Beloved Connecticut Pizzeria's Eggplant Pizza Converts Carnivores

Modern Apizza's vegetarian pies prove plant-based food can be just as satisfying as meat-topped options.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:53am

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A bold, high-contrast silkscreen illustration featuring a grid of neon purple eggplant slices against a bright yellow background, conceptually representing the vibrant and flavorful vegetarian pizza offered at Modern Apizza.Modern Apizza's legendary eggplant pizza has been converting carnivores for nearly 90 years, proving that vegetarian food can be just as satisfying as meat-topped options.New Haven Today

Modern Apizza in New Haven, Connecticut has been creating an eggplant pizza that makes vegetarians weep with joy and converts meat-eaters into temporary herbivores since long before plant-based eating became trendy. The traditional brick oven has been crafting crispy, charred perfection since the 1930s, and the eggplant pizza stands proudly alongside all their meat-topped options.

Why it matters

For vegetarians who are tired of being offered sad salads or pasta as their only options, Modern Apizza is a revelation. The restaurant takes vegetarian food seriously, understanding that vegetables can be just as delicious and satisfying as meat when prepared with skill and care. The eggplant pizza isn't an afterthought, but a fully realized dish that's been perfected over decades.

The details

The eggplant pizza starts with a mozzarella base, which provides a creamy foundation for the star ingredient. The eggplant is prepared in a way that maximizes its natural qualities, creating pieces that are tender without being mushy, flavorful without being bitter. When combined with the tomato sauce and the perfect coal-fired crust, it becomes something greater than the sum of its parts.

  • Modern Apizza has been in business since the 1930s.
  • The restaurant is celebrating nearly 90 years of pizza-making this year.

The players

Modern Apizza

A traditional pizzeria in New Haven, Connecticut that has been a cornerstone of the city's legendary pizza scene for nearly 90 years.

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The takeaway

Modern Apizza's commitment to quality extends to all their ingredients, including the vegetables. The eggplant is fresh, the spinach is vibrant, the mushrooms are flavorful, and everything is prepared with care. This is just good food that happens to be vegetarian, proving that vegetarian food doesn't have to be boring, bland, or unsatisfying.