CONNECTICUT STATE - New Haven, Connecticut, is a pizza mecca, boasting a unique and fiercely beloved pizza style known as "apizza." Characterized by a thin, charred crust, a simple tomato sauce (often without mozzarella, unless you order it "with mozz"), and a coal-fired oven, New Haven apizza is a culinary institution. But beyond the traditional New Haven-style pizza, the city also offers a variety of other pizza styles to satisfy every craving.
New Haven Pizza Powerhouse: A Guide to the City's Legendary Pizza Scene
Here's a guide to some of the best pizza shops in New Haven:
1. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana: The Birthplace of New Haven-Style Pizza
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, often referred to simply as Pepe's, is a legendary institution and the birthplace of New Haven-style pizza. Their thin crust, cooked in a coal-fired oven, achieves a perfect char, and their use of great ingredients sets them apart. Be prepared for a wait, as this is one of the most popular pizzerias in the country. Be sure to try their white clam pizza.
- Location: 157 Wooster St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Birthplace of New Haven-style pizza, thin crust, coal-fired, great ingredients, legendary status, white clam pizza
2. Modern Apizza: Charred Crust in All the Right Places
Modern Apizza is another New Haven icon, known for its thin, crispy crust that's charred in all the right places. This pizzeria offers a classic New Haven-style apizza experience, with a focus on quality ingredients and a perfectly executed crust. Be sure to try the Italian Bomb.
- Location: 874 State St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Thin, crispy crust, charred crust, classic New Haven-style apizza, quality ingredients, iconic pizzeria
3. Sally's Apizza: A New Haven Instituion
Sally's Apizza is another popular New Haven pizza joint. They are known for having some of the best pizza in the country. They are most know for their tomato pie.
- Location: 237 Wooster St, New Haven, CT Highlights: New-Haven Style Pizza, Thin crust, tomato pie
Beyond Wooster Street & State Street:
4. Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana: Amazing Pizza and Top-Notch Service
Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana offers amazing pizza and top-notch service at a reasonable price. This pizzeria offers a delicious and authentic Neapolitan pizza experience.
- Location: 138 Wooster St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Amazing pizza, top-notch service, reasonably priced, authentic Neapolitan, great for a pizza and dining experience
5. Pizza at the Brick Oven: Top-Quality Ingredients and a Perfectly Prepared Crust
Pizza at the Brick Oven is known for its top-quality ingredients and perfectly prepared crust. This brick-oven pizzeria offers a delicious and authentic pizza experience.
- Location: 122 Howe St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Top-quality ingredients, perfectly prepared crust, brick-oven pizza, authentic flavors, great for pizza lovers
6. One6Three: Thin, Crispy Crust with a Perfectly Balanced Sauce
One6Three is praised for its thin, crispy crust with a perfectly balanced sauce. This pizzeria offers a delicious and satisfying pizza experience, with a focus on quality ingredients and a well-executed crust.
- Location: 163 Foster St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Thin, crispy crust, perfectly balanced sauce, quality ingredients, great for a classic pizza experience
7. Est Est Est Pizza & Restaurant: Flavorful Pizza and Crispy Crust
Est Est Est Pizza & Restaurant is a local favorite known for its fast service, flavorful pizza, and crispy crust. This pizzeria offers a classic and satisfying pizza experience.
- Location: 1176 Chapel St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Fast service, flavorful pizza, crispy crust, classic pizza, great for a quick and delicious meal
8. Next Door: Friendly Vibe, Good Service, and Great Pizza
Next Door is a neighborhood spot praised for its friendly vibe, good service, and great pizza. This pizzeria offers a welcoming atmosphere and delicious pies.
- Location: 175 Humphrey St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Friendly vibe, good service, great pizza, neighborhood pizzeria, welcoming atmosphere
9. Ernie's Pizzeria: Fantastic Pizza and Wonderful Crispy Crust
Ernie's Pizzeria is known for its fantastic pizza and wonderful crispy crust. They also boast excellent service. This pizzeria offers a delicious and high-quality pizza experience.
- Location: 1279 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Fantastic pizza, wonderful crispy crust, great service, high-quality pizza, great for pizza lovers
10. Clemente's Pizza & Grill: Great Dough and Fresh Fillings
Clemente's Pizza & Grill is praised for its great dough and fresh fillings. This pizzeria offers a classic pizza experience with a focus on quality ingredients and a well-executed crust.
- Location: 1302 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT Highlights: Great dough, fresh fillings
11. Family Mediterranean Pizza: Distinctly New Haven Dough and Ingredients
Family Mediterranean Pizza offers a unique pizza experience, with dough and ingredients that are described as "distinctly New Haven." This pizzeria is a great option for those seeking a taste of local flavor.
- Location: 45 York St, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Distinctly New Haven dough and ingredients, unique pizza, local flavor, great for trying something different
12. Casa Bianca Pizza: Perfect Crust and Fresh Toppings
Casa Bianca Pizza is known for its perfect crust and fresh toppings. This pizzeria offers a classic and satisfying pizza experience.
- Location: 185 Derby Ave, New Haven, CT
- Highlights: Perfect crust, fresh toppings, classic pizza, great for a traditional pizza experience
13. Zuppardi's Apizza (West Haven): Quick, Delicious Pizza
Zuppardi's Apizza in West Haven is a legendary spot, known for serving delicious pizza quickly. This pizzeria offers a classic New Haven-style apizza experience, with a focus on speed and quality. Be sure to try their fresh clam pizza.
- Location: West Haven, CT (near New Haven)
- Highlights: Delicious pizza, quick service, classic New Haven-style apizza, great for a quick and tasty meal, fresh clam pizza
14. Michaelangelo Pizza & Subs (West Haven): One of the Best Pizzas Ever Eaten
Michaelangelo Pizza & Subs in West Haven is described as having "one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten." They also have good service and a great selection of Italian food. This pizzeria offers a delicious and memorable pizza experience.
- Location: West Haven, CT (near New Haven)
- Highlights: One of the best pizzas ever, great service, delicious pizza, memorable experience, Italian Food
15. Olde World Apizza (North Haven): Great Pizza, Crispy Crust
Olde World Apizza in North Haven is praised for its great pizza, with a crispy crust and just the right amount of sauce and cheese. This pizzeria offers a classic and satisfying pizza experience.
- Location: North Haven, CT (near New Haven)
- Highlights: Great pizza, crispy crust, right amount of sauce and cheese, classic pizza, great for a traditional pizza experience
New Haven, Connecticut, is a true pizza paradise, with a rich history and a diverse range of pizzerias to satisfy every craving. From the legendary New Haven-style apizza to innovative and creative pies, these pizza shops showcase the best of New Haven's culinary scene. So, the next time you're in New Haven, be sure to embark on a pizza pilgrimage and discover your own favorite slice!
Attributions: Restaurant information is based on publicly available information from online review platforms, websites, and local guides.