OT: Best Pizza in CT

[Huskybass]

Had Pepe's New Haven Friday. Average at best. Everyone likes their pie different I guess.

Average at best??? You must be clinically insane.

 

[Calhoun's Court]

I hate you. I added an inch to my waist looking at those. Put that picture in your ad.

Here's some links to your pub and pizzeria for the Ct Boneyarders to check out. I'm in SC so take out not an option. You might consider a special promo for Boneyarders during the season. There's a built in clientele in this thread.

http://sullyspub.com

http://sullyspub.com/menus.php

Lena's is a great place to stop on the way to XL Center games. We swing by before a few games every year.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

After Thursday night's City Wide Open Studios pre-opening at Artspace, we swung by Sally's to see if there was a weeknight crowd. Our plan B would have been Bar, both of which we've been to but before meeting each other. Walked in & got immediately placed at a booth next to the low-grinding ventilation shaft near the rear. We moved one booth away as the next couple was being seated:good call. We ordered 2 small pies, plain tomato & bacon w/cheese, and set about reviewing the CWOS schedule. For this, we sat side-by-side and I noticed whenever I looked up that everything looked pretty much like it did when I lived in New Haven 35 years ago (including things even older). I imagined that any possible subsequent remodeling wouldn't be in any better taste and went back to the schedule, thereafter completely uncaring how long it took for the pizza to arrive. It was long enough for me to go to the bathroom - still yellow tiles, still double doors, still grateful that I and not she had to use the facilities.

The pizza? Excellent flaivor that elicited involuntary yum grunts w/each bite. 3 leftover slices were delicious out of the toaster oven for breakfast the next day. Next time I can leave off the light girl c added to the tomato pie. It was the waiter's suggestion and unnecessarily coveted w/the sweet sauce. Total winner, as has often been the case.

The experience: fully workable, especially with a friendly waiter, a distracting joint project, and the right company. Perhaps still too iffy for showing up with more than a single trusted other, but no matter that night. Modern therefore remains our 'reliable' choice, but we will definitely return to Sally's. I wanted to go back the next day but was fasting.

We'll next go to Bar, and then explore the various shoreline recommendations in this thread, having already made a pretty good arc from Fairfield, Derby, Cheshire, Branford so far. As for Pepe's it really is true that the original exceeds Ffld, Mohegan Sun & The Spot, and that's without my yet having a crunchy, jaw-workout-chewy pie that matches up with the best of my across-the-decades memory since returning to the Elm City, which by the way, is (especially when drawing & including successive rings from its center...and why not?) much superior to Lexington, KY, an otherwise lovely & liveable Mountain South city that, yes, does have quite more to offer than Storrs/Mansfield.

 

[ctchamps]

After Thursday night's City Wide Open Studios pre-opening at Artspace, we swung by Sally's to see if there was a weeknight crowd. Our plan B would have been Bar, both of which we've been to but before meeting each other. Walked in & got immediately placed at a booth next to the low-grinding ventilation shaft near the rear. We moved one booth away as the next couple was being seated:good call. We ordered 2 small pies, plain tomato & bacon w/cheese, and set about reviewing the CWOS schedule. For this, we sat side-by-side and I noticed whenever I looked up that everything looked pretty much like it did when I lived in New Haven 35 years ago (including things even older). I imagined that any possible subsequent remodeling wouldn't be in any better taste and went back to the schedule, thereafter completely uncaring how long it took for the pizza to arrive. It was long enough for me to go to the bathroom - still yellow tiles, still double doors, still grateful that I and not she had to use the facilities.

The pizza? Excellent flaivor that elicited involuntary yum grunts w/each bite. 3 leftover slices were delicious out of the toaster oven for breakfast the next day. Next time I can leave off the light girl c added to the tomato pie. It was the waiter's suggestion and unnecessarily coveted w/the sweet sauce. Total winner, as has often been the case.

The experience: fully workable, especially with a friendly waiter, a distracting joint project, and the right company. Perhaps still too iffy for showing up with more than a single trusted other, but no matter that night. Modern therefore remains our 'reliable' choice, but we will definitely return to Sally's. I wanted to go back the next day but was fasting.

