The pizza was pretty good but the cannoli pie was gift not only to my taste buds but it was a gift to my knowledge of the culinary lexicon. Truly the best dessert I’ve personally had. ?
Ashita P.
Frank Pepe New Haven, CT Food: Mozzarella and Tomato sauce pie - half pepperoni Overall Rating: 4.1 Family Friendly: Yes
Jack T.
Super long wait outside for a weekday evening. They were very understaffed and having bussing issues for tables. Our server had left us alone for about 50 minutes once we got our pizza and it took us about 15 minutes to check out after getting a box. Again just very understaffed. Pizza comes out quick on a baking pan you would use for cookies. You can watch them cook your coal baked apizza while seated. The pizza has a nice flop but is sort of just like an above average flat crust oven baked pizza. Tradition definitely is what keeps this place booming with business. No means of fine dining but a place you'd see a family visit weekly.
Melissa L.
BEST PIZZA ON THE PLANET. Also happens to be some of the most expensive pizza on the planet. That being said, it is worth every penny. Just the perfect combination of chewy and lightly greasy, the freshest tasting tomato sauce and melty cheese. If you order bacon on the pizza they put whole strips of it on the pizza. That's right, i said it, WHOLE STRIPS OF BACON! The oven put it in gets crazy hot so the bacon gets this incredible crispy edge. In unbelievable. You choke up a little when you pay the bill but you will have no regrets
Lisamarch
Delicious. There's a line to get in but at 1:30 pm on a Friday, it moved very quickly. Service was attentive and friendly. The pizza is and delicious!
Alexis P.
We heard fresh tomato season was back and had to come get a pie ! So good. As always. We also decided to try the doppio pepperoni pie this time too, which also did not disappoint. I've never met a Pepe's pie that did disappoint, actually. So this review isn't surprising. Already planning on returning with family to get another fresh tomato pie soon before the season is over !
Tina S.
Always great pizza everytime! This is what New Haven style pizza is all about. The only real pizza
Katherine W.
My husband was very excited to come here. We ordered to-go a veggie pizza (no cheese), margarita pizza, and a large pepe salad. They said it was going to take 45 mins. We walked around for 30 mins and decided to come back to check on the progress. The order was ready, we checked the pizzas, and it looked like they had been done for a while. Once we got to our destination, we discovered we didn't get a salad but a third small pizza. Ironically, the small pizza was better than the medium pizzas. Nice to have: I wish they offered vegan cheese or a side of olive oil with pizzas with no cheese. I didn't think to ask about the side until after we left. TLDR: It would have been nice if they took our number and texted us when the pizza was ready and if the order was correct.
Jerry R.
We came to New Haven just to try the famous pizza here, and were not disappointed. We ate at the other folks just up Wooster St yesterday, and then went to Frank Pepe today. Frank Pepe's pizza has the best crust of the two, but the other folks have much tastier sauce and way better service. We arrived around 12:30 and were seated fairly quickly. Our server was friendly and helpful, but obviously distracted. We weren't even done eating when she brought our check and tried politely to rush us out. There was none of that yesterday at the Other Place even though it was much busier there. As far as the pizza goes, we got a veggie pizza and the broccoli and peppers were steamed before baking, so they were a soggy mess. Who does that? Still, I'd recommend Frank Pepe just for the crust and the experience.
N R.
Really good pizza. We had to check out the original spot Never had an apizza before and OMG this was a good experience. Definitely worth the stop on my way to CT The family had a lg original w pepperoni. Between my 2 young boys (10/5), wife, and I we struggled to finish the entire thing. The crusty was not crunchy or chewy but had a thickness in taste although it is thin. Idk hire to explain but it was diff, good different. I believe it why we couldn't finish it. I even liked how I it was sliced in strips. Coal oven baked is a best touch you can see the dust on the crust but don't taste like coal like. It's Very good pizza. We also had their soda which was also good. We had a short 20 min wait but for those waiting for online order the line was ridiculous. Thankfully they picked up in a separate store. I will have to try the Pepe's in DC area when I get back home.
I was in NYC when I suddenly decided to rent a car and drive to New Haven, CT to try white clam pizza. I wanted to taste the real deal and see if I am missing out on anything. We decided to try Frank Pepe over other New Haven pizzerias and I am 100% confident I made the best decision. I got to the restaurant not too long after it opened on a weekday and was quickly seated and helped. The waitress were wonderful and really nice. They recommended the pizza size shared between two. The white clam pizza had a thin, chewy crust that gave a nice crunch and was so lovely with the white clams. It is like eating a big flat bread with fresh clams and olive oil drizzle but in a round pizza form. It was very light and great for lunch. Definitely check out Frank Pepe for New Haven style pizza. If clams/seafood is not your thing, their regular pizza are just as amazing as well.
Marissa D.
