Legendary CT Pizzeria Among Best Pizza Spots Outside Of NY And Chicago, National Geographic Says

NEW HAVEN, CT — One of Connecticut's legendary pizzerias has been named to National Geographic's list of the best pizza spots in the U.S. outside of New York and Chicago.

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is one of seven spots to crack the list, which includes pizza joints from California, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Los Angeles, Texas and Wisconsin.

National Geographic says "great pizza made with high-quality ingredients is no longer exclusively found in the large U.S. cities where Southern Italians migrated starting in the late 1800s."

Pepe's was founded in 1925 by Frank Pepe, who immigrated to the United States in 1909 at age 16 and later pioneered the New Haven-style thin crust pizza that's both crispy and chewy thanks to special coal-fired ovens.

In 1937, Pepe opened up in the larger building next to his shop at 157 Wooster St. in New Haven.

"Locals like their pies charred, but not so much so that the crust becomes inedible, bitter and carbonized," New Haven local and pizza tour guide, Colin Caplan, told National Geographic.

National Geographic says Pepe invented the clam pie in the mid-20th century, and that it's "a rite of passage" to get when visiting Connecticut.

The original tomato and Margherita pies were also recommended.

Recognition for Pepe's pies isn't new. Last summer, the pizzeria was named to Food & Wine's "10 Must-Visit Pizzerias in the United States" list.

Connecticut has gained attention in recent years for its pizza, with Gov. Ned Lamont proclaiming the state as the "pizza capital of the U.S."

"Connecticut pizza isn’t just food, it’s a way of life," Lamont said last year. "From New Haven to Hartford to Mystic, our pizza culture is unmatched."

Pepe's has expanded over the years to other towns in CT and states along the Eastern Seaboard.

Last month, the brand announced its latest location will open in Westport this summer.

Besides CT, there are Pepe's locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland and Florida.

Check out National Geographic's list here.