536705 Tue Jul 08 13:51:37 -0700 2008 35 20 Tristate Region 0 3849665 We were in New Haven Sunday night and stopped at Pepe's for a pie. Since this was supposed to be the best pizza on the planet, we were ready. There was a line out the door and down the block. At "The Spot" also. I knew there was a branch in Fairfield, and since it was on our way home, i went in to ask directions. I was immediately confronted, both in The Spot (an annex at back of their car park) and the Original with an almost palpable wall of what i can only call bad vibe. Everyone on staff looked like they would rather be elsewhere doing anything else but waiting on you. Nobody was much interested in directing us to the other restaurant. I got either ignored, a blank stare, or "I dunno". I finally spotted a couple walking out with a takeout box. Thereon, i'm not kidding, was the location and phone of the other branches. I copied the phone, called, got (automated) directions and we were off. We got seated (a wordless over-the-shoulder "follow me" nod from the matré-punk.) (Why do they make you wait outside? What if it was winter?) An anomaly: our waitress was nice. The pizza was all right. Certainly nothing to get excited about. I had white clam with half bacon, no cheese. The clams were fresh. Overall, though, it was very salty. Mrs. S. had spinach. Beer and wine came in thimbles. Should have got a pitcher. I can't understand why, with a world full of restaurants, customers keep returning to places that treat their customers like crap. It's not cute. It's not part of the funky ambiance. It stinks. Tue Jul 08 13:51:37 -0700 2008 14698 schlimmerkerl 1 3849722 I lived in New Haven for 10 years and was never a fan of Pepe's. The pizza was good, but I hated the service. I much preferred both the pizza and the atmosphere at Modern. Plus, much as I love pizza, I'm unwilling to stand in a long line for it. However, pizza in New Haven is the subject of much spirited debate and everyone is prepared to defend their favorite to the end. Tue Jul 08 14:02:58 -0700 2008 3849665 14401 Shawn 1 3849909 Don't feel bad...I've lived in New Haven all of my short 34 years and never saw the reasoning behind it. Pepe's is just the "it" place for pizza for those who don't know any better. What's the term...Lemmings? You see the lines, you get a wiff of the burnt crust in the air...must be good stuff cooking inside? The last time I went there was about 7 years ago and I ordered a nice burnt white clam with yes a jelly jar glass of shitty wine, probably Carlo Rossi. Service sucked beyond belief and that was 7 years ago. Not surprised to see that it hasn't changed. I don't think there is an Italian person anywhere in the kitchen anymore, but besides that...you would think that as they franchised out, they would have some consistency in the recipe and the way the dang thing is cooked. But instead they choose to duplicate the "great" service. If I gotta wait more than an hour for a pizza then it's not worht it. Agreeing with "Shawn"...New Haveners will defend their pizza place to the end. I am not a huge fan of Modern either. I think Grand Apizza does a great job, but I also think that Romas on Main St. in the Annex makes great pie. When I was very young, my family used to go to Bemonte's in Hamden every Saturday. And i can remember his tomatoe pie, no cheese with a huge pitcher of Pepsi to wash it down. Those were the days. There used to be a pizza shack on Ferry years, I mean years, ago who made a fresh white clam that was the best I have ever had. No one to this day has even come close. You could write a Seinfeld episode about Pepe's. Tue Jul 08 14:46:04 -0700 2008 3849665 168280 vino5150 2 3850718 Agree about the atmosphere. Ditto for Sally's. When I want great pizza and atmosphere I now head to Patsy's in Harlem. Tue Jul 08 19:15:37 -0700 2008 3849909 87462 budinado 3 3852303 I love Patsy's East Harlem, it is in my top five favorites but I also love Pepe's. I have only been twice and it was at an off hour with no wait but I was treated well and the white clam was out of this world good. Wed Jul 09 09:27:27 -0700 2008 3850718 14555 stuartlafonda 1 3852237 I've been to both the original and the Fairfield location quite a few times. I've always enjoyed the pizza. The service is probably more friendly at the Ffld. location, but I've never felt like I was treated like crap at either. We usually order the bottle of birch beer to avoid the small glasses. Wed Jul 09 09:13:08 -0700 2008 3849665 67461 shellyesq 1 3852262 jfood was a Sally's person and when the FFD location opened he wondered over for a couple of pies. Very unimpressed and is not so hot to go back for just OK pizza and birch beer shooters. Several good pizzas where he lives and no need for the shlep. Wed Jul 09 09:17:12 -0700 2008 3849665 11290 jfood 2 3859089 jfood, what pizza do you like in the area? Fri Jul 11 06:40:47 -0700 2008 