We couldn't pass through New Haven without taking advantage of our opportunity to FINALLY try Frank Pepe. There was a small line (Sunday around 3pm) but it moved pretty quickly and was well worth the wait. You could tell this place is busy most of the time and they definitely have their routines down, making sure to get people in and out without making anyone feel rushed. The menus and pizza toppings are already at each table which I definitely appreciated. We shared three small pizzas - the clam pie, a plain pie, and a meatball & ricotta pie. We were ravenous by the time our food arrived and absolutely enjoyed each and every bite. I felt like once we actually gave the food a few minutes to cool down, we could really enjoy the flavors and had to stop ourselves from eating EVERY slice before continuing our road trip back to Jersey. Worth the hype!
fauberg
We had the white clam, tomato, and tomato with cheese. The original tomato was hands down the best. So flavorful you don’t even miss the cheese.
Joel C.
Good pizza definitely worth a try. The server was kind and helpful in giving recommendations and providing what we needed through our meal. I came in a group of four, ordered the White Clam Pie and Original Tomato Pie with half mozzarella and half just tomato. The size of the pies were quite large for the price (approximately $28-$30 for a size comparable to Costco Pizzas). The pies was quite good, but left something to be desired whether in taste or texture. While the pizza is hot, the crust of the pies was very flavorful and retained some chew despite being a thinner crust. Even the end was a good texture and had a nice char. Before we could finish the pizzas, they were room temperature and the crust had gotten a bit too chewy and hard to bite through. The end that had not been softened by sauce had the texture of old sourdough bread, a bit too crunchy and hard. If you're working on getting a chiseled jawline eat all the crust you can! The flavor of the crust was still great, but the texture was a bit tough to get through. The white clam pie had a good amount of clams, but the tail and some of the belly pieces of the clam were overcooked and had a bit of a chew to it. The flavor of the pie overall was balanced and other seasonings did not overpower the subtle flavor of the clams. There was a consistent flavor through the slices, not much to mix things up between bites. It was easy to get bored of the pizza after a slice or even through a slice as the flavor was the same. The tomato pie was just as it sounds, tomatoes on top of the dough. The tomatoes had a nice acidity. It was nice that the tomato was showcased. However, if mozzarella is added the mozzarella overpowers the tomato and makes it essentially a cheese pizza slice. Which is very tasty, but if you're going for a tomato pizza taste, it may be advisable to do half with mozzarella and half without or avoid it all together. This pizza also suffered from having too much of a repetitive flavor.
Joe P.
I was playing golf in the area and had to hit this iconic pizza shop. I was concerned that it would not live up to the hype but happy to say that this was not the case. Obviously we got the white clam pizza. It is like having a really good linguine alle vongole with pizza crust instead of linguine. So delicious! Even if you are doing takeout pies (no slices), plan ahead because one pie took 35 minutes on a Wednesday mid-afternoon. I assume it is much longer on weekends and around lunch or dinner times. Still worth it!
The pizza was pretty good but the cannoli pie was gift not only to my taste buds but it was a gift to my knowledge of the culinary lexicon. Truly the best dessert I’ve personally had. ?
Frank Pepe New Haven, CT Food: Mozzarella and Tomato sauce pie - half pepperoni Overall Rating: 4.1 Family Friendly: Yes
Super long wait outside for a weekday evening. They were very understaffed and having bussing issues for tables. Our server had left us alone for about 50 minutes once we got our pizza and it took us about 15 minutes to check out after getting a box. Again just very understaffed. Pizza comes out quick on a baking pan you would use for cookies. You can watch them cook your coal baked apizza while seated. The pizza has a nice flop but is sort of just like an above average flat crust oven baked pizza. Tradition definitely is what keeps this place booming with business. No means of fine dining but a place you'd see a family visit weekly.
BEST PIZZA ON THE PLANET. Also happens to be some of the most expensive pizza on the planet. That being said, it is worth every penny. Just the perfect combination of chewy and lightly greasy, the freshest tasting tomato sauce and melty cheese. If you order bacon on the pizza they put whole strips of it on the pizza. That's right, i said it, WHOLE STRIPS OF BACON! The oven put it in gets crazy hot so the bacon gets this incredible crispy edge. In unbelievable. You choke up a little when you pay the bill but you will have no regrets
Delicious. There's a line to get in but at 1:30 pm on a Friday, it moved very quickly. Service was attentive and friendly. The pizza is and delicious!
We heard fresh tomato season was back and had to come get a pie ! So good. As always. We also decided to try the doppio pepperoni pie this time too, which also did not disappoint. I've never met a Pepe's pie that did disappoint, actually. So this review isn't surprising. Already planning on returning with family to get another fresh tomato pie soon before the season is over !
Always great pizza everytime! This is what New Haven style pizza is all about. The only real pizza
My husband was very excited to come here. We ordered to-go a veggie pizza (no cheese), margarita pizza, and a large pepe salad. They said it was going to take 45 mins. We walked around for 30 mins and decided to come back to check on the progress. The order was ready, we checked the pizzas, and it looked like they had been done for a while. Once we got to our destination, we discovered we didn't get a salad but a third small pizza. Ironically, the small pizza was better than the medium pizzas. Nice to have: I wish they offered vegan cheese or a side of olive oil with pizzas with no cheese. I didn't think to ask about the side until after we left. TLDR: It would have been nice if they took our number and texted us when the pizza was ready and if the order was correct.
