OT: Best Pizza in CT

[Balker]

I had Bufalina tonight. For maybe the 10th time. I think I’m ready to call it. This is the best pizza in the state. Nothing else holds up as well to scrutiny, innovates, delivers consistently.

Also, they’ve got ice cream sandwiches for dessert right now. They are made by Hen and Heifer (an amazing Guilford patisserie that any dessert fan should try). They are insanely good.

 

[I Bleed Blue]

I had Bufalina tonight. For maybe the 10th time. I think I’m ready to call it. This is the best pizza in the state. Nothing else holds up as well to scrutiny, innovates, delivers consistently.

Also, they’ve got ice cream sandwiches for dessert right now. They are made by Hen and Heifer (an amazing Guilford patisserie that any dessert fan should try). They are insanely good.

Ice cream sandwiches?! I demand details. Are we talking Chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream?

 

[8893]

I had Bufalina tonight. For maybe the 10th time. I think I’m ready to call it. This is the best pizza in the state. Nothing else holds up as well to scrutiny, innovates, delivers consistently.

Also, they’ve got ice cream sandwiches for dessert right now. They are made by Hen and Heifer (an amazing Guilford patisserie that any dessert fan should try). They are insanely good.

Shhhhhh!!!

What did you get?

 

[Balker]

Ice cream sandwiches?! I demand details. Are we talking Chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream?

To quote the menu:
“
S’mores Ice cream sandwiches:
Chocolate and vanilla shortbread cookie, chocolate ice cream,
merengue center, chocolate fudge, graham cracker crumb”

Its... very good. I was gonna take a picture, but it never lasts long.

 

[Balker]

Shhhhhh!!!

What did you get?

I usually get one marg with sausage and extra basil. And one of whatever special they have at the time.

 

[8893]

I usually get one marg with sausage and extra basil. And one of whatever special they have at the time.

We almost always include the special, but the truffle honey with ricotta that they have on now is a little too rich for a whole pie for my tastes.

 

[husky429]

I had Bufalina tonight. For maybe the 10th time. I think I’m ready to call it. This is the best pizza in the state. Nothing else holds up as well to scrutiny, innovates, delivers consistently.

Also, they’ve got ice cream sandwiches for dessert right now. They are made by Hen and Heifer (an amazing Guilford patisserie that any dessert fan should try). They are insanely good.

The dessert settles it. I'm going tomorrow.

 

[Mano]

Do your Boneyard duty people, take pictures!!!

 

[Balker]

We almost always include the special, but the truffle honey with ricotta that they have on now is a little too rich for a whole pie for my tastes.

Yeah I didn't get that one tonight. I don't like honey that much. I've been trying to make sure I try most of their options, but I'm a moth to the flame with margherita with sausage added, so I'm sure I've missed a few of the seasonal varieties.

The dessert settles it. I'm going tomorrow.

Better hurry. I tried to get them to sell me three the other day. They politely refused and gave me just one. But I'll just keep going back and taking them all one at a time. Everything at Hen & Heifer is amazing if you ever get a chance to go, if there was a best pastry chef in CT thread I'd be in there raving about this place, too.

Do your Boneyard duty people, take pictures!!!

I found a picture I took when I got one last time! But the cookies are so delicate, and the meringue filling is so soft, covered in a light caramel, with a salt mixed in with the graham cracker crumbs on the side, the picture doesn't really do it justice.

 

[alohachris]

The Old Dino's Pizza at Bishop's Corner in W. Hartford

In the early 70's, we used to hitch in from Storrs for lunch at the old Dino's Pizza in W. Hartford. By far, it was the best pizza this native New Yorker ever found in CT back then (& I looked everywhere).

Siciliano style - thick, square pies were my favorites. Incredible grinders too. All the food was fresh & wonderful. They used sweeter flour & sauces than most & had some real experienced people making those pies. Their rich tasting meatballs were the best. Had a much bigger selection of toppings & combo's than than just about every other CT pizzeria - before the boutique era came in. Can still taste them. It's all in the sauce prep. Family owned. Tried the whole menu.

