Best Pizza in Connecticut (With Interactive Map)

Legends 

The generally agreed-upon best-of-the-best in Connecticut pizza. These pizzerias are often at the top of national lists and have competed with each other for decades, much to the delight of pizza fans.

1. The Original  Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana  |  New Haven

Everyone calls it Pepe’s, but the full name is important to why this legend is perennially named the best (or among the best) pizza in the U.S. Every pie is blessed by authenticity, tradition and the taste derived from the original coal-fired pizza ovens. Frank Pepe came to the U.S. in 1909 at 16 from Italy’s Amalfi Coast. He would open a bakery first and then, in 1925, he and his wife, Filomena, started making apizza. Today Pepe’s original location is always overflowing with pizza disciples, and there are satellites in Fairfield, Manchester, Danbury, West Hartford and at Mohegan Sun, with one coming to Boston. Legend, empire—call it what you will but Pepe’s white clam, seasonal fresh tomato and white spinach, mushroom and gorgonzola pies remain the holy grails for pizza lovers.

(203) 865-7602, pepespizzeria.com

2. Sally’s Apizza  |  New Haven

The war between Sally’s and Pepe’s fans has waged for decades—and there are devoted legions in both camps. Located a few doors down from Pepe’s, Sally’s has been a Wooster Street institution since Salvatore and Flora Consiglio opened its doors in 1938. And it’s still a family affair here as the Consiglio kids now hold the reins and stick to what’s always worked. Thin crust, charred edges and asymmetrical wedges are Sally’s signatures and pies continue to be made in the same coal-fired oven. The décor also hasn’t changed and the line can still be long to get in the door, but those who are firmly on Team Sally’s say it’s always worth the wait.

(203) 624-5271, sallysapizza.com

3. Modern Apizza  |  New Haven

The third highly acclaimed legend in New Haven’s pizza pantheon, Modern is located nearby on State Street. The pies are fired in an oil-fueled brick oven instead of a coal-fired oven, but Modern sticks to the thin-crust, irregular sliced pies that are the Elm City’s calling card. The restaurant went by the name State Street Pizza when it opened in 1934, and may have changed its name but not the location or the quality of the pizza. Nearly any topping is available, but the classic Pizza Margarita with fresh mozzarella from Liuzzi Cheese in North Haven, the Clams Casino pie with bacon and peppers, and the Italian Bomb pizza with bacon, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, onion, pepper and garlic are all must-tries.

(203) 776-5306, modernapizza.com

4.  Roseland Apizza  |  Derby

Roseland Apizza is not for the fair-weather pizza fan: It’s tucked away in a residential neighborhood in the north of Derby, making it a challenge to find (although you can follow the long lines that form on weekends); the place is a cozy, no-frills, old-school Italian restaurant where the wait can be long and the service lacking; and the price of a pie can be steep—a large plain mozzarella starts at $20. But those who persevere and make the pilgrimage are amply rewarded with amazing New Haven-style pizza, featuring a thin, chewy crust and delicious toppings such as homemade sausage and fresh seafood.

(203) 735-0494

5. BAR  |  New Haven

After a few beers any slice of pizza can seem like the best decision you made all day, but when you drink at BAR in New Haven (which brews its own beers) you have the advantage of ordering some of the city’s best pizza—seriously. Large, oblong, thin-crust pies have been served here since BAR’s opening in the industrially chic BruRM in 1996. Toppings are diverse and all delicious, but the mashed potato pizza sets BAR apart. Pizza can be ordered for dinner all week and lunch Wednesday through Sunday, and by the slice as the hours grow late and dancing in the nightclub works up appetites.

(203) 495-1111, barnightclub.com

6. Legends in the Making

These spots have rising profiles. Whether through attention to the craft of pie-tossing or savvy franchising, they are making a name for themselves and, in our opinion, could keep pace with today’s legends in the future.