We'll next go to Bar, and then explore the various shoreline recommendations in this thread, having already made a pretty good arc from Fairfield, Derby, Cheshire, Branford so far. As for Pepe's it really is true that the original exceeds Ffld, Mohegan Sun & The Spot, and that's without my yet having a crunchy, jaw-workout-chewy pie that matches up with the best of my across-the-decades memory since returning to the Elm City, which by the way, is (especially when drawing & including successive rings from its center...and why not?) much superior to Lexington, KY, an otherwise lovely & liveable Mountain South city that, yes, does have quite more to offer than Storrs/Mansfield.

Like reading a piece of artwork! I think you need to copy and paste this into the Isaiah Briscoe and 2000 other things thread. It belongs there as well.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

Jerry's Pizza in Middletown,CT

Yup another one of my middletown spots.

 

[-McD-]

23 pages and nothing from southeastern CT so I need to put in my 2 cents. I was raised on greek-style pizza from the legendary Spiro's Great Oak Pizza and even though it closed years ago their meatball pizza is what I measure all other pizza against. I would eat pizza every day if I could, like I did when I was single. I prefer a simple pizza with red sauce and one topping (no anchovies, mushrooms, or fruit please). There are very few pizzas that aren't better than no pizza, but I definitely appreciate a quality pie. My current favorites are:

Fireside Brickoven Creations (Gales Ferry): Brick oven style. I'm generally not a big fan of thin-crust pizza, so I initially tried their Denali which has a double crust with sausage, pepperoni, and ricotta cheese. I was concerned because I'm not big on multiple toppings or odd cheeses but it immediately became my go-to pizza. I eventually tried their thin crust pizzas and they are also excellent.

Mr. G's Restaurant (New London): Greek-style. I love their red sauce. I usually get either a hamburg, meatball, or sausage pizza. It's a frequent stop for traveling sports teams since it's right off of Rt. 95 south after the Gold Star Bridge. Lots of photos of sports figures on the wall. UConn connection: Glen Miller would always bring his Brown University basketball team there whenever they played Connecticut College.

The Rolling Tomato (Groton): I don't go to their brick-and-mortar location, but I always grab a slice when I see their mobile brickoven at an event.

Other New London county options. These are all options when I can't get everyone to agree on Fireside and I'm not in the mood to drive 20 minutes to Mr. G's:

Golden Pizza (Preston): Greek-style.

Valentinos (Ledyard): Italian style thin crust.

7 Seas Pizza Restaurant (Groton): Greek-style.

Sadly, one of my sons' favorite pizza is a Dominos cheese pizza. If that wasn't bad enough, he gets it with no sauce. I'm not sure it's possible to make a worse pizza than that and I dread when my wife gives me his leftovers to take to work as lunch. I refuse to buy it for him unless we can get it on their M-Th take-out special for $8.50. It's not even worth that much so I'm definitely not spending more than that. I wish I knew where I went wrong with him.

 

[Husky25]

23 pages and nothing from southeastern CT so I need to put in my 2 cents. I was raised on greek-style pizza from the legendary Spiro's Great Oak Pizza and even though it closed years ago their meatball pizza is what I measure all other pizza against. I would eat pizza every day if I could, like I did when I was single. I prefer a simple pizza with red sauce and one topping (no anchovies, mushrooms, or fruit please). There are very few pizzas that aren't better than no pizza, but I definitely appreciate a quality pie. My current favorites are:

Fireside Brickoven Creations (Gales Ferry): Brick oven style. I'm generally not a big fan of thin-crust pizza, so I initially tried their Denali which has a double crust with sausage, pepperoni, and ricotta cheese. I was concerned because I'm not big on multiple toppings or odd cheeses but it immediately became my go-to pizza. I eventually tried their thin crust pizzas and they are also excellent.

