🚨BEST OF CONNECTICUT ALERT🚨 Established in 1978, Anna’s is named after the mother of the Constanti brothers (aka The 3 “Short” Pizza Kings of Connecticut): George (Fuoco Apizza in Cheshire), Christos (Christos in Wallingford) & Michael (Luna Woodfired Pizza in Naugatuck). Anna’s serves New Haven style pizza cooked in a gas oven, not coal-fired. However, while some might consider this to be imitation New Haven apizza, this pie is as close to authentic as it gets. With strikingly similar aesthetics & remarkably similar taste, this pizza can certainly hold its own against the legendary pizzerias in the Mecca. Exceptionally sturdy & firm, the beautifully blackened undercarriage has tremendous char along with a sensationally smokey flavor. While soft in some areas, the dough maintains quality crisp & minimal flop with solid crunch throughout. The crust has that signature thin New Haven style incredible crunchiness & fabulous flavor astoundingly duplicated by the gas oven in the absence of coal. The shredded mozzarella blend is New Haven style pizza cheese to a tee. Marvelously melty & delectable with fantastic flavor & creamy consistency to match the taste. Despite well-done char bubbles & a rigid tightness near the crust, the cheese maintains a molten flow & silky properties without drying out. Loaded with hearty & chunky plum tomatoes, the sauce is a magnificent medley of sweet & savory with a touch of tang & smidge of zest. Rather simple, the sauce lets the tomatoes do most of the talking without much seasoning enhancing the flavor, with just enough spice to bolster the taste. Deep red & rich, particularly near the crust, in signature New Haven fashion, the sauce is downright delicious despite its simplicity. While the grease flow is a little troubling in some areas, it’s mostly manageable, as the excess oil appears to be under control. Wonderfully well-done, this imitation New Haven pie has all the attributes of authentic coal-oven apizza. Overall, this pie is outstanding, with well-balanced taste & texture, truly travel-worthy & one of the best New Haven style pies outside of the Pizza Capitol. If cooked in a coal oven, this pie would be launched into Hall of Fame territory. As it stands, this is right in line with the other Constanti brother’s joints, with equally exceptional pizza located on the outskirts of the legendary Pizza Kingdom of New Haven.
