Pizza is my weakness -it’s the one food I cannot resist when I am on a diet.  The cheesy, saucy, doughy piece of heaven has always been a pleasure of mine.  So of course I have come to be somewhat of a pizza connoisseur, trying world-famous pizzas any chance I can get.  My favorite to date has been a homemade pizza made by my Mom’s boyfriend’s sister (got that?) that is 100% Italian.  It has somewhat of a sweet tomato sauce and tastes like no other pizza I ever had. Needless to say, I always request the special pizza at family picnics. 

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny Sunday spent with my lovely Dad who I get the Italian half from.  (The other half is Polish.)  I definitely inherited my Dad’s taste buds because I prefer an italian pizza with extra extra sauce any day over pierogis or stuffed cabbage.  My dad and I have the same love for pizza and he wanted to take me out for New Haven-style pizza right on Wooster Street, New Haven–Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana “Pepe’s”.   Pepe’s is one of the oldest and well-known pizzerias in the United States.  Frank Pepe Pizzeria was founded in 1925 by Frank Pepe, an italian immigrant. 

I had heard so much about Pepe’s Pizza but was the hype real?  Absolutely.  The crispy, brick-oven toasted crust accompanied by a doughy middle and perfect sauce and cheese mix was absolutely amazing.  I tried the plain and also had a piece of my dad’s with bacon and onion which was also mouth-watering.  They also serve Foxon Park soda which is locally made here in CT.  The entire ambiance makes you feel like you are in a 1950’s pizza place.  I hear the pizza is just as good at all of their locations but I felt authentic having Pepe’s Pizza at the original location in New Haven.

  Tips: Go at awkward times in the day (we went at 3pm) to avoid lunch and dinner rushes, epseically on weekends.  Also, you can go to “The Spot” right behind Pepe’s which also serves the same pizza but not many people know about it.  Mangia!