Mr. G's Restaurant (New London): Greek-style. I love their red sauce. I usually get either a hamburg, meatball, or sausage pizza. It's a frequent stop for traveling sports teams since it's right off of Rt. 95 south after the Gold Star Bridge. Lots of photos of sports figures on the wall. UConn connection: Glen Miller would always bring his Brown University basketball team there whenever they played Connecticut College.

The Rolling Tomato (Groton): I don't go to their brick-and-mortar location, but I always grab a slice when I see their mobile brickoven at an event.

Other New London county options. These are all options when I can't get everyone to agree on Fireside and I'm not in the mood to drive 20 minutes to Mr. G's:

Golden Pizza (Preston): Greek-style.

Valentinos (Ledyard): Italian style thin crust.

7 Seas Pizza Restaurant (Groton): Greek-style.

Sadly, one of my sons' favorite pizza is a Dominos cheese pizza. If that wasn't bad enough, he gets it with no sauce. I'm not sure it's possible to make a worse pizza than that and I dread when my wife gives me his leftovers to take to work as lunch. I refuse to buy it for him unless we can get it on their M-Th take-out special for $8.50. It's not even worth that much so I'm definitely not spending more than that. I wish I knew where I went wrong with him.

Fireside was mentioned about 10 pages ago and 7 Seas no longer exists...at least not in the location across from the Sub base. New York Pizza in the Stop & Shop plaza on Rt. 12 is pretty good. I haven't been to the Rolling Tomato since it changed from the Plum Tomato. Valentinos is decent, but nothing beats Fireside in SE CT.

By virtue of Golden being Greek, it does not measure up.

 

[-McD-]

Wow, when did 7 Seas close? It's been a while since we went there but I drive by the place every day and never noticed it was closed. I have gotten the occasional square from New York Pizza and it was good, but I think there was a different pizza place there a while back that also sold squares that I seem to remember linking more.

 

[J-dog]

I'm live in New Haven county & love all of the New Haven choices… If you're looking for a take out pie & you're in the area, try Grand Apizza in Bethany (rte 63)… Always order a thin crust… Plain cheese, pepperoni. meatball, sausage & mushrooms, Buffalo chicken, broccoli rab… All good choices… You won't be disappointed…

 

[Joobie]

Tony's Pizza in Willimantic!

Actually, I'm sure that place is long gone, but that was the family place growing up and I remember it fondly. I was 14 before I knew that pizza doesn't usually have little crustless squares in the middle.

Unfortunately, Tony's is still there. Still the greasiest pie on the planet! Not a fan!

Willington Pizza has gone downhill. Ever since they started using the conveyor belts, it isn't the same. Camille's in Tolland is giving them a run for their money.

 

[Husky25]

Wow, when did 7 Seas close? It's been a while since we went there but I drive by the place every day and never noticed it was closed. I have gotten the occasional square from New York Pizza and it was good, but I think there was a different pizza place there a while back that also sold squares that I seem to remember linking more.

A month or two ago. There's a new sign already and notice that a Something (Veronica, Victoria, something like that) Family Restaurant is coming soon.

For my money, the best pizza in the state (outside of New Haven) is Rossini's in East Hampton, Fireside Brick Oven in Gales Ferry, Giovanni's in Glastonbury, and First & Last (Middletown location is better than the Simsbury one).

 

[mauconnfan]

A month or two ago. There's a new sign already and notice that a Something (Veronica, Victoria, something like that) Family Restaurant is coming soon.

For my money, the best pizza in the state (outside of New Haven) is Rossini's in East Hampton, Fireside Brick Oven in Gales Ferry, Giovanni's in Glastonbury, and First & Last (Middletown location is better than the Simsbury one).

First and Last in Plainville is the best of all the chains locations Husky 25........never had Rossini's in Easthampton but did in Cheshire and also Farmington when it was there (now Joey Garlics) long time since Cheshire but Farmington was great, not so much now as Joey G's........

Had Giovanni's not bad but not nearly as good as New Haven os alike - Briccos flatbreads across the street are better, especially after a few cocktails at Rooftop!! LOL

 

[auggie22]

Not sure if I mentioned this already. Rossini's pizza in Cheshire is good. Try the sausage.

