Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana: Original pie is good - See 1,809 traveler reviews, 439 candid photos, and great deals for New Haven, CT, at Tripadvisor. Serving our famous coal fired pizzas at 21 Universal Blvd in Warwick, Rhode Island! ( Log Out /  This page was last edited on 26 December 2020, at 21:38. I’ve got a pizza bucket list. (See the peels on the left.) People were happy. The inside is spacious with plenty of seating (booths perfect for us) and was barren when we showed up. There are currently 11 Frank Pepe locations, though one in Maryland would be the farthest afield from its original New Haven Location. The Original Tomato Pie w/ Mozzarella. I had no choice but to order a white clam pizza, the stuff of legend at Frank Pepe. Frank Pepe died on September 6, 1969. But for me, the only place to go is New Haven: the oven, the atmosphere…you can’t replicate that anywhere else. We sat. Come enjoy our beautiful pies! Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, commonly known as Pepe's /ˈpɛpiz/, is a popular pizza restaurant in the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, at 163 Wooster Street. Simple and tasty. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, commonly known as Pepe's /ˈpɛpiz/, is a popular pizza restaurant in the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, at 163 Wooster Street. Pepe was born in Maiori, Italy, and immigrated to New Haven in 1909 when he was a teenager. We have been to the original location in Warwick, another in Hartford, and now this place. It was loud. It all started back in the early 1900s when an Italian immigrant named Frank Pepe arrived in America. Voted best pizza in the world. Made with a unique combination of crunch, chew and char, Pepe’s famous pies are produced using only Frank Pepe’s original recipe and the coal-fired, hand-built brick oven he used in 1925. It was a cloudy Sunday afternoon. The last thing I want to do is start a fight, but I have to make one thing very clear: Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana serves the best pizza in New Haven, and, I believe, the country. The pies were huge, so we boxed up whatever we couldn’t finish and brought it home. ( Log Out /  About a 2-2.5: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is a huge CT institution, being loved by the locals as their favorite pizzeria. The Spot is a smaller, less hectic location, that has a more … Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Have no fear; we’ve compiled a list of all the Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana locations. The Guardian said, “Best Pizza on Earth”! Three men are employed by Pepe's just for shucking the clams on location. When I asked my daughter what she wanted for dinner that night, she simply smiled and said: “More of that pizza!” I couldn’t agree more! That had to be my first bite there. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana: Don't waste your time - See 191 traveler reviews, 68 candid photos, and great deals for Yonkers, NY, at Tripadvisor. Travelled two hours from Boston (despite there now being a Chestnut Hill location) for the original Frank Pepe pizzeria experience. Trying to find a Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana? That hook hanging from the ceiling holds the handle of the long pizza peel in the air so they don’t smack into it. Come visit us in Yonkers for our famous Clam Pizza and Tomato Pie's! They later made Frank Pepe leave so that they could start their own pizzeria at the establishment, which they renamed The Spot. Their original location is in the Wooster Square neighborhood, but they have other locations throughout CT as well as one out in NY. Pepe's has expanded outside of New Haven as a small family owned chain. Good…but not why we came here! The Original Tomato Pie W/Mozzarella at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana "Ok, so I tried the "clam pizza" that's raved about here at Pepe's and I returned it. The white clam pizza is so simple: a thin crust, fresh clams, olive oil, some cheese, oregano. The service was friendly, beer cold, and pizza phenomenal as usual. Photographs by Jason Perlow On his blog, Off the Broiler, Jason Perlow breaks down the differences between the "new" Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana on Wooster Street and Frank Pepe's "The Spot," the smaller original location tucked away just behind it. [27][28] Frank Sinatra, for example, was a fan of Sally's, while President Ronald Reagan preferred Pepe's. Ordered about 7 pizza's to take back to Rockaway. [28] Having to wait to be seated is almost as much of a New Haven tradition as the pizza itself. A side note: Frank Pepe originally opened a bakery in 1925 at 163 Wooster St., now doing business as Frank Pepe’s the Spot. [9], The piece of land which Pepe's restaurant sat on was owned by the Boccamiello family. Opened in 1925, it is one of the oldest and best known pizzerias in the United States.[1][2]. The soda … [12] Since 1925, Pepe's has exclusively served Foxon Park bottled sodas from East Haven, Connecticut. Food is good but I'm nostalgic I miss the original This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The pizza oven is so deep, they can go about 4 pizzas deep at one time. Pepe's Pizza first ever Rhode Island Location. [41] In reviewing the film, Deborah Brown of The Swellesley Report called it “An important film of staggering genius that needed to be made.”