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BAR

3.9 (1.5k reviews)
ModeratePizza, Bars
Closed • 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

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What's the vibe?
Casual
Loud
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Insta @mmmashterchef Mashed potato basil and jalapeno cilantro
Mike M.

Came as part of a 14,000 mile 48 state foodie road trip. Goal was a pizza tour of the big 4 but my belly could only handle 2 pies. Only personal wish was that they upcharged and offered pizza by the slice. I appreciate that they offer half pies but with the same base. So I couldn't do a sauce half which was kind of a bummer (places like modern did it an hour prior which is also how I'm comparing them). Really enjoyed the mashed potato basil half which was very garlicy. Got jalapeno cilantro for the other half since stuck not being able to try a red sauce.

Vanessa L.

Food: three stars We got two specialty pizzas a mashed potato and a New Haven. Both tasted okay and don't expect too much if you're visiting from New York. The portion was big considering the price (~$25 each). Service: one star Service was bad. The staff didn't introduce the food for us they just put the pizza on our table and walked away. Ambiance: one star We visited during Friday afternoon and there's no wait. The table was sticky and shaky. Menus were dirty with spills from drinks or sauce. Would give higher stars if service is better. The pizza itself was not bad.

Clam casino (near) Portrait of New Haven (far)
Mathew S.

Clams on pizza...this sounded interesting enough to try. So we ventured out to the long venerated (or so I understand) joint (some lady's name Pizza) only to find the line around the block. Clam pizza? Interesting but not that interesting. I had scoured Eater's New Haven section earlier that day and seen BAR mentioned for where to get apizza. We traveled into the quaint-ish New Haven core and parked on the street. Luckily, they had just opened, so we were seated upon arrival. We got two pies: the Clam Casino and the Portrait of New Haven. The PoNH was good. The ricotta was a nice contrast to the sausage and red peppers. The Clam Casino was worth the journey by itself, however. It turns out clams on a pizza is a great idea. Large whole clams and bacon with cherry peppers? Damned right. I wasn't familiar with New Haven brand ("apizza" as I've now been told), but the char on the bottom from the wood-fired oven is crucial at holding some topping combinations to a higher echelon than others (where it deflates others): see the other-worldly good Clam Casino versus this-could-be-better-without Portrait of New Haven. Regardless, the Clam Casino would be a go-to if I lived anywhere near here. The inside is huge. We sat in the main barroom. It was warehousey, but a pool table and picnic tables for large parties gave it a cool vibe. I enjoyed watching the bar staff have to hunch under the bar opening, which doesn't hinge up, as we waited for our discs 'o dough.

Back bar
Vala R.

We were on vacation and went to BAR for lunch. I've never had New Haven pizza and I loved it. We tried the Thanksgiving Pizza which I loved - mashed potatoes and cranberry. My husband loved Clam Pizza and we ordered a traditional pepperoni & sausage. Plus a good beer selection... I loved the vibe - open industrial, picnic and large tables, lots of higher bar space. Our server was busy, but friendly and knowledgeable.

Kat J.

The search for the best pizza in New Haven still rages on with BAR. This is my favorite thus far with creative pies. The white clam casino pie was fantastic with just the perfect amount of crunchiness and giant clams. The thanksgiving pie is interesting with stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey and cranberry sauce. It's such a fun combo for pizzas. The space is huge and beautifully decorated with different theme rooms. My only complaint is that the wait once you place the orders can be quite long. However, it was a Sunday, so I am sure there was a long queue of pizza orders.

Mashed potato bacon pizza
Candy C.

BAR in Downtown New Haven is a must-stop every time I'm in town. Their mashed potato, bacon, garlic pizza is perfection!!! flavor stacked on flavor. It's the only place I've ever seen make it, and it's hands down one of my all-time favorites. Wanna see more from my visit? Watch the full experience on YouTube: (https://youtu.be/d_NDX7_sllM?si=QX-GoUtuvST7mY8c)

half Red Pie with Mozzarella & half Red Pie
Chassidie L.

Always a great time at BAR! I've been here many times, some times just for pizza and other times to dance! This past time I have been here, my partner and I were served by Stevie! He was so kind and attentive, honestly the best server! Out of all the pizzas I've had, I would recommend the bacon mashed potato pizza. It is the most unique/New Haven classic! Out out all the apizza places, BAR has the best potato pizza. I also love their classic margarita. If you want something unique, try the elote apizza. Past 9pm they start charging cover for the night bar. They also start selling pizza by the slice for only $4-$5. Super worth it! Past 10pm on weekends, the lines get long so I recommend going earlier.

