44 replies to this topic

[nuxvomica]

thank you guys, looking forward to it.

[nuxvomica]

between the traffic, our schedule and opening hours of Modern, which wasn't open yet, we ended up going to Pepe's first to kill time, then Modern and getting the pizzas to eat in the car. Pepe's crust was much better (the sauce was on the sweet side) and overall we enjoyed it more than the too doughy, under-baked, and in the case of the clam pizza too wet to be edible pies from Modern. i'm assuming that something was off with Modern because i can't believe people rave about this stuff. was it because we had to get the pizza to go? we ate it right away, scalding hot, it didn't sit or anything.

also, the clam pie, which i regret not getting at Pepe's (only got a mozzarella one) looked very different from the Modern's. Pepe's looked more crispy and golden while Modern's was goopy, pale, overloaded with rubbery, tasteless clams and topped with huge lemon wedges. the entire bottom of the pizza was soaking wet. if it hadn't been for the fact that we were already late, i would have gone back - we ate each pizza right after we got it so they didn't sit in the car. we ended up throwing out the clam one after taking one bite each.

[OTB]

On reading your post, I had to double check my photos because it conflicted with my own personal experience. I have in fact, never been to Modern 'Apizza. I got it confused with something else. I've been to Frank Pepe's "The Spot", which is their smaller, less crowded location next door.

http://www.flickr.co...ew haven&m=text

[nuxvomica]

On reading your post, I had to double check my photos because it conflicted with my own personal experience. I have in fact, never been to Modern 'Apizza. I got it confused with something else. I've been to Frank Pepe's "The Spot", which is their smaller, less crowded location next door.

http://www.flickr.co...ew haven&m=text

and i only ordered the clam pie at Modern because of your comment

[OTB]

On reading your post, I had to double check my photos because it conflicted with my own personal experience. I have in fact, never been to Modern 'Apizza. I got it confused with something else. I've been to Frank Pepe's "The Spot", which is their smaller, less crowded location next door.

http://www.flickr.co...ew haven&m=text

and i only ordered the clam pie at Modern because of your comment

Yeah, it's one of those cases where I took photos on something and never did a blog post on it. Otherwise I would have checked my own material. Really sorry about that. Definitely hit Pepe's or The Spot (same as Pepe's, but next door) for the clam pie.

[Rail Paul]

There's a another thread on New Haven pizza elsewhere in this forum. It seems a similar discussion of The Modern, A'Pizza, Pepe's, Sally's, etc generated a range of opinions and experiences.

2004-2010 comments

New Haven Pizza

[SethG]

Ate at Pepe's (in "The Spot" annex) last night. We got a sausage/pepperoni pie. Maybe we "ordered wrong" by not getting the famous white clam pie, but nevertheless we were surprised at how unimpressed we were. The thin crust was surprisingly tough and chewy. I thought the sauce and toppings were fine.

Not a disaster by any stretch but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

[Nancy S.]

Ate at Pepe's (in "The Spot" annex) last night. We got a sausage/pepperoni pie. Maybe we "ordered wrong" by not getting the famous white clam pie, but nevertheless we were surprised at how unimpressed we were. The thin crust was surprisingly tough and chewy. I thought the sauce and toppings were fine.

Not a disaster by any stretch but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

I always thought Pepe's tasted a bit too much like Chef Boyardee. A few weeks ago, I returned to Modern. The pizza was quite good. I especially like the "plain" -- just tomato sauce and grated cheese. Also, they have some interesting local beers, at excellent prices.

[irnscrabblechf52]

I wasn't that impressed with Sally's --I would never wait that long again for merely good pizza. Or even for great pizza. No way.

http://thecollegecri...-sallys-apizza/

[Nancy S.]

I wasn't that impressed with Sally's --I would never wait that long again for merely good pizza. Or even for great pizza. No way.

http://thecollegecri...-sallys-apizza/

Agreed -- that's why whenever I'm in New Haven I have dinner at Modern -- better pizza, better service, better drinks and shorter wait. Also, it's around the block from my son's apartment.

[mitchells]

I wasn't that impressed with Sally's --I would never wait that long again for merely good pizza. Or even for great pizza. No way.

http://thecollegecri...-sallys-apizza/

Agreed -- that's why whenever I'm in New Haven I have dinner at Modern -- better pizza, better service, better drinks and shorter wait. Also, it's around the block from my son's apartment.

Agree on Modern for all the reasons you cited. True no clam pie to compete with Pepe's at Modern but pies overall seem to be more consistent. And make sure to get a calzone next time. Enormous and delicious with a perfectly charred crust.

[irnscrabblechf52]

I wasn't that impressed with Sally's --I would never wait that long again for merely good pizza. Or even for great pizza. No way.

http://thecollegecri...-sallys-apizza/

Agreed -- that's why whenever I'm in New Haven I have dinner at Modern -- better pizza, better service, better drinks and shorter wait. Also, it's around the block from my son's apartment.

I'll send my bro to scout it out

[Rail Paul]

Jane & Michael Stern offer an appraisal of the state of pizza in the US. In passing, the Parade article mentions a current rec in their own backyard. Although some of the article is quite suspect (sending people to the now closed Delorenzo's in Trenton, for example), I'd trust their comments about their home turf...

Carminuccio's
76 South Main Street Newtown, CT 06470
(203) 364-1133

Looks like it's about a half mile from I-84's exits 10 and 11, east of Danbury

Attractive menu with a wide range of pizza toppings. "If you don't see what you want, just ask..."

Pizza

[Suzanne F]

Interesting. I always mean to stop to have pizza when we pick up or return a rental car at the New Haven station when we go up to VT, but somehow the timing never quite works out. Thx for the new link.

[Rail Paul]

Jane & Michael Stern offer an appraisal of the state of pizza in the US. In passing, the Parade article mentions a current rec in their own backyard. Although some of the article is quite suspect (sending people to the now closed Delorenzo's in Trenton, for example), I'd trust their comments about their home turf...

Carminuccio's
76 South Main Street Newtown, CT 06470
(203) 364-1133

Looks like it's about a half mile from I-84's exits 10 and 11, east of Danbury

Attractive menu with a wide range of pizza toppings. "If you don't see what you want, just ask..."

Pizza

I stopped at Carminuccio's in Newtown last week.

Superb crust, but the toppings left me unimpressed. Very thin, crackly crust, but they could have just dumped Campbell soup on it. I'll probably stop again and give them another chance, but this wasn't encouraging.

On the other hand, the kids behind the counter were full of energy, the pizza maker was turning, checking, etc and very attentive to his work. I was impressed that they were doing a land office business, with people picking up 2-3 pies at a time.

It's just a few minutes off I-84. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.