Pizza in MA

[Rocktheworld]

I live out in Grafton, which most of you know is by Worcester. I’m willing to drive 25 minutes from Grafton; wouldn’t want pizza to be sitting in my car any longer than that driving it home. I don’t have any real specific expectations but have fairly high standards, growing up in NJ and spending half my adult life in the northeast.

I’m new to the area after moving out of Boston/Cambridge and don’t know if I can trust the locals to have similar standards. What recommendations I’ve had so far look awful online/yelp. I’ve heard Frankie’s in Worcester is good, but then see the wait time is often worse than your best New Haven spots on a busy night (2-3 hours). I haven’t actually tried any pizza here as of yet.

Anyone know Worcester County pizza well?

 

[HuskyHawk]

No, not really. I'm in Norfolk, but on the edge of Worcester. Dave P gave a strong score to a place in Chelmsford, but that's probably outside your range.

The pizza I think Mass does best is "South Shore Bar Pizza". But it's less likely you can find it out that far.

Here's an oddball. Bay State Brewing. A brewery at a hockey rink and yet, I remember thinking the pizza was surprisingly good. Won't make you forget New Haven, but better than I expected.

Generally speaking, Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, is in the heart of the Italian neighborhood. There are some very good Italian restaurants there and the pizza will probably be solid, at the very least not Greek "house of" style. A list, not mine.

I have not been, but Frankies seems legit.

 

[Dove]

How close is Treehouse Brewing in Charlton?

 

[HuskyHawk]

How close is Treehouse Brewing in Charlton?

It's not that far. But that location doesn't have the pizza they have at some others. Unless that has changed.

 

[Rocktheworld]

No, not really. I'm in Norfolk, but on the edge of Worcester. Dave P gave a strong score to a place in Chelmsford, but that's probably outside your range.

The pizza I think Mass does best is "South Shore Bar Pizza". But it's less likely you can find it out that far.

Here's an oddball. Bay State Brewing. A brewery at a hockey rink and yet, I remember thinking the pizza was surprisingly good. Won't make you forget New Haven, but better than I expected.

Generally speaking, Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, is in the heart of the Italian neighborhood. There are some very good Italian restaurants there and the pizza will probably be solid, at the very least not Greek "house of" style. A list, not mine.

I have not been, but Frankies seems legit.

I’ve actually been to Bay State a handful of times because they let dogs inside, which was huge when we first moved here with our puppy. Don’t think I’ve had their pizza yet though because I had no real reason to believe theirs was good; but I appreciate that and the other info

 

[Rocktheworld]

How close is Treehouse Brewing in Charlton?

I’m close but they just do food trucks

 

[HooperScooper]

A topic right up my alley. We are pizza snobs and live not too far from Grafton. The best you can do around here is Blue Square Pizza in either Hopkinton or the newly opened one in Northborough. Hopkinton is probably closer to Grafton. The NY style is my favorite. Others in my family like their Detroit style. The Upside Grandma is also very good. Just a warning that the wait is pretty long on Friday and Saturday nights.

Blue Square Pizza

Experience the best pizza in Hopkinton, MA at Blue Square Pizza. We are renowned for our simple yet elevated Detroit-style, Grandma pie and New York-style round pies. Visit one of the best restaurants in Hopkinton today!

bluesquarepizza.com

Portnoy was here about a month ago and here is his review of Blue Square.

 

[HooperScooper]

Besides Blue Square there isn't much good around here. We drive to Frank Pepe's in Chestnut Hill and Watertown a lot. My son says I love Frankie's in Worcester is pretty good. I'm not aware of any other good pizza places in Worcester.

The place in Chelmsford that HuskyHawk mentioned is Joanie's. Place is legit. We stop by anytime we're up that way but definitely too far from Grafton to bring it home. There are no tables to eat there so it's take out only.

Portnoy reviewed Joanie's a couple years ago.



We also go to Max and Leo's in Sudbury and Newton. Very good.

 

[HuskyHawk]

A topic right up my alley. We are pizza snobs and live not too far from Grafton. The best you can do around here is Blue Square Pizza in either Hopkinton or the newly opened one in Northborough. Hopkinton is probably closer to Grafton. The NY style is my favorite. Others in my family like their Detroit style. The Upside Grandma is also very good. Just a warning that the wait is pretty long on Friday and Saturday nights.

Blue Square Pizza

Experience the best pizza in Hopkinton, MA at Blue Square Pizza. We are renowned for our simple yet elevated Detroit-style, Grandma pie and New York-style round pies. Visit one of the best restaurants in Hopkinton today!

bluesquarepizza.com

Portnoy was here about a month ago and here is his review of Blue Square.