[42], Robert De Niro, Ronald Reagan, Henry Winkler, Kelly Clarkson, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Ernest Borgnine, John Turturro, Bill Clinton, Kevin James, Vince Vaughn & Damian Lewis have all visited the New Haven location.[43]. In the alleyway between The Spot and Pepe's, Boccamiello's nephew Bear would open clams and sell them on the half shell to passersby. They are also adamant on using freshly shucked clams as opposed to canned clams; if fresh clams are not available then they will not serve the white clam pie. Frank Pepe, an Italian immigrant, founded Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in 1925 according to the company’s website. Locations. [3] Upon returning, he soon landed a job working at a bakery on Wooster Street. Simply click on the Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana location below to find out where it is located and if it received positive reviews. Jobs. ( Log Out /  Nine relatives are co-owners of the chain, including grandsons Gary Bimonte and Francis Rosselli. [clarification needed] After saving enough money, he was able to buy a wagon from which he sold his pizzas. Opened in 1925, it is one of the oldest and best known pizzerias in the United States. My daughter ordered a large margherita pizza…and we were off! The oven built on site in Burlington is a brick-by-brick duplicate of that oven, including iron castings from the original mold. Voted the World's Best Pizza. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I like my pizzas with meat, so I got a 16″ with pepperoni and sausage and asked them to go light on the cheese. The birch soda was so yummy and reminded us of childhood. Delivery & Pickup Options - 29 reviews of Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana "SO excited Pepe's opened in Watertown after growing up going to the CT locations! Welcome to Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana! The Caesar salad was tasty and not too overdressed. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Learn how your comment data is processed. ( Log Out /  The restaurant offers soda, beer, wine, and several varieties of pizzas and toppings. [30], Pepe's is one of three pizza restaurants featured in the documentary film Pizza A Love Story, directed by Gorman Bechard. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana, located at Burlington Mall®: Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana is nationally renowned for its Exceptional Neapolitan Pizza baked in Coal-fired Brick Ovens. Known locally as Pepe's, is has its Original Location in the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven, CT, as well as stores in Fairfield, Manchester and Danbury CT, and in Yonkers, NY. Nor, probably, has the process. They haven't missed a step. [3] Pepe's restaurant began serving littleneck clams on the half shell at the bar. Soon it was our turn to order. Frank Pepe's Pizza's West Hartford, Connecticut location. At Pepe Pizzeria, the goal is to create a delicious pie while maintaining the integrity of the original recipe. My first visit had to be inside, at a table. A rock jock’s adventures in food, travel and high-octane spirits. I've been loving this pizza for 20yrs in New Haven, mohegan sun, and chestnut hill mall. New Haven Fairfield Danbury Manchester West Hartford Warwick, RI Waterbury Yonkers, NY Chestnut Hill, MA Mohegan Sun Burlington, MA Watertown, MA Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana: omg at the original location in new haven - See 1,812 traveler reviews, 447 candid photos, and great deals for New Haven, CT, at Tripadvisor. When he got tired of baking and delivering bread, he decided he would start making pizza, so that his customers would come to him instead. Whatever…my first bite was pure magic. Pepe's was founded in 1925 by Frank Pepe (April 15, 1893 – September 6, 1969), an Italian immigrant. [29], Pepe's is a busy establishment, and New Havenites will cheerfully wait in line outside the restaurant for hours in all kinds of weather. They measure 14 feet (4.3 m) by 14 feet (4.3 m) and cook pizzas in approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Friendly staff, incredible white clam pizza. It looked and smelled amazing. We heard all the hype about Frank Pepe, so we decided to go to the original location to try their famous clam pizza. ", "Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana to open in Warwick", "Hot slice of history to be served up in Fairfield - Food & Beverage > Food Industry from AllBusiness.com", "The 50 best things to eat in the world, and where to eat them", "Welcome to the City of New Haven Economic Development", (no headline)- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut, "Beyond Wellesley: the Woods Hole Film Festival on Cape Cod, Massachusetts", "Vince Vaughn, Kevin James Promote 'The Dilemma' At Pepe's In New Haven – Hartford Courant", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Pepe_Pizzeria_Napoletana&oldid=996482311, Buildings and structures in New Haven, Connecticut, Tourist attractions in New Haven, Connecticut, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from May 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 2009: Pepe's was named the "Best Pizza on Earth" by. The love story to New Haven's holy trinity of pizza restaurants, Pepe's, Sally's, and Modern, had its world premiere at IFFBoston in April 2019. The larger "newer" Frank Pepe's oven vs. the older oven at "The Spot." During World War I, Pepe went back to Italy to fight for his native country. We breathed it all in. Expectations were high that this would be just as good as other locations and get close to the miracle pie served in New Haven. Sally's and Pepe's have a long friendly rivalry and pizza fans are divided over which serves the better pizza. And it was HUGE. Menu. She was funny, kind, and extremely attentive. Well seasoned, and don't forget to ask for an old-fashioned soda from the fridge. And Frank’s nephew, Salvatore, opened his own pizzeria: Sally’s Apizza, a must-stop for me the next time I’m passing through New Haven. We ordered quickly with a wonderful waitress, who made the experience very pleasant. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Another Wooster Street pizza restaurant, Sally's Apizza, was founded by Pepe's nephew Sal Consiglio in 1938. Frank Pepe was a favorite in New haven back in the 60's just serving pizza clams and beer the lines use to be out the door. Frommer's Exploring America by RV, 4th Edition. The white clam pie is just crust, olive oil, oregano, grated cheese, chopped garlic, and fresh littleneck clams. Call ahead to order in advance. Pepe moved his restaurant to its current location next door to The Spot in 1936. $10.25 $15.00 $19.25. We were lucky enough to have a seat, as it was lunch time. 221 reviews of Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana "Had to go opening night. We arrived around 8pm to about a 20min line waiting to sit. I found a parking space…we were third in line at the door…could we really be going inside Frank Pepe’s? The problem was, every time I stopped by, the … A coal-fired oven that burns hot and dry, not wet like a wood fire…an oven that dates back to 1936, when Frank Pepe moved from his original bakery location to a spot right next door, where it still stands today, at 157 Wooster St. That means my pizza “touched” every other pizza made at Frank Pepe’s…perhaps even a molecule of Frank’s first pie touched mine. Took my yearly trip to Frank Pepe's pizza in Yonkers last week. Quality is just as I would expect: slightly charred perfection, thin crust, good amount of toppings. And I’ve tried going to Frank Pepe’s original location in New Haven, CT for years. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana: Ok - See 191 traveler reviews, 68 candid photos, and great deals for Yonkers, NY, at Tripadvisor. Their oven is coal-fired, and reaches consistent temps over 600 degrees. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana menu Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana menu. We started by sharing a Caesar salad. Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana: New Haven Style Pizza - See 482 traveler reviews, 52 candid photos, and great deals for Fairfield, CT, at Tripadvisor. Originally, Frank Pepe only made two varieties of pizza: the "tomato pie" (tomatoes with grated pecorino romano cheese, garlic, oregano, and olive oil) and the other with the addition of anchovy. Dying to go to DiFara’s in Brooklyn…Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix. They were eating pizza! We looked around. On April 17, 2017, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana opened their 9th location in Waterbury, CT. On June 10, 2019, the newest Pepe's opened at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, MA, in a location that formerly housed a Pizzeria Uno. With locations in West Hartford, Waterbury, Mohegan Sun, Manchester, Danbury, New Haven, Fairfield CT. As well as Yonkers NY & Chestnut Hill MA. We absolutely love Frank Pepe's pizza. In March, 2015 Pepe's released their plans to expand into the Boston market. ... Start earning rewards points each time you dine at a Frank Pepe’s location. The problem was, every time I stopped by, the line was down the street and parking was impossible. With the original location on Wooster Street in New Haven, the family operation has since experienced tremendous growth and expansion. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is one of the oldest and best-known pizzerias in the United States. Our booth was literally one step in and a step to the right. All Pepe's ovens are coal-fired and built in exactly the same manner from brick, based on the original. Pepe’s, as it’s known, was recently rated the #1 Pizza in the US by the Daily Meal. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Pepe's originated the New Haven-style thin-crust apizza[6][7][8] (closely related to Neapolitan-style Italian pizza) which he baked in a coal-fired brick pizza oven. Yes!! The coal-fire pizza is best-known for its New Haven-style pizza using founder Frank Pepe's original recipe. But before we serve up a slice, let’s order up a little history. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana has been a coveted restaurant among pizza lovers for decades. [40] The film was released on DVD and pay-per-view on September 29, 2020. Frank Pepe’s now has 10 locations in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and their newest location: in my little state of Rhode Island. We stopped at the original Frank Pepe location early Sunday afternoon. I’ve been to Lombardi’s. The Pepe family later bought back The Spot from the Boccamiello family in 1981 and it now serves the same menu as the newer restaurant.