7. Colony Grill  |  Stamford, Fairfield, Milford

Stamford’s Colony Grill is known—and has been loved since 1935—for its simplicity: no fancy décor, no upscale dress code and only one item on the menu (pizza), so you know there’s focused dedication to crafting the ideal complement for a night of socializing. Even more, the ultra thin-crust pies (super chewy, plus more room for beer!) are either served with or without Colony’s custom hot oil and only a handful of basic, traditional toppings (meatball, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, anchovies, etc.), so it’s a haven that draws bar-style pizza purists from all over. The recently added Fairfield and Milford locations have been thriving, proving that by keeping it simple, Colony has been keeping it delicious.

colonygrill.com

8. Da Legna  |  New Haven

When Connecticut Magazine told the world about desserts wizard Tommy Juliano at Community Table in Litchfield County, we asked about his favorite restaurants. High on the list is Da Legna, the wood-fired pizza and gourmet Italian place of his friend Daniel Parillo, a co-owner. Parillo’s parents came to Hamden from Italy, he grew up speaking Italian, developed a passion for pizza early, earned his stripes by opening Portofino in North Madison, and arrived in New Haven with Da Legna in December of 2011. He and chef Francisco Pereira produce flash-fired pizzas so inspired Da Legna is flirting with the legendary status of Pepe’s, Sally’s and Modern. Taste the pies and you’ll see why.

(203) 495-9999, dalegna.com

9. Tarry Lodge  |  New Haven, Westport

With big names Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich behind this restaurant group, there was no question that Tarry Lodge would be a success. Its brand of contemporary Italian cuisine has made an impression on diners in Westport, Port Chester, N.Y., and most recently New Haven, where the pizza competition is already stiff. But the pies at Tarry Lodge are thin-crusted, authentic and truly delicious. These gourmet pizzas are topped with some delectable ingredient combinations like goat cheese, pistachios and truffle honey or burrata with pancetta and chili oil or guanciale with black truffles and egg, and all are cooked in the restaurant’s dedicated pizza oven. Opened just a few months ago on Park Street, Tarry Lodge has slid into the New Haven dining scene easily.

(203) 672-0765, tarrylodge.com

10. ​Bufalina  |  Guilford

At Bufalina it’s all a numbers game. Square feet of the restaurant: 325. Time it takes to cook a 12-inch pizza in the 900-degree wood-fired oven: 90 seconds. The number of wondrous, blistered, Neapolitan-style pizzas they make daily from a kitchen the size of a hall closet: seemingly hundreds. One visit to this itsy-bitsy pizzeria and you’ll understand why it’s a legend in the making. Husband-and-wife team Melissa Pellegrino and Matteo Scialabba pay serious attention to the details learned from months of research in Italy. Special 00 double milled flour, San Marzano tomatoes, the best local cheeses and seasonal influences are just some of what make the BYOB Bufalina shine. The rest awaits discovery in that first bite of heaven.

(203) 458-1377, bufalinact.com

Beer Bar Pizza

Pizza and beer is a classic combination. These restaurants know that and have made impressive beer lists a staple of the menus, pairing ideal brews with hand-crafted pies. 

1. Fire Engine Pizza Company  |  Bridgeport

After a fire destroyed his original pizza restaurant, Marty McCarthy bought a fire engine and converted it to a pizza truck, and following its success, brought that theme to his new place on Fairfield Avenue in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. Firefighting paraphernalia hangs on the walls, there’s an inviting brick-faced rectangular bar—with an excellent selection of seasonal drafts and craft brews—but ultimately it’s the delicious specialty pizzas with bubbly crusts from McCarthy’s brick oven that draws the crowd, gems like the Fruitti Di Mare (laden with clams, lobster and shrimp), the Buffalo Chicken and the Loaded Mashed Potato (with garlic mashed potato, scallions, bacon, caramelized onion and cheddar).

(203) 333-3473, thefireenginepizzaco.com

2. Krust Pizza Bar  |  Middletown

As soon as you walk through the door of this downtown Middletown hotspot, you are struck by the hip, young vibe, but after you sit at the bar and start talking to the staff, you realize that there’s also an honest passion that goes into every facet of Krust, especially the pizza. Inspired by the classic Neopolitan style and wood-fired in a custom oval oven, the pizzas here are as tasty as they are creative: the Sunny Side has garlic, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, pancetta and egg, while the Meat is topped with pancetta, pepperoni, salami, tomato and mozzarella. The libations here are also a source of pride, from whiskey, rum, bourbon and scotch to the dozen or so local craft brews on tap that change almost daily.