I work in Hopkinton. Will need to hit Blue Square. Rail Trail in Milford is pretty good, a bit garlicky for me. Good taps though. Prezzo in Milford is also a solid pizza spot.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Besides Blue Square there isn't much good around here. We drive to Frank Pepe's in Chestnut Hill and Watertown a lot. My son says I love Frankie's in Worcester is pretty good. I'm not aware of any other good pizza places in Worcester.

The place in Chelmsford that HuskyHawk mentioned is Joanie's. Place is legit. We stop by anytime we're up that way but definitely too far from Grafton to bring it home. There are no tables to eat there so it's take out only.

Portnoy reviewed Joanie's a couple years ago.



We also go to Max and Leo's in Sudbury and Newton. Very good.

We almost got excited when we saw there was a “Pepe’s” in Worcester lol obviously not associated with NH. When we lived in Cambridge we got Pepe’s from Watertown several times. Yeah I’m aware of Joanie’s and want to go, have a feeling that’ll be part of a 495 trip to Portsmouth or something

 

[Deepster]

We almost got excited when we saw there was a “Pepe’s” in Worcester lol obviously not associated with NH. When we lived in Cambridge we got Pepe’s from Watertown several times. Yeah I’m aware of Joanie’s and want to go, have a feeling that’ll be part of a 495 trip to Portsmouth or something

The Pepe's outside New Haven are overrated. Except when they're not and you get a great pie.

 

[Rocktheworld]

I should also say that I’m really in North Grafton on the border with Millbury, and the main drag of shops for Shrewsbury is 10-15 minutes away; so it’s not like I’m in actual Grafton such that Hopkinton is nearby. I’m actually closer to downtown Worcester than I am to Upton by a decent margin

 

[HuskyHawk]

I should also say that I’m really in North Grafton on the border with Millbury, and the main drag of shops for Shrewsbury is 10-15 minutes away; so it’s not like I’m in actual Grafton such that Hopkinton is nearby. I’m actually closer to downtown Worcester than I am to Upton by a decent margin

In that case though, you're closer to an exit to the Pike than I would have guessed. But you're not to far from Shrewsbury St. in Worcester, so you can experiment with those places. I used to live in Shrewsbury when I moved back to New England from CA, don't recall any good pizza. The Blue Square location in Northborough Might be close enough because it is right on Rt 20.

I'd be more helpful with beer than pizza. You're in a pretty good beer location.

 

[HooperScooper]

I should also say that I’m really in North Grafton on the border with Millbury, and the main drag of shops for Shrewsbury is 10-15 minutes away; so it’s not like I’m in actual Grafton such that Hopkinton is nearby. I’m actually closer to downtown Worcester than I am to Upton by a decent margin

So basically you live in the outskirts of no where? 😂 I rarely go out that way for anything except on the Mass Pike to get to Connecticut or Tree House in Charlton. If I can think of any other pizza places out that way that people recommend I will post it. But you're pretty much in a pizza desert out there. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law lived in Grafton about 15 years ago and we got pizza from some place there and it was gross.

How's the commute to Cambridge going?

 

[HooperScooper]

The Pepe's outside New Haven are overrated. Except when they're not and you get a great pie.

We've had that discussion in our family. The quality of the pizzas at the satellite locations is definitely not consistent. I noticed sometimes the ones up here in MA are too thick. And I think that is due to the staff who are making the pizzas. When you go to New Haven it's probably always the same people making the pizzas and they're more experienced. Just tough to get that consistency at all these other locations.

 

[Rocktheworld]

So basically you live in the outskirts of no where? 😂 I rarely go out that way for anything except on the Mass Pike to get to Connecticut or Tree House in Charlton. If I can think of any other pizza places out that way that people recommend I will post it. But you're pretty much in a pizza desert out there. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law lived in Grafton about 15 years ago and we got pizza from some place there and it was gross.

Yup, hence this thread. It’s a nice town, quiet, good schools, and proximity to Worcester means we have at least a few options for all the ethnic cuisines we like; but pizza seems to be lacking.

How's the commute to Cambridge going?

I’ve gotten fairly used to the time (about an hour in, hour fifteenish out), but I just know the mileage isn’t worth driving. I’ll be taking the commuter rail to Boston Landing and probably get a cheapish electric scooter to go over to Cambridge via north Allston and Harvard (I work right by Inman Square). 20k miles a year on just my commute means I would probably have to buy a new car in no more than 5 years; and with this new home and us trying to have a kid soon, I’m not trying to add on a 50k expenditure if I can avoid it

 

[Rocktheworld]

In that case though, you're closer to an exit to the Pike than I would have guessed. But you're not to far from Shrewsbury St. in Worcester, so you can experiment with those places. I used to live in Shrewsbury when I moved back to New England from CA, don't recall any good pizza. The Blue Square location in Northborough Might be close enough because it is right on Rt 20.