3852262 39601 stevel 3 3859122 Colony - stm Leitizia - wilton fat cat - norwalk strada 18 - sono joes - new canaan Fri Jul 11 06:48:51 -0700 2008 3859089 11290 jfood 4 3894679 colony is amazing - have not been able to find an equivalent any where else yet that stacks up to their hot oil pizza. we asked the owner one time why he doesn't try to expand, and he said they have their hands full just running this one. Wed Jul 23 11:40:16 -0700 2008 3859122 125934 ninnikuramen 1 3854356 I was just there on July 5th and the service that I received was pretty good. We had a nice waitress who was very friendly and on top of things and nobody seemed to be giving off a bad vibe. The pizza was better the last time I was there (2 months ago) it was a little too greasy this time around. Overall, I like this pizza joint and I never have had a problem with the service. The one thing that I do agree with is that they do need to do something about those "thimbles" they call glasses. Ridiculously small. An infant could down 10 of those and still be thirsty. Wed Jul 09 17:37:33 -0700 2008 3849665 154548 chloe4ever 2 3865762 I haven't been to the Fairfield one for a couple of months, but generally find polite & plesant service - tho wkday lunch is less harried overall. Our waitress specifically told us to order a pitcher for drinks (even tho we were only 2 people). Still dreaming about the clam pizza with bacon - oh my! Sun Jul 13 19:32:29 -0700 2008 3854356 168602 CTgüera 1 3862611 Bah. Born and raised on NY pizza, and my first visit to Pepe's three years ago was a revelation. Best pepperoni pie I've ever had. Two visits since confirms perfection. I don't like clam pies, so if I had ordered that at Pepe's, I'd probably have been disappointed too. One time we tried Modern on a swing through New Haven instead of waiting for Pepe's. Mistake. Bland imitation. All you folks who actually live in New Haven and disdain Pepe's might as well just jump out of a top floor window now and end it all. PS. Yes, buy the pitcher. Sat Jul 12 11:21:30 -0700 2008 3849665 132109 thebordella 2 3864079 I haven't been lately, but unless they've seriously slipped, Pepe's white clam pizza was the best I've ever had, then or since. Sun Jul 13 05:33:08 -0700 2008 3862611 11104 dolores 3 3864773 Agree with you dolores, but make sure you don't have any important meetings lined up within the next few days after!!! Gimme a G-A-R-L-I-C! Sun Jul 13 12:01:51 -0700 2008 3864079 34558 roxlet 2 3894753 bordella is spot on. and i love difara's, etc. pepe's ='s lemmings? not on this planet. Wed Jul 23 12:03:00 -0700 2008 3862611 122578 TBird 1 3898170 Hands down, Pepe's tomato pie (no mozzerella, just some grated romano) is the jewel of their production. It might not sound great, but my father ate it for years before I finally gave it a try and now I can't go without it. The simplicity and freshness of the sauce combined with the chared dough is a perfect match. Thu Jul 24 12:34:39 -0700 2008 3849665 105353 foleyd7 1 3898228 I am a New Haven native. Back in the 50's and 60's Pepe's was terrific. When Mrs. Pepe died 30 some years ago, the place took a dive, but by then it was world famous and the tourists never stopped coming. The truly best pizza in New Haven is Modern Apizza on State Street. That's where the locals go. I have never been disappointed. I now live in Brooklyn (Bensonhurst - Brooklyn's Little Italy) and although the pizza is great, I still long for a pie from Modern. Thu Jul 24 12:58:13 -0700 2008 3849665 195635 Brklynbobby 2 5056730 I've been eating Pepe's for 25 years. With some lapses, the pies have been excellent, the variety impressive. They're willing to take special requests and actually follow through half of the time. Now they're training staff for yet another location in Yonkers, and the quality has taken a dive. It's chaotic--you never know what you'll get. A few weeks ago, we got a pizza baked on a pre-cooked crust. Today the crust seemed to have changed for the worse. I'm afraid the expanding Pepe's Empire will turn even the original New Haven place into just another chain dump. Thu Sep 24 19:50:46 -0700 2009 3898228 1111793 zahound 2 5059014 I'm also a New Haven native and avoid Pepe's, I am a Sally's afficionado, but will eat from Modern as well (but not a bomb). Fri Sep 25 17:10:36 -0700 2009 3898228 274541 bagelman01 2 5059339 All my life I have been eating Coal fired pizzas from Sallys and Pepe's...I think nothing compares to Pepes' white clam well done pizza and Sallys' well done tomato pie...I went to Fairfield when it first opened and it was horrible, went back a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't bad, but it was an off time so the pizza was not rushed...most pizzas lack love when the pizziola is busy...Westport pizza is always a good pie, again WELL DONE...Colony is so-so, a little to thin for me same as Fat Cats, if you eat it in house it is