You walk into a building on Sloan Avenue and the first thing you smell isn't just yeast and bubbling mozzarella. It’s history. And lately, maybe a little bit of something else. If you’re from Central Jersey, you know the name DeLorenzo's carries more weight than the heaviest cast-iron skillet. But honestly, if you haven’t been to DeLorenzo's Pizza Hamilton NJ in the last year or so, you might not even recognize the place—not because the pie changed, but because the world around it did.
People get confused. They hear "DeLorenzo's" and they think of the Robbinsville spot with the long lines and the Barstool 9.2 rating. Or they remember the old Hudson Street legendary hole-in-the-wall that closed back in 2012. But the Hamilton location on Sloan Avenue is its own animal. It’s the "other" side of the family, and man, has it had a wild ride lately. Between tax seizures and becoming one of the most unique "pizza joints" in the country, there is a lot to catch up on.
The Drama Behind DeLorenzo's Pizza Hamilton NJ
Let's address the elephant in the room first. If you tried to grab a pie in March 2025, you probably found the doors locked. The state of New Jersey doesn’t mess around when it comes to taxes, and the Hamilton location got hit with a seizure notice that had locals panicking. For a few weeks, it looked like an 80-plus-year tradition was just... gone.
But Rick DeLorenzo Jr. isn't exactly the type to just walk away. The community stepped up in a huge way. A GoFundMe pulled in over $14,000, and with some help from friends and loyal regulars, they cleared the debt. They reopened in April 2025 with a pretty spicy message for the "haters" on Facebook. It was classic Trenton energy.
The real twist? The overhead was still a killer. To keep the lights on and the ovens hot, they did something nobody saw coming. They partnered up with Vision Cannabis. Yeah, you read that right. The building at 147 Sloan Ave was renovated to house both the iconic pizzeria and a legal weed dispensary. It gives a whole new meaning to "the munchies," doesn't it? They operate as separate entities, but sharing the space basically saved the restaurant.
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Is It "Pizza" or a "Tomato Pie"?
If you call it pizza to Rick’s face, he might not kick you out, but you’re definitely marking yourself as a tourist. There is a specific science to what they do here.
In a standard New York slice, you’ve got dough, then sauce, then cheese. It’s a stack. A Trenton Tomato Pie flips the script. At DeLorenzo's Pizza Hamilton NJ, they stretch that dough thin—I’m talking cracker-thin—and then they put the cheese on first. Not a thick blanket of it, either. It’s a light dusting of mozzarella that acts as a barrier so the crust stays crispy instead of turning into a soggy mess.
Then comes the magic. They take hand-crushed California tomatoes (always the high-end stuff) and dollop them over the cheese in "swirls and splats."
- The Crust: It’s thin, 1/8th of an inch maybe, with a char that comes from a gas-fired deck oven.
- The Sauce: Minimal seasoning. No heavy sugar, no weird herbs. Just the taste of actual tomatoes.
- The Build: Small nuggets of raw sausage (if you're smart enough to order it) are rolled in flour so they don't stick to the chef's hands, then they cook right there on the pie, bleeding their juices into the sauce.
It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s perfect.
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What You Should Actually Order
Don't overthink the menu. Honestly, the more toppings you add, the more you risk ruining that delicate balance of the thin crust. Most regulars stick to the basics.
If it's your first time, get a plain tomato pie. You need to understand the baseline. But if you want the "real" experience, the move is the sausage and sweet peppers. The peppers are pickled and have this vinegary snap that cuts right through the richness of the pork.
I’ve seen people order the clam pie, too. It’s a bit of a polarizing choice, but it’s got a cult following. They use whole baby clams and enough garlic to keep vampires away for a century. It's not for a first date, but it's incredible.
The Vibe and How to Survive the Visit
Hamilton isn't Robbinsville. It feels more "neighborhood." But because of the recent changes and the dispensary partnership, the crowd has shifted. You’ll see old-timers who have been eating here since the 50s sitting next to twenty-somethings waiting for their gummy order to be ready next door.
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The service can be... let’s call it "authentic Jersey." It’s fast, it’s direct, and they aren't there to hold your hand. If you’re looking for a corporate "customer is always right" vibe, go to Domino's. Here, you're in their house.
They’re usually closed on Mondays (and sometimes Sundays, depending on the season and staff), so always check their Facebook page before you make the trek. Since the 2025 reopening, the hours have been a bit more stable, usually opening around 11:00 AM for the lunch crowd and running through dinner.
Why This Place Still Matters in 2026
With all the "New Jersey-style" spots popping up in Philly and New York, it's easy to forget that this is where it actually started. The DeLorenzo family (both branches) are the gatekeepers of a culinary style that almost died out.
The Hamilton shop, specifically, represents the grit of the business. They faced a permanent shutdown, a changing neighborhood, and rising costs, yet they found a way to adapt without compromising the recipe Alexander "Chick" DeLorenzo started decades ago. You’re not just paying for flour and tomatoes; you’re paying for the survival of a Trenton institution.
The next time you’re driving down I-95 or hitting the Sloan Avenue exit, skip the chain restaurants. Go see Rick. Get the sausage pie. Just make sure you have enough napkins, because a true tomato pie waits for no one.
Your Next Steps:
- Check the Daily Status: Visit the official DeLorenzo’s Pizza Facebook page before driving over to ensure they haven't adjusted hours for "renovations" or private events.
- Order "The Trenton Way": When you call in or sit down, ask for the sausage, onion, and sweet pepper combo. It’s the definitive flavor profile of the region.
- Bring Cash: While they've modernized a bit, having cash on hand in these old-school Jersey spots is always a safer bet to avoid "technology convenience fees."