Pizza heaven, right here on earth. Nuzzaci Pizza Shoppe, Monessen.
It is entirely fitting that one must ascend a steep hillside to get here because this pizza comes not of the earth, but from the heavens.
Pardon me if we exercise a little culinary melodrama, but this deserves it. Biting into a fresh slice is to be transported, 30,000 feet straight up into the sky, where one glides on—and dines of—pure ether. How can this most common of meals manage the paradox of being both hearty and weightless, brutally crude and expertly crafted, simple and transformative? Yeah, it’s a lot to consider, but … we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Pizza: Monessen style. Paul with full “tray” of Nuzzaci’s pizza.
The word sponge doesn’t cannote great faith in the food it describes. Sure, sponge cake has its proponents and there’s injera, the sourdough-risen flatbread, often described as “spongy,” that you’ll find in Ethiopian cuisine. Maybe we can count marshmallows as little gooey sponges—but that’s really about it.
That the product of Nuzzaci Pizza Shoppe is most frequently described as “sponge pizza” may be understandable, but it’s unimaginative and does a disservice to this extraordinary, pillowy, thick, cake-like pizza.
No, the experience of eating Nuzzaci’s, fresh from the oven, lifted, airy, and—sorry: it’s the only word for it—moist, is like biting into a cloud…with melted cheese on top. It’s as if the very atmosphere has morphed into warm dough, crowned with a thin halo of red sauce. It is absolutely divine.
J.T. Sassak, third-generation owner/pizza maker of Nuzzaci Pizza Shoppe.
J.T. Sassak is the third generation to operate the tiny pizzeria from its only ever location in the basement of the family’s large, wood frame house on Knox Avenue in Monessen. In 2010, the Trib did a pretty complete rundown on the Nuzzaci-Sassak family lineage, going back to J.T.’s grandmother Cosamina Nuzzaci opening the shop in 1952, so we’ll not repeat all that here.
We will mention, though, that Sassak mixes all his dough by hand and J.T. has the Popeye-style forearm muscles to prove it. There was just no way to get a commercial dough-mixer down the little basement stairs and around the various corner-turns necessary to make automated dough kneading happen. So the pizza crust is still prepared exactly as is was by Cosamina, according to her hand-written in Italian recipe on a brown paper bag.
Basement kitchen, penthouse pizza.
You hear the phrase if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it plenty, but Nuzzaci’s makes the old cliché a mission statement. This is pizza simple: there is only one product that may be purchased at the restaurant, either by the slice or as a 15-cut “tray.” There are exactly seven options for toppings—inserted under the mozzarella—plus “double cheese.” There are no drinks, sides, bread sticks, chicken wings, salads, or dessert. All purchases are made in cash. Nuzzaci Pizza Shoppe has no dining room.
A full tray of pizza with one (split) topping provided the basis for five meals and cost twelve dollars and seventy-five cents.
Pizza simple. Three slices of Nuzzaci’s back home.
Here’s the heartbreaker: J.T. Sassak is 67 years old (“born the same year the shop opened”) and not only is there no apprentice learning the ropes, there’s no one in the family remotely interested in taking over operation of the small-town pizzeria.
Selling the business is out of the question, J.T. says, as the grandfathered-in commercial license on (otherwise residential) Knox Ave. would likely not transfer to a new owner and moving the location “wouldn’t be the same.” J.T. says he’s got around five more years left in the business and “then we’ll see.” At some point in the not-too-distant future, Nuzzaci Pizza Shoppe will likely close up forever.
If you love great pizza—unique pizza, special pizza—I’m imploring you: make the trip out to Monessen for what may be one of the most heavenly culinary experiences of your life. It’s worth it.
Ghost sign; real pizza. Completely unstaged photo of Paul about to devour a slice of Nuzzaci’s he describes as “like fluffy pizza clouds.”
A couple things to know if you’re going:
- Nuzzaci Pizza Shoppe is located at 483 Knox Ave., Monessen. It takes most of an hour to drive there from Pittsburgh.
- The shoppe is closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday; open 11 AM to 7:30 PM the other days.
- This is important: while Nuzzaci is open for pickup until the early evening, J.T. may have already sold out all the day’s dough way before then. Call ahead to 724-684-4814 to make sure you get your order in.
- As mentioned, there is no dining room, so all orders are pick-up/take-out only. If you’re coming from Pittsburgh, you may want to consider bringing some drinks, planning a place to eat, etc.
The Pizza Chase is an occasional series where we document regional pizzerias that do something fundamentally different or extraordinary with ol’ cheesy.
Pittsburgh Orbit 
It was delicious pizza and has completely “clouded” my opinion of most others. Thank for letting me tag along on another Orbit adventure.
