OT: Best Pizza in CT

[DarthGrumpy]

Just had pizza from BAR far the first time. Just a note, I got two small pie for 2 adults and 2 kids. Mistake. There small is a tad bit big. Have a 1/2 of a pie leftover. Also, not to self, don't drive into New Haven for pizza during Parents' weekend at Yale. It was jammed and could not find street parking, so had to pay $8 to park for 10 minutes in a lot. Plus, that entire area around the old 34 connector is a mess. Missed the turn for Church Street and had to circle back around via I-91.

Got a plain red and cheese pie for the kids. It was good; but almost too thin. The mashed potato and bacon pizza was really good. My wife like that it was not charred (her loss) and the crust was very garlicky. I would put them #2 ahead of Pepe's and behind Sally's for New Haven, though I have not been to Modern lately.

 

[8893]

Just had pizza from BAR far the first time. Just a note, I got two small pie for 2 adults and 2 kids. Mistake. There small is a tad bit big. Have a 1/2 of a pie leftover. Also, not to self, don't drive into New Haven for pizza during Parents' weekend at Yale. It was jammed and could not find street parking, so had to pay $8 to park for 10 minutes in a lot. Plus, that entire area around the old 34 connector is a mess. Missed the turn for Church Street and had to circle back around via I-91.

Got a plain red and cheese pie for the kids. It was good; but almost too thin. The mashed potato and bacon pizza was really good. My wife like that it was not charred (her loss) and the crust was very garlicky. I would put them #2 ahead of Pepe's and behind Sally's for New Haven, though I have not been to Modern lately.

Either my family eats a lot more than normal, or yours eats a lot less. Two BAR smalls would not come close to feeding us, especially with that impossibly thin crust. They have a great salad too, btw.

Their crust is too thin for travel; has to be eaten there imo. Mashed potato and bacon is most definitely the most essential pie there. I get it red, but most seem to get it white. I used to when they first opened, but early on a waiter suggested red because he preferred it that way, and I have never gone back to white for that pie since.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Either my family eats a lot more than normal, or yours eats a lot less. Two BAR smalls would not come close to feeding us, especially with that impossibly thin crust. They have a great salad too, btw.

Their crust is too thin for travel; has to be eaten there imo. Mashed potato and bacon is most definitely the most essential pie there. I get it red, but most seem to get it white. I used to when they first opened, but early on a waiter suggested red because he preferred it that way, and I have never gone back to white for that pie since.

Red and mash, will keep that in mind next time. Wife may not agree though, she is addicted to garlic. 2 was enough for us; but, my kids are both under 10. We are staying in Shelton, so only a 30 minute drive back to the hotel and a quick minute in the oven to re-heat.

 

[8893]

Red and mash, will keep that in mind next time. Wife may not agree though, she is addicted to garlic. 2 was enough for us; but, my kids are both under 10. We are staying in Shelton, so only a 30 minute drive back to the hotel and a quick minute in the oven to re-heat.

If you can tolerate more pizza while you're there, Roseland in Derby is certainly deserving of a stop. Their seafood pizza is a thing of legend, and deservedly so, both for the price tag and the experience. That is a small that could feed an army because it is so dense with seafood. My brother-in-law and I once split a small seafood pie from there and we had two pieces leftover. I took them home and cut them up into eight squares, which we served as appetizers for dinner guests the next night.

They have some other really interesting specialty pies too, like escarole and bean pizza. Their pasta dishes are also very good and made with fresh pasta.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

If you can tolerate more pizza while you're there, Roseland in Derby is certainly deserving of a stop. Their seafood pizza is a thing of legend, and deservedly so, both for the price tag and the experience. That is a small that could feed an army because it is so dense with seafood. My brother-in-law and I once split a small seafood pie from there and we had two pieces leftover. I took them home and cut them up into eight squares, which we served as appetizers for dinner guests the next night.

They have some other really interesting specialty pies too, like escarole and bean pizza. Their pasta dishes are also very good and made with fresh pasta.

Thanks. Back when kids freely roamed the streets, I used to walk up Hawthorne with my cousins to watch Saturday morning (well before Friday night lights came into being)Derby football games at Ryan field (was not allowed to go to Derby/Ansonia or Derby/Shelton games thought due to the level of shenanigans at those games) and we would grab a slice of cheese or peperoni at Roseland on the way home for lunch. Haven't been back in 30 years though. Though about going there; but wanted New Haven pizza and thus went to BAR.

PS - Drove right by there on my way from the wedding in Monroe where we picked-up my nephew to the hotel in Shelton and I would not let any kid walk around lower Hawthorne Ave in Derby. Sad.

 

[CTBasketball]

Went to Colony in Fairfield yesterday for Happy Hour. Big ole sign walking in. Get to the bar, have a mediocre pizza. Asks for an Octoberfest. Bartender opens me a bottle...I fainted.

Turns out my beers were full price. Sneaky bastards.

 

[storrsroars]

Maybe this should spur a tangent thread, but in your travels, what is the best/closest version of a NH pizza you've found outside CT?

My vote is Urban in San Diego across the street from right field of Petco. Started by NH guys.

