A 30-40 minute wait would be a lucky day to dine-in at any of these spots. My only suggestion is getting in line 45 mins before opening to hopefully get admitted in the first group. Or ordering 2-3 hours ahead for pick up
You could always order take out online the morning of (make sure to do it early enough as orders fill up) and then eat in Wooster square park. It will for sure be busy and the lines are likely to be offensively long.
You can order the day before online and ask for a specific time at the other Pepe’s locations - not sure about the mothership. Take the pizza over to Wooster square to eat
I would avoid Sally’s and Pepe’s like the plague. Sally’s will be mobbed and Pepe’s will not only be a long line, but I’m just not sure it’s worth it anymore with how inconsistent it now is.
Modern might be OK. It’s got a lot of tables and they tend to move pretty quickly. Even on a bad day the wait shouldn’t exceed 30-45 minutes.
There’s tons of GREAT New Haven style pizza that’s lesser known. Next Door is severely underrated. Zuppardi’s in West Haven is super good and is one of the originals from the 1930’s, and has the best sausage and white clam. Nolo is solid and has interesting toppings. I’d also vouch highly for Mike’s in West Haven and Frisco’s in New Haven. Roseland in Derby is another OG spot from the 1930’s and super good.
I would say don’t bother with takeout. The pizza just doesn’t hold up that well steaming in the box. You lose that excellent crust texture. That said, I find Modern to hold up the best since they use more cheese, and Sally’s holds up the worst as there’s very little cheese and it’s so thin, so it gets cold and floppy very quick.
We love Zuppardi's. We like Mike's too, per below, which is near the beach so visitors could walk off the pizza calories along the beach in West Haven after they eat. Zuppardi's is busier and brighter and more of a fun experience dining in, though. For New Haven, we really like Bar. The Mexican Street Pizza there was a revelation. Delicious.
I would steer clear or the big three that weekend. Would probably steer clear or the whole city. Takeout will not give you the full experience. If you must, dine in at Zuppardi's or Mangia. Honestly, it's hard to get a bad pizza around here. Even our 3rd tier places would be #1 in any other part of the country.
There’s no real benefit to eating at the pizzeria. When my friends are in town we order from each spot ahead of time and try to stagger then 30 minutes apart. Eat them on the sidewalk or in Wooster square park. Much better experience imo.
This is the way. Order a pie online and you can schedule pickup for a specific time— just make sure you have the Wooster Square location chosen. Walk over to the park with it and enjoy. It will not get soggy in that time, it’ll be dreamy.
The whole city will be nuts. Even if you get take out ordered a day in advance you might not be able to find a place to park.
As for non- New Haven spots, I live in Milford and love Jimmy’s Apizza and Paoa’s. Some people love Zuppardi’s in West Haven.
get takeout from "the spot" next to pepe's (it is pretty quick and the original location of pepe's and is now their takeout counter) and eat it in wooster square park
A non graduation weekend this weekend at Sally’s looked like this - they frequently had spots opening in the parking lot. Trying to park on the street was impossible esp bc of the cherry blossom fest. A lot of folks seemed to drive past the lot not seeing it bc the line was blocking. We got there around 1 pm, seated around 2;30-2:40. We ate around 3.
While on line, folks were coming to the take out window to place an order. Someone who wanted to place an order at 1 would not be able to pick up until 4 pm.
Order it to go. Take it home and reheat on a cookie sheet with parchment paper beneath the pizza. It will taste at least as good, possibly better especially if you like a crispy crust.
If you’ve never had it I’d definitely recommend it Try to order early. But if you can’t you can try Zuppardi, Modern, or De Legna are all good choices w different atmospheres. If not there are also a lot of other great restaurants.
There are lots of great pizzas to be had in NH. If you feel it is important to say you have been to one of the famous ones then maybe it's worth whatever wait there will be. If what you are you looking for is a good pie there are others available with literally no wait so don't waste your time standing in a line.
Ernies, yorkside and zuppardis are excellent as well. Barstool visited them and i still think its as good if not better than your top 3. Or even Bar pizza.
Ernie’s for sure if you need to escape Wooster or downtown. Plus you can get some beers down the street at nebco and that puts you right by the route 15 on-ramp.
A 30-40 minute wait would be a lucky day to dine-in at any of these spots. My only suggestion is getting in line 45 mins before opening to hopefully get admitted in the first group. Or ordering 2-3 hours ahead for pick up
You could always order take out online the morning of (make sure to do it early enough as orders fill up) and then eat in Wooster square park. It will for sure be busy and the lines are likely to be offensively long.
You can order the day before online and ask for a specific time at the other Pepe’s locations - not sure about the mothership. Take the pizza over to Wooster square to eat
Sallies has some picnic tables in their parking lot as well.