We came to New Haven just to try the famous pizza here, and were not disappointed. We ate at the other folks just up Wooster St yesterday, and then went to Frank Pepe today. Frank Pepe's pizza has the best crust of the two, but the other folks have much tastier sauce and way better service. We arrived around 12:30 and were seated fairly quickly. Our server was friendly and helpful, but obviously distracted. We weren't even done eating when she brought our check and tried politely to rush us out. There was none of that yesterday at the Other Place even though it was much busier there. As far as the pizza goes, we got a veggie pizza and the broccoli and peppers were steamed before baking, so they were a soggy mess. Who does that? Still, I'd recommend Frank Pepe just for the crust and the experience.
Really good pizza. We had to check out the original spot Never had an apizza before and OMG this was a good experience. Definitely worth the stop on my way to CT The family had a lg original w pepperoni. Between my 2 young boys (10/5), wife, and I we struggled to finish the entire thing. The crusty was not crunchy or chewy but had a thickness in taste although it is thin. Idk hire to explain but it was diff, good different. I believe it why we couldn't finish it. I even liked how I it was sliced in strips. Coal oven baked is a best touch you can see the dust on the crust but don't taste like coal like. It's Very good pizza. We also had their soda which was also good. We had a short 20 min wait but for those waiting for online order the line was ridiculous. Thankfully they picked up in a separate store. I will have to try the Pepe's in DC area when I get back home.
Restaurantji Recommends
I was in NYC when I suddenly decided to rent a car and drive to New Haven, CT to try white clam pizza. I wanted to taste the real deal and see if I am missing out on anything. We decided to try Frank Pepe over other New Haven pizzerias and I am 100% confident I made the best decision. I got to the restaurant not too long after it opened on a weekday and was quickly seated and helped. The waitress were wonderful and really nice. They recommended the pizza size shared between two. The white clam pizza had a thin, chewy crust that gave a nice crunch and was so lovely with the white clams. It is like eating a big flat bread with fresh clams and olive oil drizzle but in a round pizza form. It was very light and great for lunch. Definitely check out Frank Pepe for New Haven style pizza. If clams/seafood is not your thing, their regular pizza are just as amazing as well.
We couldn't pass through New Haven without taking advantage of our opportunity to FINALLY try Frank Pepe. There was a small line (Sunday around 3pm) but it moved pretty quickly and was well worth the wait. You could tell this place is busy most of the time and they definitely have their routines down, making sure to get people in and out without making anyone feel rushed. The menus and pizza toppings are already at each table which I definitely appreciated. We shared three small pizzas - the clam pie, a plain pie, and a meatball & ricotta pie. We were ravenous by the time our food arrived and absolutely enjoyed each and every bite. I felt like once we actually gave the food a few minutes to cool down, we could really enjoy the flavors and had to stop ourselves from eating EVERY slice before continuing our road trip back to Jersey. Worth the hype!
We had the white clam, tomato, and tomato with cheese. The original tomato was hands down the best. So flavorful you don’t even miss the cheese.
Good pizza definitely worth a try. The server was kind and helpful in giving recommendations and providing what we needed through our meal. I came in a group of four, ordered the White Clam Pie and Original Tomato Pie with half mozzarella and half just tomato. The size of the pies were quite large for the price (approximately $28-$30 for a size comparable to Costco Pizzas). The pies was quite good, but left something to be desired whether in taste or texture. While the pizza is hot, the crust of the pies was very flavorful and retained some chew despite being a thinner crust. Even the end was a good texture and had a nice char. Before we could finish the pizzas, they were room temperature and the crust had gotten a bit too chewy and hard to bite through. The end that had not been softened by sauce had the texture of old sourdough bread, a bit too crunchy and hard. If you're working on getting a chiseled jawline eat all the crust you can! The flavor of the crust was still great, but the texture was a bit tough to get through. The white clam pie had a good amount of clams, but the tail and some of the belly pieces of the clam were overcooked and had a bit of a chew to it. The flavor of the pie overall was balanced and other seasonings did not overpower the subtle flavor of the clams. There was a consistent flavor through the slices, not much to mix things up between bites. It was easy to get bored of the pizza after a slice or even through a slice as the flavor was the same. The tomato pie was just as it sounds, tomatoes on top of the dough. The tomatoes had a nice acidity. It was nice that the tomato was showcased. However, if mozzarella is added the mozzarella overpowers the tomato and makes it essentially a cheese pizza slice. Which is very tasty, but if you're going for a tomato pizza taste, it may be advisable to do half with mozzarella and half without or avoid it all together. This pizza also suffered from having too much of a repetitive flavor.
I was playing golf in the area and had to hit this iconic pizza shop. I was concerned that it would not live up to the hype but happy to say that this was not the case. Obviously we got the white clam pizza. It is like having a really good linguine alle vongole with pizza crust instead of linguine. So delicious! Even if you are doing takeout pies (no slices), plan ahead because one pie took 35 minutes on a Wednesday mid-afternoon. I assume it is much longer on weekends and around lunch or dinner times. Still worth it!