An Award Winning Monmouth County, NJ Restaurant Sadly Closes its Doors

News broke Tuesday that a Monmouth County restaurant that has garnered national acclaim would be closing.

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Anthony Mangieri grew up in Beachwood and opened his first pizzeria in Pt. Pleasant Beach in 1996. Specializing in Napoleon pies, he became so popular that he earned the nickname the "Pizza Pope."

From Pt. Pleasant Beach, Anthony would open up shop across the country in San Fran, and New York City.

The pizza scene at the Shore is competitive, but the "Pope" wanted to take on a new challenge after having much success in New York. His pizza restaurant in the city was called "the finest sit-down pizza in all five boroughs" by the New York Times.

About a year and a half ago, Anthony opened Una Pizza Napoletana in Atlantic Highlands.

It wasn't before long that Una was jumping and building a very strong customer base and reputation.

In March of 2020, Una New York closed due to COVID and remains closed as of this writing.

He told New Jersey Advanced Media that he was driving 300 a day. Anthony was waking up at 5 a.m. on Sundays to make the dough, driving to New York City to pick up his daughter and bring her to the pizzeria, and then driving her back to the city that night. That routine has begun to wear on him.

Mangieri wrote on Instagram:

To the staff of Una Pizza Napoletana and Pizza Pope Anthony Mangieri, thank you for bringing your delicious pies to the Shore and continued success in NYC.