OT: Best Pizza in CT

[8893]

I first had Pepe's back in the early 80's (I think 81 or 82) when I was in elementary school and they used fresh clams on their pizza. I could never forget it. I haven't had a chance to go back but I visited a Pepe's a few years ago in the Buckland Hills mall area and they used canned clams. It just wasn't the same ....

That's disappointing. They still use only fresh clams to my knowledge in New Haven. The only other one I've been to was Fairfield a few years ago, and they had fresh clams there, too, then.

 

[NutmegState]

Speaking terms of Fairfield County, Colony is very good. Had Riko's the other day (guy left Colony, apparently with the recipe), but I was unimpressed.

Here's a little secret for anyone in Norwalk/New Canaan. Lou's Pizza, New Canaan Ave, Norwalk. If you are familiar with that area then you have heard of Uncle Joe's Pizza. Uncle Joe's was sold many years ago to a Greek family. Lou's Pizza is the original Uncle Joe's recipe. So it's a stones throw from Uncle Joe's Pizza...

Anyway, it's very good. Thin.

http://www.thehour.com/business/thi...cle_3a26f8bd-9cc9-58bd-a22a-9ba23cd608ad.html

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Nice thread, and I tend to appreciate the consensus (including caveats) on Pepe's, Sally's, Modern, Bar, Roseland, Harry's, Colony, Zupardi's.

Thanks for some new names in parts of the state that I don't get to so often.

For an unmentioned name, I offer that I've recently stopped several Thursday nights -- before live music at Best Video -- into Olde World (North Haven-Hamden border on Whitney Ave), where they do a solid takeout business in a place with so little pretense that it makes me wonder why there can't be pizza like this almost everywhere. It's not transcendant, but it is solid and above almost everything in Fairfield County and much of NYC where I've lived and eaten a lot of good pizza (Patsy's, Lombardi's, Nick's, Grimaldi's, Artichoke, Joe's, UPN) that falls short of the best of New Haven County. Where else in NY beside DiFara, Denino's & Totonno's should I go to possibly revise this opinion? I'm open-minded, and I've liked all the NY places I listed.

 

[8893]

For an unmentioned name, I offer that I've recently stopped several Thursday nights -- before live music at Best Video -- into Olde World (North Haven-Hamden border on Whitney Ave), where they do a solid takeout business in a place with so little pretense that it makes me wonder why there can't be pizza like this almost everywhere. It's not transcendant, but it is solid

Good call on Olde World, Hans. Used to go there for take out years ago in the years when they first opened, when I lived in New Haven and wanted to mix it up, couldn't get through to Modern, or when Modern was closed. IIRC the guys who started it came from Modern or had some type of connection to it. I recall it being very similar to Modern, almost as good.

 

[CTBasketball]

I really enjoy pizza and this thread is making me want pizza.

 

[Rico444]

Just started my diet today. So **** everyone in here for making it infinitely more difficult on me moving forward.

 

[IMind]

You have no idea how spoiled you all are. I'm stuck in the boonies in Eastern PA. The pizza here sucks. The cheese sucks. They don't cook the friggen pizza long enough or hot enough... cheese isn't supposed to be pale white... I could walk into any random local pizza place in just about any shoreline county in CT and end up with pizza far superior than anything here.

I'm going to go cry in a corner now.

 

[Jholla2183]

BELLTOWN PIZZA, or FAIRLAWN PIZZA in Stamford

 

[arch]

Speaking terms of Fairfield County, Colony is very good. Had Riko's the other day (guy left Colony, apparently with the recipe), but I was unimpressed.

Here's a little secret for anyone in Norwalk/New Canaan. Lou's Pizza, New Canaan Ave, Norwalk. If you are familiar with that area then you have heard of Uncle Joe's Pizza. Uncle Joe's was sold many years ago to a Greek family. Lou's Pizza is the original Uncle Joe's recipe. So it's a stones throw from Uncle Joe's Pizza...

Anyway, it's very good. Thin.

http://www.thehour.com/business/thi...cle_3a26f8bd-9cc9-58bd-a22a-9ba23cd608ad.html

Used to go to Phil Bakers more than Uncle Joes. But that was a long, long time ago. Both are gone now.
Will be in the area this week so we might have to give Lou's a shot. Thanks.

Found Hot Heaven in Avon to do a good job. Thin crust doesn't travel real well but we enjoy it at home anyway. I usually have 2 slices on the trip back to the house.

 

[methodology]

I have been waiting for a Madison/Guilford submission. I am new to te area and we are locked in at Portofinos of North Madison. A consistently good pizza. I think the owner has a second restaurant in New Haven but I forget where he is. We tried Farina's in North Guilford but they were too inconsistent for us.

I heard The Red Tomato in Guilford was pretty good.

