Sally’s Apizza

I love this place probably because I can remember being a little kid grabbing a slice with my gramps but this is without a doubt the best pie on Wooster and it’s worth every single nickel and the pictures on the walls speak for themselves because you see all of the who’s of who’s been there to eat from a president to child eating their very first slice and this establishment is family owned from the Day of grand opening so Fugetabouit and grab a slice!

Yum. I know this pizza is good because I wasn’t even hungry when we came for lunch and by the end of it, I wanted to order more. My friends and I came for lunch and waited in the cold until doors opened at 3. Originally we were going to go to Pepes but they were closed for oven issues or something. We ordered an original, one without cheese, the potato and the garden special. My favorites were the tomato pie with mozzarella and the original without cheese. They were perfect, chewy, awesome sauce!!! I can’t describe how delicious they are, you just have to try it! The potato didn’t wow me, I’m not the biggest white pizza fan and neither did the garden. Stick with the basics and you can’t go wrong. I would like to try Pepes to make my final decision on which New Haven pizza is the best but so far, Sally’s you’re in the lead!!!

I’ve heard quite a lot about the reputation of New Haven pizza and during my previous encounter with it at Modern a few years ago I thought the reputation was more hype than substance. This time around though I got to see what the fuss was all about. We showed up about 20 mins before the place opened on what was probably the most frigid day of the year. There was already a line! Luckily when the place finally opened, after a wait that seemed to take ages, we got a table! Some unfortunate souls who were waiting almost as long as us weren’t quite to lucky and had to wait another hour for the first group of patrons to finish up.
There was only one guy taking orders, he seemed obviously hassled but was quite pleasant nonetheless. Having seen waitstaff melt under such pressure before, it was reassuring to have a seasoned veteran in charge of the place. We ordered 4 pies, a large mozzarella, a medium tomato pie, a small white potato and a small garden special. What I really appreciated was that they brought the pies out one by one according to size, large ones first followed by the smaller ones. This way none of the food went cold before you got to it and at the same time no one had to wait. The mozzarella was my favorite, it was so good that it practically melted in your mouth. The tomato pie and white potato were delectable as well. The garden special paled in comparison to the other 3 but we still polished it off. Sizes were great too for the price. I’d say a large could be shared between 3 if you are reasonably hungry. They cut the slices thin too which makes a big difference. All this for $ 75 including a good tip was a steal in my opinion. I’ll definitely be back again next time I’m in the area and might even make a trip to New Haven especially to get a pizza fix!

Pros: Excellent pizza.
Cons: Cash only, long wait, very «old school.»
I definitely recommend Sally’s; however, you have to realize that this isn’t a modern restaurant and it feels like your stepping back about 50 years into the past. My service was okay and not a problem. However, I noticed other people were not being served as quickly and two couples got up and left.
The pizza is excellent and I would rank it as one of the best pizza’s I’ve ever had, but you have to be mentally prepare your self before going there. It’s a «unique» experience and not one I would be up for repeating on a regular basis.

Another classic pizza restaurant located in the little Italy part of new haven. People in the local area argue all day who is better Frank or sals but both are great choices. Personally in a Frank’s guy but try both before you choose

If you go, be sure you’re not in a rush and that you get there well BEFORE you get hungry. Probably the best pizza I’ve had in my life, but also the absolute slowest service. Not sure if service that bad is worth even food that great. (Note — I’m writing this review several months after the experience, as I start trying to be more active on Unilocal.)
My fiancé and I sat for over 45 minutes before anyone stopped at our table or offered us water — and that was because we very verbally flagged him down! We politely but firmly pointed out that the table behind us came in five minutes AFTER us and was already receiving their food, and we hadn’t even been given water. The waiter started to blow us off and move on to the next table with a curt «We’re very busy», then caught his own mistake, backtracked, changed his tone, apologized, and served us on the spot. I’ll forgive that initial attitude because we all have bad days, he heard his own tone, and rectified it. For the rest of the evening, the service was almost fast enough — still a little slow (especially with the check — I got up and went to the counter after waiting another eternity) — but very friendly, and he did proactively comp our beverages as an apology. But even friendly staff and delicious food aside, is there any excuse for taking over an hour for water at 8pm?
But, it is certainly my favorite pizza of the New Haven big three (and that’s based on trying two very different pies). Five stars for the food, one star for the service. It would take a lot for me to go back, but never say never when the food’s that good.