delish, take it home and it really is not great...I do not love the pizza at strata 18, the ALL wood burning oven at Match puts out great pizza as well as some great entrees, Pane Panini during the day is a great slice as well as some tasty sandwiches. I find pizzas that are cooked in coal or wood heated ovens to be the bast, they cook quick and have that nice little char on the edge that makes me smile! Fri Sep 25 21:12:20 -0700 2009 3898228 1099692 mcllmlathd 1 5059887 I recently went to Pepe's in New Haven for the 1st time. We went early so we got right in. Your right about the wait staff, not one smilie to found in the joint. We ordered a regular pie and a clam pie, I don't like clams so I just ate the regular pie and it was good but I can't say it was the best I ever had. I think Pepe's problem is all the hype, people expect to much, I know I did. And when you expect to much your almost bound to be disappointed. BTW avoid the wine, I haven't seen a juice glass that small since Fred Flintstone, actually Fred's glass is big next to the ones the serve wine in there. If you happen to be in Conn. in the area where Pepe's is, I would stop but I wouldn't make it a destination. Sat Sep 26 08:54:43 -0700 2009 3849665 92092 GIOny 2 5060532 Try the Fairfield location, sounds like almost a different place from the New Haven original. Wait staff is friendly and generally helpful. The pepperoni + sausage pizza is excellent as is the Summer Special pie which is a tomato / garlic affair akin to a bruschetta pizza. It's unique and really tasty. Sat Sep 26 15:19:43 -0700 2009 5059887 1110795 trehouse 3 5061061 That Summer Special Pie was delish...like panzanella salad...YUMEE!! Sat Sep 26 20:52:57 -0700 2009 5060532 1099692 mcllmlathd 1 5061035 I would also recommend F Pepe's in Fairfield over the original location in New Haven. I get seated more quickly (no wait midweek, ~15-20minutes peak dinner time during weekends), the service is nicer and most importantly, I think they make better pies than the New Haven location. Originally, I had gripes with the large pizza being too soggy in the center but now I prefer to order 2 small pizzas and they come out perfect, plus I get to try more toppings - try bacon with mushrooms! The large pizza I had at the New Haven location was uncooked in the middle/raw dough, the wait was 30+ min and the service was perfunctory at best. Thank goodness the Fairfield location is closer to where I live! Sat Sep 26 20:35:24 -0700 2009 3849665 107678 SeoulQueen 1 5160873 I tried Pepe's new pizzeria in Yonkers, NY. The best word to describe it is TASTELESS !!! I have been a pizza aficionado for over 30 years and am very selective. I have eaten true Neapolitan pizza in Italy, my father was a chef and I believe I have pretty good background to offer a viable critique of Italian food and pizza. Pepe's is out of their league in the New York metro area. There are a myriad of renowned, well established wood or coal burning pizzerias that use top notch ingredients within a 25 mile radius of midtown Manhattan; Grimaldi's, Patsy's, Lombardi's, Arturo's, Totonno's, Brooklyn Pizza, Picasso (the original one) etc., etc. Pepe's is like any regular pizza joint; cheap cheese, mediocre sauce, not so thin or tasty crust. Other than the coal oven there is nothing inherent in their pizza that qualify as gourmet (clams?). Unless people try other wood or coal oven pizza restaurants in the NY, NJ & CT metro area they may not have a clue as to the taste that distinguishes a truly great pizza form the mundane ones like Pepe's. Interestingly I wrote a review on Pepe's blog which was quickly removed. All I can say Pepe, is if you can't take the heat, get out of the oven or better yet the gourmet pizza business. I am a 'Foodie' and this is my objective opinion, and I am not affiliated with any pizza or food establishment. Fri Nov 06 08:39:36 -0800 2009 3849665 1122229 Giuseppe 2 5161159 I have not been to the Yonkers Pepe's, but the New Haven pizzeria produces pizza that is the equal of any in New York--and I've eaten at all the top (and very fine) NYC pizzerias. Even though it is called Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, there is nothing Neapolitan about Pepe's pizza. In Naples the pizzas are small and round with a soft crust and decorous little blobs of fresh mozzarella. The classic New Haven pizza (practiced by Pepe's, Sally's, etc.) is a huge, amoeba-shaped thing with a thin (though not too thin), crispy, slightly charred crust. Because it is baked in a much hotter oven (coal vs. wood--no one in Italy uses coal) the ingredients fuse together in an almost volanic manner. This is not to say that Pepe's can't have an off night, or that the satellite locations are as good as the original. But to say that "Pepe's is out of their league in the New York metro area" isn't true. On a good night, Pepe's is superior to Lombardi's or John's