Best pizza: Margherita's

For some, it may be easy to overlook given its size and location, but for many students, Margherita's Restaurante and Pizzeria on Main Street is a way of life - and it has been that way for more than 25 years.

Just ask junior Tony Manno, who frequents the pizzeria at least four times a week.

But what has kept students coming back week after week?

For Manno, it's the traditional Italian pizza that can't be found anywhere else on Main Street.

"It's real Italians making real pizza," he says.

Rico Della Monica, who owns Margherita's with his brother, Enzo, says his pizza is the closest thing to the real deal.

In fact, no style of pizza makes its way into the hands of university students before being tested in Italy. And after Margherita's quarter-century presence in the business, the styles are aplenty.

The number of pizzas on display at the front of the restaurant may appear daunting, but they're there to cater to every tastebud on campus.

From Hawaiian and barbecue chicken to Mexican and meat lovers pizzas - you name it, you got it.

Of course, traditional plain cheese or pepperoni pizzas are the campus favorites.

Manno would have to agree. He rarely strays from the comfort of his Italian-style slice of pepperoni.

However Manno's friend, Jeremy Goldsmith, likes to change it up a bit and says his pizza of choice is white pizza topped with broccoli and tomatoes.

Admittedly not as much of a die-hard Margherita's customer as Manno, Goldsmith says he still needs his pizza fix at least once a week.

According to Lauren Della Monica, Rico's wife, Goldsmith has Margherita's to thank for his white pizza. This is because it introduced the now popular slice to Newark in 1991 - after a trial run overseas, of course.

The secret of Margherita's great tasting pizza is not just its Italian flare, Enzo Della Monica says, but the ingredients. Some may say he is fresh-obsessed, buying only the best tomatoes, cheeses and oils for his pizza.

And, for Rico Della Monica, making pizzas, or pies as he calls them, is a way of life.

"Where we come from, we make pies," he says.

To him, making pizza is an art form. For students, Margherita's pies are a tasty slice of Italy at an afforable price.

Throughout the years, Margherita's great tasting pizza has become as much a staple on Main Street as Klondike Kate's and the late Stone Balloon, and with a little Italian flavor, it will continue to dominate the world of pizza in Newark.