OT: - Best Pizza in CT | Page 133 | The Boneyard

OT: Best Pizza in CT

Well, since pizza and cheese go hand in hand and these guys supply many of the area pizza artisans...


>>All told, Liuzzi won five national awards — including 1st place wins for its ultra-rich Ricotta di Bufala and smoked Burrata cheeses, 2nd place for its Burrata and 3rd place for both its Filoncino (fior di latte fresh mozzarella) and Smoked Mozzarella cheeses.

Calabro won four national awards, including 1st place for its creamy Hand-Dipped Ricotta and three 2nd place wins for its Ricotta di Bufala, Bocconcini (bite-sized) Fresh Mozzarella and Old Fashioned Fresh Mozzarella cheeses.<<

That leads to the discussion about how to grade them all. Do you look at the specialty pies across the nation? Or do you hold the "gold standard" as a straight cheese pie like El Pres does and decide who does that best? He says the straight cheese pie is the 40 yard dash. It's a universal score.

This place has a white clam pie. This one has a red potato pie. This one has a meat lovers. This one has buffalo chicken.

I feel like the watermark is the cheese pizza. Period.
 
That leads to the discussion about how to grade them all. Do you look at the specialty pies across the nation? Or do you hold the "gold standard" as a straight cheese pie like El Pres does and decide who does that best? He says the straight cheese pie is the 40 yard dash. It's a universal score.

This place has a white clam pie. This one has a red potato pie. This one has a meat lovers. This one has buffalo chicken.

I feel like the watermark is the cheese pizza. Period.


One one hand, I agree. That's why multiple pies are a must. I HAVE to get bacon and onion and/or White Clam when I go to Pepe's. They are both that good. The comparison thing should be apples to apples, but some signiture toppings are always in order as well.
 
That leads to the discussion about how to grade them all. Do you look at the specialty pies across the nation? Or do you hold the "gold standard" as a straight cheese pie like El Pres does and decide who does that best? He says the straight cheese pie is the 40 yard dash. It's a universal score.

This place has a white clam pie. This one has a red potato pie. This one has a meat lovers. This one has buffalo chicken.

I feel like the watermark is the cheese pizza. Period.
I see arguments for both. Either measuring just on cheese pizza, or identifying the one pie that place specializes in and judging off that. If I’m going to Pepe’s; it’s gotta be clam, if it’s Modern, something with meat on it. Sally’s, the red pie with no mozz is the standout in my opinion,
 
>>Colin Caplan is a pizza guru. His deep love of his hometown, New Haven, Connecticut, has morphed into a deep love of all things pizza. Caplan’s so entrenched in the pizza scene of New Haven that he authored the book Pizza in New Haven in 2018 and co-produced a documentary called Pizza, A Love Story this year — both love letters to the brilliant pizza scene around Wooster Street in New Haven.

Today, Caplan runs food tours in New Haven through his Taste of New Haven tour company. He’s also the mind behind New Haven’s Apizza Feast, which is popping off September 13th this year. The festival celebrates the deep Italian-American heritage of the city, once the most densely populated Italian city in America, and the varied and delicious pies that community still produces.<<

 
>>Colin Caplan is a pizza guru. His deep love of his hometown, New Haven, Connecticut, has morphed into a deep love of all things pizza. Caplan’s so entrenched in the pizza scene of New Haven that he authored the book Pizza in New Haven in 2018 and co-produced a documentary called Pizza, A Love Story this year — both love letters to the brilliant pizza scene around Wooster Street in New Haven.

Today, Caplan runs food tours in New Haven through his Taste of New Haven tour company. He’s also the mind behind New Haven’s Apizza Feast, which is popping off September 13th this year. The festival celebrates the deep Italian-American heritage of the city, once the most densely populated Italian city in America, and the varied and delicious pies that community still produces.<<


Pizza with jalapeños?
Pizza from Boca Raton?

Uhhhh, hard pass.
 