 

[8893]

Maybe this should spur a tangent thread, but in your travels, what is the best/closest version of a NH pizza you've found outside CT?

In Rome, Italy. Don't remember the name but it was on the piazza outside the Pantheon.

 

[mauconnfan]

In St Maarten we stayed at the Westin and took a ride, not too far from the resort and there was a brick over pizza place, open air style and such a cool setting. Some Peroni's and some good pie as it grew dark was really fun with a few people.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...d_Case_Saint_Martin_St_Maarten_St_Martin.html

 

[Deepster]

In St Maarten we stayed at the Westin and took a ride, not too far from the resort and there was a brick over pizza place, open air style and such a cool setting. Some Peroni's and some good pie as it grew dark was really fun with a few people.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...d_Case_Saint_Martin_St_Maarten_St_Martin.html

Did you tear it up at the Sunset Beach Bar with the planes landing right there? Cool spot. Also, there was a bar called Bananas. I had a UConn hat on and the owner was an alum. Drank free all night. That whole trip is a blur.

 

[mauconnfan]

Did you tear it up at the Sunset Beach Bar with the planes landing right there? Cool spot. Also, there was a bar called Bananas. I had a UConn hat on and the owner was an alum. Drank free all night. That whole trip is a blur.

Yeah Banana's was down by the docks right? Sunset Beach bar was a short walk down the beach and over some rocks? from the hotel I do remember having UConn gear and some people shouting out, we were partying hard with some couples. Those planes were wild when you first saw them coming in, thought for sure we were dead.

 

[David 76]

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…

J-Dog, Pretty sure that is a branch of the very good Grand Apizza in New Haven (Grand Ave.) They have one in Clinton and (soon) Madison too.

 

[David 76]

They are all the same distance. Sally's and Pepe's are two blocks away from each other, and Modern and BAR are within a mile in either direction.

"two doors from each other"
Fixed

 

[David 76]

New York Times just gave Buffalina (Guilford) their highest review. 8893 is really on to something

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/nyregion/a-review-of-bufalina-in-guilford.html?_r=0

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

"two doors from each other"
Fixed

"Block-and-a-half" is a plausible fix; "two doors from each other" is not. I might go with "down the street."

 

[David 76]

Would you believe, less than a block?

 

[RichZ]

Mike's Apizza in West Haven is solid. Another option to the New Haven places.

My second rule of trying unknown pizza places. If it's spelled APIZZA on the sign, it's much more likely to be good. If that sign is flickering neon, even better.

1st rule, is of course the wood or coal fired oven.

 

[8893]

"two doors from each other"
Fixed

"Block-and-a-half" is a plausible fix; "two doors from each other" is not. I might go with "down the street."

Would you believe, less than a block?

Sheesh. It's more than a block, less than two. Depalma Ct. divides them, as does a park, a playground and a few other establishments. "Down the street" would probably have been safest, but I don't think there is a risk of confusion with any of the estimates--except two doors from each other, which is flatly wrong.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Would you believe, less than a block?

Depends on whether or not you calculate by counting the passageway to Chapel Street where the Saturday farmers market is (on the north side of the street where Sally's and Pope's are) as a block; or the 2 streets on the south side (where parking is) that end at Wooster St.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Sheesh. It's more than a block, less than two. Depalma Ct. divides them, as does a park, a playground and a few other establishments. "Down the street" would probably have been safest, but I don't think there is a risk of confusion with any of the estimates--except two doors from each other, which is flatly wrong.

Maybe we should just measure the distance in Hilton Units...or agree that we're going to be a little collectively antsy for the next few days, weeks, months, 20 minutes.

 

[CTBasketball]

By the way never go to any Colony Grill and ask for diced onions. They'll stare you right in the eyes, spit into your soul, and throw their feces at you like rabid monkeys.

 

[CAHUSKY]

By the way never go to any Colony Grill and ask for diced onions. They'll stare you right in the eyes, spit into your soul, and throw their feces at you like rabid monkeys.

I learned that every Connecticut pizza joint does the same if you request salami on a pie. Growing up in California it was my favorite. In CT they stared at me like a had a horn growing out of my forehead.

 

[8893]

I learned that every Connecticut pizza joint does the same if you request salami on a pie. Growing up in California it was my favorite. In CT they stared at me like a had a horn growing out of my forehead.

Salame piccante is a regular topping option at Bufalina in Guilford. They also presently have a seasonal pizza with wild boar salami. I love them both, and I think speck (which they also offer) is even better.

 

[superjohn]

Has anyone had Little City Pizza in Simsbury? I've heard good things.

 

[RichZ]

I learned that every Connecticut pizza joint does the same if you request salami on a pie. Growing up in California it was my favorite. In CT they stared at me like a had a horn growing out of my forehead.

Not sure where I got into it, but one of my favorite pies is white with pastrami and onions. I had a decent pizza place tell me they couldn't make it. I looked at the menu. They had a pastrami grinder on the menu. So I said just give me a white pie with onions and a pastrami grinder. Then I dumped the grinder contents onto the pie and spread it around. brought the pizzamaker a slice and he admitted it was damned good, and he'd probably add it to the menu. Went back a couple months later and it still wasn't on the menu, but at least he would make it for me now.