Daniel L.

Bar pizza is a tier below the OG spots in New Haven. Got the regular bacon garlic and also tried the corn pizza which everyone loved. My issue with this pizza as I felt it was way too thin and it was cracker like. However the pizzas are still pretty good.

Small herbivore and mashed potato pizzas

A great place for a fun twist on New Haven style pizza. The food is wonderful and creative. The service and interior are good, about what you'd expect from a bar. The portions are MASSIVE. Eating their smallest pizza by yourself is a difficult task for all but the most voracious eaters.

BAR
Catherine N.

Welcome to CT! So the word on the streets is, Connecticut Pizza IS AMAZING and I must say, I agree! There is a difference in the way the crust is made and care have been placed in creating the toppings! The service was phenomenal and the ambiance was pretty chill, loud of course, because it's THE BAR, but the vibe is giving complete happiness! If you're in town, it's mandatory to stop in for a slice or two of THE BARs pizza!

Aimee H.

Was quite busy when we went but we were able to snag chairs at the bar where you can order from the same food menu. We got the mashed potato pizza which is nice and creamy but does get a little one dimensional after a few slices. Thankfully we also got a bowl of salad which came out in a huge serving!

Mashed potato & bacon pizza, the Buff Chick
Annie W.

Had a great time at BAR's pizza. The Mashed Potato & Bacon pizza was unique and flavorful - the mashed potatoes were fluffy and creamy and I'm glad we tried it! The Buff Chick pizza came with buffalo chicken, blue cheese and jalapeños on a white pizza which had a nice kick. The restaurant had a dimly lit ambiance. Service was friendly and our pizzas came out quickly despite it being quite busy inside.

Seasonal Pizza Lobster Roll Pizza
Kylie B.

Bar has yet to disapoint me with their unique takes on New Haven Apizza. This time I came in to try the seasonal lobster pie and this may be one of my new favorite pizzas it was so delicious. The buttery garlic base mixed with the cheese and tender lobster was to die for all on the classic new haven thin crust - I am still dreaming of it. We also ordered the margarita pizza as a safe classic option which I thought was just okay. It was super busy the day we came by so ended up having to take the pizza to go, but the inside ambiance is a super modern take a firewood pizza bar which I love. Definitely give the lobster pizza a try before they take it off the menu!

Thanksgiving Pie - Small

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Really good pizza and price. Worth checking out when in New Haven. It's gets crowded quick.

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Ask the Community - BAR

Is a Covid vaccine needed to enter this establishment?

COVID restrictions are very relaxed. You can wear a mask if you would like, but it is optional.

Do you sell the watermelon ale in bottles or cans to go?

Is this still a good Saturday night atmosphere during COVID?

A great atmosphere! It still has a great vibe and COVID protocols in place. I don't know if that back room is open but the front of house is totally functioning. It's nice that now you can make reservations on their webpage even if it's just for… 

Do they offer gluten free pizza crust?

Yezzir

What's the night life like here on Thursdays from about 9pm-1am?

The bar gets pretty packed on weekends but in my experience the service has made up for that. Bartenders are always quick and attendant. Heads up though, usually gets rushed by college kids (and not the semi-normal state school college kids, the ivy… 

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Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - The front of the building

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

4.1(3.9k reviews)
0.7 mi
•$$

How do you decide where to go for your pizza when you're in New Haven, CT when there are so many…read moregreat options? There was only a 20 minute wait, but it was the perfect sunny day to be outside and Pepe's has a great system for moving the line along quickly. Charlotte provided excellent service and was super friendly. A Pepe's veteran employee for 35 years, she was great at helping us to navigate the menu and options. We loved all of the historic photographs lining the walls and can understand how Pepe's has been a main stay for over 100 years. We opted to try a cheese pie as well as the seasonal special Shrimp Calabrese pie. The cheese pie had an amazing crispy crust and a slight char from the wood fired coals. The pie was not shy on cheese making the center a little limp, but the crust and flavor made up for it. The shrimp Calabrese pie packed a powerful punch from the Calabrian chilis. We loved that the shrimp were perfectly cooked and not one second over. The crust on this pie seems to have been a bit thinner than the cheese pie crust and held up a little bit more sturdy in the center. The menu has many options to try different types of pizzas without having to order full-sized pies. Our two large pies could easily have fed six people. I'm looking forward to our next visit.

