The second you walk into The Brick, the red brick walls, rustic decor, and warm atmosphere make you feel like you stepped into a warm, cozy cabin. The pizza encapsulates that feeling: comforting, warm, and reliable. The best part of The Brick is that they stay open until midnight, and the crowd there always has this amiable, familiar energy. Hot take: I may love The Brick even more than Napoli’s, and though they sit side by side, these days I’ve been drawn to The Brick, as the familiar atmosphere, attentive staff, and mouth-wateringly good pizza slices are impossible to resist.
What makes their pizza taste so good is the thick slices of fluffy, doughy crust and generous sauce with heaps of cheese melted on top. The amount of barbecue sauce they put on my favorite barbecue chicken slice is truly the perfect ratio, and something about the combo of the warm, melted mozzarella and smoky barbecue sauce is immensely satisfying. Every bite is euphoric, and that is how you know it’s good pizza. It’s not just another cheap slice of pizza that tastes like cardboard, but a whole experience. Somehow, the crust under the actual sauce and cheese part of the pizza is perfectly pillowy, while the actual crust is crisp and slightly charred.
The fluffiest slice I’ve had from them is probably their Sicilian pizza, which did not disappoint. Most Sicilian-style pizzas I’ve tried have been too saucy, but this was not the case. The sauce was the right amount; I got a good cheese pull from the pizza, and every bite was fluffy, sponge-like, and scrumptious. The Brick doesn’t just stop at pizza, though. They have multiple appetizers, salads, wraps, burgers, sandwiches, and pasta, although I honestly haven’t tried much other than their pizza. And based on the raving Google reviews, their other options are amazing and worth going back far.
The one non-pizza item I did try was their soft, pillowy garlic knots, and trust me — no pizza chain can beat them. They were basted in a thick layer of garlic and butter, not in a sickening way, but in a mouth-melting way. It was like taking a bite out of a cloud. The garlic knots with the fresh marinara were just truly impeccable. After trying these garlic knots, other garlic knots seem too tough or just aren’t soft enough.
Even though The Brick isn’t near campus, the longing to keep coming back hits me constantly, and for the rest of my time at Stevens, I will definitely be abusing my visits there. It is unfortunately really far from the main part of campus, but if you’re closer to the Castle Point side, it shouldn’t be too long. Anytime you go, the staff is super friendly and kind, not to mention super quick. The Brick is truly underrated and worth checking out, whether it’s a midnight run or grabbing lunch for the day. Sitting there and eating your toasty slice of pizza is truly an experience you cannot miss.