That leads to the discussion about how to grade them all. Do you look at the specialty pies across the nation? Or do you hold the "gold standard" as a straight cheese pie like El Pres does and decide who does that best? He says the straight cheese pie is the 40 yard dash. It's a universal score.

This place has a white clam pie. This one has a red potato pie. This one has a meat lovers. This one has buffalo chicken.

I feel like the watermark is the cheese pizza. Period.
For a universal score, I can’t imagine a better standard—especially if you’re primarily using that standard to separate wheat from chaff. I’d assume there’s a good chance that any place that rates 8 or more on the plain scamozza pie scale has something(s) they even do better, so it would be a shame if people eliminated places at the margins on the basis of that scale alone.
 
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Pizza from Boca Raton?

Uhhhh, hard pass.

Owner has deep CT roots/dough/pizza experience - comparable to pizza in CT/NY/NJ (even w/ Florida water).

>>Nick’s is best known for its specialty White Clam Pie. In addition to apizza, other regional specialties include Hummel hot dogs and East Haven, Connecticut Foxon Park sodas, crafted since 1922 in flavors such as White Birch and Gassosa. The menu also features a wide range of pastas, entrees, coal fired grinders and fresh salads. Standouts include House-made Ricotta Spinach Gnocchi, Linguine and Clams and a perfectly Grilled Skirt Steak with mushroom risotto and broccoli rabe.<<
 
Owner has deep CT roots/dough/pizza experience - comparable to pizza in CT/NY/NJ (even w/ Florida water).

>>Nick’s is best known for its specialty White Clam Pie. In addition to apizza, other regional specialties include Hummel hot dogs and East Haven, Connecticut Foxon Park sodas, crafted since 1922 in flavors such as White Birch and Gassosa. The menu also features a wide range of pastas, entrees, coal fired grinders and fresh salads. Standouts include House-made Ricotta Spinach Gnocchi, Linguine and Clams and a perfectly Grilled Skirt Steak with mushroom risotto and broccoli rabe.<<

Any legit pizza place carries foxon park if they don't leave immediately
 
Owner has deep CT roots/dough/pizza experience - comparable to pizza in CT/NY/NJ (even w/ Florida water).

>>Nick’s is best known for its specialty White Clam Pie. In addition to apizza, other regional specialties include Hummel hot dogs and East Haven, Connecticut Foxon Park sodas, crafted since 1922 in flavors such as White Birch and Gassosa. The menu also features a wide range of pastas, entrees, coal fired grinders and fresh salads. Standouts include House-made Ricotta Spinach Gnocchi, Linguine and Clams and a perfectly Grilled Skirt Steak with mushroom risotto and broccoli rabe.<<

Steaks
Pasta
Grinders
Risotto
Soda
Gnocchi

Go to another thread. I want the best pizza. Period.
 
Pizza with jalapeños?
Pizza from Boca Raton?

Uhhhh, hard pass.

I'm always delighted to hear about people evangelizing NH style pizza in different parts of the country. When I used to go to San Diego fairly regularly, URBN was a spot I'd try to hit every visit (they have Foxon Park). I'm becoming a fan of Detroit style like in the photo from Tony's, though I wouldn't compare it to the big three. And jalapenos... big fan of the stinger/hot oil Colony pie.

I think a talented pizzaiolo can probably make a pretty good version of a NH apizza anywhere with the right equipment. Wish someone would try it in Pittsburgh.

You can buy specific water additives these days to create a good facsimile of NH or NYC H2O. The issue is generally whether the public will like it as they're used to whatever they grew up with - and is often price sensitive. So I applaud all of those who can bring a good apizza to Boca Raton or wherever.

Also don't mind if the menu also includes other Italian dishes. But I personally draw the line at chicken wings. I've yet to have a mind-blowing pizza anywhere where wings was a major deal on the menu.
 
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I need help, I'm going for pizza in Old Saybrook for lunch. Which spot is best?
 