Pros: The Pizza!, the pizza is so good!
Cons: The service is abysmal
I went with a group on a Wednesday night. We waited for over an hour to be seated. This I understood because there was a long wait. Once inside, we sat down and it took over 20 minutes to get our drinks and over 2 hours to get our pizza. Yes, I said 2 HOURS! I was nearly hitting my head on the wall it took so long and I was so hungry.
We ordered the classic tomato pie with garlic, a bacon and onion pie, and a pepperoni and sausage pie. We had a table full of meat lovers, and I have to say that the tomato pie went first and was everyone’s favorite. The crust is a perfect canvas for all the flavors. The sauce was extremely flavorful and the garlic and parmesan complimented it greatly. If you go, you must try this pie.
The other pizzas were very good as well and I don’t think you could go wrong ordering anything here.
My only advice, if it looks busy, come back some other time.

After hearing numerous times how amazing the pizza is here in New Haven, I’ve finally made it to this humble looking establishment on an early Sunday evening. We ordered a tomato pie with broccoli & garlic.
All I can say is WOW! have truly not had authentic pizza ever before tonight! The dough is something out of this world. It’s a perfect combination of crispy, moist & flavorful, but not overpowering. I can see why it’s so famous. Don’t miss your chance to have a real pizza. The Downside? Now I’m ruined for any other⁉

The reviews are a bit harsh– this pizza was the best of three places I’ve tried in New Haven so far. (The cheese) we also got the potatoe white pizza which we had high hope for but it was just too dry and not pizza-​like.
We went Sunday night around 5 and there was no wait to sit down. Pizza took about 15 minutes to come out after we ordered and it was piping hot right out of the oven.
Overall really enjoyed the cheese pizza and will be back again!

OKAY THIS IS THE REVIEW YOU NEED TO LOOK AT.
All the other people who reviewed Sally’s whining and complaining about not getting their drink order fast enough or if the inside looks like a dive bar, can take themselves somewhere else (go to outback steakhouse i heard they look good these days)
People who admire the real «Italian tomato pie» do not give a flying hoot what the place looks like as long as the pizza is amazing, (you people who review need to stop complaining and giving bad reviews for no reason, we need to talk about the quality of the food here)
This place is a classic, visited by all sorts of celebrities, from all over the world. Tonight was my first night trying Sally’s pizza and I’ve also tried modern and had Pepe’s over the last two weeks and here is my conclusion
i was greeted and seated, i ordered two small pies, their potato special and their Classic Italian tomato pie /​extra sauce/​a little bit well done (just a little little bit). 20 – 30 minutes go by i am not complaining do you want to know why I’m not complaining? BECAUSE THE OVEN WAS MADE IN EARLY 1900’S AND CAN ONLY FIT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PIES IN THERE. YOU CANT CHANGE THE OVEN OR YOU’LL CHANGE THE QUALITY. PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT IT TAKES LONG TO GET THEIR PIZZA I MEAN COME ON USE YOUR COMMON SENSE PEOPLE
I get my pizza, crust not burnt (it looks like it is because of the oven), but a mixture of softness yet crisp. brushed with olive oil. The sauce was amazing, even better with garlic and was exactly what i was craving and thought it to be. The potato was good but i am all about the original classic tomato pie.
The reason i got a Italian tomato pie PLAIN is because back in the day (early 1900’s) this is how pizza was correctly made (then after years they added cheese) and i wanted to compare who had the best original pie.
Now i got the same thing at Pepe’s and after having the Italian pie at Sallys it was so hard to compare the two because they tasted extremely similar. I might have to give the «taste of the sauce» to Pepes. but how the Dough was correctly made in the oven at Sally’s beats Pepes any day because it was loaded with flavor.
modern… yeah your not even close to these two establishments keep trying though.
OVERALL :SALLY’S IS GOOD AND YOU NEED TO JUST FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF HOW GOOD IT IS BESIDES LOOKING AT REVIEWS.

