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Is NYC the 'Pizza Capital' of the U.S.?

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Updated  May 22, 2024 6:34pm EDT
Food and Drink
FOX 5 NY

Push for New Haven to be the 'Pizza Capital'

They're getting saucy on Capitol Hill not over policy, but over pizza. Some Connecticut lawmakers are lobbying to make New Haven the "Pizza Capital" of America, which isn’t sitting well with New Yorkers. FOX 5 NY’s Richard Giacovas gets to the crust of this matter.

New York City is known for its pizza, but is it truly the "Pizza Capital" of the United States?

Several New Haven, Connecticut pizzerias flew to Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning to declare that the city is the "pizza capital" of the United States.

Pizzerias included Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally’s Apizza, Modern Apizza, Pizza at The Brick Oven, Next Door, Big Green Truck Pizza, BAR, Est Est Est Pizza & Cast Iron Chef Chop House.

"New Haven has the best pizza in the country – and it is not even close. Ask anyone from Connecticut and they will tell you Connecticut pizza, or 'apizza' as we call it, is hands down — no contest — the best pizza in America. I am looking forward to dropping the hammer on this debate and formally declaring in the Congressional Record that New Haven is the Pizza Capital of the United States," Rep. Rosa DeLauro said.

"The best pizza in the United States is made in Connecticut," Governor Ned Lamont said. "We have one of the highest concentrations of pizzerias around, many of which have been operated and passed down by families for generations. I love that this message is being confirmed at our nation’s capital."

Fun facts about Connecticut pizzerias

  • Connecticut has the most pizzerias of any state per capita and the most family-owned pizzerias of any state in the country
  • The state’s more than 1,300 pizza-making establishments are the highest portion per capita and produce over 150 million pizzas, equaling $3.5 billion in sales per year
  • The City of New Haven’s 75 pizza-making establishments support thousands of jobs and over $100 million in sales, feeding 2 million customers annually
  • In New Haven, pizza is known as apizza, pronounced "ah-beetz"

What are some of the best pizza joints in New Haven? 

  • Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (est. 1925)
  • Modern Apizza (est. 1934)
  • Zuppardi’s Apizza (est. 1934)
  • Roseland Apizza (est. 1935)
  • Colony Grill (est. 1935)
  • Jennie’s Pizzeria (est. 1935)
  • Sally’s Apizza (est. 1938)
  • Little Rendezvous (est. 1938)
  • Mike’s Apizza (est. 1946)
  • Ro’s Restaurant (est. 1947)
  • Dominic & Vinnie’s Pizza (est. 1949)