Carluccio's Coal Fired Pizza — Restaurant in Northfield

A New Review for Carluccio’s Coal-Fired Pizza – Northfield, NJ July 19, 2025 By Susan & Jack Holender

On Friday evening, Susan and I returned to one of our absolute favorite dining spots at the shore—Carluccio’s Coal-Fired Pizza in Northfield, NJ. Every time we step through their doors, it feels like a warm welcome home.

From the moment we arrived, the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The friendly staff greeted us with genuine smiles, and the vibrant display of fresh, sizzling pizzas near the entrance set the tone for the delicious journey ahead. There’s something magical about the aroma of coal-fired pizza mingling with the sounds of laughter and conversation in the air.

As we were seated, we scanned the menu, tempted by the many Carluccio’s classics we’ve enjoyed over the years—especially the legendary Grandma Pie and the unforgettable Eggplant Parmigiana. But this time, we decided to try another favorite: a pasta special that absolutely blew us away.

We ordered the Nero Di Seppia—a dish as stunning as it is in flavor. This black ink-infused fettuccine was beautifully paired with tender clams, shrimp, mussels, and calamari, all bathed in a bold red sauce. I opted for it spicy, and the result was sensational—layered, aromatic, and intensely flavorful. The dish arrived like a work of art and tasted even better than it looked. Every bite was pure joy. We also shared a crisp, refreshing Caesar salad on the side, which complemented our meal perfectly.

Once again, Carluccio’s delivered an unforgettable dining experience. The ambiance is welcoming, the service attentive, and the food consistently exceptional. It’s a place where families, couples, and friends of all generations gather and feel at home. Whether you’re young or young at heart, you’ll find something to love here.

The prices are more than fair, especially considering the outstanding quality of every dish. In a world where truly great meals are becoming harder to find, Carluccio’s stands out as a shining example of excellence.

Susan and I always look forward to our next visit, and we make sure to tell everyone we know about this incredible gem of a restaurant.

If we could give it ten stars, we would—without hesitation. Bravo to Carlo and his amazing team. We'll be back soon! — Susan & Jack Holender

Review for Carluccio’s Coal-Fired Pizza – Northfield, NJ June 2025.

We’re back at the shore for a new season, and one of the first places we couldn’t wait to revisit was Carluccio’s Coal-Fired Pizza in Northfield—a true local gem that never disappoints.

This past weekend, Susan and I enjoyed another exceptional meal that reminded us exactly why Carluccio’s remains our favorite. My go-to dish, the eggplant parmigiana, was perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside, layered with rich tomato sauce and melted cheese—outstanding. Susan’s favorite, the Grandma Pizza, was just as delicious as ever—thin, crispy, bursting with flavor, and made with love. It’s easy to see why it's her favorite.

The food at Carluccio’s is consistently top-notch—fresh ingredients, generous portions, and that unmistakable coal-fired flavor that elevates every bite. Every dish is carefully crafted with pride. The ambiance is warm, welcoming, and full of life. The restaurant was filled with other happy patrons, all enjoying their meals in a friendly, relaxed setting. It’s the kind of place where you feel part of a community just by walking in the door.

The staff is attentive, kind, and efficient, always making sure guests are well taken care of. And as always, Carlo, the owner, deserves special praise. His passion for great food and genuine hospitality shines through in every detail.

If we could give Carluccio’s 10 stars, we would—again and again. Thank you, Carlo and team, for creating such a special place. We can’t wait to come back soon! — Susan &...

Okay so I and my boyfriend have been coming here for as long as we could remember. The food was always mouth watering delicious and saddening when it was all gone. We always would order the homemade mozzarella, gandmas pie, new York style pie, cheesesteaks, arancini, chicken parm and more! Everything on the menu was to die for. We personally know the owner as well who is very nice and seems to have the business in order. The food was 100% a 5/5 star resturant. But lately, and more recently, we have noticed a downward fall in their food quality. Not just this past experience but the past 5 in the last 3 months...and a few times they weren't even busy! Granted Carlo isn't always there as often as he used to, and Im sure he has his reasons why but the quality when he isnt there shows there is no love in the food. Whether it was the burnt fried mozzarella, cheese-less and thin soggy crusted pizza, burnt cheese less cheesesteaks or soggy and rubbery calamari, the food quality and consistency is not as it used to be. I even watched my boyfriend (who loooovesss fried pickles, came with calamari appetizer) spit it out on the whole dish. I am disappointed that our favorite resturant has now become one of our least, but until they can pump out that quality delicious food again, I'm not sure of how likely we will be eating here again. And it's sad to say because we used to recommend this resturant to all the locals and shoobies, especially our family and friends, we talked to and guaranteed they will love the food no matter what but now things seemed to have changed. This place was even better than Venturas!! Hmm time will tell to see if they can improve...I hope they do!

Okay update: ever since I wrote this post, I have noticed a good difference in quality of food that has come out of the kitchen. My order is now back to be cooked to perfection and made with love. The past 4 orders have been ON POINT and the staff was amazing. I'm very happy and pleased, this resturant is back to my number 1 spot in the area!!! I'm happy to see business...

After asking my peeps for suggestions, one place in particular came up many times - Carluccio's Coal-fired Pizza!

My hubby and I were on our way to his birthday gift to see Bill Burr in Atlantic City and this was a convenient stop.

We got there around 6 PM on a Friday night, and not surprised, there was already a wait. The host was pleasant and calm - even with the organized chaos of takeout orders and people waiting to be seated. It was standing room only for majority of us waiting. It actually didn’t bother us because we got to window shop all the different kinds of pizza in the display case. We also had a front row seat watching pizza being made.

Once seated, dining is definitely intimate with other diners. To get the most out of their seating, the tables are set real close together. Again, no big deal. We sat with those that we waited with, so we already kind of knew them.

We decided before we sat that we were only ordering the Grandma pizza with pepperoni. We figured it was a great pizza to start with, and we could always come back to try other things off of the menu.

Bring your appetite! We barely could eat two slices. It was Sicilian style and the collective seasonings and garlic just melted in our mouth! As good as it was, we took the other half home for lunch the next day. And by the way, it reheats perfectly on a pizza stone.

This is a clear contender with our favorite go-to place in Philly. If it were closer to our home, it would be a tie. But what definitely sets it apart is the menu choices. I saw at least three other things. I wanted to try that were not pizza. And there are other pizzas I want to try! We already told our kids that we will be taking them there this summer. In addition, I have already made a mental note that the next time I’m showing a home in the Atlantic City area, I have to take a Pizza home with me.

So… do I recommend Carluccio's Coal fired Pizza?...