Apulia Risto-Pizza: Authentic Italian Cuisine in Franklin, NJ

A brand new food option in the not so foodie town of Franklin. This is definitely the best food in town and it can compete with a lot of pizza shops. Only had slices on this trip but everything walking past me looked unreal. Will keep you posted on a return visit

Absolutely fantastic!!! Never mind just Sussex county...this could be the best pizza AND the best Italian in the Northeast...I'm not even kidding. The food is authentic, specializing in cuisine from the region of Italy the owner is from, Pulia. Homemade everything, every sauce, they use a special flour for the pizza and focaccia (which is out of bounds good, the red is my favorite). We are working our way through the menu, and you could throw a dart at this menu and hit something spectacular every time (and if it says "Nona's or Danielle's, no brainer) but here are just a few of my favorites: The Danielle Pie...so good, a little pesto on this one, just the right amount of cheese (they use a proprietary blend I believe) and the crust!!! Sooo good, must be the imported flour and attention to detail. The "skinny pies" my favorite is with the sausage and bacon. Thin, crispy square pie and slices...also perfect crust but less of it and loaded with flavor. The meatballs...stop the presses!!! and gluten free I believe, no fillers, hand made with a sauce to die for. Chicken franchese or chicken franchese pie or sandwich, the real deal...As previously mentioned the Focaccia...if you like Rosemary go with that, loaded with fresh Rosemary and a hint of garlic and good impoted olive oil (which they sell in these beautiful bottles)...get a side of their amazing sauce to dip, possibly the best focaccia I have ever had ever...and this is hard to say but I think I like the red version even better!!! Even the salads are great, good variety, all homemade dressings...top with their breaded chicken cutlets, which they also put on pizza. The kids like buffalo chicken pie and they use the fried cutlets on this, spot on. And don't forget the garlic knots. If you like garlic you will love. Topped with some kind of garlic paste...just decadent and delicious. Last but not least, the beautiful ground up interior. Spotless, well appointed, all brand new but a really warm and inviting setting, comfortable tables and chairs, very open but cozy at the same time. It's also byo...so bring a good wine. And the owners, the staff, the service...finest kind. I'd get here ASAP, the response locally has already been phenomenal, I'd expect a line out the door at all times soon.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely fantastic experience! The food was authentic and bursting with flavor—each dish tasted like it was made with love and tradition. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with a cozy Italian charm that made us feel right at home. The service was impeccable—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. If you’re looking for a true taste of Italy, this is the place to go! Highly recommend this place —it was unforgettable. Can’t wait to return!

First time trying. The lady on the phone was very nice, I ordered 4 pizzas and walked in they greeted me and the chef even thanked me from the oven area. Very pleasant transaction. Pizza was excellent, cooked to perfection, no burnt underneath, which I hate! I am a fan of white pie and theirs with ricotta was perfect! I’ll be back to have a sit down meal. Thank you all and best of luck , keep crushing it! I would say easy top 5 pizza places for me in north jersey.

Went for dinner spur of moment around 7:45 pm on Valentines Day. Place was full, wait only about 10 minutes for 3. Everyone was so efficient while working with the crowd. Food was excellent, full menu, not limited. Most pastas homemade, pasta fagioli soup, fried calamari, lasagna, chicken marsala and penne vodka all very good. The Bomba like tartufo was super fresh, not the normal frozen prepacked dessert. We loved it! We even got to meet the owner, Daniel, he was very friendly. 5 stars!! A little bit of authentic italian food in Sussex County. A must to try!

We went to dinner on a Wednesday night, we went early at 5 p.m. because we had somewhere to be later. We thought it would be quieter at this time, too. We were pleasantly surprised that the place had about half the tables filled (must be a good place). I ordered gluten-free chicken Marsala, and my husband ordered a pizza light on the cheese. Well done, and he asked if they could add artichokes to it. They do not have the option of picking your own toppings like a typical pizzeria would have, but they have about 20 different specialty pies, and the server said she could add a topping to the pizza he chose. He also ordered a Ceaser salad. The meal was delicious. The pizza came out exactly how he wanted it, well done crust and light on the cheese. My meal was great. Usually, when I order chicken marsala, the chicken comes out, not breaded, and the sauce is thin. This chicken was breaded with gluten-free bread crumbs, and the marsala sauce was like gravy. Yum. We did end up waiting awhile after we were done eating to get boxes for our leftovers and the check, but it wasn't due to bad service. Everyone showed up at the same time (about 6) for dinner. Within a matter of minutes, all the tables were full, and people were waiting. We did get out in time. I recommend going here. I don't think you'll be disappointed. The place is clean, the decor is simple and cozy. Bathrooms are gender neutral, single occupancy, clean, and nice. I took a couple photos but didn't get great shots because I was trying to keep other patrons out of the shots.

Great first time visit! The four of us had: Chicken Francese, Cavatelli e Broccoli, Pollo Impanato, & Gluten-free Chicken Francese. All of our meals were delicious and our dessert, Tiramisu, was very good. Tia, our waitress, was a sweetheart. We met the owner on the way out, and he was friendly and very cordial. Super busy for a Wednesday. Great experience all around! Thank you, we will definitely be back~~

My waitress Gina was warm, friendly and thorough. She asked all of the right questions, if I'd like bread (it's a fair question since some people don't eat it, so it would be wasted) it's better to be asked)). She offered many different options and accompaniments to make my experience great. The food was delicious! Flavorful, fresh and delicious. Clearly everything is made with care and focus. No matter what you order you MUST finish your meal with the Limoncello Truffle Semifreddo, it's define! I didn't get a picture of the dessert because I ate it WAY TOO QUICKLY.