I need help, I'm going for pizza in Old Saybrook for lunch. Which spot is best?
Probably alforno
I agree that Alforno is probably the best. Sal's in Westbrook (right on the OS line) is also decent, as is Pizza Works, although we haven't been there in a long time--was more for the kids. The latter is the least traditional and has some specialty pizzas we used to like, like their Thai Chicken pizza, but that might warrant a trigger warning if you are a purist like @Deepster . On that note, also be warned that Alforno and Sal's both have many other offerings besides pizza.

ETA: Sal's used to be in Westbrook and I thought their "new" (i.e., ten-plus years ago) location was still in Westbrook, but apparently it is Old Saybrook. IIRC they have Foxon Park, too; I don't believe Alforno or PW do.
 
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Ray Ray keeping thread alive (he was playing when this thread started).

45755
 
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I agree that Alforno is probably the best. Sal's in Westbrook (right on the OS line) is also decent, as is Pizza Works, although we haven't been there in a long time--was more for the kids. The latter is the least traditional and has some specialty pizzas we used to like, like their Thai Chicken pizza, but that might warrant a trigger warning if you are a purist like @Deepster . On that note, also be warned that Alforno and Sal's both have many other offerings besides pizza.

ETA: Sal's used to be in Westbrook and I thought their "new" (i.e., ten-plus years ago) location was still in Westbrook, but apparently it is Old Saybrook. IIRC they have Foxon Park, too; I don't believe Alforno or PW do.
Pizza Works is a fun place. The pizzas are good, nothing special, but fun varieties. Tex Mex was always one of my favorites. And their focaccia bread is great.

I go regularly because the train sets are like free babysitting. You can basically have a date there if you have small children while they stare at the giant train displays upstairs. Huge beer selection too.
 
This needs to be on the pizza thread even though it's not CT pizza being reviewed. In case some of you don't check out the "One Bite" review by Barstools founder Dave P check them all out. He's entertaining and very funny. Loves New Haven pizza by the way!! Here goes, a Husky pizza review:



 
blowhard says 'Burt's' is the best pan pizza in the country. 2,000+ comments sound mostly in 'worst' ted talk ever, ie. 'why did I watch this?' ostensibly, it's about pizza, so it belongs here, I think. maybe not.
 
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Went to the original Zuppardi’s for lunch Friday. I’ve been to the one located inside The Hops Company in Derby, and always enjoyed there.

This time I ordered a meatball pie. The crust is truly fantastic, it’s light, fresh and damn near perfect. The overall pie falls a little short of Pepe’s, Modern and Sally’s but it’s still a heavyweight and at the top of the 2nd tier, in my opinion.
 
Not in CT; but, for anyone who is visiting Brooklyn, Sottocasa is a good, brick-oven, little thin crust place right on Atlantic Avenue near the waterfront, Brooklyn Heights, the Bridge, and Barclay's. They make a really good hot Italian Sausage pie. They also have an outdoor garden in back to enjoy a nice late summer day. Took my family there yesterday in between visiting the 9/11 Memorial and walking over the Brooklyn Bridge (insanely crowed). We each ordered a pie (individual size 10") and only 1 slice was left after (my 9 year old) and it got 4 thumbs-up. It's a little pricey ($12 to $19 per pie); but, its reasonable for NYC. After the Bridge, went to the South Street Seaport for a treat - a Salty Pimp from Big Gay Ice Cream. It was a beautiful day outside.

 
Not in CT; but, for anyone who is visiting Brooklyn, Sottocasa is a good, brick-oven, little thin crust place right on Atlantic Avenue near the waterfront, Brooklyn Heights, the Bridge, and Barclay's. They make a really good hot Italian Sausage pie. They also have an outdoor garden in back to enjoy a nice late summer day. Took my family there yesterday in between visiting the 9/11 Memorial and walking over the Brooklyn Bridge (insanely crowed). We each ordered a pie (individual size 10") and only 1 slice was left after (my 9 year old) and it got 4 thumbs-up. It's a little pricey ($12 to $19 per pie); but, its reasonable for NYC. After the Bridge, went to the South Street Seaport for a treat - a Salty Pimp from Big Gay Ice Cream. It was a beautiful day outside.

whut? no sahadi's pop in?
 
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