Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

I grew up about 20 minutes north of New Haven, and I always bristled whenever I’d see Pepe’s listed as “The Best Pizza Place in the U.S. or World” in some food publication. Although, some priggish locals tend to overcorrect this billing by acting like above-it-all, contrarian snobs by defaulting to the hispterish opinion that Pepe’s is not worthwhile. Those people are fools. Pepe’s is great for its utility. They do toppings well, and regardless of what you order, it will be a very good, if not great, pie. It may not live up to its hype, but it is still a very good establishment, and if you’re new to New Haven/New York/New Jersey pizza, it will be a very enjoyable experience. TL; DR: It’s one of the few tourist attractions that justify the wait, but if you’re in New Haven, Sally’s, Modern, and Da Legna are my recommendations.