Home Care In New Haven, CT

"This is bigger than pizza—it's about the pride, tradition, and community that make CT the Pizza Capital of America:" Bill Pustari, Modern.

The $5 ticket offers a $50,000 top prize, 15 chances to win in the main play area, and a “Bonus Slice” feature that awards $100 instantly when a pizza cutter symbol is revealed. (CT Lottery)

NEW HAVEN, CT — This October, for National Pizza Month, the CT Lottery is giving adult fans a new way to celebrate that tradition with "Connecticut Apizza,” a limited-run scratch game showcasing pies from New Haven's Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Sally’s Apizza, and Modern Apizza—the apizza trinity.

The ticket brings "three iconic pizzerias together in one uniquely Connecticut experience," with a top prize of $50,000, as noted in a CT Lottery news release.

“Being voted Connecticut’s #1 pizzeria by the people is an incredible honor,” said Bill Pustari, owner of Modern Apizza. “To see New Haven’s pizza culture celebrated on a statewide lottery ticket is something special. This is bigger than pizza—it’s about the pride, tradition, and community that make Connecticut the Pizza Capital of America.”

Modern Apizza received the most votes in CTVisit's 2025 public poll to help select pizzerias for the Connecticut Pizza Trail.

Meanwhile, on Wooster Street ...

Friday, a “first taste” launch included a ceremonial “first scratch” beneath the Wooster Street Archway.

“As The Original New Haven Apizza Since 1925, we are amazed and grateful to see what apizza has come to mean for the people of Connecticut these past 100-plus years,” said Jennifer Kelly-Bimonte, granddaughter of Frank Pepe and co-owner of Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana.

"The pride Grandpop had in making every pie is something that we now see being honored outside of New Haven, stretching all across Connecticut and beyond," she said. "Having apizza be recognized as a revered statewide cuisine via the CT Lottery’s offering is a new and honestly humbling experience for us, and we are flattered to be a part of it.”

Pronounced “ah-beetz,” apizza has grown from its roots in New Haven’s Italian-American community into a defining part of Connecticut’s identity. The new ticket honors that heritage through three institutions whose craftsmanship and devoted fans have helped make New Haven a destination for pizza lovers.

"Apizza is such an important part of Connecticut’s identity, and we’re honored to be part of a celebration that brings three of New Haven’s iconic pizzerias together," said Christian Bonaventura, brand advisor for Sally’s Apizza. "For generations, ‘ah-beetz’ has been about bringing people together around the table, and we’re excited to share that tradition in a different way."

The CT Lottery worked directly with each restaurant on the design, incorporating photographs of the actual pies into the ticket. The play area features Sally’s apizzas in the top row, Modern’s apizzas in the middle row, and Pepe’s apizzas in the bottom row. Additional images of Sally’s and Pepe’s pies appear above the play area, bringing some of Connecticut’s most beloved apizzas together in a first-of-its-kind design.

CT Lottery teams were set to sell tickets exclusively at Sally’s and Modern’s New Haven locations from noon to 4 p.m., with promotional giveaways while supplies last.

The $5 ticket offers a $50,000 top prize, 15 chances to win in the main play area, and a “Bonus Slice” feature that awards $100 instantly when a pizza cutter symbol is revealed.

"Few things inspire as much pride and as much friendly debate in Connecticut as apizza," Connecticut Lottery Corporation CEO Frank Suarez said. "We’re proud to partner with Pepe’s, Sally’s, and Modern to celebrate this uniquely Connecticut tradition in a fun new way, while generating revenue for the public programs and services that benefit communities across our state."

Confession: I’ve never been a pizza fan. (I know, I know.) But even as a kid, I’d fake a smile during Pizza Fridays or when I won a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut through the Book It! (IYKYK). Maybe it was growing up in California, but even after moving to New York City, I’d only grab the occasional obligatory slice.

I had spots I liked, of course. Lil’ Frankie’s in the East Village became a favorite—though more for its arugula and burrata than the pies themselves. When New Jersey’s pizza scene began stealing the spotlight, takeout from Razza and Bread and Salt carried me through the pandemic. Later, when I couldn’t get a table at Lucali—yes, the date spot of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce—I stumbled into Table 87 in Gowanus and was pleasantly surprised.

Still, pizza was never something I craved…until I spent a week in New Haven, Connecticut, in the summer of 2023 while attending the Yale Writers’ Workshop.

My first brush with New Haven pizza actually came two years earlier while driving back from Cape Cod. I preordered a pie from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana for pickup. I knew the city had its own pizza style, but I’d mostly chosen the stop for convenience.

Then I turned onto Wooster Street and saw dueling lines outside both Pepe’s and Sally Apizza. Clearly, this wasn’t just another local specialty.

