Quick answer: Many Long Beach Island visitors make the quick drive to Fusaro’s Pizza & Pasta in Manahawkin, NJ for brick oven pizza, square pies, pasta, subs, and family-friendly takeout. Conveniently located just off Route 72, Fusaro’s is an easy stop before heading onto the island or after a long day at the beach.
Looking for the best pizza near Long Beach Island (LBI)? After a full day in the sun, most families are not looking for long restaurant waits or limited options. They want something easy, delicious, and capable of feeding everyone—from hungry kids to a full beach house crowd.
That is exactly why many LBI visitors head to Fusaro’s Pizza & Pasta in Manahawkin. Just minutes from the island, our family has spent more than 35 years serving authentic Italian favorites to Jersey Shore families. From classic round pies and crispy square pizzas to hearty pasta dishes and fresh subs, we offer something for every appetite—making dinner after the beach simple, satisfying, and stress-free.
Why Do Visitors Leave Long Beach Island for Food?
LBI is a beautiful barrier island, but summer crowds bring real logistical challenges. During peak season, popular spots on the island fill up fast. Wait times stretch long, parking gets tight, and the options for large groups, especially families with different tastes, can feel limited.
Many families staying in LBI find that a quick drive into Manahawkin simplifies the whole dinner situation. Easier parking, faster pickup, and a broader menu make the short trip well worth it. Manahawkin sits right at the gateway to LBI, so it’s a natural stop on the way back from the beach rather than a detour.
Quick Answer: Where Can You Get Great Pizza Near LBI?
Many visitors staying near Long Beach Island head to Fusaro’s Pizza & Pasta in Manahawkin for their pizza fix. Fusaro’s offers brick oven pizza, Grandma pies, Sicilian squares, pasta, and subs, all available for easy takeout just minutes from LBI via Route 72.
What Pizza Styles Does Fusaro’s Offer for Every Craving?
Grandma Pizza
One of the biggest advantages of Fusaro’s is the sheer variety. Not every group agrees on pizza style, and Fusaro’s menu is built for exactly that situation.
Classic Round Pizza
The crowd-pleasing standard. Great cheese, fresh sauce, and a satisfying crust that works for every age group. Cheese and pepperoni pies are consistently the most popular orders.
Grandma Pizza
Fusaro’s Grandma pizza is a square, pan-baked pie with a thin crust, crispy bottom, and soft interior. The dough rests for at least two full days before baking—a slow fermentation process that develops real flavor and makes the crust remarkably light and digestible. Standout options include the Grandma Lucy Special (pepperoni, ricotta, red pepper flakes, and hot honey) and the Grandma Vodka, topped with a rich, creamy house-made vodka sauce.
Sicilian & Pan Pizza
Fusaro’s Sicilian pizza is thicker and taller than the Grandma style, with a pillowy, sponge-like interior and a deeply crispy bottom. It’s a hearty option for hungry groups and holds up well during transport. Using a premium Italian flour blend of Caputo and Infibra, Fusaro’s dough is baked after a two-to-three-day resting period—a technique that produces a texture most pizzerias simply don’t attempt.
Pan Pizza
For a thick, golden crust that’s crisp on the outside and pillowy on the inside, try Fusaro’s pan pizza. This style uses premium Italian flours and a meticulous 48-hour, two-stage proofing process to create a crust that’s remarkably light and digestible. The dough is proofed once at room temperature for 24 hours to develop flavor, then stretched into olive-oil-coated pans for another 24 hours to create its signature height and crispy base. Popular options include the classic Pan Cheese Pizza and the Meat Lovers, loaded with bacon, ham, meatballs, pepperoni, and sausage.
Gluten-Free Pizza
Giving up gluten shouldn’t mean giving up great pizza. Fusaro’s offers several fantastic gluten-free choices:
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- 12-Inch Gluten-Free Pizza: A classic light and flavorful crust ready for your favorite toppings.
- 10-Inch Cauliflower Pizza: A veggie-packed alternative with a wonderfully crisp texture.
- 16-Inch Gluten-Free Grandma or Sicilian: With 48 hours’ notice, Fusaro’s can prepare large, shareable gluten-free square pies perfect for family dinners.
Vegetarian Pizza
Fusaro’s goes beyond basic cheese pizza with a wide array of flavorful vegetarian creations. Popular choices include the classic Margherita with house-made mozzarella and basil, the savory White pizza with ricotta and garlic, and the Manahawkin Square, topped with Sicilian sauce and extra virgin olive oil. For something different, try the Lemon Bruno, a white pizza with lemon zest, or The NYC, an inverted pie with sauce over mozzarella. Other favorites include the local classic JTP (Jersey Tomato Pie) and the wholesome Veggie Medley Pizza.
Why Pizza Is the Right Call for an LBI Beach House Night
Pizza checks every box for vacation rental dining. No reservations. No cooking. No complicated cleanup. Just open the boxes and eat.
For large families and groups, it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to feed everyone well. A good rule of thumb: plan for adults to eat 2–3 slices each and kids 1–2 slices. For a group of 10, that’s roughly 3–4 large pizzas. For 25 people, plan for 8–10 pies. Pair the pizza with a pasta tray or sub platter from Fusaro’s and you’ve got a full spread without any effort.
Rainy beach days hit differently when you have a couple of square pies on the table. Pizza travels well, reheats easily, and keeps everyone satisfied through a long evening of cards or movies.
Easy Takeout After a Long Beach Day
Fusaro’s is built for exactly the kind of tired, hungry group that just rolled in from a full beach day. Easy online ordering means you can place your order before you even leave the sand, and pickup is quick. No cooking, no dishes—just a fresh, hot meal ready when you are.
For families renting on LBI, this kind of convenience is genuinely valuable. Fusaro’s even offers free delivery and charges no credit card fees, keeping the experience as frictionless as possible.
How to Get to Fusaro’s from Long Beach Island
Fusaro’s Pizza & Pasta is located at 31 N Main St, Manahawkin, NJ 08050—just a short drive from Long Beach Island via Route 72. The route is straightforward: head west over the causeway and follow Route 72 toward Main Street. Plenty of parking makes the stop easy, whether you’re grabbing a quick takeout order or sitting down to eat.
It’s an ideal stop on the way back to your rental, or a simple mid-week dinner run when the beach house needs feeding.
What Do Locals and Vacationers Order Most at Fusaro’s?
The most popular orders at Fusaro’s tend to follow a familiar pattern: family-sized round pies, square pizzas for sharing, and pasta trays rounding out the spread. The Grandma Lucy Special draws a loyal following. The Sicilian squares disappear fast at group gatherings. Fusaro’s subs (particularly the Italian cheesesteak) have their own dedicated fan base, with customers consistently calling them the best in the area.
For larger groups, a pizza-and-pasta combination is a reliable strategy. Browse the best menu picks loved by Manahawkin locals for inspiration before you order.
Make Dinner Easy After Your Beach Day
Great pizza near Long Beach Island doesn’t have to be complicated. Fusaro’s Pizza & Pasta in Manahawkin delivers crowd-pleasing food (brick oven pies, crispy square slices, pasta, and more) just minutes from LBI. Call (609) 978-3888 or order online to have dinner sorted before you even shake the sand off.
