Driving from Philly to Rhode Island: Connecticut Chow Suggestions [moved from New Jersey board]

[Picnicchef]

While it is a few more hours (pack a snack) there are a couple of great seafood shacks in Mystic. I always stop en route to Newport for a clam roll or whatever. Plus it is a really pretty place to visit for an hour and stretch your legs!

[philly57]

Wow, this is a lot of info. Thank you everyone!. I may end up going to Pepe's or somewhere in Southern CT since I am now leaving a bit earlier (and therefore, I should be further along my journey around lunch time). And thanks for the tip about Mystic - maybe on the way home!

[tommy]

If you haven't been to a New Haven coal-fired pizza place you're in for a treat. Pepe's, Modern, Sally's, all will please, although people do pick favorites.

[fourunder]

Which one is yours.......i.e. favorite of the three you mentioned?

[tommy]

Check my blog if you care

[fourunder]

I see no reference to Sally's....

[tommy]

Which of the ones that you did see was my favorite?

[fourunder]

Is this a comprehension test?

Crust @ Modern.

[tommy]

Lol! For a first timer, as I suggest, it will be a wonderful experience.

[fourunder]

As experience tells us, you are more demanding of your pizza....whole or slices.

I have been to Sally's and Frank Pepe....not to Modern.

Take -Out...all pizza does not travel well.

Cheese topping and crust....Sally's
Clam topping no cheese........Frank Pepe

I hear the Bacon and Clam Pie at modern is excellent.

i would not return to Sally's

[philly57]

Thanks everyone. Went to Modern and had two pizzas: Margarita and Clams Casino.

The margarita resembled a plain pie and was just okay. If you had told me it was a plain cheese pizza, I would have believed it. Not sure how the actual plain cheese differs from what we got. It was good but the middle of the pie (first bites of each slice) were limp and a bit soggy. Crust had a nice char. It was a bit greasy but tasty. Nothing special.

The clams casino with bacon and peppers (white) was better. The toppings went together nicely and it was tasty. But it was also greasy and soggy in the middle.

Overall, it wasn't a spectacular culinary experience. But it definitely fit the bill as a good place to stop and eat along the way. If this is typical New Haven pizza, then I would have to say that the style is a bit overhyped.

Thanks everyone!

[tommy]

When you say "overhyped" you mean that you didn't like is as much as others seem to, correct?

[philly57]

That is correct. And to reiterate, I liked it. It was good. But is it worthy enough to be its own style of pizza?

I'm no expert and I've only had NH pizza once from one place so please take my comment with a few grains of salt. But if Modern is one of the better NH pizza establishments than I would question all the hype surrounding not only Modern but NH pizza in general.

Maybe I need to try it more than once and try other pizzerias in the area?

[tommy]

I think Modern is probably a good representation of the style.

I don't think that the use of overhyped is correct here. "Hype" and "having fans" are two completely different things. If there was a PR firm representing NH style pizza, and it went on food boards and took out ads making dubious claims about the pizza's popularity, status, etc, and yet people who study and appreciate pizza thought the places were producing a mediocre product, then the use of "overhyped" would be applicable.

Who decides if a style is worthy of existing? That's an interesting concept.

[fourunder]

Is the Sea Swirl the inspiration for the Clam Roll you used to serve in Emerson?

[Picnicchef]

yepper!

[fourunder]

Very nice! It's been years since I have been back there, but two of my favorites....

Fried Whole Belly Clams and Oysters.

I miss them both....at the Sea Swirl and @ Emerson......

[Picnicchef]

summer is here! I'll have belly clam rolls at dinner as a small plate.

[equal_Mark]

What the heck is a belly clam roll?

[fourunder]

Ipswich Clams......like a Lobster Roll.

http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/20...

[tommy]

Not really, though, right? More like a clam po' boy?

[fourunder]

On a Split-Top Soft Roll, I would say it's a Clam Roll.......if it were on a roll or crusty bread, e.g, a baguette....then yes, a po' boy.

[tommy]

It's funny you mention that, because I'm making hot dogs in this heat and I'm putting them on top split soft rolls. They are like lobster rolls.

[Picnicchef]

Just ordered the clams last night! Thanks for the reminder!