Red Tomato is in Madison across from Zhangs on route 1 going towards Guilford. I think its the best pie in Madison. Portofinos is a consist spot in North Madison. Nuzzos is pretty good but not as good as his brothers spot Grand Apizza in Clinton.

Grand is the best pizza in the Madison, Guilford, Clinton area.

Marcos in branford is pretty good also if you are down that way. The guy who runs it use to work at Pepes for a long time.

Tollis along with John and Maria's are good places for pie in East Haven if you dont want to deal with the wait for one of the new haven places

 

[zls44]

This:

http://www.chunkytomato.com/

Preach.

It's not even a debate. There is a chasm of quality between Chunky and every other pizza place outside of New Haven.

 

[zls44]

I grew up in the South End and Franklin Giant's meatball grinder is not as good as it used to be. I'd recommend Steve's Place in Newington Center. I think it's better. Just my two cents.

They screwed with the way they make the meatballs a few years ago. I'm still upset about it.

 

[zls44]

I hear you. We go there a lot in the summers. I think Johnny Ad's in Old Saybrook is slightly better, but the space, proximity and carousel at Lenny and Joe's keep us in town most of the time.

Johnny Ads is the best restaurant in CT. Even though the portions have gone the inverse direction of the prices. Attached is a meal I bought for myself and a friend right after Sandy cleanup. Only bright spot in a dark day.

(Sorry for the triple post, was going from the start)

 

[8893]

Johnny Ads is the best restaurant in CT. Even though the portions have gone the inverse direction of the prices. Attached is a meal I bought for myself and a friend right after Sandy cleanup. Only bright spot in a dark day.

Looks like a beautiful feast. Yeah, for my tastes everything at Johnny Ad's is just a bit better than Lenny & Joe's. Their lobster roll is hands-down the best imo (although the guy with the food truck here--can't remember the name of the truck, but there's a huge lobster on it--may be close; I've only had his once and it was a great as advertised, but I've had so many great ones from Johnny Ad's that I have to try the food truck guy again before I consider awarding the top slot).

Johnny Ad's fried seafood always seems a little fresher to me. I usually go for the scallop roll when I get fried seafood. I like the whole bellies, too, but I can't eat a full order, and no one else in my family likes them (wife and the one kid who eats seafood go for the strips).

Rhode Island clam chowder is my favorite, so I like Johnny Ad's better for that, too--although Lenny & Joe's has only a touch of cream and is also very good.

Johnny Ad's also has a pretty good hot dog, but that's a whole 'nother discussion, and I don't think they enter the pantheon of great Connecticut hot dogs.

On my most recent visit to Johnny Ad's I noticed that they now sell beer and wine, which I assume means that BYOB is no longer an option. That could be an issue, because that is a very big attraction for us at Lenny & Joe's.

Speaking of fried whole belly clams, I always wonder about the Clam Castle across from Lenny & Joe's. I've never been there, nor do I know of anyone who has. But they claim to be famous, and they draw a crowd in the summers. If anyone here has ever eaten there, I would be interested in a review.

 

[8893]

Nuzzos is pretty good but not as good as his brothers spot Grand Apizza in Clinton.

Grand is the best pizza in the Madison, Guilford, Clinton area.

Interesting. Never been to Grand, always forget about it, and have always wondered whether they have any connection to Grand Apizza on Grand Ave. in New Haven. Friends who grew up in Fair Haven and West Haven raved about Grand Apizza back in the day, but I don't think any of them have been there in decades, and I've never tried it either, mostly because I never got the sense from them that it trumped the holy trinity plus one (i.e., Pepe's/Sally's/Modern/BAR). I'll have to give the one in Clinton a try.

 

[TRest]

Looks like a beautiful feast. Yeah, for my tastes everything at Johnny Ad's is just a bit better than Lenny & Joe's. Their lobster roll is hands-down the best imo (although the guy with the food truck here--can't remember the name of the truck, but there's a huge lobster on it--may be close; I've only had his once and it was a great as advertised, but I've had so many great ones from Johnny Ad's that I have to try the food truck guy again before I consider awarding the top slot).

Johnny Ad's fried seafood always seems a little fresher to me. I usually go for the scallop roll when I get fried seafood. I like the whole bellies, too, but I can't eat a full order, and no one else in my family likes them (wife and the one kid who eats seafood go for the strips).

Rhode Island clam chowder is my favorite, so I like Johnny Ad's better for that, too--although Lenny & Joe's has only a touch of cream and is also very good.

Johnny Ad's also has a pretty good hot dog, but that's a whole 'nother discussion, and I don't think they enter the pantheon of great Connecticut hot dogs.

On my most recent visit to Johnny Ad's I noticed that they now sell beer and wine, which I assume means that BYOB is no longer an option. That could be an issue, because that is a very big attraction for us at Lenny & Joe's.

