Pepe's in Yonkers -- Great Pizza
I have noticed a lot of negative posts about the new Pepe's, so I was a little wary when a group of us went last Saturday night. Since our experience was so positive, I wanted to begin a new post for those who have enjoyed their dining experience.
The line was out the door of the vestibule, and it was a very cold night, but it moved fairly rapidly. We were 6 and we waited for one of the large booths. We were extremely pleased that the designers had decided against packing the place cheek by jowl with tables. The restaurant was airy and spacious. My friend, who had visited three times before, said that she felt that the best strategy was to order small pizzas instead of the large or regular sized ones. This was a great idea since the small wedges were extremely manageable. With three teenage boys in our company, six small pies were the right amount to order. The pies were all delicious -- we had 2 cheese, 1 pepperoni, 1 chicken, 1 sausage and one shrimp with bacon. Our one disappointment was that they were out of clams, but the shrimp pizza was a nice, briny and credible alternative. All the pies had great char and were delivered fresh and hot. Having eaten most of the best pizzas in the county, I can say that Pepe's is a great addition to the area and my opinion is that there is none better locally. Pepe's stands heads and shoulders above every other pizzerias in Westchester.
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I've been to the Yonkers Pepe's several times, most recently yesterday. I think their pizza is great. I love the white clam pie - I thought the clams tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned - not watery at all. We also ordered a spinach pie which was excellent.
Maybe you're comparing Pepe's to old-style NY pizza - it's not like that at all. Maybe someday someone will open a decent pizza place like the Gloria's in Flushing of my youth. Now that was fabulous NY-style pizza. Unfortunately, that style does not seem to exist anymore. I'm very happy with Pepe's.
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JMF
Apr 12, 2010 05:43 AM
I just don't get it. I've been several times and have been disappointed each time. I don't think much of their pizza at all. The hype makes no sense to me. Then again, since I moved back to Westchester last fall I haven't had really good pizza anywhere. But each time I went to Yonkers Pepe's I thought the pizza to be a nasty, watery mess, with burnt, (not nicely charred) crust and toppings, that wasn't fully cooked. I think their temperature control may be off or something, but when the crust and toppings are burnt, but the pie is watery and the crust isn't cooked all the way through, somethings wrong.
In comparison, I've been to Keste in the city and their pies cook for just a minute or two, but they come out nice.
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We tried the clam pie and loved it. We kept ohhing and ahhing for every bite. My husband is a pizza purist and doesn't consider it pizza because it doesn't have cheese and tomato sauce but that didn't stop him from loving it.
The only downside we had was that it doesn't travel well. We ordered it one day and it didn't retain it's texture in the 15 minute car ride so we will only eat it on premise rather then take out. Maybe for people who live closer, that is not an issue.
If someone doesn't like it - it just means shorter lines for me.
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Just returned from Pepe's for lunch. Was really hoping to love the place, since I do love me some pizza. Pepe's pizza didn't do it for me at all. My son and I had the red with mozz. Very, very oily, greased with something that was not olive oil. Way too charred/ burned (and I really like well-done pies). Tasteless crust (well, tasted of being burned). Sauce was eh, ditto the cheese.
These pies were distinctive, but not the flavors I look for. Definitely more character than pies from most pizza places, but again, not the pie for me. I'm not a basher, but I'm not a fan. Would not return, as there are better options near me. -
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Thanks, roxlet. I took the negative posts against Pepe's with a grain of salt.
I'm glad to hear the Yonkers location is as good as the Fairfield and New Haven.
I can't wait to get there, and hope they're not out of clams. There really is no excuse for that, really.
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re: anonymouse1935
Completely agree with both your posts. Some people like to rag on certain restaurants because it is "the thing to do". Some people were complaining about this Pepes even before it was open! So yes, I also take the negative reviews with a grain of salt. Pepes is one of those places that people love to hate. Yet, whenever I am there, people seem to enjoy the pizza (yes, I have talked to the people in line/next to us). For some strange reason, there is a certain crowd that hates places just because tons of others like them. If you don't like something because you don't like it; that is fine. But I think that is not the case with Pepes.
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re: biga290
jfood
Jan 6, 2010 07:51 AM
but sally's still makes a much better pie than pepes (insert jfood ducking).
there are many lovers and haters of pepes and likewise for sallys, and colony and tarry lodge and every other pizza place in the 'hood.
If you guys want a love fest for pepes, go for it, but placing comps against others will turn this into a flame war and OT for the Mods.
Jusy jfoods 2-cents.
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re: jfood
jfood
i say live and let live
its just like red and white
thanks for both
sallys fresh tomato slices in the summer are off the charts
the fresh clam and shrimp at pepes are their best
a mano in ridgewood
mr ninos in harrison and patsys in paterswon are all amazing
some times u feel like a nut sometimes u dont
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