Salerno’s Cafe in Old Forge is one of the longest tenured pizza cafes in the Pizza Capital of the World. Walking into the bar and restaurant is like a step back in time. Their old school decor, and friendly service takes you back in time a ways. They serve some of the best trays in town, and I stopped in for a red and a white with a friend who was visiting from New York City.
We ordered a tray of Old Forge Red and a tray of Double Crust White pizza. The red came out lightly browned around the edges and on the bottom. It was a soft and slightly crisp crust that was tender and with good chew. The sauce was smooth with some tang and light seasoning. It didn’t strike me as a sweet sauce, nor did I detect any onion chunks in it. I presume the cheese was American on top as it browned up in some areas and was creamy in others.
Cheese that Sticks to the Roof of Your Mouth!
Upon the first bite, the cheese immediately stuck to the roof of my mouth! That’s sort of a signature of many Old Forge pizzas. One misconception about Old Forge trays is that they are all made with American cheese (presumably) like this one. The fact is, many use blends of cheeses and some don’t use American at all! If the crust was a bit crispier it would have moved this pizza up a notch. However, this was a classic Old Forge tray that was easy to enjoy.
The best way I can describe a Double Crust White pizza is that it reminds me of a giant grilled cheese sandwich. The two seasoned crust made from fresh dough had so much flavor and the thinly sliced onions on top added some unique texture, aroma, and variations between crispy and tender. For me, the seasoning blend is really important to a pizza with so much cheese and dough. The blend had plenty of Italian seasonings and I believe some rosemary in it. There was some wonderful aroma and flavor from the herbs and spices.
I think the cheese in this pizza was also American, but it could have been a blend of some kind. There was a ton of cheese oozing out of it, but the proportions of dough to cheese were on point. The flavorful dough, gooey cheese, and pleasant seasonings made this an enjoyable tray. Next time I think I’ll order a side of marinara sauce to see how dunking in it tastes!
Overall, this was a fun visit to an Old Forge staple. The place has so much charm and history. The pizza is solid, and the people are wonderful. Have you tried Salerno’s Pizza Cafe? Let me know what you thought about it in the comments!
Rating Salerno’s Cafe Pizza
- Restaurant: Salerno’s Cafe
- Address: 139 Moosic Rd, Old Forge, PA 18518
- Date: March 2023
- Dine-In/Take Out: Dine In
- Pizza Ordered: Old Forge Red 12 Cut Pizza
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 7.2 |
| Sauce | 7.6 |
| Cheese | 7.2 |
| Taste | 7.6 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 7.2 |
| Value | 7.2 |
| Overall Rating | 7.3 |
Pizza is Similar to: Revello’s, Arcaro and Genell’s,
- Restaurant: Salerno’s Cafe
- Address: 139 Moosic Rd, Old Forge, PA 18518
- Date: March 2023
- Dine-In/Take Out: Dine In
- Pizza Ordered: Old Forge Red 12 Cut Pizza
| Rating Category | Rating Score |
|---|---|
| Crust | 7.6 |
| Sauce | N/A |
| Cheese | 7.5 |
| Taste | 7.7 |
| Crispy/Cooked Properly | 7.7 |
| Value | 7.1 |
| Overall Rating | 7.5 |
Pizza is Similar to: Arcaro’s the Next Generation
Photos from My 2012 Reviews of Salerno’s Cafe Old Forge Pizza
Scott Sanfilippo
October 27, 2012 2:27 amEnded up here tonight for the first time in a looooong while. Went to Revellos, sat at a table and watched waitresses wait on tables all around us but never stopped at our table. After ten minutes we walked out and went to Salerno's. Pizza was great. Scratching Revellos off my list due to the service issue and will definitely go back to Salernos for both the red and white pizza. Salad was great too, espeically loaded with pizza cheese.