You’ve probably seen the shirts. Brightly colored, often neon, usually featuring a cartoon or some bold graphic text. If you live anywhere near the Jersey Shore, or even if you just spend your summers stuck in Parkway traffic, you know exactly what they are. They're trophies. They mean someone sat down at a wood-paneled booth in Neptune City and put away a massive amount of dough, sauce, and cheese in under thirty minutes.
Pete and Elda's Neptune City—officially Pete & Elda’s Bar / Carmen’s Pizzeria—is a place that basically ignores every modern food trend. While other spots are obsessing over sourdough starters and artisanal honey drizzles, this landmark has spent over 50 years perfecting a crust so thin it makes a saltine look chunky. Honestly, it's polarizing. People either worship at the altar of the "cracker crust" or they complain it’s like eating toppings on a piece of cardboard.
But here’s the thing. You can’t argue with the line out the door on a Tuesday night in February.
The History Nobody Talks About
Most people just call it Pete and Elda's, but the "Carmen's Pizzeria" part is where the soul of the kitchen lives. Back in 1961, Carmen Andretta teamed up with Pete and Elda. Pete and Elda handled the bar side—the drinks, the atmosphere, the local chatter—while Carmen focused on the oven.
It was a partnership that worked. Eventually, Carmen’s son George took the reins in the 1980s. He had a choice: change the name to something simpler or keep the legacy. He kept the name. He also kept the recipe. In a world where restaurants change hands and immediately ruin the food to save five cents on flour, the consistency here is kinda legendary.
Why the Cracker Crust?
Carmen started the thin crust style in '61 when it wasn't even "cool." Back then, people wanted thick, doughy slices. But Carmen stuck to his guns. Now, the rest of the world is trying to catch up to the bar-pie craze.
The crust is famously unleavened. It doesn’t rise. It shatters. When you pick up a slice, there is zero "flop." If your slice flops at Pete and Elda’s, something is fundamentally wrong with the universe.
Joining the Whole Pie Eater’s Club
This is the main event. It's the reason the restaurant has a dedicated closet just for T-shirts. The challenge is straightforward but deceptive.
- Order a Double Extra Large (XXL) pie.
- Eat the whole thing by yourself.
- Do it in 30 minutes or less.
The XXL is 18 inches in diameter. Each slice is nearly a foot long. Because the crust is so thin, it feels doable for the first four slices. You're flying. You're thinking, "I've got this, I'm a legend." Then the "cheese wall" hits.
The designs change all the time. They even hold contests for new shirt graphics, though they’ve recently banned AI-generated entries because they want that authentic, local feel. Winning a shirt isn't about the $20 value of the garment. It's about walking into a bar in Belmar or Asbury and having people know you’ve conquered the Neptune City beast.
What Most People Get Wrong
If you go there expecting a Neapolitan pizza with a bubbly, charred cornicione, you’re going to be miserable. Don't do that to yourself. This isn't "fancy" pizza. It’s bar pizza.
🔗 Read more: Sage Green Suit Mens: Why Most Guys Are Styling It All Wrong
A lot of critics—including some big names in the YouTube review space—have given it mixed scores. Dave Portnoy from Barstool famously gave it an 8.1, praising the "no-flop" structure but acknowledging its unique texture. Locals will tell you that the score depends entirely on how busy the kitchen is. A Friday night pie might be rushed; a Tuesday afternoon pie is usually perfection.
It’s Not Just Pizza
Believe it or not, the menu is huge. They serve:
- Veal Parm and Chicken Francaise that could compete with your grandmother’s Sunday dinner.
- Mussels Marinara using Carmen’s "famous" sauce.
- Scungili, which is getting harder and harder to find in modern Italian-American joints.
The atmosphere is "old-school Jersey" in the best way. It’s dark. It’s loud. It smells like garlic and nostalgia. You’ll see families with three generations at one table, all arguing over whether to get extra pepperoni or keep it plain.
Actionable Tips for Your First Visit
If you’re planning a trip to 96 Woodland Ave, don't just wing it.
Timing is everything. If you show up at 6:00 PM on a Saturday, be prepared to wait. The bar is a great place to hang out, but if you have hungry kids, aim for an early lunch or a late-night snack. They stay open until 11:00 PM most nights (and 1:00 AM on weekends).
Ask for it "Well Done." Even though it’s already thin, getting it well-done adds that extra snap to the crust that makes the sauce pop.
Bring a designated driver. The bar doesn’t mess around. The drinks are stiff, and the beer is cold. It’s a neighborhood taproom at heart.
Don't overthink the challenge. If you’re going for the shirt, don’t eat lunch. Wear loose pants. Focus on the center of the pie first, then work your way out to the edges. The edges are where the "crunch fatigue" sets in.
📖 Related: Men’s Sandals for Beach: What Most Guys Get Wrong About Summer Footwear
Pete and Elda's Neptune City isn't trying to be the best restaurant in the world. It’s trying to be the best version of itself. In an era where everything is becoming a corporate chain, there is something deeply comforting about a place where the pizza still tastes exactly like it did in 1984.
Go for the pizza. Stay for the shirt. Just make sure you’re hungry enough to handle 18 inches of Jersey history.
Next Steps for Your Visit
- Check the Shirt Design: Visit their official website or Instagram before you go to see the current Whole Pie Eater's Club design. They rotate frequently, and you don't want to win a shirt you already have!
- Plan for Takeout: If the wait is over an hour, their takeout window is incredibly efficient. Just know that the "cracker" texture softens slightly in the box, so pop it in a hot oven for 2 minutes when you get home to restore the crunch.