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 expert. We asked him to share his favorite orders from the top five pizzerias in Connecticut, ranked by the Connecticut Pizza Trail and Caplan’s own list. Caplan runs five pizza tours, including the epic six-hour Pizza Lovers Tour of New Haven, produced a 2019 documentary titled Pizza: A Love Story, and set a Guinness World Record this year for hosting the Largest Pizza Party with 4,525 attendees. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Modern Apizza

The mozzarella pizza here is sublime and perfectly balanced, delivering all the flavors, textures, and gooey delight pizza should provide. Meat lovers should try the Italian Bomb, which includes three meats and four vegetables, combined with sauce and cheese in the thinnest, most flavorful layer.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

Try the original sauce and grated cheese pizza with garlic, a true classic known as the original Neapolitan tomato pie, perfected in Pepe’s massive coal-fired ovens. For true aficionados, Pepe’s white clam pizza captures the New Haven spirit, blending the local Native Quinnipiac shoreline tradition with the beloved immigrant flatbread.

Sally’s Apizza

The original sauce pie with added garlic was founder Salvatore Consiglio’s favorite.

“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 top pizzerias, detailing distinctive favorites that capture both tradition and flavor, showcasing the state’s rich pizza heritage.

The Boston Globe — 2025-11-07