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I remember eating there for lunch every day and Mary Sasak was there waited on us school kids 3pieces of pizza and a soda I think it was 25cents the pizza was AWESOME
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I used to eat it as I worked next door at Drs Dudas Dental Asociates for years. I knew the Nuzzacci Family, Mary, John Tom, Timmy and Cecelia, who happened to be our dental hygienist too. 😀
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Many a Friday night I cut through my backyard to go buy s whole pizza for &1.00. What a fabulous Friday night dinner. Sure hope somebody takes over and continues the legend.
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Had their pizza a couple of months ago. Just as perfect as I remembered it from my childhood. Ate it for lunch back in my high school days. It was right across the street. Sold by the piece it was quick, easy, affordable and delicious. Thanks for the best pizza around!💖💖
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It has always been the best of the best where pizza was concerned. J.T. used to have. my daughters on his lap. Them eating . “ZACI” pizza and him reading a story book to them many a night. Now the oldest daughter has 2 daughters and a granddaughter and the youngest has a son. Oh how I mmiss those days.J.T. was one of our best friends.
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I went to Monessen HIgh School, which used to be across the street from the pizza shop. (10 cents a slice; 3 for a quarter.) Lunchtime was packed full every day. It was the first pizza I had as a child and what I grew up with…the standard by which all the other pizzas of my have been compared. I wish we weren’t living on the other side of the state!
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This is the first pizza that I ever ate and still my favorite. My kids have continued eating it and when I get a take out, about once a month, I always share. I hope JT. just keeps making it.
It was a mad house at lunch time ,when I was in Jr. and Sr. High school. It seemed that the whole school bought their lunch there. The price was right.This was back in the 1950s and 60s so you see that I have eaten my way through 3 generations. If you get a chance, it’s really worth the trip. Be sure and call early.
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Getting a Nuzzaci’s pizza was great. I would run across the street from Monessen High School and push myself through the crowds of fellow students ordering a slice.. Reading the article brought back happy memories. Thanks from that skinny little girl who loved pizza.
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We moved from the Mon Valley to Tampa Fl in 1979.
When we get our cravings for Nuzzaci’s Pizza we get it Fed Ex’d here!!! Everybody couldn’t understand why we would pay to have pizza shipped until they tasted it!!!!
We LOVE Nuzacci’s
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How did you ship it ? Want to do that as a gift my mom grew up eating that pizza
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Tonya, Pittsburgh Orbit is not affiliated with Nuzzaci Pizza–we just wrote the story about it. So we suggest calling Nuzzaci directly to get the details on shipping: (724) 684-4814. Good luck!
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WHAT A GREAT PIZZA ! MONESSONS SECRET!
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So glad
Glad there still open. The pizza is heaven..
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Hank Glogosh and I would get our pizza and an RC Cola for lunch and then go to Carlo’s and play the pinball machine during our lunch time in highschool. I’ve promised myself, I WILL get some Nuzacci’s pizza next summer when we are back in Monessen! Mr. Nuzacci would call the order back to Mrs. Nuzacci, saying something like, ” 2 cheese-a girl”. Those were the good old days!
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When I was a little girl we lived above Nuzacvis pizza shop. Jess and Gloria Stopford. Debbie Stopford McDonough Decker
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3 slices for a quarter in the 60’s
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Eat there all through high school and every time I travel home. Never ate pizza like that since leaving mo town
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Not only is the pizza the best you will ever eat J. T. Is one of the best friends a person can ever wish for. He even watched our kids when they were little. It was nothing to walk in and fi nd him reading a book to the kids. Our kids just love him even today. If Bill or I picked up the today and said we needed help he’d be the first one there. Congratulations on your longevity and being such a good friend.
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Such wonderful memories of Nuzzacis, in the early70’s that was lunch always. Still the best pizza in the USA!!! Wish those old days were back in Monessen great times, memories, and people!!! Wish the family the best💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
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For six years…1957-1963 I ate lunch there every afternoon…3 cheese and a RC was 35 cents.
Mrs Nuzzaci used to call us boy…Her grandson Ralph and a few of us would sit at the small table…I hope they somehow survive…on the occasions I come back I order a tray but last time it was sold out…heartbreaking…still the best pizza ever
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Loved 3-pieces and an orange soda and Mary too! Planned a trip from VA this summer just for the pizza. Wish I had planned to have a tray shipped before now.
Great memories.
MHS Class of ’70
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so I returned home to present the Husher scholarships at the High School and take a tray back to Ohio only to learn the shop had closed a couple months earlier…I’ll always miss this pizza and the memories and good times…I always thought it could be franchised…sad time for Monessen but thank you for the meals
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