Of the three New Haven pizza giants, Pepe's has expanded the most widely, while Sally's has done so…read moreregionally and Modern remains a single shop. All are valid choices in my view, but it does mean that I tried some Frank Pepe locations in the DC area before going to the Wooster Street original. It certainly has charm. There was a significant line for entry but everyone was seated and there still might have been an open table or two when I left, so while crowded, I think dinner is worse than brunch. I got efficient, yet welcoming service. I figured I'd go traditional and tried their original tomato pie. It does have just a sprinkling of cheese, so someone looking to avoid dairy would have to ask. The char of the crust was considerable; newcomers may struggle to appreciate a "burned pizza", but for me the contrast in flavors between sauce and crust delivered. Part of the point of ordering a relatively light pizza was to save room for dessert, and I have to say their tiramisu had a marvelous texture and despite my best efforts to savor it, it was not there for very long. They have pretty limited salad and appetizer options. I went with a seltzer water to spare myself sugar, but if you're not doing dessert the local soda brand makes a good addition to the local pizza.

Photos
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Food- Large White Clam Pizza

Food- Large White Clam Pizza

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Original Tomato Pie

Original Tomato Pie

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

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Zeneli Pizzeria  - Buffalo Burrata Margherita!  Savory Sauce, Suoer Yummy!

Zeneli Pizzeria

4.7(705 reviews)
0.8 mi
•$$

We were on our way back home and wanted to give New Haven spots another try…read more The usual spots had a line of people. We laughed at them and moved on. We don't do lines. Found this spot and were glad we did. Pizza was absolute perfect. We tried 3 different pies.

Delicious FRESH food! 4.5/5.0. I wish Yelp would allow for the .5 in reviews! Went here yesterday…read moreto meet up with an old friend. We had the ricotta and honey on toast, meatballs, prosciutto/mozzarella to start, some white wine and of course PIZZA! The pizza was light and cooked perfectly. We had the Dolce Salato and the Diavolina. We loved the Dolce Salato! The Diavolina was good, but I think some more spicy salami or maybe an additional spicy component would have been a good addition to the pizza. It needed just a little bit more on the flavor side. But still everything here is high quality and I would recommend! Service was excellent. We were immediately seated and had the option to sit inside or outside. I first sat inside, then we moved to a larger table outside. What I really appreciated as a new mom, was their openness and flexibility for coming in with a stroller. I was nervous to be a burden to the restaurant, but they were super accommodating. Thank you On room for improvement, I think on a hot day, having the inside space being much much cooler, than the outdoor seating (especially for newborns/really young kids/elderly) would be beneficial. Yesterday it was cool inside to start (and remember I chose to move outside), but they started to leave the front door open to allow for easy movement of staff and guests between inside and outside, which made the indoor space get warmer over time. And I totally get that for the ease of movement for staff/guests, but maybe consider keeping it super cool on the inside, so that kiddos/elderly have a cool space on a really hot day to not overheat. The vibe here is great. Chill, warm and light! Come with family and/or friends and enjoy!

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Zeneli Pizzeria  - Inside

Inside

Zeneli Pizzeria  - Fungii puzza

Fungii puzza

Zeneli Pizzeria  - Tre carne ($19.50)

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Tre carne ($19.50)

Modern Apizza

Modern Apizza

4.3(2k reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$

This is not the best pizza my wife has ever had. She was very clear on that. And I probably…read moreshouldn't have told her before we sat down that some people think this is the best pizza in the country, because high expectations are no good for anyone. Is it the best pizza I've ever had? Honestly? Maybe. It's difficult to stack any pizza up against others without eating them side by side, but I can say with confidence that I was very, very happy digging into a large pie here. My favorite pizza is usually: 1. The pizza I'm eating at that moment. 2. Fresh, and hot. 3. On excellent, thin crust that isn't too crispy, with a little char. 4. Covered in high quality cheese and excellent sauce. Modern nails it all. It's also served in a large, booth heavy dining room that seems like it hasn't changed since their 1934 inception, by friendly but no-nonsense guys that get you in and out so the next people on line can come get their pies. Our caesar salad and large pie came out FAST, and I appreciate that despite their fame and the lines, prices are pretty darn reasonable. I wish I could be in town more to try the white pies, and experiment with more toppings. Someday.