Speaking of fried whole belly clams, I always wonder about the Clam Castle across from Lenny & Joe's. I've never been there, nor do I know of anyone who has. But they claim to be famous, and they draw a crowd in the summers. If anyone here has ever eaten there, I would be interested in a review.

Haven't been to the Clam Castle, but the Sea Swirl in Mystic is similar looking and outstanding fried seafood, FWIW.

 

[Dove]

Looks like a beautiful feast. Yeah, for my tastes everything at Johnny Ad's is just a bit better than Lenny & Joe's. Their lobster roll is hands-down the best imo (although the guy with the food truck here--can't remember the name of the truck, but there's a huge lobster on it--may be close; I've only had his once and it was a great as advertised, but I've had so many great ones from Johnny Ad's that I have to try the food truck guy again before I consider awarding the top slot).

Johnny Ad's fried seafood always seems a little fresher to me. I usually go for the scallop roll when I get fried seafood. I like the whole bellies, too, but I can't eat a full order, and no one else in my family likes them (wife and the one kid who eats seafood go for the strips).

Rhode Island clam chowder is my favorite, so I like Johnny Ad's better for that, too--although Lenny & Joe's has only a touch of cream and is also very good.

Johnny Ad's also has a pretty good hot dog, but that's a whole 'nother discussion, and I don't think they enter the pantheon of great Connecticut hot dogs.

On my most recent visit to Johnny Ad's I noticed that they now sell beer and wine, which I assume means that BYOB is no longer an option. That could be an issue, because that is a very big attraction for us at Lenny & Joe's.

Speaking of fried whole belly clams, I always wonder about the Clam Castle across from Lenny & Joe's. I've never been there, nor do I know of anyone who has. But they claim to be famous, and they draw a crowd in the summers. If anyone here has ever eaten there, I would be interested in a review.

A guy I have dealt with through work says the Clam Castle defies the exterior look of the joint. He says very good things.

Now I know I have to try Johnny Ads, Grand APizza and Cafe Routier. Also, that lobster truck dude was written up in the local paper. I never saw him, tho.

8893, have you been to Friends and Company?

 

[TRest]

Wedges was the only thing they were called in Westchester in the '70s. But I haven't heard anyone use that term in decades.

It was 1979, I guess you could hit Westchester with a rock from Cos Cob.

 

[TRest]

Didn't it just move over to Main?


Been to both -- been about 2-3 years though.

Bishops Corner tastes the same as the original Harry's to me. The one on Main fails with spotty service. Barb's also tasted just like the other Harry's.

 

[8893]

A guy I have dealt with through work says the Clam Castle defies the exterior look of the joint. He says very good things.

Now I know I have to try Johnny Ads, Grand APizza and Cafe Routier. Also, that lobster truck dude was written up in the local paper. I never saw him, tho.

8893, have you been to Friends and Company?

Thanks, Dove. This summer I will make a point to try the Clam Castle.

The lobster truck guy parks downtown off the green, either in front of Memorial Town Hall, or on the backside of the green in front of the Congregational church.

We went to Friends & Company a few times during our first few years in town, because it was one of the few places where everyone could find something they liked well enough even when we were all in the mood for different things, including kids' meals, grown up meals and a full bar. I tired of it after a little while because there were limited options of interest to me and nothing that really wowed me, and then we had one meal there where a few of us thought our food was below average and we haven't been back since. Basically, it occupies a place on the restaurant spectrum that I don't have much use for. I'd rather scale it down to a place like Chip's Pub (Clinton) or scale it up to a place like Bar Bouchee.

 

[bear]

Nobody has ever tried Domenick and Pia's in Waterbury? Phenomenal old school pizza joint that has been around forever.

 

[husky91]

I have to try this. Sister lives that way and we always go to Lenny & Joe's. great place with carousel, picnic tables, BYOB.

NE Fried seafood platter with whole bellies is the best meal in the country. Nothing touches it, except maybe a gr8 lobster roll.

Looks like a beautiful feast. Yeah, for my tastes everything at Johnny Ad's is just a bit better than Lenny & Joe's. Their lobster roll is hands-down the best imo (although the guy with the food truck here--can't remember the name of the truck, but there's a huge lobster on it--may be close; I've only had his once and it was a great as advertised, but I've had so many great ones from Johnny Ad's that I have to try the food truck guy again before I consider awarding the top slot).

Johnny Ad's fried seafood always seems a little fresher to me. I usually go for the scallop roll when I get fried seafood. I like the whole bellies, too, but I can't eat a full order, and no one else in my family likes them (wife and the one kid who eats seafood go for the strips).

Rhode Island clam chowder is my favorite, so I like Johnny Ad's better for that, too--although Lenny & Joe's has only a touch of cream and is also very good.

