We know that Connecticut has the best apizza.
Yes – apizza. Not pizza. It’s pronounced like “ah-BEETS.”
Sorry, New York and New Jersey, but there’s no comparison. We’ve got the history to back up some of our favorite places to grab some apizza. New Haven, CT is home to the oldest pizzeria in Connecticut, Frank Pepe’s. But it doesn’t stop there. All of New Haven County has great apizza and we’re here to tell you where to go. If you’re looking for something fun to do, take a tour of the best pizzerias Connecticut has to offer. Mangia!
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Frank Pepe is considered the Granddaddy of the Connecticut apizza. He emigrated here from Italy in 1909 and started working at a bakery, where he honed in on his dough skills. In 1925, he opened Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana. The mainstay still uses the original recipe for his tomato pie, which is a delightful apizza with tomatoes, grated pecorino, garlic, oregano, and olive oil.
Sally’s Apizza
One of the coolest things about Sally’s Apizza is that it was started by Frank Pepe’s nephew, Salvatore Consiglio. He learned the apizza trade from his uncle and decided to step out on his own and open his own pizzeria in 1938. Our favorite is The Garden Special. This apizza has tomato, mozzarella, onion, zucchini, and basil. Refreshing, light, and absolutely delicious.
Modern Apizza
The next great pizzeria is Modern Apizza, which has been in business for over 80 years. Joseph Marzullo and Antonio “Tony” Tolli opened Washington Pizzeria in 1934. A few years later, Tony moved to a different neighborhood and soon created Modern Apizza, serving up incredible pies like the Italian Bomb, featuring 7 toppings: sausage, bacon, pepperoni, onion, mushrooms, garlic, and pepper.
Bar
The new kid on the block is Bar. They opened in 1996, which is new when you’re talking about New Haven County apizza. They stick to the traditional thin crust, bar pie, and brick oven style. Don’t miss out on their mashed potato pie, featuring garlic, light aged cheese, herbs, crispy bacon, and, of course, mashed potatoes.
Zuppardi’s
Salerno’s Bakery opened in 1934 on Union Street, where they served many kinds of baked goods, including apizza. In 1947, Dominic Zuppardi’s son, Anthony, who had long since taken over the family business, changed the name to Zuppardi’s Apizza and shifted the focus from all baked goods to apizza. Be sure to get the clam pie when you visit this West Haven staple.