OT: Best Pizza in CT

[Magic32]

Went to Zuppardi's on Saturday before catching a show at Toad's Place. We had no wait and all 3 pies were excellent. It was the first time there for the other two guys and they were blown away by how good it was. They kept eating even when full. I still say it is my favorite pizza, so consistently good.

 

[Waquoit]

“We could have just carbon-copied the Wooster Street location, and gotten the same everything, the same look and just built that everywhere,” said partner Ted Zizlsperger, who oversaw Shake Shack when it was part of New York’s Union Square Hospitality Group. “But I think we would have done a disservice to the brand.”

Shake Shack used to be special, it seems past peak to me. The only brand that has seemed to profit by its ubiquitousness is Dunkin'. The rest end up as content by that guy who explains why profitable businesses turn to crap. Private equity is the starting point for many of these tales of woe.

 

[superjohn]

“We could have just carbon-copied the Wooster Street location, and gotten the same everything, the same look and just built that everywhere,” said partner Ted Zizlsperger, who oversaw Shake Shack when it was part of New York’s Union Square Hospitality Group. “But I think we would have done a disservice to the brand.”

No, sir, I think you're doing a disservice to the brand by trying become Pizza Hut.

https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2025/12/19/popular-pizza-chain-sets-goal-for-15-mass-spots.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=BO&j=43144035&senddate=2025-12-19&utm_term=ep1&empos=p1

This is going to fail and they ruined what made Sally's great. This is what always happens with private equity...expand everywhere, make the product less good, shrink it, and charge a lot more for it.

I never root for individuals to fail but this is so over the top stupid I'll kind of enjoy this failure. They're now mall pizza.

 

[Flipside]

MBA guys will be MBA guys. I'm one of them ...

https://sallysapizza.com/app/uploads/2025/12/SA-Location-Development_2026_V1.pdf

When something (or someone) is a local gem, there’s a often natural instinct to protect it (and, try to control it). Scarcity creates mystique. Few locations, long lines, and the ability to say “you have to go to New Haven” becomes part of the brand equity.

But there often is another reality: strong brands can scale without dilution when governance, operations, and culture are taken seriously.

We’re watching a similar debate play out with college athletes and NIL. Some fans worry commercialization undermines tradition. Others recognize it for what it really is: allowing elite talent to participate in the value they've created, while building durable personal brands that extend beyond a single moment or institution.

Sally’s expansion fits a similar pattern. Growth doesn’t always erase authenticity, it can institutionalize it.

When executed well, expansion can deliver:

• preservation of brand standards through repeatable processes
• broader market access without compromising core product quality
• economic value creation via jobs, investment, and long-term sustainability
• reinforcement of the original location’s legacy rather than erosion of it

Too often, fans or local consumers optimize for exclusivity. But from a business perspective, refusing to scale a proven model can be riskier than expanding it. Markets change. Tastes shift. Iconic brands that endure are the ones that evolve without abandoning their founding principles.

 

[Mazhude]

I was a Sally's guy growing up in New Haven, but this here is the difference between how Pepe's and Sally's are handling their expansion activities. First, never forget your roots... and never stop celebrating those roots. Pepe's on Facebook: "We recently celebrated Arturo’s 25th year with Frank Pepe’s. Hired by Elizabeth and Serafina, Frank’s daughters, Arturo has spent his entire career making The Original New Haven Apizza, doing what he does best day in and day out.
Arturo is old-school in the best way. He’s seen generations of the business evolve, but his commitment has never changed.
When asked what he planned to do with his $25K anniversary bonus, his answer said it all: “This is for my granddaughter.”
Congratulations, Arturo, and thank you for 25 years of excellence, loyalty, and pride in the Frank Pepe craft..."

 

[Ewekon]

I was a Sally's guy growing up in New Haven, but this here is the difference between how Pepe's and Sally's are handling their expansion activities. First, never forget your roots... and never stop celebrating those roots. Pepe's on Facebook: "We recently celebrated Arturo’s 25th year with Frank Pepe’s. Hired by Elizabeth and Serafina, Frank’s daughters, Arturo has spent his entire career making The Original New Haven Apizza, doing what he does best day in and day out.
Arturo is old-school in the best way. He’s seen generations of the business evolve, but his commitment has never changed.
When asked what he planned to do with his $25K anniversary bonus, his answer said it all: “This is for my granddaughter.”
Congratulations, Arturo, and thank you for 25 years of excellence, loyalty, and pride in the Frank Pepe craft..."

They're smart enough with FL to basically keeping it east coast .. NY and NJ retirement and re-lo land. Familiar pizza styles.

West coast belongs to Chicago and Canada, probably including Syracuse.

 

[Waquoit]

Two words: Annette O'Toole

 

[sledog]

Is the chain version of Sally's going to be better than New Jersey local pizza? Maybe but the bar is higher here than say in the Midwest. Lobbing 25 Sally's into New Jersey seems like a recipe for failure.

Almost any pizza, from what I've gathered in 20 NJ yrs, is better than NJ.

 

[CL82]

Almost any pizza, from what I've gathered in 20 NJ yrs, is better than NJ.

Actually, I feel like New Jersey pizza is pretty solid, better than New York, in my opinion. It's just not anywhere near as good as Connecticut pizza

 

[karstenkibbe]

Almost any pizza, from what I've gathered in 20 NJ yrs, is better than NJ.