How come you can’t give you an option of zero stars? 20 minutes to get a drink order. An hour and 45 to finally get your pizza which they basically just throw down on the table for you. Do they even bother to ask you if you want another drink? I mean it’s only been two hours. Went with my two best friends for a return trip into town. One is half… The other is Caucasian… Then there is me. I am a loyal Pepe’s guy but someone was curious to at least try this. Sorry I’m not white. Maybe I would’ve gotten decent service then?
Actual pizza? Mediocre at best. How this place gets ranked number three nationally is mind-​boggling. Pepe’s for sure is number one. Sally’s shouldn’t even be in the conversation. First pizza: pepperoni and hot peppers. Guess what? Pepe’s does it better. Next pizza: Margarita. Guess what? Modern, also in New Haven and also top 10 in the country does it better. For my fellow Connecticut residents, I seriously had better pizza at McMahon dining hall at the university of Connecticut. I am sure those pizzas we’re all body fluid free too. The staff at Sally’s probably knows we hate them. I think the three dollar tip was quite generous. Anyone who thinks this pizza is better than Pepe’s i’m worried for you. Too much football without a helmet perhaps? Please stop in at your local hospital for an MRI STAT.
Lastly the place is a dump. Maybe buy some more retail space and a few more ovens then maybe they could compete. The place is a dump and grimy. I wonder if a mop has ever been in there since they opened like 75 years ago? And the bathroom: you’re better off holding it till you leave.
This place sucks. Not worth your time waiting or your money. Sally’s apizza here’s to you

I was looking forward to my first visit to Sally’s because it would mark the end of a long and critical mission, the New Haven Pizza Exploration Mission. The critic and snob in me was eager to compare Sally’s to Pepe’s, Modern Apizza and De Legna. (Yes, I think De Legna is a top contender in the New Haven pizza scene)
But my visit to Sally’s was downright disappointing. My boyfriend and I arrived on a Saturday as soon as they opened. We were hoping to beat the rush from the Yale vs. Harvard football game. and we would have if Sally’s actually unlocked their door. We were among 3 other parties who arrived at 3pm sharp and stood outside in the cold confused. Their hours online said they open at 3pm right? Yes.
Our annoyance grew. 5 minutes outside turned to 10 minutes. After 15 minutes I even called them with my cell and asked them what time they opened because there are some guests waiting outside and their door is locked. The woman replied they open at 3pm and hung up.
Finally after 20 minutes they unlocked their doors and we were seated. It was the most awkward entrance ever. There was no apology or explanation, I guess they were just pretending nothing happened or they really just don’t care.
The pizza itself was good. It was thin, airy, fresh. But as soon as I sat down I just wanted to get out of there.
Sally’s sits comfortable in it’s popularity and reputation. Now that it has been around for over 75 years, I guess they think they reached a level of seniority and can open their doors whenever they feel like with a lack of regard for their guests’ experience.

We ordered the White Potato pie with potatoes, onions, mozzarella, imported parmesan, and rosemary, not knowing what to expect. I mean, how good can potato on a thin crust taste? Who puts potato on pizza?! Well, we were proven wrong and this was delicious! The potato, along with the rest of the ingredients, blended so well together. The potatoes were thinly sliced and the flavors were all there. I couldn’t help myself and ate a few slices! That’s the beauty of thin crust. You can eat more than one slice! Sally’s Apizza definitely did not disappoint. I guess it’s not ranked one of the best pizzeria’s for no reason! Service was also great so that was a plus!
I’ve also had Frank Pepe’s and while that was good, I have to say Sally’s was much much much better. So if I had a choice between the two, I’d pick Sally’s.

Good pizza. Is it the best I’ve had? No. Is it the best I’ve had in CT? Also no.
I had the white potato pizza which I enjoyed. Also the plain mozz — didn’t like it as much as I felt it was a bit heavy on the red sauce — but this may be personal preference. Although I will say that the plain mozz tasted better when I reheated it the next day. It’s good pizza, just not superb.
I like that they offer 3 different sizes — personal, medium and large.
They can do half and half as long as you are consistent (can’t mix red with white).
There was a line out the door when I came (early Saturday evening) but I just got take out — took 20 minutes. The place was kind of dingy and smelly inside (I mean that in the most endearing way) and it looked like your run-​of-​the-​mill, local pizza joint. Don’t see the big deal about getting a seat here if it means waiting so long.
Service was friendly in a gruff way i.e. it’s friendly as long as your interaction flows smoothly.
I recommend checking it out although take out is the way to go during peak times.