I wish I could have said that I loved it, but maybe New Haven style pizza just isn't my jam. I do…read moreappreciate a thin crust pizza, and while I'm not a connoisseur, this just felt average to me. I appreciated the thin crust and the char, but I read that New Haven pizza has more sauce and that did not really deliver. We got a medium pepperoni and medium cheese and honestly we should have just got one medium or large pizza lol. It was way too much food for two people. We also like cheese over pepperoni which was surprising since we typically like pepperoni pizza. Aside from the food, the ambience of the restaurant was nice, and service was quick and friendly.

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Modern Apizza - Entrance

Entrance

Modern Apizza
Modern Apizza - Interior

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Interior

Sally's Apizza - Small Tomato Sauce Pie with Pepperoni

Sally's Apizza

3.8(1.8k reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

I can't believe I haven't reviewed the New Haven Sally's before. It's one of the Big Three in New…read moreHaven. One of the most famous pizzerias in the US. I've eaten at the restaurant, outside the restaurant and at their pop up at the New Haven Apizza Feast. Its good chewy and charred crust is one of the best. Its balanced red sauce is one of the best. I will say for Sally's standard cheese pizzas, I prefer a different sauce to cheese ratio. I like it a bit cheesier and the cheese to be a bit stretchier. That's my only note. Sally's Basil Burrata was my favorite slice from the 2025 New Haven Apizza Feast. It's Calabrian Stinger was my favorite slice from this year's Apizza Feast. Sally's is a CT Classic. You'll notice them expanding across CT.

Having had Sally's Apizza on my bucket list for what feels like forever, I was beyond excited to…read morefinally cross it off. Having already tried Frank Pepe's up the street, this was stop number two on my quest through New Haven's legendary "Big Three." ​We arrived around 8:00 PM on a Wednesday evening on our drive back to RI from Pennsylvania, hoping the line wouldn't be too bad, knowing they closed at 9:00 PM. Luckily, there were only about a dozen people ahead of us, and we were seated by 8:30 PM. The place only has about 15 to 20 tables inside, but they do a fantastic job turning them over, and the host was super friendly and professional right from the start. ​The dining room has that perfect old-school feel - clean, warm, and completely inviting. Our server, Jessica V., was exceptional. Even though it was the end of what was likely a long shift, she was cheerful, super friendly, and attentive. My partner, feeling dehydrated after our long drive, requested a pitcher of water, and Jessica was happy to bring one out to her. ​We ordered a Large Mozzarella & Tomato Sauce Pie, and it was as close to pizza perfection as you can get. You could tell right away that they use top-quality ingredients. The vibrant sauce and mozzarella balanced each other out beautifully on a nicely charred, coal-fired crust. We completely devoured the entire thing, and it easily earned a spot in the top three pizzas I've ever had in my life. To go with the pie, I had a Two Roads "Two Juicy Zero" non-alcoholic beer, which was super refreshing and ideal since we still had a two-hour drive ahead of us. ​In my humble opinion, I give a very slight edge to Sally's over Pepe's, though I'd probably need to try them side by side to make a final call. All in all, it was a fantastic experience, and we loved every minute of it. A huge thank you to Jessica and the Sally's team! We will definitely be back the next time we're passing through!

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Sally's Apizza - Inside

Inside

Sally's Apizza - Mootz and mushrooms

Mootz and mushrooms

Sally's Apizza - Medium Mozzarella and Tomato Sauce Pie

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Medium Mozzarella and Tomato Sauce Pie

