By Elaine Van Develde

It’s as good as it gets for anyone in the area and beyond — that classic lobster pizza at Val’s Tavern in Rumson.

The pie, as they call it, is pretty simple, yet has been a deluxe gourmet sort of pizza treat for many for decades.

It’s a thin-crust pizza flush with all the normal pizza stuff, but great quality, like the good sauce and cheese. Add to that some Brazilian lobster and, if you so choose, some hot sauce.

I’ve heard stories. There was a time when neighboring — well, sometimes the roughly 30 minutes away sort of neighboring — police departments would send a rookie to pick up a lobster pie for lunch.

We cannot confirm rumors that they raced back, with a few light-flashing stints along the highways, to get the pie back to headquarters warm for the serving.

Needless to say, though, the pie has been that hot an item in the area since, well, at least the 1980s.

You can get the pie either regular or spicy. The spice is not overwhelming — just a complement of a hint.

Oh, and our guest tried the potato soup. Creamy, tasty and comforting.

It’s Val’s. It’s classic.

We’ll just pick the lobster pie and, yes, potato soup as a favorite this week.

Val’s is at 123 E. River Road, Rumson.