Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, known locally as Pepe's, is a popular pizza restaurant in the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. It is one of the oldest pizzerias in the United States.
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.
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 white pizza topped with fresh clams. [1]
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.[1][2] Frank Sinatra, for example, was a fan of Sally's, while President Ronald Reagan preferred Pepe's.[3]
Pepe's is a busy establishment, and New Havenites will cheerfully wait in line outside the restaurant for hours in all kinds of weather. [2] Having to wait to be seated is almost as much of a New Haven tradition as the pizza itself. [2] Pepe's is also a major tourist attraction in New Haven. [4] In 1999, Pepe's was named to the James Beard Foundation's list of "America's Classics".
[edit] References
- ^ a b Reinhart, Peter (2003). American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza. ISBN 1-58008-422-2
- ^ a b c Shelton, Jim. You say Sally's, I say Pepe's New Haven Register,2002-07-21
- ^ Hot slice of history to be served up in Fairfield | Food & Beverage > Food Industry from AllBusiness.com
- ^ Frommer's Exploring America by RV, 4th Edition. ISBN 0-470-03885-3