“Everywhere else, pizza is just overshadowed by big cities and other attractions; here, our coal-fired ovens are quite literally the eternal light,“ Michael Pollack, founder of New Haven Pizza Club, told Travel + Leisure. “We have turned pizza into art, and art into impact. It’s no longer just about the pizza; it’s a cultural movement that’s helping our entire state thrive.“

For me, it was infatuation at first bite. The thin crust was chewy yet charred, simple but deeply satisfying. The sweetness of crushed Italian tomatoes shone through in a way I’d never experienced before. The origins trace back to Frank Pepe, an immigrant from Maiori, Italy, who drew inspiration from pizza in nearby Naples. While working in a New Haven bakery, he began making his own “tomato pies,” carrying them through the streets on his head using a specially designed tray. By 1925, he had opened the bakery and opened his own pizzeria, serving the style now known as apizza—pronounced “a-peets.”

Imitation, of course, is the sincerest form of flattery. In 1938, Salvatore “Sally” Consiglio opened Sally’s Apizza with his own take on the recipe.

So when I returned to New Haven in 2023, my priority—after checking into Graduate By Hilton New Haven—was plotting my pizza meals. Still haunted by those lines from my earlier visit, I slipped out of class and hurried to Sally’s around 5:30 p.m. When I asked how long the wait might be, a staffer smiled and said, “Good things come to those who wait.”

That evening, the wait was only about 30 minutes before I was seated in one of the 15 booths inside the no-frills dining room. Served directly on a metal tray, the first thing I noticed was the sauce: light but flavorful, tomatoes pushing forward with a sweet richness that reminded me of farmers market cherry tomatoes.

One thing was for sure: I had come to New Haven for writing inspiration—and its pizza quickly became my muse.

Throughout the week, apizza was everywhere. Since the main institutions were just beyond walking distance from campus, classmates often met at Bar, a spot that began serving pizza in 1995 and became known for inventive toppings like mashed potato and bacon or BBQ brisket.

Naturally, I began asking locals their favorite spot—quickly learning that’s a loaded question. Everyone agreed there were three major players: Frank Pepe, Sally’s, and Modern Apizza, founded in 1934 by Antonio Tolli and known for its oil-fired brick oven. But choosing a favorite? That was another story.

Sadly, I never made it to Modern during that trip. When the week ended, I drove home feeling oddly defeated, like I’d failed to complete a pilgrimage to New Haven’s so-called holy trinity of pizza.

That feeling lingered until last summer, when my 10-year-old niece asked to take a weekend trip—just the two of us—while the rest of her family was in Boston. Conveniently, New Haven made the perfect destination. There were plenty of kid-friendly stops, from the recently renovated Yale Peabody Museum to the delightfully quirky PEZ Visitor Center. More importantly, there was plenty of pizza her auntie had been craving.

I drove up the night before and checked into Hotel Marcel, just a short drive from Wooster Street. I warmed up my pizza palate by recalibrating with Sally’s. Anticipating the inevitable wait, I ordered ahead. Even so, the Friday night crowd meant the pie arrived about 40 minutes late. As I waited, I worried time might have romanticized the memory. But the first slice felt like reuniting with an old friend—that red sauce alone was worth the wait.

The next morning, I visited Lost in New Haven, where collector Robert Greenberg chronicles American history through the lens of his hometown—including a deep dive into the city’s pizza legacy. Seeing how central Modern was to that story, I knew where dinner had to be.

That night, my niece and I slid into a booth at Modern Apizza. Even at first glance, it felt different: thicker crust, heartier toppings, and pies built on a mozzarella base. Often voted the best in Connecticut, it is still family-owned and operating with its original recipe. I tried ranking the three in my head but quickly realized I couldn’t. Each offered something distinct. (My niece, a budding baker and meticulous food reviewer who logs meals in her notebook, agreed.)

They’re simply different. All three trace back to the same century-old tradition rooted in Naples, yet each delivers its own personality, its own version of apizza.

My feelings about pizza in general may not have changed, but when it comes to New Haven pizza, I’ll gladly go the distance. As Pollack puts it: “Not only do we have the best pizza, but we have a gorgeous city to explore with a rich history. They come for the pizza, and they stay for the rest.”

Seven pediatric specialties at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital earned national recognition as the hospital retained its No. 1 ranking in Connecticut and placed second in New England.

According to Yale New Haven Health, the rankings by U.S. News & World Report included six specialties with specific national placements, along with recognition for pediatric behavioral health.

Diabetes and Endocrinology ranked No. 19 nationally, followed by Gastroenterology and GI Surgery at No. 26 and Orthopedics at No. 34.

