Every serious eater, it seems, believes that the best pizza in the universe is to be found in New Haven, Connecticut. For the longest time, I could not comprehend how this could be true -- I mean, how much better can it get than the pies at Grimaldi's or Lombardi's or even Luzzo's (mini-review alert: but decidedly not Una Pizza Napoletana, unless you enjoy spending over $25 for a sad little pie that will leave you hungry).After my fourth trip to New Haven yesterday to take my place in the ever-present queue outside Pepe's, I can confirm that yes, it can get that much better (I'm so excited about Pepe's that I don't know where to put the emphasis in that sentence). What makes Pepe's so special? I'd say it's the unbelievably chewy, perfectly charcoal-fired crust that becomes one with the toppings. Then again, I'd also say it's the high quality, fresh toppings generously strewn atop that beautiful crust.
Tips on enjoying your Pepe's experience:
1. Get a clam pizza with white sauce. Think clam on pizza is gross? Sorry, wrong.
2. Try the Special, which comes with mozzarella, sausage, pepper, onion, salami, bacon, mushroom and pepperoni. Perhaps that seems a tad excessive, but this pizza is amazingly sweet and not heavy-tasting at all. You will love it and you will love me for suggesting it.
3. You will likely have to wait. Try to avoid popular meal times, which seems to leave the 2-4 p.m. window, to cut down on your wait time.
4. Take me with you.
5. Don't be too bitter that Yalies get to have Pepe's on top of their platinum degree. The rest of New Haven can't really compare to Cambridge, after all.
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