 

[mhshuskies]

Has anyone had Papa Johns? How good is it compared to Pizza Hut/Dominos?

That question is only appropriate in Chicago, where they have absolutely no idea what good pizza really is.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

UHart's dining hall pizza is actually really good this year. 20x better than last year.

 

[mhshuskies]

Sallys

 

[Nostical]

I was raised on greek-style pizza..... it's what I measure all other pizza against

I'm with you all the way. No pizza is better better than a great Greek style pizza. For me it isn't even close. Growing up in New London I loved Rialto Pizza on corner of Broad and Wiliams Sts. It's long gone but I still hold it up as the measuring stick. Ocean Ave Pizza is still pretty good. The best these days is probably Marblehead House in MA. I want some---now!!

 

[boog204]

23 pages and nothing from southeastern CT

I grew up on the Shoreline and my fave was always Ocean Pizza in New London... They changed something along the way though, and the last few times I got pizza from there it just wasn't the same.

 

[nygblue]

Gone but not forgotten... Verdolini's in Meriden.

 

[TheRealKBuks]

Anddd we've resurrected the sleeping giant. I had Pepe's in Fairfield the other week - big let down from a usually good Pepe's pie even from the Fairfield location. Just had Colony Grill in Fairfield this weekend - not a fan though. Too greasy for me.

The difference is the stones they cook them on. I use to work at a pizza place and the owners would always say the stones remember every pizza they've ever cooked, the ones on Wooster street are over 100 years old and as you've experienced, make a huge difference

 

[Husky25]

I'm with you all the way. No pizza is better better than a great Greek style pizza. For me it isn't even close. Growing up in New London I loved Rialto Pizza on corner of Broad and Wiliams Sts. It's long gone but I still hold it up as the measuring stick. Ocean Ave Pizza is still pretty good. The best these days is probably Marblehead House in MA. I want some---now!!

Of course this is just my opinion, but Greek style pizza is inferior in every way to it's "Neapolitan" counterpart. To much dough, far greasier, and because of the grease, the bottom doesn't char appropriately. On top of that, Some restaurants don't even offer crushed red pepper, oregano, or garlic.

Don't get me wrong, it is more than edible. An average pizza is light years better than the best American Chinese food, but pizza still has a hierarchy within its available styles. In (women's) basketball terms, Greek pizza is like 2013-14 Notre Dame. They may be #2, but UConn beats them 99 times out of 100.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

An average pizza is light years better than the best American Chinese food,

I can't believe I'm even wading into this thread, but other than your opinion what is this possibly based on?

 

[-McD-]

Speaking of grease, I forgot to mention the pizza that I bought from a lunch truck at Electric Boat in Groton from about 1987-1992. I had it for lunch every day unless the truck didn't show up. I think it was LA Pizza, but I'm not positive about that. It was sheet pizza and the pieces were about 5"x5". We called it "squeeze your own pizza" because the first thing you had to do was fold it in half and squeeze out a bunch of grease. I miss that pizza truck.

 

[Husky25]

I can't believe I'm even wading into this thread, but other than your opinion what is this possibly based on?

Umm. Let's see...

...The way my taste buds react in sending and immediately prior to when the bolus (or chewed food) enters my esophagus. Is that the answer you were looking for?

 

[Askgreek]

I'm with you all the way. No pizza is better better than a great Greek style pizza. For me it isn't even close. Growing up in New London I loved Rialto Pizza on corner of Broad and Wiliams Sts. It's long gone but I still hold it up as the measuring stick. Ocean Ave Pizza is still pretty good. The best these days is probably Marblehead House in MA. I want some---now!!

I cannot wait until my favorite Greek-Style pizza, Max Pizza, Bristol, reopens. It is currently under renovation due to a fire.

I have family that lives in New York, Boston and Florida and every time they visit all they want is a pizza from Max's. They cannot get anything like it where they live. I am convinced CT is the best pizza state in the nation and I don't think it is even close.

Max's has amazing pizza and the place has been a staple in Bristol for over 35 years.