[3]. But the hilight of the meal was the pizza. There's nothing like the original, New Haven location on Wooster St. Pepe's has been around for close to a hundred years, and the menu probably hasn't changed much. Boom. Dropped some of a few places for folks to partake in the White Clam pie. Moments later, our server brought out a metal frame that allowed for a second level of pizza…and my white clam pie arrived! Since its invention, the white clam pie has become the signature pizza of pizzerias in New Haven. My chance finally arrived recently, when my daughter and I were returning home to Rhode Island from a weekend in New York City. Shae’s a straight-up cheese and tomato pizza kinda person, so she ordered a 12″ original tomato pie with mozzarella. As for our food, we received it quickly. Right off Rt 95, it’s easy to get to, in New Haven’s Little Italy neighborhood on Wooster St. Right off Rt 95, it’s easy to get to, in New Haven’s Little Italy neighborhood on Wooster St. The margarita pizza was crisp and tasty. We didn’t have a problem with that! Al Forno in Providence claims the rights to the first (and some argue the best) grilled pizza. The quintessential Wooster Square Italian immigrant took a job at a New Haven factory, but wasn't fond of continuing there. He sold that bakery to move in next door at 157 Wooster St., in 1936, and that’s been the location of Frank Pepe Pizza Napoletana ever since. It takes a real pro to keep them all cooking perfectly. [4] Pepe began walking through the Wooster Square market and sold his "tomato pies" off of a special headdress. 2010: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana was inducted into that Connecticut Hospitality Hall of Fame on December 7, 2010. The Danbury Location doesn't have the same atmosphere or style as it's original one. Change ). 2014: The Daily Meal named the white clam pizza at Pepe's the best pizza in the country for the second year in a row. Soon, the pies arrived…the margherita came first, served on a large rectangular sheet pan, not the standard round pizza pan. First of all, it was ok, not anything that I would pay almost $30 for in a large… But the oven…that magical oven…is as much of an important ingredient as anything on the pizza itself. It was fairly busy but we got a seat in the back building quickly. American Eats: Pizza, The History Channel, 29 June 2006, List of pizza chains of the United States, A Slice of Heaven: American Pizza Timeline | Slice Pizza Blog, Welcome to The Original Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – Home, Roadfood: the coast-to-coast guide to 600 of the best barbecue joints, lobster shacks, ice cream parlors, highway diners, and much, much more, You say Sally's, I say Pepe'sWooster street legends deliver to die-hard crowds- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut, "The Original Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana History", "Pepe's Pizza Prepares to Enter into the Greater Boston Area", "Pepe's Pizza, a New Haven Legend, Arrives in Boston at Last", Welcome to The Original Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana – Menus, Frank Pepe's pizza comes to Yonkers | Metromix Hudson Valley, ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of New Haven", ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of Fairfield", ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of Manchester", ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of Mohegan Sun", "Frank Pepe's Pizza of Yonkers | Voted "Best pizza, ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of Danbury", ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of West Hartford", ">Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana of Chestnut Hill - Voted "America's Best Pizza, "FRANK PEPE PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA OPEN IN WATERBURY! [10] On December 16, 2015 they opened their Chestnut Hill location.[11]. All locations feature the same green and white design of their building and fixtures, serve on the square pizza pans and use the same suppliers for their ingredients. All of Pepe's locations feature the same menu. [13] The oven cooks at 650 °F (343 °C).[14]. [4] The restaurant will serve the pizza with or without mozzarella cheese, but they try to discourage customers from ordering it with mozzarella because they feel that it makes the pizza too heavy and rich. It was only a matter of time before he decided to put the clams on the pizza. And I’ve tried going to Frank Pepe’s original location in New Haven, CT for years. Frank Pepe Pizzeria at Arsenal Yards is located at 24 Eldridge Avenue. Frank’s daughters bought back the bakery years later, and so now you can visit either location for a taste of history. Our first and only New York Frank Pepe's Pizzeria location. [28] Pepe's is also a major tourist attraction in New Haven. Take-out was not an option. My daughter’s reaction to the margherita was the same. Contact Us. [5] He was so successful that he was eventually able to take over his employer's business and turn it into the first "Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana" on June 16, 1925. Frank Pepe Pizzeria has just opened a brand new location at the Shops at Chestnut Hill, bringing their legendary pizza to hungry Bostonians. And expansion moved his restaurant to its current location next door to the original Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana menu Shops. In the United States s order up a slice, let ’ s bought... That this would be just as I would expect: slightly charred perfection, crust. New Haven-style pizza using founder Frank Pepe 's Pizzeria Napoletana menu shae ’ original... You can visit either location for a taste of history ], the stuff of legend Frank. The company ’ s easy to get to, in New Haven check your email addresses 8pm. 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