ugctenor's Profile
Pepe's, Sally's or Modern
You're right about Grand Apizza North. There was some sort of family squabble and it's different now. But as far as other places not being able to recreate the big 3. The big 3 can't even recreate it anymore. So many pizza guys move on as soon as they learn how to cook with that specific oven. They didn't always have the disclaimers in the menues warning you that the pies will most likely come out burned and misshapen.
When Sorrento's of Hamden was at the height of it's "delivery fame" the pies tended to be more consistent on weekend evenings. You would see a dozen or more guys in the kitchen just making pies, half pounding dough and half doing toppings, to keep up with orders. But just one person who did nothing but work the ovens. For a while that was probably the most famous pizza place in the area, with just as many detractors as fans. But no matter how many negative things you may have heard about them, they still needed 12 pizza guys and 12 delivery guys on friday and saturday nights. And the line out the door for order in and takeout rivaled Wooster Street at times. But now that's over too. All new people. Here's a strange thing. Even on those nights, the customer area would be eerily quiet. Nothing like Pepe's on Wooster Street. You'd be surprised at the effect of having cheap paper disposable tableclothes and a disposable cup full of crayons on every table. Somebody really should have saved some of the pizza stained 'artwork' from that place.
Pepe's, Sally's or Modern
These three places aren't bad, but are definitely past their prime. And no one ever mentions Grand Apizza which some will claim belongs right up with the "big 3". Most people I know around here will go to these three almost only when they have visitors from out of town. It's best to look beyond these three alone. Just a few. Ernies- Whalley Av in the Amity section of New Haven. Mr Bimonte's- Cheshire. Rossini's- Cheshire. Si Mangia- Hamden. Tolli's- East Haven. Zuppardi's- West Haven. Pacileo's- Branford. That's right. Branford. Naples- New Haven/right near Yale's Woolsey Hall, Silliman College, Scroll & Key, etc. If you've never been to New Haven, be warned that there are several Greek pizza shops in the area. Most are good for what they are, but this isn't New Haven Pizza. Two good examples are Yorkside Pizza/right next door to Toad's Place, and Alpha Delta/across from Rudy's.
New Haven County's Best Mexican?
In New Haven El Amigo Felix is the way to go. And someone already mentioned Jalapeno Heaven in Branford. Don't bother with Aunt Chilada's. If you're up that way, better to try Andale near Whitney and Sherman.
