Gov. Ned Lamont declared Connecticut the “pizza capital of the world” earlier this year, and now we know that New Haven is the pizza capital of Connecticut.
With the state sponsoring public voting to determine the top 100 pizzerias that will be included in the first-ever Connecticut Pizza Capital Trail, it released a list of the top 20 that received votes over the past six weeks.
With more than 13,000 votes cast, the top three pizzerias and four of the top five all are located in, or have roots in, New Haven.
The top vote-getter was Modern Apizza, followed by Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and Sally’s Apizza, both of which were founded in the Elm City, but have since added locations in other towns. Zuppardi’s Apizza of West Haven was fourth, followed by BAR, another New Haven-based pizzeria.
Of the top 20 receiving votes, six, or 30%, are New Haven-based pizzerias, including Ernie’s Pizzeria at No. 12 and Est, Est, Est Pizza & Restaurant at No. 20.
Other towns represented in the top 20 include Avon, Cheshire, Derby, Meriden, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Torrington and Waterbury, among others.
“This is exactly what we hoped to see,” said Anthony Anthony, chief marketing officer for the state Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism. “Yes, New Haven made ‘apizza’ put our pies on the map, but this list shows that Connecticut’s passion for pizza runs statewide, from shoreline to the Notch, and everywhere in between.”
The full list of the top 100 pizzerias — along with the official Connecticut Pizza Capital Trail map — will launch this fall, just in time for National Pizza Month in October, with a statewide bus tour spotlighting stops across the trail, state officials said.
Here is the list of the top 20 vote-getters:
- Modern Apizza, New Haven
- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, multiple towns
- Sally’s Apizza, multiple towns
- Zuppardi’s Apizza, West Haven
- BAR, New Haven
- Roseland Apizza, Derby
- Tony’s Pizza, Willimantic
- Colony Grill, multiple towns
- Little City Pizza, Avon
- Domenic’s & Vinnie’s, multiple towns
- Pizzeria Marzano, Torrington
- Ernie’s Pizzeria, New Haven
- Little Rendezvous, Meriden
- Vero Cucino Rustico, Middletown
- Mangos Wood Fired Pizza Co, Mystic
- Pizza Palace & Restaurant, Old Saybrook
- Grand Apizza, multiple towns
- Mondo, Middletown
- Fuoco Apizza, Cheshire
- Est Est Est Pizza & Restaurant, New Haven
