Frank Pepe Pizzeria’s First Boston Location Will Be in Chestnut Hill
Like pizza? How about the best pizza in the United States?
After teasing residents over the past year, the Boston Globe reported Saturday — Pi Day, of all days — that Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana has settled on a new Boston-area location: Chestnut Hill.
Locally known simply as Pepe’s, the New Haven-based pizzeria will open its new location in The Mall at Chestnut Hill on 199 Boylston Street, which was originally rumored by Boston Restaurant Talk in February. According to the Globe, the pizzeria will fill the 3,200-square-foot, 85-seat space last occupied by Italian restaurant Papa Razzi in June 2013.
First announced in March 2014, Pepe’s was reported to be coming to Brookline’s Washington Square to replace The Fireplace. However, that deal fell through in September when The Fireplace decided to remain in business, tormenting the souls of Boston pizza fans (so, basically everyone).
Vague reports of a move to the Boston area returned in February, but without a set location. With a spot confirmed, Pepe’s move to Boston is now set in brick oven-fired pizza stone.
The original Frank Pepe Pizzeria on Wooster Street in New Haven’s Little Italy.
The restaurant made a national name for itself by originating the New Haven-style “apizza,’’ especially its white clam pie, made with fresh clams, grated cheese, olive oil, fresh garlic and oregano. Other specialties include the original tomato pie (crushed Italians tomatoes, olive oil and grated cheese) and a spinach, mushroom and gorgonzola pizza.
The original New Haven location in Wooster Square was opened in 1925 by Frank Pepe, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 16 from his home on the Amalfi Coast, southwest of Naples. Since then, Pepe’s has opened several locations across Connecticut and one in Yonkers, New York.
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