Drove up to New Haven from the Philadelphia area to eat at 6 different pizza places in 2 days. I only ever had Pepe’s when I drove through once so I figured I needed a full weekend to knock out a bunch.
The picture order is below
Sally’s as soon as it opened. I thought this was going to be life changing and I was a bit sad that it wasn’t one of the best pizzas I ever had. I have to give it another try.. we were one of the first tables seated, and it was crazy busy. The picture makes it seem like this pizza is going to be amazing… like I said above I’d love to give them another try!!! This led off the trip & gave me a little anxiety that I was fooled that New Haven’s pizza was GOAT.
Da Legna a quick pop in but an awesome place. Enjoyed a beer and a small Neapolitan hybrid style pizza which was a nice switch up from what I knew I was going to get from Pepe’s, Sally’s and Modern (based on pics). The vibes were high because I knew we were going over to BAR next and their pizzas look so good.
BAR was our “dinner” and night out.. we got their most popular mashed potato pie, and a second pie that was half buff chick half sausage peppers ricotta. Now this place was amazing. The pizza, service, drinks were all great. The pizza was unforgettable and probably top 10 I’ve ever had.
The next afternoon we stopped by Pepe’s and got a plain, sausage, and clam. Of all the pictures I took this one looks the ugliest but it was great pizza nonetheless. The clam pie was cool to try – I don’t really like clams but I felt like I needed to embrace it and say I had it. All in all a great start to the afternoon.
After Pepe’s we stopped by Zeneli which was tiny and just smelled like perfectly cooked pizza. I forgot to grab a picture because we sat down, got a pizza in 4 minutes and had it finished in about 4 more minutes. We didn’t want to hog a table and only wanted 1 pizza so it was a quick snack. Great pizza and place though.
Lastly.. after almost being pizza’d out… I really wasn’t excited for Modern but after going and trying their pepperoni and a white pizza I was blown away.. this place was instantly up there as one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had, I have it in my top 5 of all time. I had so much pizza flavor fatigue that I might be underestimating how good it was. But, I am very happy this was the last place we hit as it really brought the whole trip together.
All in all New Haven doesn’t need my stamp of approval but it gets it. There were a few others I wanted to try but didn’t get the chance to… having 10+ elite pizza shops in a 15 min walking distance is so insane and incredible. It’s only about a 2.5 hour drive from Philadelphia so I can see myself doing this again.
by JoeyEmbiid
13 Comments
Modern is soo good.
I’m assuming that is what heaven looks like..
Awesome Modern is my favorite. One time we were working in New Milford and drove to New Haven after work and ate at Modem then we went to Pepe’s and ate there lol
Da Legna is so underrated. I hope it stays that way so I can keep getting a table whenever I want haha
Well, you pretty much did it all though Zuppardi’s could have been included. Bar is always a sleeper. Should have checked out Louis Lunch across from Bar. Cool little “we invented the hamburger” place with some real New Haven history. I think the internet and DP have set the bar (and expectations) too high for New Haven. The “best” pizza is what you’re used to. I still love Sally’s and their apizza holds up after being sold. But I also have a long history and memories of waiting endlessly to get in that cloud my judgment. Glad you came and experienced it. Hopefully the tourism will keep the tradition and quality going.
It’s decided. I’m having pizza again tonight 🍕
I’m rather jealous. The pizza was a highlight of my education there.
Nice! That clam pizza, although not near a fav of mine, is an experience. I tell people it’s like eating the beach
Another vote for Modern…. The best I have ever had…
I could never and have never uttered the words pizza’d out. I have been on major pizza trips where I had dozens of joints. My current two favorites around New Haven are Sally’s and Zuppardi’s. Pepe, Modern, Roseland (in Derby) are all great too.
This is all kinds of glorious….
1, 2 and 5 would smash .
Just gimme the pepperoni or plain cheese. Don’t need all that extra shit