Often though, I'd start out heading for Dino's, & then just keep going down 91 & 95 to my old neighborhood pizzeria in NYC - Emilio's (now Joe's) - for lunch. Pig out! See friends. Stay the night. Hitch back early next morning for classes at UConn with another pie to go.

Emilio's Famous Pizza (now Joe's) at No. 7 Carmine Street at Father Demo Square in the Village was THE BEST PIZZA I've ever tasted in the US. There since the 50's, it's now run by Emilio's son Joe & is called Joe's Famous Pizza. My favorite at Emilio's was Siciliano style square pie topped with onions, anchovies, tomatoes, herbs and their strong cheese combo's such as caciocavallo and toma. We'd stop in after playing hoops at the famous West 4th Street Courts on the Square & old man Emilio would top off our Nedicks orange drinks with a little Gordon's vodka now & then. A real neighborhood joint. Check it out when you go down for the Big East tournament. Huge 19" pies. $20-24 tops. Real value.

Of course, the best pizza I've ever experienced was in Sicily - all over the place - so much pride in their food. It's all in the traditional recipe's (which vary from town to town) & in those special San Marzano or pomodorino vesuviano grape tomatoes that only grow there. Drooling now. Ciao!

alohachris

 

[Mano]

The Old Dino's Pizza at Bishop's Corner in W. Hartford

In the early 70's, we used to hitch in from Storrs for lunch at the old Dino's Pizza in W. Hartford. By far, it was the best pizza this native New Yorker ever found in CT back then (& I looked everywhere).

Siciliano style - thick, square pies were my favorites. Incredible grinders too. All the food was fresh & wonderful. They used sweeter flour & sauces than most & had some real experienced people making those pies. Their rich tasting meatballs were the best. Had a much bigger selection of toppings & combo's than than just about every other CT pizzeria - before the boutique era came in. Can still taste them. It's all in the sauce prep. Family owned. Tried the whole menu.

Often though, I'd start out heading for Dino's, & then just keep going down 91 & 95 to my old neighborhood pizzeria in NYC - Emilio's (now Joe's) - for lunch. Pig out! See friends. Stay the night. Hitch back early next morning for classes at UConn with another pie to go.

Emilio's Famous Pizza (now Joe's) at No. 7 Carmine Street at Father Demo Square in the Village was THE BEST PIZZA I've ever tasted in the US. There since the 50's, it's now run by Emilio's son Joe & is called Joe's Famous Pizza. My favorite at Emilio's was Siciliano style square pie topped with onions, anchovies, tomatoes, herbs and their strong cheese combo's such as caciocavallo and toma. We'd stop in after playing hoops at the famous West 4th Street Courts on the Square & old man Emilio would top off our Nedicks orange drinks with a little Gordon's vodka now & then. A real neighborhood joint. Check it out when you go down for the Big East tournament. Huge 19" pies. $20-24 tops. Real value.

Of course, the best pizza I've ever experienced was in Sicily - all over the place - so much pride in their food. It's all in the traditional recipe's (which vary from town to town) & in those special San Marzano or pomodorino vesuviano grape tomatoes that only grow there. Drooling now. Ciao!

alohachris

There is still a Dino's Pizzeria in West Hartford, although its not at all close to Bishop's Corner.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

The Old Dino's Pizza at Bishop's Corner in W. Hartford

In the early 70's, we used to hitch in from Storrs for lunch at the old Dino's Pizza in W. Hartford. By far, it was the best pizza this native New Yorker ever found in CT back then (& I looked everywhere).

Siciliano style - thick, square pies were my favorites. Incredible grinders too. All the food was fresh & wonderful. They used sweeter flour & sauces than most & had some real experienced people making those pies. Their rich tasting meatballs were the best. Had a much bigger selection of toppings & combo's than than just about every other CT pizzeria - before the boutique era came in. Can still taste them. It's all in the sauce prep. Family owned. Tried the whole menu.

Often though, I'd start out heading for Dino's, & then just keep going down 91 & 95 to my old neighborhood pizzeria in NYC - Emilio's (now Joe's) - for lunch. Pig out! See friends. Stay the night. Hitch back early next morning for classes at UConn with another pie to go.