(860) 358-9816, krustpizzabar.com

3. Coal House Pizza  |  Stamford

With 52 craft beers on tap, beer cocktails, beer events and bargains like a $12 per pitcher deal for brews from Connecticut breweries, this is a place that certainly understands the deep spiritual connection between hops and dough. “In many ways we look to the American craft beer revolution for inspiration in what we do,” says owner Gerard Robertson. “Like these brewers, we strive for authenticity with a free-spirited approach.” The restaurant’s craft pizza is cooked at high temperatures that sear in all the flavors and add a delicious char and smoke taste. During a recent trip we were able to wash the pizza down with hard-to-find gems of brewing such as Sip of Sunshine IPA and the soon-to-be-renamed Gandhi-Bot from New England Brewing Co.

(203) 977-7700, coalhousepizza.com

4. Stanziato’s  |  Danbury

Minutes from the Danbury Fair Mall, Stanziato’s is a gourmet pizza and craft beer oasis. Specialty small pies are prepared with farm-to-table ingredients in an Italian-made wood-fired oven and have a crust that is crunchy and smoky on the outside yet flakey and airy on the inside. Try red sauce classics like the Margarita or go for a white pizza such as the delectable Totes McGoats topped with mozzarella, goat cheese, chopped spinach and a squeeze of lemon. The bar features a constantly rotating and curated list of great and hard-to-find beer from breweries in Connecticut and beyond. There’s often at least one sour beer on tap, a wine-like tart style that pairs well with pizza.

(203) 885-1057, stanziatos.com

5. Brick + Wood  |  Fairfield

One of the newest additions to the Fairfield dining scene, this is not “just another brick” in the pizza beer bar wall. The small pie pizzas are topped with decadent fresh mozzarella prepared at the restaurant’s mozzarella bar. During a recent visit, the bar’s draft beer list included brews from established craft beer players like Cisco Brewers and Allagash Brewing Co. In addition Brick + Wood has more than 20 wines on tap, which allows the restaurant to take a page from the craft beer/brewery playbook and offer flights with samples of four different wines.

(203) 939-1400, lovelifeandpizza.com

Unusual places

Great pizza can be found anywhere, from bakeries to train stations. These are not locations where it is traditionally found, but we dare you to step outside the pizza box. 

1. Nica’s Market  |  New Haven

With its crowded shelves of artisan pastas, imported olive oils, fresh produce and meat, Nica’s Market has long been beloved as East Rock’s small grocery wonder. But the market’s true strength is its deli, where Italian salads, monstrous grinders and pastries are served daily. This is also where you can take away a slice of thick, airy Sicilian or thin-crust pizza for lunch, or get an entire pie. Whole pizzas are made to order and can be topped with any number of ingredients from pepperoni to eggplant. Try specialty pies like the Sorrentina with fresh tomato, ricotta, eggplant, basil and mozzarella, or the Campagnola with artichoke, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese.

(203) 787-5919, nicasmarket.com

2. ​Mozzicato DePasquale Bakery, Pastry Shop & Café   |  Hartford

Most Connecticut folks think they have to go to Boston’s North End or New York City to find authentic Italian bakery-cafés. Proving otherwise is Mozzicato, divided between a gleaming bakery with a staggering array of cookies, pastries and cakes, and an adjacent but separate café, which offers everything from breakfast or espresso at the “bar” to a hearty lunch, or espresso martinis with dinner. The location near Hartford Hospital and Trinity College gives Mozzicato a cosmopolitan following, and its best-kept secret may be the Sicilian pan pizzas. Made with bread dough, these thick, chewy delights are always available in a few varieties (like sausage-and-peppers) to be warmed in the oven and enjoyed immediately or taken home. The establishment created by Gino Mozzicato after he arrived in the U.S. from Italy in 1968 will make a pizza any way you want it—and everything here is a true bargain; also true at the satellites in Plainville and Wallingford.

