I will be in the area this weekend and want to try for the first time. I know there have been a million past threads on this which I've looked at but with covid didn't know if some spots were not putting out the same great pizza right now. For my first time with New Haven style where should I go? Plain and white clam pie the ones to try?
I like Modern and Bar more than Peppe's. I'm also a traditional guy, if you can't get Plain right I don't want whatever else you are selling.
And yes, clam pie is their signature, but cheese is the best way to evaluate pizza places IMO. Try the clam because it's unique but some people love it, some hate it, truly a unique taste. Not my favorite.
My favorite in New Haven is Modern Apizza on State Street.
And again get the cheese, but I like the Italian Bomb if you want a pizza with toppings.
pictures don't do it justice.
can't go wrong with Pepe's or Modern. Used to be Sally's too, but I read the sold the business and service/quality has taken a hit. I expect it to be a short-lived hit, but take it for what it's worth. There are other places with good pizza too like bar, ernies, zuppardi's (West Haven) but right now I think Pepe's and Modern are the gold standard (in the world).
Thin crust and coal fired.
not sure it's a tourist trap, those are often locals waiting in those 2 hour lines.
when locals go to the place in droves is it a tourist trap?
There will be a few of us that's why I figured we could get 2 pies.
There will be a few of us that's why I figured we could get 2 pies.
Yeah, there will be a wait, especially since its cold now so seating will be more limited (if you plan on sitting down).
There will be a few of us that's why I figured we could get 2 pies.
Last time I was in town we went to Sally's trying to get there at open and the line was long and slow-moving. It has much less capacity inside than Pepe's. But we got through at Pepe's pretty quickly after abandoning the Sally ship. Lunch is always going to be easier than dinner but there are still lines.
There will be a few of us that's why I figured we could get 2 pies.
Modern is closed Mondays but they open the other weekdays at 10:30, if you get there before 11:30 you will usually get a table right away.
Pepe's opens at 11 and is open 7 days per week, usually more of a line than Modern, but getting there early during the week usually helps limit your wait.
My favorites from Sallys are the Plain ( Just sauce) with Garlic and grated parm. And my Nan got me hooked on the Clams Casino ( version of the white clam), which is Clams, Garlic, Parm, Bacon and Hot Cherry Peppers, my mouth is watering thinking about the combo as I type it.
If you go to Modern you have to get the Italian Bomb, although it is a mess. Pepe’s is fine and Da Legna is excellent too although a little different from the others.
There are a trove of amazing pizza spots all over western CT, but New Haven is certainly the epicenter for where the best of the best is cut from. I personallly love Dominic and Vinnie’s in Middlebury, a bit closer to my neck of the woods.
There will be a few of us that's why I figured we could get 2 pies.
This was in February before Covid restrictions became more relaxed and nobody could eat in, but I was driving through with the family and we ordered a pie by phone at Sally’s about an thirty minutes before we got to town and they had it ready in like 40 minutes from when I ordered it. Not sure what the deal is now with Covid stuff being much more relaxed.
My favorites from Sallys are the Plain ( Just sauce) with Garlic and grated parm. And my Nan got me hooked on the Clams Casino ( version of the white clam), which is Clams, Garlic, Parm, Bacon and Hot Cherry Peppers, my mouth is watering thinking about the combo as I type it.
If you go to Modern you have to get the Italian Bomb, although it is a mess. Pepe’s is fine and Da Legna is excellent too although a little different from the others.
There are a trove of amazing pizza spots all over western CT, but New Haven is certainly the epicenter for where the best of the best is cut from. I personallly love Dominic and Vinnie’s in Middlebury, a bit closer to my neck of the woods.
Last time I passed by Da Legna on State, I think they had closed and something else had reopened in that location. They had good pizza and were an easy choice if Modern was too busy.
Although it's not in New Haven, I'd put Roseland Apizza in Derby ahead of Bar. I've only had it once, but the pizza was amazing and the staff was incredibly nice considering how busy they were. I ordered on Friday night over the summer and had a 2 hour wait for pickup.
Dew Drop is right around the corner from Roseland and they're well known for their Buffalo Wings. The wings paired with Roseland is a winning combination.
On top of being thin, the crust comes out what most people would probably consider burnt, and I guarantee that's the #1 complaint of everyone who doesn't like NH style. I usually order mine lightly baked. Still crunchy, less carbony
We ate Pepe's 3 times. For a satellite location it may not be as good as the original on Wooster Street but that pizza at Mohegan Sun was better than any pizza in Massachusetts. By far (except for Pepe's in Chestnut Hill).
The wait for take out, in our experience, has been longer than to get a table in COVID era. We call ahead from the road when about 20 minutes away. I know there are some closer locations, but I prefer to stick with the original. Plus, traffic to get to Yonkers, for example, doesn't end up saving that much time and for us, when driving home from Mystic the New Haven location is less than 5 minutes from I95, so it's convenient.
II don't think you can go wrong with the other place, from everything I have seen or read. My kids have had pizza from some of the top places in NYC and hold Pepe's as the standard. My son is joking when he says Yale is one of his top college choices because of the pizza...but I wonder, how much is actually a joke.
I know many people are down on Pepe's over the others, but they are still a fave of mine when you eat the pie there hot and fresh.
I have never had less than great pizza at any of the 4 of them.
And the callout to Roseland Apizza in Derby is a good call. The old woman that I believe was one of the owners died only just a few years ago. She was hilarious lol. The food is good there and the pizza of course.
just cheese travels ok, toppings no bueno.
that reminds me the margarita at Modern and Pepe's is also a must try. it's different at each of them too.
If you say "I can't eat all that pizza" don't worry, you'll want to bring some home for later.
FWIW if you're ranking just cheese I go Sally's, Modern and Pepe's in that order. Roseland in Derby (about 20 minutes out and not open for lunch) stands up strong in that order, as does Zuppardi's in West Haven.
Can't go wrong with any of them.
I second this
expensive (through goldbelly), but for frozen pizza there is none I've tried that is better. starting getting it delivered during the early COVID shutdowns.
Around new haven green. If it isn’t too cold and windy you can walk to both from there (a mile or so from each other).
Was there for a friends bday party a few weeks back and was surprised to find Zuppardi’s available, loved it.
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has an oven at The Hops Company in Derby (basically a beer garden). Had it a few times now, most recently this past weekend. Not quite at the level as the others but fantastic if you are at a beer garden.
Was there for a friends bday party a few weeks back and was surprised to find Zuppardi’s available, loved it.
I have never been to the Hops company, I have to check that out. I have only been to Bad Sons, which is a super cool building but I'm not a huge fan of their beer... lol
Pepe's has a parking lot, if you get there early enough.
Modern has a tiny parking lot.
I just drive around looking for street parking. It's too long a walk from New Haven Green for people who don't know where they're going (or most people)