5 Golden Rules Of New Haven Pizza

Chef Bret Lunsford shares his secrets for making the perfect New Haven-style apizza.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 7:00pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic New Haven-style pizza slice repeated in a tight grid pattern, utilizing flat, vibrant, and unnatural neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to turn the everyday pizza slice into modern pop art.The signature thin, charred crust and balanced flavors of New Haven-style apizza are celebrated in this vibrant pop art homage.New Haven Today

New Haven, Connecticut is known for its unique style of pizza, called 'apizza.' With a thin, slightly chewy crust, simple yet flavorful sauce, and a light touch of mozzarella, New Haven apizza has a distinct character. Chef Bret Lunsford of Sally's Apizza shares the 5 golden rules for making the perfect New Haven-style pizza, from patting the dough instead of stretching it to embracing the charred, imperfect nature of the coal-fired crust.

Why it matters

New Haven is considered by many to be the pizza capital of the world, with its own distinct regional style that has inspired loyal followings and heated debates among pizza enthusiasts. Understanding the unique techniques and philosophy behind New Haven apizza can help home cooks and aspiring pizzaiolos recreate this iconic regional specialty.

The details

The key tenets of New Haven-style apizza, as outlined by Chef Lunsford, include: 1) Patting the dough instead of stretching or tossing it to maintain a very thin, delicate crust; 2) Focusing on high-quality, fresh tomatoes in the sauce and avoiding overpowering herbs and spices; 3) Using mozzarella cheese sparingly, as more of a topping than the main focus; 4) Embracing the char and blisters that come from cooking the pizza in a scorching hot coal-fired oven; and 5) Celebrating the artisanal, handcrafted nature of each unique pie.

  • New Haven-style pizza has been a local tradition for decades.

The players

Chef Bret Lunsford

The chef at Sally's Apizza, a renowned New Haven pizza institution.

Sally's Apizza

A legendary pizza restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut that has been serving its signature coal-fired apizza since 1938.

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What they’re saying

“The key to a good pizza sauce is to avoid overpowering flavors with excessive herbs and spices and instead focus on fresh, high-quality tomatoes.”

— Chef Bret Lunsford, Chef, Sally's Apizza

The takeaway

New Haven apizza is a unique regional style that celebrates simplicity, quality ingredients, and the artisanal nature of handcrafted pizza. By following the 5 golden rules outlined by Chef Lunsford, home cooks can recreate the signature thin, charred crust and balanced flavors that have made New Haven a pizza destination.