This is pizza at its simplest and finest.
Sally’s tomato pie is minimalist but also traditional, essentially America’s best version of the classic Neapolitan pizza marinara. The tomato pie is simply dough and tomato sauce, and in a pie like that the superb quality of the ingredients shines through. This is the best tomato sauce I’ve ever tasted. I never thought I’d enjoy a pizza without cheese, not to mention any other toppings, but Sally’s has made me a believer.
The so-​called «rivalry» between Sally’s and Pepe’s doesn’t quite make sense to me after trying both. They each specialize in different pies. Pepe’s is where to go for a white clam pizza, but Sally’s has Pepe’s beat when it comes to plain tomato pies and tomato pies with mozz.
The wait is long indeed but absolutely worth it. For the impatient, I suggest ordering pies to go. I actually like most of my pizza best after it’s cooled down for a few minutes anyway — gives the toppings a bit of time to solidify and hold its form before chowing down.

Long story short: Pretty good pizza, terrible customer service.
The pizza wasn’t good enough to warrant their service, as we found Pepe’s (and even Modern Apizza) pizza to be much better.
Recommendation:
–If you prefer excellent crust, head to Pepe’s. If you favour amazing toppings, head to Modern. In either case, skip Sally’s.
Verdict:
Wouldn’t return.

Have to give credit where credit is due and bump sallys up. I wish I could give a 3.5 because they managed to give me a better experience this time around than just «a-​ok» but not quite the 4 star enthusiasm.
Waited in line obviously but we got there early enough where there was not too obscene of a wait. The server also came out and asked us how many were in our party and when he saw us drinking our brown paper bagged beverages he asked where his was haha. My fiancé ran down the street (literally) once he went back inside and grabbed him one. When he came back out he was surprised I think that we actually got him a beer. For that he said he would get us in soon and would take our order as we were standing at the door! Also a round of beers on him once we sat down.
Pizza still took about a half hour to come out once we sat down but much shorter than the last time I went to sallys. Pizza did not disappoint. Wish I remembered our servers name to give him public kudos.

Finally made it down to Sally’s, and it was worth it. From the street I noticed that there was an enormous line out the door of Pepe’s, but only a minimal line at Sally’s. They had plenty of patrons inside, though; the restaurant was jam-​packed, with servers rushing to meet the demand. I am pretty sure Sally’s just has more tables than Pepe’s and a larger dining area, hence the shorter line.
The pizza was outrageously good. I ate 9 slices. While that may seem obscene, these are extremely thin slices with a light, airy crust. The sauce is the best I’ve ever had, even surpassing Harry’s in West Hartford. I recommend the pepperoni, sauce & cheese pie — absolute perfection. Anything more would only detract from the experience.
My new favorite in CT — sorry, Camille’s!

As good as it gets, there’s not much more to be said. It looks like such a simple thing, but a truly great pizza pie is a pretty rare bird.
Its the little things, that crust just a bit thicker than a pair of CDs cooked with a touch of char, but not to the point that its cracker crisp, rather it still has the pull and stretch of a warm dinner roll. A sauce that has the fruity taste of tomato, and a touch of acid, still not too sweet. Soft cheese with a warm nutty tinged bite, that doesn’t run from the slice, rather pulls the whole thing together.
A+ again and again.

As an out of towner, we didn’t know the difference between this and Pepe’s up the street, but everyone’s recommendations said to «Get pizza from Pepe’s in New Haven!» Well, we tried… and there was what looked like a long wait and first come first serve basis tables. So knowing we weren’t going to be able to taste the difference because we had nothing to compare it to, we tried Sally’s.
Things to keep in mind:
–CASH ONLY
–2 Mediums is more than enough for 4
–Expect to wait. It took about 45 minutes for our pizza to be served
–The White Potato is great if you like white pizza
–The crust is ALWAYS burnt. (Maybe that’s a thing)
–They serve beer
–The feel is that of an early 90’s basement