What shall we get? A pizza expert’s guide to Connecticut’s primo pies.

What shall we get? A pizza expert’s guide to Connecticut’s primo pies

New Haven native Colin Caplan is a recognized pizza authority. We asked him to share his favorite picks from the top five pizzerias in Connecticut. Caplan runs five pizza tours, including a six-hour Pizza Lovers Tour of New Haven, produced the 2019 documentary Pizza: A Love Story, and set the Guinness World Record for hosting the Largest Pizza Party with 4,525 attendees.

Modern Apizza

The mozzarella pizza is exceptional here, perfectly blending flavors, textures, and gooey delight. For meat lovers, the Italian Bomb stands out, combining three meats and four vegetables with sauce and cheese in a thin yet powerful layer of flavor and texture.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

Try the classic sauce and grated cheese pie with garlic—the original Neapolitan tomato pie made famous by Pepe’s coal-fired ovens. The white clam pizza is a signature dish that captures the New Haven spirit, linking the local Quinnipiac shoreline tradition with beloved immigrant flatbread.

Sally’s Apizza

The original sauce pie with added garlic was the preferred choice of founder Salvatore Consiglio.

"This is the original Neapolitan tomato pie, tried and true, immortalized in the alchemy of Pepe’s massive coal-fired ovens."

Author’s summary: Colin Caplan highlights Connecticut’s best pizzas, praising classic recipes that bring together tradition, local flavors, and expert craftsmanship.

The Boston Globe — 2025-11-07