I'd be more helpful with beer than pizza. You're in a pretty good beer location.

Yeah let me know what you like beer wise. I’ve always been a huge brewery guy and found some solid dog-friendly options so far. Bay State, Treehouse, Seventh Wave in Medway…

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yeah let me know what you like beer wise. I’ve always been a huge brewery guy and found some solid dog-friendly options so far. Bay State, Treehouse, Seventh Wave in Medway…

Not dog friendly but Armsby Abby is a must visit. Food is good too but the tap list is legendary and usually includes Hill Farmstead. Greater Good for big IPAs. We talked about Cold Harbor already (pizza is decent too). There are a bunch of small places west of Worcester kind of in the boonies that are fun. Need to remember names.

As for the commute/town, brutal but not as bad as mine from Almaden Valley to Palo Alto. When Pike interchange construction ends it will be better. I'm too old for that now. That whole corridor has been developing since I moved here. Up and down 146. It's among the last semi-affordable places in eastern Mass (the area down Rt 24 has grown for the same reason). So it should serve you well. Maybe you can find a job closer eventually. It's really obvious when you look at the growth map. Inside 495 is mostly losing people, and inside 128 losing them faster.

These are the fastest growing and shrinking cities in Mass.; look up your town

The U.S. Census recently released population estimates for every community in the country. See how fast your hometown is growing.

www.masslive.com

 

[Rocktheworld]

Not dog friendly but Armsby Abby is a must visit. Food is good too but the tap list is legendary and usually includes Hill Farmstead.

Heard about this place, it’s on my list for sure

Greater Good for big IPAs. We talked about Cold Harbor already (pizza is decent too). There are a bunch of small places west of Worcester kind of in the boonies that are fun. Need to remember names.

Know of cold harbor and it’s on my list but not dog friendly. Kind of surprised/bummed how few breweries, even those without food, don’t allow dogs. But I was spoiled in San Diego.

To be honest I used to pound big IPAs but they are so bloating for me now I have had to shift to lighter stuff. Love stouts and German beers

As for the commute/town, brutal but not as bad as mine from Almaden Valley to Palo Alto. When Pike interchange construction ends it will be better. I'm too old for that now. That whole corridor has been developing since I moved here. Up and down 146. It's among the last semi-affordable places in eastern Mass (the area down Rt 24 has grown for the same reason). So it should serve you well. Maybe you can find a job closer eventually. It's really obvious when you look at the growth map. Inside 495 is mostly losing people, and inside 128 losing them faster.

These are the fastest growing and shrinking cities in Mass.; look up your town

The U.S. Census recently released population estimates for every community in the country. See how fast your hometown is growing.

www.masslive.com

Yeah, seems like tons of people (including us) are getting out priced of certainly anything within 95, and the affordable towns inside 495 aren’t near the pike… so you’re talking about 20 minutes on 495 just to sit in traffic on the pike… at least with the train I can read or be semi-productive. I work in healthcare so with UMass Memorial right by us, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye open

 

[HuskyHawk]

Heard about this place, it’s on my list for sure

Know of cold harbor and it’s on my list but not dog friendly. Kind of surprised/bummed how few breweries, even those without food, don’t allow dogs. But I was spoiled in San Diego.

To be honest I used to pound big IPAs but they are so bloating for me now I have had to shift to lighter stuff. Love stouts and German beers

Yeah, seems like tons of people (including us) are getting out priced of certainly anything within 95, and the affordable towns inside 495 aren’t near the pike… so you’re talking about 20 minutes on 495 just to sit in traffic on the pike… at least with the train I can read or be semi-productive. I work in healthcare so with UMass Memorial right by us, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye open

Cold Harbor has a full restaurant. If you go you'll see dogs wouldn't work.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Cold Harbor has a full restaurant. If you go you'll see dogs wouldn't work.

Yeah and the food looks awesome, we called to ask about outdoor seating with the dog but they don’t even allow that. Again I guess I was spoiled having a dog in SD where essentially every brewery, restaurant, cafe, you name it, would allow dogs if they had outdoor seating.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yeah and the food looks awesome, we called to ask about outdoor seating with the dog but they don’t even allow that. Again I guess I was spoiled having a dog in SD where essentially every brewery, restaurant, cafe, you name it, would allow dogs if they had outdoor seating.

You can't get to the outside area without going through the inside area. That's the reason.

 

[Rocktheworld]

You can't get to the outside area without going through the inside area. That's the reason.

Got it, bummer. I know we’ll be going some day when we can leave the dog at home, it’s only like 15 minutes from us