(860) 296-0426; mozzicatobakery.com

3. Nauti Dolphin Pizza  |  Fairfield

Terrific pizza in a train station? You are on the right track in Fairfield, where Nauti Dolphin has gained a well-earned reputation for serving  delicious slices (perfect for commuters) and whole pies (take-home after a long day), all out of a cozy location alongside the northbound rails. Unlike other pizza places, there are two kinds served here: If you order by the slice, it’s a wide, thin-crust New York-style piece that you get, ideal for folding in half as they like to do down in the City; get an entire pizza and it’s a thicker, crunchier, crustier version, ideal for piling on the fresh toppings. The take-home pizza also offers more options, from a classic Margherita to a Clams Casino or even a Hawaiian-style pie.

(203) 256-1877

4. ​Vocatura Bakery  |  Norwich

The best thing coming out of the oven at this no-frills, old-school bakery isn’t the legendary made-daily Italian bread, or the cannoli and other Italian delicacies that will leave your sweet tooth singing “That’s Amore”—it’s the pizza. The square sheet-style (not Sicilian) pizza is a hidden gem with a cult following in the area. The crust has a unique crunchiness and the toppings are exceptional. Just remember it’s a grab and go establishment with an emphasis on food quality rather than customer service or flashy décor. Our advice: “Take the pizza, leave the cannoli,” or better yet take both.

(860) 887-2220

Best of the Rest

These places also make great pizza, bet it classic style or thin crust, and are well worth a try.

Michaelangelo Pizza & Subs | West Haven
(203) 389-1603

Otto Pizza | Chester
(860) 526-9445, ottochester.com

Camille’s Wood Fired Pizza | Tolland
(860) 896-6976, camillespizza.com

Bohemian Pizza | Litchfield
(860) 567-3980

Rizzuto’s | Bethel, Westport & West Hartford
rizzutos.com

Willington Pizza | Willington
(860) 429-7433, willingtonpizza.com

Vero Pizza | Plainville
(860) 846-0491, veropizzact.com

Al Forno Brick Oven Pizzeria & Ristorante | Old Saybrook
(860) 399-4166, alforno.net

The Little Rendezvous | Meriden
(203) 235-0110, thelittlevous.com

Mad Greek | Southbury
(203) 264-3080

Cappie’s Apizza | Hamden
(203) 553-7518, cappiesapizza.com

John & Maria’s | East Haven 
(203) 466-1550, johnandmariaspizza.com

Papa’s Pizza | Milford
(203) 874-0215, papaspizzaonline.com

Pizzeria Marzano | Torrington
(860) 618-0875, pizzeria-marzano.com/

Pizzeria Lauretano | Bethel
(203) 792-1500, pizzerialaurentano.com

The Upper Crust Cucina Italiano | New Milford
(860) 350-0006, theuppercrustcucina.com

Julio’s Wood Fired Pizza & Grill | Southbury
(203) 264-7878, julioswoodfiredpizzagrill.com

Locali Pizza Bar Kitchen | New Canaan
(203) 920-1440, localipizzabar.com

Pizzetta | Mystic
(860) 536-4443, pizzettamystic.com

Mango’s Wood-Fired Pizza Co. | Mystic
(860) 572-0600, mangospizza.com

Kitchen Zinc | New Haven
(203) 772-3002, kitchenzinc.com

Bar Sugo | Norwalk
(203) 956-7134, barsugo.com

Grimaldi’s | Woodbridge
(203) 556-9889, grimaldiswoodbridge.com

ReNapoli Pizza Restaurant | Old Greenwich
(203) 698-9300, renapolipizza.com

First & Last Tavern | Hartford, Avon, Middletown & Plainville
(860) 956-6000, firstandlasttavern.com

http://www.connecticutmag.com/Connecticut-Magazine/March-2015/Best-Pizza-in-Connecticut/