By Joe Skms and Johnny C
Score: 91
http://www.tommystavernandtap.com/
Tommy’s Tavern and Tap located at 1030 Ocean Ave in Sea Bright is one of those places that from the day it opened, seemed as if its been a staple in Sea Bright forever. http://www.tommystavernandtap.com/
Tommy’s is only a little more than a year old and has come out firing on all cylinders, this is likely due to Tommy’s being a true family operation with Tommy’s wife Yvette along with their daughters and a well trained staff that cares about quality, service along with some great marketing. Tommy Bonfiglio (former owner of Tommy’s coal fired pizza) has a history of serving great Pies and Wings and now is expanded the menu (slightly) and focused with his family to make this a #1 operation in Monmouth County.
Walking into the vast open, albeit warm and inviting space with Johnny C. we find our new muse Bill Howard saving a great high table high top near the window which gave the Pizza Guys a view of the bar, main restaurant and the coal fired oven. This is a Monday afternoon in October, the place is active and lively with good energy.
The menu here is simple http://www.tommystavernandtap.com/menu and easy with Pizza at the core. Everything else (including an interesting sushi list) falls in line behind but never forgotten, especially Tommy’s famous award winning “Original Coal Oven Roasted Wings”.
We start with the original, Tommy’s Classic Coal Fired Pie made with San Marzano tomatoes, Grande mozzarella, grated Romano, basil and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. This is one of the most well balanced pies the Pizza Guys have seen in a long while. Cooked evenly with the right amount of crunch to the nice thin crust. The crust isn’t overly memorable but is tasty nonetheless. We all know about the distinctive taste of San Marzano tomatos and Grande cheese but it’s the quality of ingredients along with the construction of this pie that shows a care we very much enjoyed and would order again.
The Margherita included sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, basil & extra virgin olive oil. Again this pie is expertly cooked , the fresh mozzarella is light and evenly layered but the fresh tomatoes were slightly thick adding a watery overtone and texture that takes away the pies balance while not adding any distinctive flavor.
We decide we need a white pie and the Quattro Formaggi (four cheese) with smoked Gouda, Gruyere, fresh Mozzarella & Parmigiano Reggiano jumped out at Johnny C. so we dive in. My 1st bite is perfectly complex while Johnny’s falls flat, we realize the smoked Gouda is the key that makes the other cheeses come alive and Johnny’s 1st slice was void of the Gouda and also the smoke. Johnny says to spread around the Gouda, I say a little more balance, a little more pop “complexity” to the creamy cheese pie could also help.
Bill who is a friend of Tommy B. finds an opening and introduces us. It doesn’t take long for Tommy to warm up and he quickly asks what our favorite topping is. We answer eggplant simultaneously. Tommy orders us the Il Isabella with breaded eggplant, mozzarella, ricotta, San Marzano tomatoes, basil & extra virgin olive oil. This is the stand-out pie of the afternoon. The evenly cooked crust, crispy eggplant, balance of fresh mozzarella and ricotta and now the San Marzano tomatoes have found a home. This is a great Jersey pie and Tommy enjoys it with us.
While Johnny C., Bill and I dive into the eggplant Tommy orders us his “Original Coal Oven Roasted Wings”. topped with coal fired roasted onions and an Italian long hot peppers all this while we enjoy listening to Tommy Talk about his business, his passion for pizza and his care and concern for the community. Having Tommy join in and loving the Il Isabella pie as much as we did can only be described as a great Jersey Pizza Guy moment, enjoying a great pizza with great friends and a great owner while looking forward to our next visit .
In Search of the Best.... PIZZA 