or Arturo's and maybe even Totonno's, my favorite in NYC. The clam pie at Pepe's (which I had a few days ago) is one of the best foods in the world. Fri Nov 06 10:18:19 -0800 2009 5160873 10267 emarcus 2 5161790 Are you Giuseppe or SanMarzano? After being a pizza aficionado for 30 years you would have Grimaldi's on your list? Fri Nov 06 13:31:43 -0800 2009 5160873 62256 pabboy 2 5163262 With all due respect to your background and point of view Guisseppi, I think you are comparing apples to oranges. New Haven pizza, be it from Frank Pepe, Modern or Sally's and whether it is located in NY in Yonkers or in any of the Frank Pepe locations in CT is its own thing. It is not trying to be "NY pizza".We can have a great debate about what exactly constitutes NY pizza, thin coal burning or wood, the iconic and often transcendent NY slice as is found at many joints in the boroughs, the thicker, doughier, cheesier version at the Original Ray's on 6th Ave in the village and so on. Patsy's (which I find disappointing), Grimaldi's, Lombardi's, Arturo's (one of my faves) all are just one version of NY pizza and Frank Pepe's is none of the above and none of the aforementioned styles. New Haven pizza, as it is called, is New Haven pizza, and as a formerly die-hard, loyal NY pizza whose first pizza experiences were in Brooklyn, I was truly shocked when Frank Pepe's clam pie rocked my world. You don't have to knock New Haven pizza to validate the others. I've had enough disputes with Mid Westerners about deep dish pizza vs. a NY style pie and have even heard relatives (by marriage) in Southern Maryland defend Domino's. Now those debates may seem ridiculous to those of us from the NY area and those of us who've eaten pizza in Italy but, imho, to compare Lombardi's et al to Pepe's is equally pointless. Sat Nov 07 09:05:19 -0800 2009 5160873 48135 laylag 1 5160974 Frank Pepe in yonkers is very dissapointing. I was looking forward to finally having a great coal oven place in lower Westchester. What a joke, the tomato and tomato pie with cheese are worse and less appetizing than many of the commercial places around here. You can barely taste the tomato sauce, the cheese on the pie with cheese is disgusting and the tomato pie was covered with burnt grated cheese. I've never been to their New Haven place but these guys need a recipe fix . Try Johns of Bleeker Street or Lombardi 's you get delicious crisp and tasty charred crust topped with delcicious vibrant tomato sauce and creamy fresh mozzella. That's good pizza. Frank Pepe -not so much. Fri Nov 06 09:15:02 -0800 2009 3849665 1122243 SanMarzano 2 5161511 Thank you, and Giuseppe for, telling us what you consider to be great pizza as it gives me a frame of reference for your opinion. I will now cast aside your opinion. Lombardi's is your suggestion to someone looking for great pizza? I love Pepe's NH and did not think that Pepe's Fairfield was nearly as good in my three visits to that branch. Perhaps they are spreading themselves to thin and that is a bad omen for this new branch. Nonetheless, the new location is on my list and when I find myself in the area will visit. Fri Nov 06 12:10:33 -0800 2009 5160974 14555 stuartlafonda 2 5161793 Are you Giuseppe or SanMarzano? I'm a little confused here. Fri Nov 06 13:32:02 -0800 2009 5160974 62256 pabboy 1 5161881 We were on our way for a trip up the Maine coast a few weeks ago and were told by several people that we just HAD to stop at Pepe's in New Haven since it was on our route. We stopped for lunch. There was no wait. Ordered a cheese and pepperoni pie(added sausage on my half) and gleefully awaited the supposedly wonderful pizza. What we were served was mediocre at best. While the toppings were fine - and just fine - nothing spectacular, the crust was burned beyond all recognition. Yes - I love wood fired pizza and actually like it pretty well charred. But this was almost inedible. Maybe our pizza was the exception to the rule there, but it was really disappointing. Fri Nov 06 13:59:50 -0800 2009 3849665 96172 Mothership 2 5162045 Sabatino's in Hawthorne, NY, across from the movie theater, does a rather nice coal-oven pizza, IMHO. We usually keep it simple, with napolitano, or white pie. Always pretty pleased at what comes out of their oven. Will keep an open mind on trying Frank Pepe's next time we're in Yonkers, but from what I'm hearing on this board am not sure it's worth a special trip. Fri Nov 06 14:48:10 -0800 2009 5161881 10101 Nancy C 3 5163065 It's a little disheartening to read all these negative reports on the new Pepe's. I will try them nonetheless. Does anyone know if they do a takeout on the clam pizza? Wasn't that forbidden at the NH location? Sat Nov 07 07:18:35 -0800 2009 5162045 1122199 anonymouse1935 4 5163602 I ordered one to go http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/663014 Sat Nov 07 12:37:36 -0800 2009 5163065 91796 chowdom