Cranford Square Pizza Is Open — And It's Serving Something Different

Cranford Square Pizza has arrived at 101 Miln Street with a different approach to pizza-making for the town. Owners Chris Panza and Billy D'Angelo opened with a soft launch, quietly changing their Instagram status to "open" and posting signs to test operations before a formal grand opening in early-mid October.

"I think there is a lot of good pizza in this town," Panza said. "I'm not gonna say we're the best. I just think we're different than what everybody else has."

The restaurant's signature Cranford Square pizza reflects that philosophy. The dough is fermented with time and patience, cheese is driven to the steel edges for a deep, lacy frico crust, and slow-simmered tomato sauce is topped with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Panza's personal favorite is the 86th Street, an upside-down square pie with sauce on top.

The kitchen team brings decades of combined experience. A pizza maker known as "Canarsie Mike" has approximately 40 years in the business, and the manager brings nearly as much expertise. "What we lacked in experience, we were relying on the people in the back of the house, with 70 years combined experience, to execute," Panza said.

The soft opening surprised the owners. "We had very low expectations because, again, we didn't really advertise that we're opening," Panza said. "We were very surprised at how many people came in." The soft launch allows employees to train on ordering and delivery systems while the kitchen fine-tunes equipment and workflow.

A reviewer found the Cranford Square dough fluffy and perfectly seasoned with a crisp, deeply browned crust. One slice was filling. During the soft opening, an order took about 40 minutes to pick up.

The menu and online orders are available at cranfordsquarepizza.com. Watch for the grand opening and ribbon cutting announcement for early-mid October.

FAQ

Q: Where is Cranford Square Pizza located?

A: Cranford Square Pizza is located at 101 Miln Street in Cranford. Owners Chris Panza and Billy D'Angelo have brought a new pizza style to the town.

Q: What kind of pizza does Cranford Square Pizza serve?

A: Cranford Square Pizza specializes in Sicilian-style square pizza. The signature Cranford Square features dough fermented with patience, cheese driven to the steel edges for a deep, lacy frico crust, and slow-simmered tomato sauce topped with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. The owner's personal favorite is the 86th Street, an upside-down square pie with sauce on top.

Q: Is Cranford Square Pizza open now?

A: Yes. Cranford Square Pizza began soft operations recently and is currently open. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony are planned for early-mid October 2026. Check the website for the official grand opening date.

Q: How can I order from Cranford Square Pizza?

A: Orders can be placed online at cranfordsquarepizza.com. During the soft opening, orders took approximately 40 minutes for pickup. Call ahead or check the website for current service hours and wait times.

Q: What makes Cranford Square Pizza different from other pizza places in Cranford?

A: Owners Chris Panza and Billy D'Angelo wanted to bring a different style of pizza to Cranford. Panza said, "I'm not gonna say we're the best. I just think we're different than what everybody else has." The restaurant focuses on fermented dough, crispy frico crust, and slow-simmered sauce techniques.

Q: Who is running the kitchen at Cranford Square Pizza?

A: The kitchen team includes a pizza maker known as "Canarsie Mike," who has approximately 40 years of experience in pizza-making, and a manager with nearly as much expertise. Combined, the kitchen leadership brings 70 years of experience to the operation.

Q: When is the grand opening?

A: The grand opening and ribbon cutting are scheduled for early-mid October 2026. The exact date has not yet been announced. Check cranfordsquarepizza.com or the restaurant's social media for the official announcement.