gloucester Township, and for good reason. 

So I started my tour at Coppola knowing full well that I was about to get a darn good slice of pizza. And from there, when I checked in at other places around town I asked myself, "Is this slice better than what I had at Coppola's?"

And the answer was no. 

Now, as I've said before, there was no exact science to this process. So while I'm certain that some of you may disagree with top selection, just remember that I'm not a food critic—I'm just a guy that really likes pizza. And to me, Coppola Pizzeria happens to have the best in the area.

So what separates them from the rest? 

As far as local pizza joints go, Coppola not only has the best slice, but it's also the best place to eat one, too. From their patent green tile flooring and the vines that span the restaurant's ceiling to their spacious and clean amenities, Coppola keeps the feel of a traditional pizzeria, but could double as a fine Italian restaurant. 

Want to grab a quick slice, bring the family, a party or even a date? Coppola can cater to restaurant goers of almost any need. 

Still, this is mainly about the pizza. So let's focus on that.

When I walked in, the smell of a freshly baked pie met me almost immediately. I ordered a slice, and it was handed to me fresh out of the oven.

After letting it cool for a moment, I bit into this this near perfect concoction of tomato sauce, crispy baked dough and ever-so-lightly browned mozzarella cheese and immediately knew that the competition was going to have their work cut out for them. 

And while the competitors offered up a heck of a fight, in the end, Coppola was able to keep me convinced that the first slice I tried on this tour was in fact the best. 

Writer's Note: Don't let anyone ever tell you that Gloucester Township doesn't have it's fair share of quality pizzerias. There was not one establishment that I visited that I felt had "bad" pizza. In fact, I thought many of the places I checked out, even ones that didn't crack my top five, offered up a fine pie—ultimately, there just wasn't anything that set them apart.

I'd like to know if there's a place that you think I missed or that I messed up on, so if you have a suggestion or criticism—feel free to shoot (figuratively) away.

Next up on my GT food tour is the cheesesteak. I'm a bit more skeptical about the results of this adventure, so if you have a suggestion, don't hesitate to steer me in the right direction. If I'm going to put on 10 pounds in the next 10 days, I want to make it count and eat the finest artery-clogging sandwiches around.