Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

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Pepe's was founded in 1925 by Frank Pepe, an Italian immigrant. Pepe moved his restaurant to its current location on Wooster Street in the 1930s; the smaller original restaurant still operates under the name "The Spot" and serves much the same menu. Both restaurants are currently run by Pepe's descendants. In March 2006, another branch of Pepe's was opened in Fairfield, Connecticut. In September 2007, a third Pepe's opened in Manchester, Connecticut. In August 2008, the owners announced plans for a fourth location in Yonkers, New York, to be opened in the second quarter of 2009, and a fifth location at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, to be opened in 2010. [Baruzzi, Cara, "Pepe's to open at Mohegan Sun", "The New Haven Register", August 1, 2008]

Pepe's originated the New Haven-style thin-crust apizza (closely related to Neapolitan-style Italian pizza) which is baked in coal-fired brick ovens. Pepe's is particularly known for its innovation of the white pizza topped with freshly shucked clams.Reinhart, Peter (2003). "American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza". ISBN 1-58008-422-2] This type of pizza pie became one of the restaurant's famous specialties - the by-product of Frank Pepe's allergies to tomatoes and cheese. [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/arts/television/29eats.html American Eats Offers the True American Pizza Pie - New York Times] ] .

Another Wooster Street pizza restaurant, Sally's Apizza, was founded by Pepe's nephew Sal Consiglio in 1938. Sally's and Pepe's have a long rivalry and pizza fans are divided over which serves the better pizza. Frank Sinatra, for example, was a fan of Sally's, while President Ronald Reagan preferred Pepe's. [ [http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-connecticut/913935-1.html Hot slice of history to be served up in Fairfield | Food & Beverage > Food Industry from AllBusiness.com ] ]

Pepe's is a busy establishment, and New Havenites will cheerfully wait in line outside the restaurant for hours in all kinds of weather. Shelton, Jim. [http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4805805&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=7560&rfi=8 You say Sally's, I say Pepe's] New Haven Register,2002-07-21] Having to wait to be seated is almost as much of a New Haven tradition as the pizza itself. Pepe's is also a major tourist attraction in New Haven. [Frommer's Exploring America by RV, 4th Edition. ISBN 0-470-03885-3] In 1999, Pepe's was named to the James Beard Foundation's list of "America's Classics".

References

External links

* [http://www.pepespizzeria.com/ Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana] - Official site
* [http://www.sliceny.com/archives/2004/08/new_haven_pizza_1.php Frank Pepe's review at Slice]
* [http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=318 Roadfood.com listing, with review by] Michael Stern