What shall we get? A pizza expert’s guide to Connecticut’s primo pies.

What Shall We Get? A Pizza Expert’s Guide to Connecticut’s Primo Pies

New Haven native Colin Caplan is a true pizza expert. We asked him to share his favorite picks from the top five pizzerias in Connecticut, as ranked by the Connecticut Pizza Trail and his own list. He runs five pizza tours, including a six-hour Pizza Lovers Tour of New Haven, produced a 2019 documentary titled Pizza: A Love Story, and set a Guinness World Record this year for hosting the Largest Pizza Party with 4,525 attendees. Below are his favorite orders from these celebrated spots. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Modern Apizza

The mozzarella pizza here is sublime—perfectly balancing flavors, textures, and the gooey delight that defines a great pie. For meat lovers, the Italian Bomb is a must-try. It features three meats and four vegetables layered with sauce and cheese, all on an incredibly thin, flavor-packed crust.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

Caplan recommends going for the original sauce and grated cheese pizza, topped with garlic. This classic Neapolitan tomato pie is perfected by Pepe’s immense coal-fired ovens. For a true New Haven experience, try Pepe’s white clam pizza, which honors the Native Quinnipiac shoreline food combined with beloved immigrant flatbread.

Sally’s Apizza

The founder Salvatore Consiglio’s favorite was the original sauce pie with added garlic, a timeless choice for pizza enthusiasts.

“The true pizza lover must try Pepe’s white clam pizza—it connects the Native Quinnipiac staple food of the shoreline to the imported immigrant flat bread we all adore.”

Author’s summary: Colin Caplan highlights Connecticut’s top pizza spots, emphasizing their unique pies that perfectly blend local tradition with beloved pizza craftsmanship.

The Boston Globe — 2025-11-07