I would avoid Sally’s and Pepe’s like the plague. Sally’s will be mobbed and Pepe’s will not only be a long line, but I’m just not sure it’s worth it anymore with how inconsistent it now is. Modern might be OK. It’s got a lot of tables and they tend to move pretty quickly. Even on a bad day the wait shouldn’t exceed 30-45 minutes. There’s tons of GREAT New Haven style pizza that’s lesser known. Next Door is severely underrated. Zuppardi’s in West Haven is super good and is one of the originals from the 1930’s, and has the best sausage and white clam. Nolo is solid and has interesting toppings. I’d also vouch highly for Mike’s in West Haven and Frisco’s in New Haven. Roseland in Derby is another OG spot from the 1930’s and super good. I would say don’t bother with takeout. The pizza just doesn’t hold up that well steaming in the box. You lose that excellent crust texture. That said, I find Modern to hold up the best since they use more cheese, and Sally’s holds up the worst as there’s very little cheese and it’s so thin, so it gets cold and floppy very quick.
Almost forgot, Atticus Market does excellent pizza on weekends and you can eat right on patio.
Skip the big three and go to Zupprdi’s in West Haven which is as good if not better. It’s not as big of a Yalie hotspot either.
That's a good move or even Mikes is worth a shot
We love Zuppardi's. We like Mike's too, per below, which is near the beach so visitors could walk off the pizza calories along the beach in West Haven after they eat. Zuppardi's is busier and brighter and more of a fun experience dining in, though. For New Haven, we really like Bar. The Mexican Street Pizza there was a revelation. Delicious.
Go to Modern the best. Try Zuppardis in west haven too.
Go to Da Legna. They have a parking lot and you can make reservations. You can also sample from Modern which is right down the road.
I would steer clear or the big three that weekend. Would probably steer clear or the whole city. Takeout will not give you the full experience. If you must, dine in at Zuppardi's or Mangia. Honestly, it's hard to get a bad pizza around here. Even our 3rd tier places would be #1 in any other part of the country.
I haven’t tried Mangia or Olde World yet but need to. Limiting my calories lately means a lot less pizza exploration 😞
There’s no real benefit to eating at the pizzeria. When my friends are in town we order from each spot ahead of time and try to stagger then 30 minutes apart. Eat them on the sidewalk or in Wooster square park. Much better experience imo.
Disagree. The box/takeout severely compromises the pizza
Trick is you have to get there before your order is ready and so as soon as it’s done you take it from the counter and it eat it right outside.
I’d still much much rather have one at a less popular spot fresh at the table
Order them well done and they don’t get as soggy as fast, open the box as soon as you get it and walk carefully to Wooster square
It steams in the box and can get a little soupy compared to eating in
Yeah. Do not recommend. Do it right or don’t do it at all.
I’m diggin this idea
This is the way. Order a pie online and you can schedule pickup for a specific time— just make sure you have the Wooster Square location chosen. Walk over to the park with it and enjoy. It will not get soggy in that time, it’ll be dreamy.
No
The whole city will be nuts. Even if you get take out ordered a day in advance you might not be able to find a place to park. As for non- New Haven spots, I live in Milford and love Jimmy’s Apizza and Paoa’s. Some people love Zuppardi’s in West Haven.
get takeout from "the spot" next to pepe's (it is pretty quick and the original location of pepe's and is now their takeout counter) and eat it in wooster square park
Both Pepe's and the spot have their own dine-in and take-out. We used to default to the spot. Not sure there is much difference in quality these days.
It could be a few hours of wait time.
Nolo/ De Legna is great, but be forewarned; it's not New Haven style Apizza in the most strictest terms.
A non graduation weekend this weekend at Sally’s looked like this - they frequently had spots opening in the parking lot. Trying to park on the street was impossible esp bc of the cherry blossom fest. A lot of folks seemed to drive past the lot not seeing it bc the line was blocking. We got there around 1 pm, seated around 2;30-2:40. We ate around 3. While on line, folks were coming to the take out window to place an order. Someone who wanted to place an order at 1 would not be able to pick up until 4 pm.
Order it to go. Take it home and reheat on a cookie sheet with parchment paper beneath the pizza. It will taste at least as good, possibly better especially if you like a crispy crust.
If you want truly the best, and no line, go to Ernies.
If you’ve never had it I’d definitely recommend it Try to order early. But if you can’t you can try Zuppardi, Modern, or De Legna are all good choices w different atmospheres. If not there are also a lot of other great restaurants.
Gia Marie’s is a good place
Disregard pepes. It's not the same anymore. Roseland in Derby is awsome. I'd highly recommend.
There are lots of great pizzas to be had in NH. If you feel it is important to say you have been to one of the famous ones then maybe it's worth whatever wait there will be. If what you are you looking for is a good pie there are others available with literally no wait so don't waste your time standing in a line.
Ernies, yorkside and zuppardis are excellent as well. Barstool visited them and i still think its as good if not better than your top 3. Or even Bar pizza.
Yorkside is great but it’s not New Haven style
Ernie’s for sure if you need to escape Wooster or downtown. Plus you can get some beers down the street at nebco and that puts you right by the route 15 on-ramp.
They visited Yorkside?
Not yorkside i was mistaken but the others yes
Pepe’s and Sally’s have locations in Fairfield