Emilio's Famous Pizza (now Joe's) at No. 7 Carmine Street at Father Demo Square in the Village was THE BEST PIZZA I've ever tasted in the US. There since the 50's, it's now run by Emilio's son Joe & is called Joe's Famous Pizza. My favorite at Emilio's was Siciliano style square pie topped with onions, anchovies, tomatoes, herbs and their strong cheese combo's such as caciocavallo and toma. We'd stop in after playing hoops at the famous West 4th Street Courts on the Square & old man Emilio would top off our Nedicks orange drinks with a little Gordon's vodka now & then. A real neighborhood joint. Check it out when you go down for the Big East tournament. Huge 19" pies. $20-24 tops. Real value.

Of course, the best pizza I've ever experienced was in Sicily - all over the place - so much pride in their food. It's all in the traditional recipe's (which vary from town to town) & in those special San Marzano or pomodorino vesuviano grape tomatoes that only grow there. Drooling now. Ciao!

alohachris

I love your enthusiasm. And I have ample experience with both Dino's in late 60's, and Joe's in the late 90's. Both have their fans.i wouldn't expect either to find wild or wide favor among the posters here. I liked Dino's, and I could recommend a stop-in to Joe's if you're in the West Village.

Dino's was the first pizza I loved, because I grew up near Bishop's Corner. It was doughy, sweetly tomato-y, cheesy, and I most liked hamburger. Even after I broadened my palate and had different favored places & flavor profiles throughout Hartford (Uncle Sam's - better known for giant grinders but with a very sweet sauce; Whitney - $1.50 for a small honey-and-butter-crusted Greek pizza; Nolan's - maybe on upper Blue Hills Avenue, selling rectangular frozen pizzas on aluminum sheets with a clear plastic wrapper; George's which was on Park Street in West Hartford and maybe became Lena's), I would come back to craving Dino's. There is huge love for it on the You Know You Grew Up in West Hartford Facebook page.I think its ownership was the same as nearby Goldstein's Delicatessen, part of the Jewish diaspora from Hartford's north end to West Hartford's north end. To my later-evolved tastes, George's was likely the 'best' of the bunch. I think I'm forgetting somewhere else I liked.

Joe's has been a Manhattan slice favorite for a long time. I've always liked it, but never loved it. I really don't get why it's so lauded, but, yeah, I do like it. Still, my favorite slice places, at least in their peak times, would be Patsy's in East Harlem, DiFara in Midwood Brooklyn, Artichoke on 14th St, and Two Boots on 7th Ave South. Ultimately, Joe's is like a real good version of the standard New York slice, a style which is good but not my most favorite style and certainly no match for a good or great New Haven pie.

 

[WhiteDressWes]

George's which was on Park Street in West Hartford and maybe became Lena's), I would come back to craving Dino's. There is huge love for it on the You Know You Grew Up in West Hartford Facebook page.I think its ownership was the same as nearby Goldstein's Delicatessen, part of the Jewish diaspora from Hartford's north end to West Hartford's north end. To my later-evolved tastes, George's was likely the 'best' of the bunch. I think I'm forgetting somewhere else I liked.

George is still pretty good Greek style; No relation to Lena's, which is gone. SULLY, WE MISS YOU!

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I don't doubt you, but this leaves me thinking even more so that there's a missing piece I can't recall.

 

[8893]

Bufalina's new fall menu starts today. IIRC the four new pies are the same as last fall. Pesto and Porchetta are excellent, and Funghi is best with sausage added imo. Pere is more of a dessert pie for me, but also very good.

 

[Waquoit]

View attachment 46338

I'd hit that

 

[Balker]

Bufalina's new fall menu starts today. IIRC the four new pies are the same as last fall. Pesto and Porchetta are excellent, and Funghi is best with sausage added imo. Pere is more of a dessert pie for me, but also very good.

I really enjoyed Pere. Haven't tried Prochetta, hopefully can give it a go soon!

FWIW, I'm guessing this also means the end of the ice cream sandwich. At least once they run out of any left in the freezer.

 

[Steelerone]

Naples in Farmington, Ct. Their Sicilian Chicken Bar-B-Que will make your veins hate you.

