Bricco Coal Fired Pizza

The Verdict

If you are looking for a focused, no-fuss pizza destination in South Jersey that punches well above its neighbourhood footprint, Bricco Coal Fired Pizza on Haddon Avenue is the right call. Ranked #28 on the 50 Leading Pizza USA 2025 list, it has the credential to back up the reputation. Book it for a casual weeknight dinner when you want serious pizza technique without a formal dining commitment, or bring a group on the weekend when coal-fired pies are exactly the occasion. Booking is easy, which makes it a dependable pick compared to the long waits at destination pizza spots in Philadelphia proper.

What to Expect

The draw here is the oven: a coal-fired unit that reaches 1,000 degrees, producing the kind of thin, char-spotted crust that defines Old World, New York-style pizza. The dough is long-proofed, which gives the crust a depth of flavour and chew that a same-day dough simply cannot replicate. Adriatic tomatoes on the sauce reinforce the approach: this is a kitchen that thinks about sourcing at the ingredient level, not just the technique level. Visually, the pies arrive with leopard-spotted char on the cornicione, a clear signal of what the oven is doing. If you have eaten at coal-fired pizza spots in New York, you will recognise the style immediately. If you have not, Bricco is a strong introduction to why coal-fired baking produces a materially different result than wood-fired or deck-oven alternatives.

The leading time to come is a weekday evening, when the room is more relaxed and you can take your time without the weekend rush. If you are driving from Philadelphia or Camden, Haddon Township is a short trip west, street parking on Haddon Avenue is generally available on weeknights. On weekends, arrive early to avoid a wait, as the ranking on 50 Leading Pizza USA 2025 has brought Bricco more visibility beyond its immediate neighbourhood.

The Counter Experience

For solo diners or pairs who want to engage more directly with the operation, ask about counter or bar seating when you arrive. Watching a coal-fired oven work at close range is genuinely informative for anyone interested in pizza technique: the heat differential, the speed of the bake, the way the crust bubbles and chars in real time are all easier to observe from a closer vantage point. Counter seating at a pizza-focused room also tends to move at a better pace than table service, which suits a solo diner who wants a single pie and a drink without the formality of a full table turn. For a food enthusiast visiting specifically to understand what makes the 50 Leading Pizza ranking credible, counter or bar seating is the better call over a corner table.

How It Fits Your Trip

Bricco works well as a destination in its own right rather than a stop on a larger dining itinerary. It is the kind of place that rewards a deliberate visit: come hungry, order more than you think you need, pay attention to the crust. If you are building a South Jersey dining trip, pair it with a look at our full Westmont restaurants guide to see what else the area offers. For context on where to stay nearby, our Westmont hotels guide covers the options, our Westmont bars guide can point you toward a pre- or post-dinner drink. If you are interested in what else the region offers beyond dining, our Westmont experiences guide and wineries guide are worth a look.

For travellers who have been working through the 50 Leading Pizza USA list, Bricco at #28 sits in a tier of regional institutions that deliver consistent technique without the hype premium of a New York City address. Compared to flying into Manhattan for a coal-fired slice at a higher price point, Bricco offers the same foundational approach at a South Jersey neighbourhood cost structure. That gap is meaningful if pizza quality is your primary objective rather than the social experience of a famous room.

Should You Book?

Yes, if coal-fired, Old World-style pizza is what you are after in the South Jersey area. The 50 Leading Pizza USA 2025 ranking at #28 is a verifiable quality signal, the coal-fired technique at 1,000 degrees is not something every regional pizza spot can credibly claim. Booking is direct, the occasion flexibility is high (solo, date, group, family all work), and the price point is expected to be in the casual dining range consistent with the neighbourhood and format. If you are in Philadelphia and debating whether the cross-river trip is worth it, the national ranking answers that question clearly enough.

For broader context on acclaimed American dining, Pearl also covers Le Bernardin in New York City, Lazy Bear in San Francisco, Smyth in Chicago, Providence in Los Angeles, Addison in San Diego, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, The French Laundry in Napa, Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg, Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, The Inn at Little Washington, Emeril's in New Orleans, Atomix in New York City, and Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler in Brunico.