| Let's face it, when you go to Pepe's Pizzeria, in New | | | | The verdict: |
| Haven, Connecticut you expect a quality pizza. You | | | | Due to a miscue, our server brought out our first clam |
| know your pizza will contain top quality ingredients. You | | | | pie with mozzarella on it. Not what we had ordered but |
| realize your pizza will be cooked in a coal fired oven. | | | | we were given the pizza anyway. Everyone was |
| You understand your are getting a traditional Italian | | | | pleasantly surprised. The taste of the mozzarella |
| Pizza, New Haven Style. There is no question, you are | | | | blended well with the clams. Everyone gave this pizza |
| in a for a positive pizza experience. | | | | a positive review. |
| So when 11 pizza fanatics descended on Pepe's we | | | | The original tomato pie was excellent. Indeed the taste |
| were expecting nothing less than an over the top | | | | of the crust came shining through. The vegetarians of |
| pizza experience. And Pepe's did not disappoint us. | | | | the group felt this was a perfect blend of sauce, |
| Because of the diversity of the group (both ethnically | | | | cheese and crust. The original, was in a word |
| and ethically) we decide on three different pizzas. | | | | outstanding. |
| For the seafood lovers (hey, everybody in the group | | | | Out came the bacon and sausage pizza. The bacon |
| was a seafood fan), we ordered the original clam | | | | strips were thick and meaty. The sausage had a |
| pizza. This was Frank Pepe's signature pie. | | | | pleasant melding of meat and spices. The pizza was |
| The standard clam is not made with "motz" | | | | finished in an instant. |
| (mozzarella), just a sprinkling of Parmesan. This pie just | | | | Finally our clam pizza (sans mozzarella) appeared. It |
| oozes with clam taste. You won't find cherry stones | | | | was not only a visual delight but the taste was just |
| or steamers on this pie. This pizza is made with fresh | | | | incredible. No one and I mean no one can match a |
| quahogs. These are big, juicy clams, found in New | | | | Pepe's clam pizza. Frank Pepe invented the clam |
| England waters. Overcook these babies and you get | | | | pizza many years ago. Sure many have tried to |
| a tough rubbery mess. If done just right the clams | | | | recreate it, However, the taste of this pizza is beyond |
| seem to jump off the pizza into your mouth. | | | | description. Simply amazing. |
| Next for the wannabe vegetarians, we ordered the | | | | It was interesting to compare and contrast the taste |
| original tomato pie. This is a plain pizza with cheese. | | | | of the two clam pies: one with motz, the other made |
| The rationale here was to let the taste of the crust to | | | | without it. While I won't be ordering the clam with |
| shine through. | | | | "motz" anytime soon, it was nice to be able to contrast |
| Our third pizza was a loaded to the brim bacon and | | | | the two very different pies. |
| sausage pizza. Strips of hearty Italian bacon are mixed | | | | Again, Pepe's did not disappoint. We all will be going |
| with a nice Italian sweet sausage. | | | | back soon. |