The Better Pizza: Pepe's (CT) vs DiFara's (NYC)

[rotuts]

this is a narrow topic, as Im hoping someone has been to both establishments or one or the other.

I have not been to DiFara's and only know about it as recently on Test Kichen, Kimball went there to taste NYC thin crust and raved about it. K is a tricky guy.

So if you have been to both, what do you think? been to one? the other?

my view is that Pepe's cant be beat and does not even get close to other 'fine' parlors ive been to:

White Clam pizza, and Bacon pizza I die for. Pepe's

[Mjx]

Surely this is subjective, and depends on the sort of pizza you like.

[weinoo]

I wouldn't even consider DiFara's thin crust.

And wouldn't you have to compare Pepe's with NYC coal-oven pizza for an accurate comparison?

[rotuts]

just wondering as i have not been to DiF. Kimball might have other reasons for chosing NYC that have nothing to do with pizza. Who would want a 'free' trip to New Haven? Visit Yale? well a week of Pepe's might be worth is.

Its true the wood-coal-oven makes a huge difference if not too smokey. I and i guess Pepe's has expanded to several other CT spots.

Pizza is like the Perfect Cup: the same taster can tell the difference one to the other.

[rotuts]

then there is this:

http://www.gq.com/food-travel/alan-richman/200905/pizza-american-pie-25-best?currentPage=5

this guy clearly knows nothing. he put Sallys (NHaven CT) Above Pepe's

but (s)he does mention places in NYC and CA.

[jmolinari]

I've been to both, and it really depends. For clam, Pepe's (i don't think Di Fara offers clam even). For "normal" pies, i'd say i prefer Di Fara's...but it's pretty close.

[rotuts]

Wow! good for you! I bet your are the only person to go to both

and at Pepe's it would have to be the same pizza.

[Fat Guy]

I've been to both. Two very different styles. Di Fara is the apotheosis of the NYC slice shop. This style has been in decline everywhere, except Di Dara has managed to improve on it. Pepe's represents a subset of the American coal-oven pizza style. I wouldn't really characterize either as having particularly thin crust, and they're not really comparable on a specific level.