Johnny Ad's also has a pretty good hot dog, but that's a whole 'nother discussion, and I don't think they enter the pantheon of great Connecticut hot dogs.

On my most recent visit to Johnny Ad's I noticed that they now sell beer and wine, which I assume means that BYOB is no longer an option. That could be an issue, because that is a very big attraction for us at Lenny & Joe's.

Speaking of fried whole belly clams, I always wonder about the Clam Castle across from Lenny & Joe's. I've never been there, nor do I know of anyone who has. But they claim to be famous, and they draw a crowd in the summers. If anyone here has ever eaten there, I would be interested in a review.

 

[TheChamps990411]

zorbas or pizza express in meriden. id go with zorbas.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

We are looked upon as Pizza snobs by are fellow Arizonans.
Chicago style is popular here since there are so many midwesterners
The saucees and quality of the cheeses used is so so.
Simalar to the Greek stores in Connecticut.
My high school classmate who lives in San Diago has been searching for good Pizza for 20 years
He found a guy who sells New Haven Style Pizza its not to bad
When I'm back in Ct I go to PEPES and Richs Farm
Don't get Pizza at my home boys Roseland.
An antipasta with the best bread ever made my the hands of man.
And Veal Parm
To die for
These aren't trips they are pilgrimages
If only your weather didn't suck.

 

[huskyjawz]

Red Tomato is in Madison across from Zhangs on route 1 going towards Guilford. I think its the best pie in Madison. Portofinos is a consist spot in North Madison. Nuzzos is pretty good but not as good as his brothers spot Grand Apizza in Clinton.

Grand is the best pizza in the Madison, Guilford, Clinton area.

Marcos in branford is pretty good also if you are down that way. The guy who runs it use to work at Pepes for a long time.

Tollis along with John and Maria's are good places for pie in East Haven if you dont want to deal with the wait for one of the new haven places

I am going to Tweed, tomorrow to pick someone up and want to try East Haven pie. Never been. Which is the best, in your opinion, if I can only try one?

 

[Dove]

Thanks, Dove. This summer I will make a point to try the Clam Castle.

The lobster truck guy parks downtown off the green, either in front of Memorial Town Hall, or on the backside of the green in front of the Congregational church.

We went to Friends & Company a few times during our first few years in town, because it was one of the few places where everyone could find something they liked well enough even when we were all in the mood for different things, including kids' meals, grown up meals and a full bar. I tired of it after a little while because there were limited options of interest to me and nothing that really wowed me, and then we had one meal there where a few of us thought our food was below average and we haven't been back since. Basically, it occupies a place on the restaurant spectrum that I don't have much use for. I'd rather scale it down to a place like Chip's Pub (Clinton) or scale it up to a place like Bar Bouchee.

I saw Bar Bouchee by accident as I was slowing down to enter the Audubon Shop. It's on the list to hit, too. And I hear what you're saying about Friends and co. We're still shoreline noobs.

 

[storrsroars]

My high school classmate who lives in San Diago has been searching for good Pizza for 20 years
He found a guy who sells New Haven Style Pizza its not to bad

Gotta be Urban, across the street from the right field fence at Petco. It's good.

You have Pizzeria Bianco out there in PHX. Is it better than Pepe's?

 

[CAHUSKY]

Gotta be Urban, across the street from the right field fence at Petco. It's good.

You have Pizzeria Bianco out there in PHX. Is it better than Pepe's?

Bronx pizza in SD isn't too bad

 

[zls44]

I have literally written down these clam shack suggestions. I never knew about Johnny Ad's and the BYOB thing, but I suspect that was before I was even of legal age (you old bastards). I did order a Sam Adam's with the clams because, really, why wouldn't you? It may have been the finest meal I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. I didn't want it to end.

Is it strange that I'm not a big Lenny and Joe's fan? It is, right? The whole place just seems a bit too cheesy to me with the commercialism and the insane lines. It's solid food, but not worth the wait, IMO.

Give me the trashy seeming brilliance of Johnny Ad's or give me death. Although eating enough Johnny Ad's will help greatly with the latter.

8893 put it perfectly- there are other great places, but at JA's, the whole bellies taste fresher than anyplace else I've ever had them. You notice.

 

[8893]

I saw Bar Bouchee by accident as I was slowing down to enter the Audubon Shop. It's on the list to hit, too.

Bar Bouchee is run my the chef and part-owner of Union League. It is very, very small. I prefer sitting at the bar (made of zinc) or even better, outside when weather permits. I was not a huge fan when they first opened, as they were pitched as a more casual and less-expensive version of Union League and I thought they didn't come close (except in price). But they have since added some of the menu staples from Union League, as well as the outside tables, both of which lend to a much better experience imo. If you sit at one of the tables inside, you are essentially dining with the people next to you. It can be a good or bad thing, depending, but private conversation is impossible.