Slice of Heaven: Exploring Connecticut’s Pizzerias

Pacey Larka and Joshua Azpiri-Sudusky | April 30, 2024

What would you say is the best pizza place in Connecticut? Arguably the state with the best pizza in the country, CT has some of the best pizza you can find, including places like Modern, Zuppardi’s, and Frank Pepe’s. But what is the history behind these places, and what makes them so popular?

For millions of Americans, pizza is their favorite food. In 2019, CAULIPOWER did an online survey, and unsurprisingly, 98% of Americans eat pizza, and “33 million Americans admit they would choose pizza to be their last meal on Earth. Every day, millions of slices of pizza are sold, and according to gitnux.com market data, “Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or about 350 slices per second.” Whether you come from Connecticut, or another state, it’s no question that Connecticut has some of the best pizza in the country.

The real question is what pizza restaurants should you go to? This photo essay showcases some of the best pizza restaurants in the state of Connecticut.

Street of Pizza: Wooster Street in New Haven, Connecticut is one of the most famous streets in America for pizza restaurants. It has multiple famous pizza establishments, which are known to be some of the best in the country.

World Famous: Opened in 1925, Frank Pepe’s on Wooster Street is one of the most famous pizza locations in the country. It is said that Frank Pepe’s originated the “New Haven Style” pizza.

Traditional: Part of the New Haven Style pizza is the weird shape of the pizza, and uneven slices. This style is also commonly found in many places around Italy.

Popularity: Many of the places have a long line outside the building, showing the popularity of the restaurant. There are also multiple license plates from many different states, showing that New Haven PIzza is worth a long drive.

Always Fresh: Many places refer to pizza as “Apizza” which is commonly found in Connecticut, but not in many other states. Modern Apizza is one of those places, and just like other New Haven pizza places, uses the best fresh ingredients, which is key for a good pie.

Still Traditional: Although it is in West Haven and not New Haven, Zuppardi’s still delivers some of the best pizza in the country, being very popular among Connecticut residents. It nonetheless holds the traits of a traditional New Haven pizza, with the non circular shape and different sized slices.

Hard Work: There are multiple workers making pizza all the time at Zuppardi’s, helping to keep up with the flood of orders every day. Unlike conventional New Haven coal ovens, Zuppardi’s uses a gas oven to cook its pizza.

Across Towns: In 1934, Dominic Zuppardi moved his bakery from New Haven to West Haven, CT, carrying his New Haven Style pizza across towns. Many New Haven pizza establishments were opened in the early 20th century, showing the rich history of the business.

Culture: Wooster Street is always very busy, even when it is pouring rain. There are also many flags of Italy, reflecting the prominent Italian culture in the neighborhood.

Family Owned: Opened in 1935, Roseland Apizza is also one of the most popular pizza restaurants in Connecticut, but instead of being in New Haven, it is in Derby. Like many Connecticut pizza places, Roseland is a small family run business.

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About the Contributors

Pacey Larka, Staff Writer

Hello, my name is Pacey Larka and I am a sophomore at Foran High School. I am excited for my first year writing for the Mane Street Mirror. At Foran, I am a member of the soccer team and golf team. In my free time I play sports and video games with my friends.

Joshua Azpiri-Sudusky, Staff Writer

Hi, my name is Joshua Azpiri-Sudusky and I am a sophomore staff writer for the Mane Street Mirror at Foran High School. I only play soccer at Foran, but I play for another team during the off-season. I spend my free time practicing soccer and hanging out with my friends, along with riding my bike and watching the NBA.