Five More South Shore Bar Pizza Restaurants

Just like roast beef sandwiches in the North Shore of Massachusetts or hot lobster rolls on the Connecticut coast, bar pizza is a South Shore specialty. These personal-sized pies run rampant in old-school joints, from Canton to Carver. Made with cheddar instead of mozzarella and with a crispy crunchy crunch, the myth of the South Shore bar pizza is enough to fill pages and pages of combative message boards, dedicated Facebook groups, and a whole website. From legendary classics to take-out-only spots, for this backyard road trip, we’re heading out to five more South Shore bar pizza restaurants.

Last time we paired bar pizza with craft beer and then wrote a piece specifically about a veritable bar pizza institution, the Cape Cod Cafe. With the first article, the ability to find a craft beer was a must. This time there are no rules, just simply good bar pizza. Let’s dig in!

Cornerstones

Cornerstones in Carver is a neighborhood restaurant in a shopping plaza on Main Street. It’s a comfortable eatery with sports on TV, local businesses on the placemats, and a kid’s menu. Why we’re here though is the bar pizza. To compare apples to apples, I had to try the cheese pizza. Both the cheese and the veggie were bar pizza-rific, with just the right crispiness. 

Venus Cafe

The Venus Cafe in Whitman Center is a classic dive, with a bar on one side and a “dining room” on the other. The fine china is Styrofoam and from the outside, it looks more like a smoky social club but oh boy is the pizza great! A cheese and a mushroom pizza, please! 

Squinny’s Pizza

This Plymouth pizza place is a newer bar pizza place in a sea of old-school favorites. Although newer, it combines elements of two Plymouth classics, Al’s Pizza and Ernie’s. Both restaurants closed a few years back. Squinny’s employs the head chef, and manager from Ernie’s, as well as the oven from Al’s, reinventing these into this take-out spot. Of course, try the cheese but also go for the chicken ranch pizza, with chicken and bacon embedded into the classic cheddar cheese with a layer of ranch.

Town Spa Pizza

If Squinny’s is new, Town Spa is the opposite of this! This Stoughton classic dates from 1955 and is as popular in 2024 as it was almost 70 years earlier. Expect a long wait on a weekend here for a table, but it’s certainly worth it. Town Spa’s dining room is spacious, inside a building on Washington Street in Stoughton. (The original location was in a former furniture factory.) It’s known for its Greek specialties and of course its bar pizza. Although this is a pizza article, make sure to grab a Greek salad too!

J’s Flying Pizza

If you’re worried about waiting in line for a table at Town Spa, I can promise you won’t be waiting for one at J’s Flying Pizza in Bridgewater. The reason being, that there are none! J’s is a pizza-only take-out spot literally in a garage in a residential neighborhood. Located at 815 South Street in Bridgewater, it is easy to miss. Make sure to call ahead. Although it seems like a recent business venture, J’s has been flying out pizzas since 1974! 

From neighborhood restaurants to a dive bar to take-out-only spots, these five more South Shore bar pizza restaurants will satisfy the never-ending quest for that perfect slice. Just remember to ask for it extra crispy!