At Brick Oven On Main, located right on bustling Main Street in Bridgeport, you will experience a taste of tried and true Italian recipes right in CT! The ambience was cozy, relaxed, and put the focus on the burning fire from their brick oven creating an even more inviting atmosphere. When looking at the menu, I found myself practically drooling. As an Italian myself who loves home cooked meals, visiting restaurants that are known to use recipes passed down from generations always excites me. Don’t worry, I was certainly not disappointed!
During our interview, Danny Mancuso, the owner of Brick Oven On Main, shared an amazing tip that I will definitely be using when I order pizza in the future. When visiting any pizza place for the first time Danny recommends you should never try anything with toppings. Instead, you should always go the basic route and try a cheese pizza first. If they have a good cheese pie, then you know everything else they have is going to be good! I will certainly be using this tip for my future visits, and am glad to say everything I tried at Brick Oven On Main was delicious!
See some of what we tried below:
Antipasto Salad~ Soppressata, salami, ham, mild & sharp provolone, prosciutto, roasted peppers, pepperoncini, tomatoes, cucumbers & olives on a bed of field greens
Garlic Bread
Fried Mozzarella
Brooklynne’s Finest ~ White pizza, Three cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, grated cheese
While I absolutely enjoyed everything, the Brooklynne’s Finest Pizza was my absolute favorite. I personally love Ricotta Cheese so this pizza was heaven for me. Having it cooked in a brick oven made it the perfect level of crispy and smoky. If you want to try for yourself, be sure to take advantage of their amazing family meal deal Tuesday through Thursday for pickup. Included is a large cheese pizza, large salad, large penne pasta with homemade ragu sauce, and four cannolis for $30! It’s Brick Oven’s delectable way of trying to give back to the community right now during these trying recession times.
See our Q&A with Owner of Brick Oven On Main, Danny Mancuso, below!
Tell me a little about yourself and why you opened Brick Oven On Main?
“I was basically born into this business. My family owned a restaurant from the 80’s up until 2022. This is what I know!”
How did you come up with the name Brick Oven On Main?
“Brick Oven was the original name of the first restaurant my parents opened, so I just carried on with the name. ”
Why did you choose to operate Brick Oven On Main, in Bridgeport?
“Going back to my family, their original restaurant was in Bridgeport, and eventually they started Carmine’s in Shelton years later. Bridgeport, on Main Street especially, is where all the action is, all the mainstream.”
How would you describe the food and atmosphere of Brick Oven On Main?
“It’s definitely authentic! Everything here is pretty much made in house; from the sauce to the meatballs, to blending the cheese. Everything is made from old school recipes, passed down from my Italian father that he learned from his mother. It’s all old school Italian recipes and the quality is always the best. ”
What would you recommend for someone to try during their first visit here?
“For pizza, I would say to never try things with toppings. Always get the basic and try a cheese pie first. If they have a good cheese pie, then you know everything else they have is going to be good. That’s what I would recommend: always order a cheese pizza for your first time going here or anywhere for that matter!”
What do you think is unique and special about Brick Oven On Main?
“Everything is truly special about it. The care that goes into everything, the quality of ingredients, our level of experience. We’ve been doing this for such a long time that everything that’s done is done with consistency. That’s what makes us special. ”
Do you have any new menu items coming up?
“No new menu items specifically, but we have started running a family deal now Tuesday through Thursdays for pickup! Included is a large cheese pizza, large salad, large penne pasta with homemade ragu sauce, and four cannolis for $30. It’s something we try to do to give back because right now we’re in a recession and unfortunately food costs are very high. If I can help a little bit, then that’s what I’m happy to do. As far as other specials go, during the Fall and Winter we do homemade soups and on Friday’s and Saturday’s we do a shrimp pizza.”
About Brick Oven On Main: People still remember the original Brick Oven for its delicious food, amazing pizza, and great family atmosphere. It is proven rich in Bridgeport history as Carmine was the first to build a brick oven in Bridgeport in 1981, and stayed there for over 25 years. Today, Danny has brought that same delicious pizza back to the Park City, where it belongs. Danny now brings his own little boy from time to time to keep the family traditions going.
Their pizza is a perfect blend of New Haven style char with true Italian flavors. Danny, and his cousin Josh, built their brick oven from scratch, mostly by watching YouTube videos and taking advice from their fathers. They did an absolutely amazing job and you can see the bright flames from Main Street. The delicious smells of fresh baked dough and fresh made sauce invite you in as soon as you open the door. The vibe is low key and friendly and you will always find Danny there talking shop or tossing dough. They are proud to be serving “The best pie in the city”.
Follow them on INSTAGRAM
Like them on FACEBOOK
Visit their WEBSITE