 

[huskymedic]

USA Today (w/ pics): Pepe's Pizza: Connecticut chain is a paragon of Neapolitan pie and a New Haven institution (9/18)

Pilgrimage-worthy? Absolutely. It’s some of the best pizza in the country.
Rating: OMG!
Price: $$
Details: 11 locations, including Connecticut (New Haven, West Hartford, Waterbury, Manchester, Danbury, Fairfield and inside the Mohegan Sun Casino); New York (Yonkers); Rhode Island (Warwick); and Massachusetts (Chestnut Hill and Burlington).
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

USA Today (w/ pics): Pepe's Pizza: Connecticut chain is a paragon of Neapolitan pie and a New Haven institution (9/18)

Pilgrimage-worthy? Absolutely. It’s some of the best pizza in the country.
Rating: OMG!
Price: $$
Details: 11 locations, including Connecticut (New Haven, West Hartford, Waterbury, Manchester, Danbury, Fairfield and inside the Mohegan Sun Casino); New York (Yonkers); Rhode Island (Warwick); and Massachusetts (Chestnut Hill and Burlington).
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

2000° oven?

 

[8893]

@August_West @Dove , what’s the skinny on Brickside Pizza in Ivoryton? I never heard of it, but I just read that it was voted “Best on the Shoreline” by Zip06 readers and checked the website, which had me intrigued at: “Hand Crafted, wood fired pizza baked well done. Charring is to be expected.”

Interesting menu:

MENU

At Brickside Pizza, craftsmanship and tradition are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to serve the highest quality wood-fired pizza, made with locally sourced ingredients and delivered with unwavering consistency.

www.bricksidepizzact.com

Worth the trip? Or is the pie with ranch dressing an automatic disqualifier?

 

[Dove]

The crust is crackish. I love it. I have not brought any home for a 25 minute ride after work so don't know how it travels.

The Margherita, the Buffalo chicken really good. On Tuesday I will try the clam casino.

Earlier in this thread I gave them a slice tip.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Got out of movies at Yale's Whitney Humanities Center and bounced a bit between deciding on my first visit to Sally's since its sale, and Modern.

Decided to drive to Wooster St to see if there'd be a line 24 minutes before closing time. There wasn't. Walked straight to the back, got a quick & friendly greeting and was shocked by how many people they had working there. It all happened so fast that I didn't know whether to get a tomato pie, or mootz & bacon. Asked if I could split, and got a very easy Yes. This was not Sally's of old with long lines outside, long waits inside, and the only exceptions being on odd hours & days, or if I was with someone who had 'phone access' that I never acquired.

Quickest pie I've ever gotten there. Totally delicious, first to last bite, the tomato pie side better. Up until now, I've been a little nervous about going in. Maybe been once since no Flo. Add the later opening & earlier closing times plus 2 days off, and I've just gone practically everywhere else (though still not Buffalina, but getting closer to it). Very happy it was so good.

 

[Magic32]

Went to Sally's last night before a concert. We got there at 5:50 and there was no line, we waited a minute and they came out to seat us. We were so shocked that we didn't have to wait, worked out great because my wife was getting hangry.

First pie was pepperoni since it was National pepperoni pizza day and it was perfect, just the right amount of char and each piece had no sag. Our next pie was the garden special and it is my favorite (fresh tomato, mozzarella, zucchini, onion and fresh basil. You have to wait a minute on this one because it gets so hot with all the vegetables. Funny thing is I was never a veggie fan until the first time I had the garden special at Sally's. Now we often make it at home.

Quite the line when we left, our timing was perfect.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Went to Sally's last night before a concert. We got there at 5:50 and there was no line, we waited a minute and they came out to seat us. We were so shocked that we didn't have to wait, worked out great because my wife was getting hangry.

First pie was pepperoni since it was National pepperoni pizza day and it was perfect, just the right amount of char and each piece had no sag. Our next pie was the garden special and it is my favorite (fresh tomato, mozzarella, zucchini, onion and fresh basil. You have to wait a minute on this one because it gets so hot with all the vegetables. Funny thing is I was never a veggie fan until the first time I had the garden special at Sally's. Now we often make it at home.

Quite the line when we left, our timing was perfect.

Thx for heads up on the veggie. I don't do onions cooked on a pizza, but all else sounds pretty appealing. I think I'd add garlic.

One last thing - I regret not taking a peak to see if the rest room got renovated.