I’ve had way too much pizza in NJ, and I must say that there is top-tier Trenton tomato pie, bar/tavern style, and traditional “NY style” pizza all over the state. It’s hard NOT to find quality pizza in NJ - unless you refuse to acknowledge pizza can be great outside of New Haven apizza.

 

[storrsroars]

I’ve had way too much pizza in NJ, and I must say that there is top-tier Trenton tomato pie, bar/tavern style, and traditional “NY style” pizza all over the state. It’s hard NOT to find quality pizza in NJ - unless you refuse to acknowledge pizza can be great outside of New Haven apizza.

I agree there are plenty of places with solid pizza, but there are also some awful indie places, at least around Montclair, where I worked a lot a few summers ago. The slice places within a five minute drive were all forgettable. However, as a Colony fan I was happy at Star Tavern. Otherwise, had to get well out of Montclair to get to places like Santillo's or Grumpys.

 

[Fishy]

If you view it as an attempt to create a chain version of Sally's, it's doomed to failure. If you view it as an attempt to capitalize on the brand recognition of Sally's specifically and New Haven pizza generally then it has an opportunity to be successful.

To me, the questionable judgment is the massive rollout in states that already have a good local pizza presence. Is the chain version of Sally's going to be better than New Jersey local pizza? Maybe but the bar is higher here than say in the Midwest. Lobbing 25 Sally's into New Jersey seems like a recipe for failure. And I say this, despite the fact that Connecticut pizza is vastly superior to New Jersey pizza. That said, I'll definitely give it a try if there's one near me.

@HooperScooper

It’ll fail before two dozen stores, let alone 1000.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I agree there are plenty of places with solid pizza, but there are also some awful indie places, at least around Montclair, where I worked a lot a few summers ago. The slice places within a five minute drive were all forgettable. However, as a Colony fan I was happy at Star Tavern. Otherwise, had to get well out of Montclair to get to places like Santillo's or Grumpys.

Three of the places I had in mind when I wrote that post!

 

[Flipside]

It’ll fail before two dozen stores, let alone 1000.

Given restaurant failure rates, this isn't any kind of a novel prediction

On the optimistic side, there are plenty of 'unique' restaurants that have successfully scaled, globally ... have had two sets of South African friends visit, and took them to Nando's (in Arlington, Virginia) --- their reviews were on point

Nando's - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"Nando's, founded in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a multinational restaurant chain known for its Portuguese flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, inspired by the rich culinary traditions of both Portuguese and African cultures."

"Growth and Expansion
By the early 1990s, Nando's began to expand internationally. The chain was acquired by Capricorn Ventures International in 1992, which helped facilitate its growth into new markets, including the UK, where the first restaurant opened in Ealing Common. Today, Nando's operates over 1,200 outlets in 30 countries, making it a well-known brand globally."

 

[storrsroars]

Love their Peri-Peri. Never even knew they had restaurants.

 

[Flipside]

Love their Peri-Peri. Never even knew they had restaurants.

https://www.nandosperiperi.com/find

https://www.nandosperiperi.com/about-us

 

[storrsroars]

https://www.nandosperiperi.com/find

https://www.nandosperiperi.com/about-us

It's in many supermarkets here. No problem finding it,

 

[CL82]

I agree there are plenty of places with solid pizza, but there are also some awful indie places, at least around Montclair, where I worked a lot a few summers ago. The slice places within a five minute drive were all forgettable. However, as a Colony fan I was happy at Star Tavern. Otherwise, had to get well out of Montclair to get to places like Santillo's or Grumpys.

I've wanted to get to Star Tavern for years. I've heard good things about it but I've never gotten to it.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I've wanted to get to Star Tavern for years. I've heard good things about it but I've never gotten to it.

It’s quite good. Top three tavern style in NJ. If you want exceptional NJ pizza that isn’t a huge schlep, try Casano’s in Rutherford. I’m in love with their pizzas. They do a few different styles, including a New Haven-style apizza that gives off Roseland vibes.

 

[Kitaman]

I've been discovered and now I'm a Star!

 

[Lafayette]

In college years Gumbys was considered top tier…but then our risk processing brains were not fully formed which reminds me: kids stay away from drugs!

These days in Jersey City we had the NY Times proclaim the best pizza in NY is in Jersey City, NJ and named Razza Pizzeria Argintale.

Ever since that article you pay $18 for a pizza and $10 for management attitude = $28 pizza and from a value standpoint (money for wht ya get) Gumbies seems a deal.

 

[HooperScooper]

In college years Gumbys was considered top tier…but then our risk processing brains were not fully formed which reminds me: kids stay away from drugs!

I read this to my wife and she gave me the yuck face. Gumby's was known as the bottom of the barrel pizza near campus.

 

[Jaydumo20]

I read this to my wife and she gave me the yuck face. Gumby's was known as the bottom of the barrel pizza near campus.

I have a fondness for any establishment that had 70s brown paneling. At least that's how i remember it
KJs wouldnt have been the same if it were blue

 

[Lafayette]

I read this to my wife and she gave me the yuck face. Gumby's was known as the bottom of the barrel pizza near campus.

Try Stretches on Main St. in Newington. Been written up numerous times in Courant and even NY Times. Compared to Pepe's in one article I read.

Newington? My HS!!!

 

[Lafayette]

I read this to my wife and she gave me the yuck face. Gumby's was known as the bottom of the barrel pizza near campus.

see how the colonel feels when you whisper: piels beer!