Kinchley's Tavern - Restaurant Post

Kinchley's Tavern is a pizza joint right around the border between Ramsey (our town) and Mahwah (the town just north of us). We've had a bunch of different pizza places since we've moved here, but this may be our favorite, at least in New Jersey.

About (What it is): Kinchley's Tavern. A classic pizza joint; they don't have a website, so we don't know the history, but the place was recommended by someone form Katie's Junior League.

Location (Where it is): Located on Franklin Turnpike on the North side of Ramsey. 5 minutes from our house, so we're glad we found this one!

Atmosphere (Why we go there): Another "tavern" - this term is again appropriate. Though "pizza joint" seems most correct. The place is located in a red building that kind of looks like a barn from the outside. There's a statue of a Clydesdale on top of the side entrance, which adds a nice touch. Inside, there is a small bar with a couple of TVs in the back that was fairly crowded - which made sense for a Friday night. We sat there and had a beer while waiting for a table. The tables and booths have the classic red and white plaid table covers. The place was crowded, comfortable and festive - it reminded us of Planks back in Columbus, though a bit smaller.

The food (What we ate): We split two small pizzas to try a little variety. Katie got one with sausage and tomato, Charlie got one with pepperoni and garlic. Both were excellent! The pizza isn't typical New York style - it's thin crust all the way around, including the edges (New York style pizza is thin in the middle, puffy crust at the end). The crust was crispy, too. It's closer to the Midwest style pizza we're used to, and that's a good change. Kinchley's also had some other options (pasta, etc.) but if you ever find yourself there, we'd recommend staying with the 'za.

The verdict (What we thought): Probably our favorite pizza place in New Jersey. Outside of Lombardi's in Manhattan, the best pizza we've had since we moved. The atmosphere was fun, and it's a good place to go for some pie and a few drinks.