Riccardo's Italian Restaurant

09/29/2026

🏆🍕 THE BROWNS MILLS TOMATO PIE — BEST PIZZA IN SOUTH JERSEY! 🍕🏆

IT’S OFFICIAL! RICCARDO’S TAKES THE SOUTH JERSEY TITLE AT PIZZA WARS! 🇮🇹🔥

BROWNS MILLS… THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!

From my father Salvatore opening our doors in 1974 to this incredible moment—52 years of family, hard work, and love went into the pie that proudly carries our hometown’s name. ❤️

THE BROWNS MILLS TOMATO PIE: layered, not simply topped. Hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes, a beautifully charred crust, and fresh basil and extra-virgin olive oil after the bake. 🍅🌿

MUCH LOVE TO SPEEDY CRUZ—my right-hand man and pizza maker for 25 years—who made our competition pizza! His dedication, loyalty, and pride are in every pie. Show this man some love! 👏❤️

To our staff and everyone who came out, watched our live feeds, and cheered us on—THANK YOU! This celebration belongs to you, too.

While we didn’t take the overall state championship, we proudly brought home the SOUTH JERSEY TITLE. Always gracious in victory and defeat, we congratulate the overall winner and every competitor.

Come celebrate with us and taste THE BROWNS MILLS TOMATO PIE! 🏆🍕

MUCH, MUCH LOVE & RESPECT!
Vito & the Riccardo’s Family ❤️🇮🇹

📍 567 Lakehurst Road • Browns Mills, NJ

09/29/2026

🍕❤️ SOUTH JERSEY TITLE. A FAMILY HONOR. AND A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE.
Riccardo's Italian Restaurant
Vito Russo

Today, our Browns Mills Tomato Pie earned the SOUTH JERSEY title at Pizza Wars, and our hearts are overflowing with pride. To bring this recognition home to our community means more to us than words can truly express. We are also deeply honored to have been considered among the top 15 pizzas in all of New Jersey.

We’ll be honest—coming up short of the overall crown is a bitter pill to swallow.

When you pour your heart, your family’s history, and countless hours of love into something, you dream of taking it all the way home. But the Riccardo’s family is ALWAYS gracious in victory AND defeat. Tonight, we accept defeat with our heads held high and respect in our hearts.

To today’s winner: congratulations from the bottom of our hearts. We send you much love and respect. You earned this moment, and we applaud you! 👏🏆

Much, MUCH Love to our own SPEEDY CRUZ! ❤️🍕 Thank you for your dedication, hard work, discipline, and for putting your heart into making the best pizza today. I could not be prouder to have you by my side. This South Jersey title belongs to you, too!

Today also brought an honor that touched our family in a deeply personal way. The Russo family and Riccardo’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant received an Award of Excellence, presented by What’s Cookin’ Jersey Pizza War and Chef Umberto Turelli, recognizing 52 years of keeping true family tradition alive since 1974.

The words on that award will stay with us:

“You have defined serving a community with heart.”

For our family, this is about so much more than pizza. It is about the sacrifices made, the long days and nights, the recipes passed down, and the love we have shared with generations of families in our community. To have that journey recognized is an honor we will carry in our hearts forever.

Thank you, Chef Umberto, for this beautiful and meaningful recognition. ❤️

And to everyone who watched our live feeds, cheered us on, sent messages, shared our excitement, and stood beside us today—THANK YOU. Your love and support reached us every step of the way. You reminded us why we do what we do.

We leave today with tremendous respect for the winner, immense pride in our Browns Mills Tomato Pie earning the South Jersey title, gratitude for being considered among New Jersey’s top 15, and a cherished honor celebrating the heart and history of our family.

Thank you again, from me and the entire Riccardo’s family. We are truly grateful for each and every one of you.

Much, MUCH Love & Respect!
—Vito ❤️🍕

09/28/2026

09/28/2026

And We are Up Next! Riccardo's Italian Restaurant!! Speedy has his Cape on!!

Vito Russo

09/28/2026

🍕🔥 25 YEARS SIDE BY SIDE—TODAY, WE’RE TAKING ON PIZZA WARS! 🔥🍕

Standing beside me is Speedy Cruz—my right-hand man, my pizza maker, and the backbone of Riccardo’s for 25 years. ❤️

Dedication, loyalty, perseverance, and strength. Through every rush and every long day, this man has been there. Today, he’s making our pizza at Pizza Wars, and I couldn’t be prouder to stand beside him representing Browns Mills! 💪🍕

If Speedy has ever made your pizza or you’ve seen him behind our counter, drop a comment and show him some love! Let him see just how much he means to our Riccardo’s family. 👏❤️

Thank you for everything, brother. LET’S DO THIS! 🇮🇹🔥

09/28/2026

🍕💪 THE PIZZA HULK MEETS RICCARDO’S! 💪🍕

Great catching up with Stephen Winters, aka The Pizza Hulk, today at Pizza Wars! A man who takes his pizza seriously and shines a spotlight on New Jersey’s incredible pizza scene! 🔥

One of the best parts of being here is meeting people who share the passion behind every pie—the work, the pride, and the love that goes into it. 🇮🇹❤️

Browns Mills, we’re here representing YOU! Show The Pizza Hulk some Riccardo’s love and give a follow! 👊🍕