Being originally from the New Haven area, this survey should come as no surprise to me. The website The Daily Meal put together a list of the top 101 pizzas in the USA. Frank Pepe’s in New Haven came in at number one with its white clam pizza, made with clams, grated parmesan, olive oil, garlic and oregano. The tomato pie from Pepe's Wooster Square neighbor Sally’s Apizza placed seventh. The Italian Bomb pizza from Modern Apizza on State Street in the Elm City came in at number eleven. While these pizza places were within ten miles of where I grew up, I have more vivid childhood memories of going to Tolli's Apizza in the center of East Haven. That's where we washed it all down with Foxon Park soda as Connie Francis sang "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" on the jukebox. Going out for pizza was a rarer treat back then, making the memories even more special.
Here in New London County we benefit from Frank Pepe's expansion into the Mohegan Sun casino. Most of my visits to pizza restaurants in southeastern Connecticut have been very positive. The few that didn't measure up are no longer around. Although chains don't always get the highest acclaim, I admit to a fondness for Papa Gino's and was sorry to see their Norwich and Waterford locations shut down. Last weekend we had a great pie with "everything" at Papa Gino's Willimantic/Mansfield store, but I am usually fine with a simple cheese pizza. Here in Colchester, the crosstown drive to Papa Z's is always worth the trip. Only the most difficult to please can complain of a "pizza deficit" locally or regionally. What's your favorite?
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