Neonatology placed No. 37, Nephrology No. 46, and Pulmonology and Lung Surgery No. 50. The hospital was also listed among the nation's top 50 in Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health.

"We are honored to be recognized once again for the outstanding care our physicians, nurses and staff provide to children and families throughout our region," said Katherine Heilpern, MD, president of Yale New Haven Hospital. "Having so many pediatric specialties recognized nationally underscores the strength of Yale New Haven Children's Hospital and our focus on providing innovative, high-quality care to every child we serve."

The recognition comes as the health system continues investing in pediatric specialty programs and behavioral health services.

"At a time when demand for pediatric specialty care and behavioral health services continues to grow, Yale New Haven Health remains committed to investing in programs, facilities and talent that improve access and outcomes for children," said Beth Heinz, senior vice president of Women's and Children's Services at Yale New Haven Hospital.

"These rankings reflect both the dedication of our teams and our continued investment in building a comprehensive pediatric system that delivers exceptional care for children and families throughout the region," she added.

To learn more about Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, click here.

Co-owned by executive chef Joseph Iannaccone and general manager Giuseppe Passeggio, Casanova New Haven was part of the Shops at Yale group.

NEW HAVEN, CT — The doors opened at the Park Street Italian-inspired eatery in July 2025.

After 15 months in business, Casanova New Haven has closed its doors for good.

The restaurant was co-owned by executive chef Joseph Iannaccone and general manager Giuseppe Passeggio. Casanova New Haven was a popular Park Street restaurant, part of the Shops at Yale group.

As reported in 2025, after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Iannaccone honed his talent working beside celebrated chefs and restaurateurs, including the late James Kent of New York. He worked at Michelin-rated restaurants, including The French Laundry, Le Bernardin, Crown Shy, and Vestry. In 2021, he returned home to Connecticut to work at Goodfella’s, now known as Encore by Goodfellas, the New Haven eatery owned by Iannaccone’s father.

As a New Haven-area native who hails from a family of successful restaurateurs, Iannaccone said he and Passeggio couldn’t have found a better location for the restaurant, the former home of the celebrated Tarry Lodge.

In a post on Facebook Monday, the eatery shared "with a heavy heart" the news of its closure.

To our wonderful community, regulars, and friends,

With a heavy heart, we are sharing the news that Casanova-New Haven will be closing its doors for good tomorrow.

We poured our hearts, time, and energy into making this space a special one for New Haven, but due to unexpected and unavoidable challenges behind the scenes, we can no longer continue operations.

This decision was incredibly difficult, but we want to focus on what matters most: expressing our deepest gratitude. To our amazing team who worked tirelessly every single day—thank you. This space was nothing without your hard work and passion. And to our guests who shared meals, celebrations, and everyday moments with us—thank you for letting us be a part of your lives.

We will share more updates on what’s next as things move forward, but for now, thank you for everything.

We will miss you all.

NEW HAVEN — Breeze Airways will begin new nonstop service between Tweed New Haven Airport and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, next spring, bringing to eight the number of destinations served both by Breeze and Avelo Airlines, the two carriers that operate from New Haven.

Breeze, a low-cost airline focused on nonstop service between underserved markets, announced Tuesday that it will launch flights between New Haven and Myrtle Beach on May 26, 2027.

Flights will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with introductory one-way fares starting at $59.

“Every route we add to our network starts with the same question: Where can Breeze’s direct service bring travelers a convenience they don’t already enjoy today?” Breeze Airways’ founder and CEO David Neeleman said in a statement.

"These new routes and destinations now bring Breeze’s high-value, low-cost service to these cities, making affordable travel to great destinations more convenient than ever,” Neeleman said.

Breeze currently offers nonstop service from New Haven to Charleston, South Carolina; Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Vero Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida; Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia; and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. It also offers one-stop BreezeThru service from Tweed to Akron-Canton, Ohio; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; New Orleans; and Tampa, Florida.

Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Tampa and West Palm Beach are also served from Tweed by Avelo.

Breeze now operates more than 300 year-round and seasonal routes serving 95 cities in the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

The airline flies an all-Airbus A220-300 fleet and offers free family seating, onboard Wi-Fi and premium seating options.

The $59 promotional No Flex Fare is available only on new reservations for travel between New Haven and Myrtle Beach from May 26 through Sept. 7, 2027.

Based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, Breeze was founded by Neeleman, who also founded JetBlue, and began flying in May 2021. It began service to and from Tweed in December 2024. Its fleet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft are powered by two Connecticut-made Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

Breeze was the first U.S. domestic airline to be certified by Autism Double Checked and is the official airline of local Make-a-Wish chapters in Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah.