A pizza shop that started as a secret ring run from a home kitchen just landed No. 3 on a national list of the best new restaurants. That happened in March 2026, barely a year after the storefront opened.
The pies are square, thick, and flaky. The owner calls them his own creation, somewhere between Sicilian and Detroit style.
During the early days, demand got so wild that ordering ran through an online lottery.
I love that story. I can’t imagine a better proof that word of mouth still works in New Jersey.
Nobody bought a billboard here. People just kept telling friends.
Now the shop has real walls, a few tables, and herbs from its own garden. The question is simple.
What does a pie this talked-about actually look like up close?
A Secret Pizza Ring Grew Up And Got A Front Door
Squares & Fare didn’t start with a lease or a grand opening ribbon. It started in a home kitchen in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Owner Dominic Russo ran it like an underground pizza shop. Some called it a secret pizza ring, which honestly sounds like the best kind of secret society.
The roots go back further, though. Dominic grew up making pizza with his father every Friday night.
He then spent a long stretch perfecting his dough until it matched the pie in his head.
Inspiration also came from abroad. Dominic and his wife, Joanne, honeymooned in Italy in 2015 and fell hard for the food.
Pizza, of course, led the pack.
Word spread fast once friends started tasting those square pies. Demand climbed so high that the couple set up an online lottery just to hand out orders fairly.
That’s a wild problem for a home cook to have. Most people struggle to get relatives to show up for dinner.
Eventually, the kitchen counter simply couldn’t keep up. The brick-and-mortar shop opened in late 2024, right around Thanksgiving.
The secret was officially out, and South Jersey has been happier for it.
USA Today Readers Put This Tiny Shop On The Podium
No. 3 in the entire country. That’s where Squares & Fare landed on USA Today’s 10 Best New Restaurants for 2026, announced in March.
Food and travel experts nominated the contenders first. Then USA Today readers voted for their favorites, and this little square-pie shop climbed near the top.
The write-up called it a humble pizza joint. It also noted that some folks declare it the best Sicilian-style pie in New Jersey and beyond.
That national spotlight didn’t come out of nowhere. In February 2025, Jersey Bites named it one of 10 must-try pizza shops in the state, and it was the only South Jersey pick.
NJ.com joined the party too. It ranked the shop among the top 10 pizzas in New Jersey and called it the best in Atlantic County.
Food writer Adam Erace rated it the Jersey Shore’s No. 2 pizzeria in summer 2025. The 2026 Philadelphia Inquirer Shore Guide also gave it a spot.
That’s a lot of trophies for a place with only a few tables. I like how the shop still feels small while the praise keeps getting bigger.
Your Fork Will Want To Study This Crust Like Homework
Sicilian? Detroit?
The honest answer is somewhere in between, with a big dose of Dominic Russo’s own ideas mixed in.
Every pie here is a square-pan pizza with a thick, flaky crust. The shop describes the result as light, fluffy, crunchy, cheesy, and buttery all at once.
Getting there takes real patience. The dough goes through a multi-step process before it ever touches a pan.
That effort shows in the structure. You get height without heaviness, plus edges that bring a serious crunch.
Square pies also solve an old pizza debate. Corner pieces come with extra crispy edges, so suddenly everyone at the table has a favorite seat.
Here’s a smart move for first-timers. Pay attention to the bottom and the edges before you even think about toppings.
The crust is the foundation of this whole story. It’s the reason a home kitchen needed a lottery and a storefront needed a waiting list.
Good toppings can dress up a pizza. A crust like this one, though, is what makes people drive across New Jersey for a box of squares.
Fancy Pantry Picks Show Up On Every Square
Twenty-four months. That’s how long the Parmigiano ages before it lands on a pie here, which is longer than some cars stay new.
Squares & Fare leans hard into quality ingredients. The shop uses Cobram Estate olive oil and makes its sauces from scratch.
Jersey tomatoes play a starring role too. The Traditional pie uses a Jersey fresh tomato sauce, which feels just right for a Garden State pizza shop.
Then there’s the garden. The kitchen pulls herbs from its own plot, so the basil and oregano don’t travel far.
Fresh basil shows up on the Traditional when it’s in season. Fresh oregano takes over the rest of the year.
Why does this matter on a pizza? Simple pies hide nothing, so every ingredient needs to pull its weight.
A cheap cheese or a flat sauce would stand out fast on a thick square. Here, the shop clearly picked each piece on purpose.
I believe this is part of why the place feels special. It treats pizza like a dish worth caring about, not just fast food in a cardboard box.
Classic Red Or A Bright Green White Pie? Choose Wisely
Simple can be the boldest choice on the menu. The Traditional square proves it with Jersey fresh tomato sauce, California olive oil, mozzarella, Parmigiano, and fresh herbs.
Fans of tomato pie will feel right at home here. The sauce takes center stage, and the cheese supports it instead of hiding it.
Pepperoni purists get their own pick too. The Modern Pepperoni piles cupping pepperoni onto that famous square crust.
Now swing over to the white side. The Verdissimo uses a roasted garlic cream sauce with artichokes, spinach, and mozzarella.
The finish is the clever part. A sprinkle of bright lemon zest wakes up every rich bite.
It’s a nice change for anyone who skips red sauce. Plus, you technically ate spinach, which feels like a win for your mom.
The Pepper Shooter offers another path. It brings blistered longhots, prosciutto, ricotta salata, and mozzarella together in one salty, peppery square.
Other names like the Bellucci and the Country Club round out the lineup. With this many choices, a second visit starts to sound less like a treat and more like a plan.
Taste Tomorrow’s Menu Before Anyone Else Does
Here’s a fun twist most pizzerias don’t offer. Squares & Fare sometimes serves Test Slices so customers can try ideas that might join the menu.
Think of it as a sneak preview. You get a taste of what’s cooking in Dominic Russo’s head before it becomes official.
That keeps the menu feeling fresh. It also makes each visit a little different from the last one.
Seasonal pies and chef features pop up too. Ingredients like figs have been mentioned as possibilities for these specials.
The most heartwarming idea might be the meatballs. Dominic’s father’s meatballs have come up as a possible special topping.
That’s a sweet full-circle moment. The man who made Friday pizza nights with his son could end up on the menu himself, in meatball form.
So what’s the best strategy? Check what’s available when you order, because specials come and go.
Missing a test slice might sting a little. Then again, it gives you a perfectly good excuse to head back down the shore and try again.
Ordering Ahead Is The Smartest Move You Can Make
Remember that old lottery system? Its spirit lives on in the shop’s online ordering, which grew out of the home-kitchen days.
Booking a pie through the website is the main way to go. You pick your pizza and a pickup time, then show up ready to eat.
Same-day orders are welcome as well. Walk-ins and call-ins work too, which helps when a craving hits without warning.
Still, planning ahead makes life easier. Thick square pies take time to bake properly, and popular slots can fill up.
The shop mostly handles takeout. That makes it handy for a beach day, a family dinner, or a ride home from the shore.
Hours run from midday into the evening most days. Checking the schedule before you head out is a smart habit.
Think of it like reserving a table, minus the table. You just get a hot box of squares instead.
One more tip helps a lot. Order early on busy summer weekends in New Jersey, because shore season brings plenty of hungry company.
A Few Cozy Tables Wait For Anyone Who Can’t Hold Out
Small and quaint is the best way to describe the storefront. You’ll find it at 7 E New Jersey Ave, Somers Point, NJ 08244.
Most orders head out the door in boxes. Still, a few tables sit inside for anyone who wants their pie right away.
The owners actually love it when people eat fresh out of the oven. That’s when the crust is at its crunchiest, so why wait?
Somers Point sits right near Ocean City, which makes this an easy stop for shore trips. A pizza detour fits nicely into almost any beach plan.
Parking takes a little thought since the shop is tiny. Give yourself a few extra minutes, especially on summer weekends.
The location also suits a picnic mood. Grab a box, find a nice local spot, and enjoy the squares with a view.
Squares & Fare has come a long way from a home kitchen. Now it holds national praise, a real address, and a loyal following.
Not bad for a place built on Friday pizza nights. Somewhere, a corner piece is waiting for you.
