Mike Bergemann never imagined he would leave New York and return to his home state of New Jersey, but his journey in the culinary world has led him back across the Hudson River. The Mahwah native built an impressive résumé in New York’s food scene, working as the chef at the renowned noodle shop Ivan Ramen and launching his own acclaimed slice shop, Corner Slice, in Manhattan’s Gotham West Market. In 2017, Eater named his pizza the best new slice in New York.
Despite his success, Bergemann dreamed of opening a standalone restaurant where he could build a strong community. He saw an opportunity to do that in New Jersey, where he believes customers have a deep loyalty to the places they love. In November 2023, he closed the New York location of Corner Slice, and on February 1, 2024, he opened a new version of the shop in Maplewood, New Jersey.
Unlike the traditional thin-crust pizzas New Jersey is known for, Bergemann’s pies are square-shaped, a conscious decision to set himself apart from the classic round New York slices found at institutions like John’s of Bleecker Street and Patsy’s in Harlem. His signature pies, inspired by his experience working at Ken’s Artisan Bakery in Portland, Oregon, have a unique texture—light, airy, and incredibly crispy. The dough, which is highly hydrated, is too delicate to be tossed by hand and must be baked in a pan to achieve its signature consistency.
At a time when thick, topping-heavy Detroit-style square pizzas are growing in popularity, Bergemann has taken a different route, focusing on a thinner yet structurally sound crust that enhances the balance of flavors in each slice. His menu currently features nine pizzas, offered exclusively by the slice, with whole pies coming soon. Among the highlights is the upside-down slice, which showcases a perfect balance of crispy crust and flavorful tomato sauce. The buffalo chicken pie, made with a house-made sauce that includes five different dried chilies, delivers a fiery yet nuanced punch. His margherita slice, topped with basil oil as a tribute to La Gondola Pizzeria in Ramsey, is another standout.
Beyond the pizza, Corner Slice pays tribute to New Jersey’s food culture and history in another meaningful way—the shop features a massive yellow sign from The Fireplace, a beloved Paramus restaurant that closed in 2021 after 65 years in business. When Bergemann and his business partner, David Poran, saw the sign listed on Facebook Marketplace, they knew they had to have it. Transporting it, however, was an adventure of its own, involving a borrowed truck, plywood reinforcements, and a slow drive through backroads with the oversized sign precariously hanging out the back.
One thing that may surprise customers is the way Bergemann describes his pizza. Despite being made in New Jersey, the menu refers to them as “New York square pies.” While this might raise a few eyebrows among New Jerseyans, Bergemann sees it as an essential part of his story. The recipe was first developed in his Brooklyn apartment, refined in Manhattan, and honed through years of experience in the New York pizza scene. He takes immense pride in that journey and doesn’t want to erase that part of his history.
Regardless of what you call it, one thing is clear—Corner Slice is already making a name for itself as one of New Jersey’s best new pizzerias. In a state where pizza is taken seriously, Bergemann is thrilled to be serving his unique creations to a passionate and supportive community.
“In Jersey, since we’ve been out here, when we say we’re opening a pizza place, everyone’s like, ‘Hell yeah!’” Bergemann said. “It’s just that passion that everybody has, I just love that. I feed on that. It’s special.”
Currently in its soft-opening phase, Corner Slice is open Thursday through Monday, from 12 to 8 p.m. If early impressions are anything to go by, it won’t be long before it’s recognized as one of the state’s must-visit pizza spots.
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