Essex's N.Y. Pizza & Deli — Restaurant in Salem

Disclaimer: I'm from NYC, born and bred. I've eaten New York pizza from Manhattan, Staten Island, and Brooklyn all my life. I've also eaten in "Nonna" sauce (gravy) restaurants my entire life. With that said ...

The pizza is not NYC style pizza. Maybe NY State, but definitely not NYC. The sauce is good -- not too sweet, not too spicy. It's thick and has been cooked well. It's not a "fresh sauce" (raw) sauce, which I tend not to like. The menu states that they use "pizza cheese." In NYC, pizza joints generally use mozzarella. Nothing more, nothing less. The cheese seems like it's mostly mozzarella, but it tastes like there's something else mixed in. This is very common here in MA. The crust tastes ok, but it's WAY TOO thick. It has the mouth feel and weight of a typical non-NYC crust. I don't believe it was hand thrown, more like rolled out and patted down. This is what I really didn't like about the pizza. The crust was too thick. They obviously clean their ovens because the bottom of the pizza wasn't burnt and didn't have caked on crud. This is very, very good. If you're looking for NYC style pizza, this isn't it. If you're used to thick, bread crusts then it should suite your taste.

Their NY calzones are ok. Good fluff of ricotta, lots of mozzarella, and a nice crust. I just wish there was more ham. My calzone barely had any ham in it at all. I think I had two, very small, thin pieces The sauce is key -- thick and well-cooked.

The eggplant parm with pasta is delicious! The slices of eggplant were thicker than I'm used to, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the breading is flavorful and the oil was clean. Eggplant is a sponge and will take on any flavor in that oil. I tasted nothing but perfectly fried eggplant! The edges were nice and crispy, there was enough mozzarella, and the pasta was good. Again, that sauce is delicious.

All in all, I wouldn't order pizza or calzones from here again. HOWEVER, I will come back for the eggplant...

I took a field trip to Salem recently. Most of my group went to this restaurant when we received a one hour break for food. The restaurant was packed. I ordered my food and joined a group of people waiting near the register for their number to be ordered. All of the sudden, the cook from the back screams at this group, which was mostly made of my trip group, at the top of his lungs, “WHOS YOUR CHAPERONE. GO SIT DOWN” in the most AGRESSIVE tone. Keep in mind this group was made up of mainly minor 16 year olds. I understand it was busy and they were stressed. However, the situation could have been handled so much better, without the need to aggressively scream at minors who just got off of a 4 hour bus trip. I calmly went and sat down with my friend to a group of other friends. After about 15 min I finally start wondering where my sandwich that I ordered was, when I spot a sandwich on the counter in the front. I did not hear my number called out so I figured it belonged to someone else. After about ten min I still don’t hear my number and the sandwich is still there. I ask my friends if they had heard them say my number and neither did they, so it wasn’t just my bad hearing. So I go and ask and I was told that the sandwich was mine. I waited an extra ten min because I didn’t hear my number called out, after being screamed at for attempting to stand in an area where I could hear my number. I had a very bad experience in this restaurant on my first trip to Salem. The people were very rude. The food was good, I must say. The...

This is the first time i ordered from here, i got a steak and cheese sub with extra cheese, and an order of mozzarella stix, the food was absolutely amazing, right down to the dipping sauce for the stix, the guy that answered the phone was wicked nice, very friendly, and the owner himself delivered my food. To be honest i thought the food was going to be awful because pretty much every place I've ordered from since moving to salem 3 years ago has been horrible, it's as though restaurant owners just don't even care, the food they serve and deliver to their customers is an embarrasment, and most times not even edible, but not here essex ny pizza and deli in salem is absolutely amazing, and now i can see why the owner takes his business seriously even delivers himself, smart man, if you take the extra time to make your food properly and pay attention to small detail, and treat your customers good, then your business will flourish. Thanks for the delicious food, will definitely be ordering again!!!!!

So it's about a year later and essex is still amazing, their food is delicious, and they have such a nice young man doing delivers, super polite, always smiling, and very quick....