8 Thousand Pizza

8 Thousand Pizza

4.7(36 reviews)
7.2 mi

8 Thousand Pizza is a pizzeria and pour-your-own taproom that opened in Milford, Connecticut in…read moreNovember 2023. It was founded by restaurateurs Skye Kwok and Tommy Nguyen. Kwok has more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry. Some of the other restaurants he has opened include Sweet Basil in Fairfield, Pink Sumo Sushi & Sake Cafe in Westport, and Eat Noodle in Bridgeport. Kwok and Nguyen's latest venture opened at the Connecticut Post Mall in a restaurant space that was previously home to Cast Iron Chef Kitchen & Bar, which specialized in tavern-style pizzas cooked in a cast-iron skillet. 8 Thousand Pizza offers this same style of pizza, but what sets them apart from the previous pizzeria is that they also offer self-pouring technology, which became legalized in Connecticut in 2021. The food menu features two dozen tavern-style pizzas as well as burgers, wings, fries, salads and soups. Through the use of a supplied electronic bracelet, customers can self-pour their own beverage from a selection of 28 craft beer taps and 6 wine taps. There's a two-pint or 32-ounce limit for the self-pours. I recently visited 8 Thousand Pizza for dinner. I had previously visited the space when it was Cast Iron Chef Kitchen & Bar and was sad to hear that they moved. However, this new business concept of a tavern-style pizzeria with self-pouring taps sounded very interesting to me. This was actually my first visit to a self-pouring taproom, as these types of establishments only just began opening in the state in the last few years. After looking over the menu, I decided to order the "Grandma's Tomato Pizza" (fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, roasted garlic, tomatoes and EVOO) and the "Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza" (tomato sauce, pepperoni, hot honey sauce and mozzarella cheese). The latter happens to be 8 Thousand's signature pizza. Both pizzas had crust so thin that it's almost cracker like; they didn't flop at all. They were super crispy with excellent sauce and toppings. I honestly can't decide which one I liked better; they were both very good. During my visit, I enjoyed some self-pours of Grey Sail Brewing's "Captain's Daughter" (Double New England IPA) and New Park Brewing's "Cloudscape" (American IPA). Delicious pizza with craft beer is always an excellent pairing! I had a really nice experience at 8 Thousand Pizza and I hope to return with my family.

Took the Family here for a Saturday lunch. Got a meatball pizza and a margarita pizza. Both were…read moremade well. The beer system is interesting and you pour your own beer. Paying by the ounce. Service was nice and attentive. But you have to go up to the counter to order. Many of the betas were out or empty. I did like that. They had a wide selection of glasses available for the different styles of beer.

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8 Thousand Pizza
8 Thousand Pizza
8 Thousand Pizza

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Three Sons Pizza

Three Sons Pizza

5.0(11 reviews)
0.2 mi

Absolutely phenomenal pizza. Very much NY style but done the old school way, which honestly isn't…read morethat far off from a lot of New Haven style. We've gotten everything from specials to a plain here and it all slaps. Joe is also a super friendly guy. Located in Old Heidelberg as a plus (only on weekends, check their IG for latest schedule), with some good cocktails and a solid dingy vintage basement bar vibe.

Entering New Haven Pizza scene with a buzz is Three Sons Pizza. You can only get this delicious pie…read moreon Fridays or Saturdays at the Old Heidelberg inside the Graduate New Haven (see their Instagram for the latest schedule!) Now let me tell you...THE SAUCE. I dream about it. It's enough where one night my husband and I craved pizza and I said we had to drive to New Haven to see Joe and crush a pepperoni pizza. If they have the tomato pie? GET IT. The rare Kale white pie? A vegetarian's dream. Keep an eye on the Instagram for which pizzas are coming out and how many. I came in a different night after going out in New Haven with a group and we snagged the last pizza at about 9:30pm, only 2 hours after they began service. Joe is also just fantastic. He's friendly, a caring dad (the pizza is named after his three sons, and why you see three basils on each pizza), and he does this after he perfected the recipe during Covid and is now sharing it with the world. Crisp pepperonis (how I like them), addicting sauce, unique flavor combos, go see Joe. He knows what he's doing. Maybe a good thing I have to drive 45 min for this pizza because I'd otherwise be here every weekend. Definitely a pizza worth checking out!

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Three Sons Pizza
Three Sons Pizza
Three Sons Pizza

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RAWA Mediterranean Fusion, Middle Eastern Food, Pizza Place

RAWA Mediterranean Fusion, Middle Eastern Food, Pizza Place

4.6(168 reviews)
2.0 mi
•$$

I ordered takeout and it was absolutely delicious. It arrived really hot too. The falafel was…read morecrunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The hummus was legit and so was the TAMARI. I enjoyed this meal thoroughly. I was brought promptly and hot.

It was my first time here. My better half has been here quite a few times in the past, and always…read morespoke highly of it. Mediterranean is not my jive but it seemed like a good spot for a date night. Seemed. We were seated quickly, which was nice. It wasn't what I'd consider busy, but apparently it was busy for them on this particular night of service. Took about 15min from the time we were seated to have our order taken. Better half says it is usually more calming and intimate. Tonight absolutely was not that. It gives... Starbucks, if it served Mediterranean food... like, no coffee. With teacup candles. Real ones. (fire code???) I ordered the wings, with low expectations. Anyone that knows me and my heart also knows how I feel about a good wing. These wings were not that. They came out looking exactly how I anticipated them to based on what I saw in previous reviews (and the item description, which, shockingly, was painfully accurate) -- sad, and beige. First bite revealed various shades of pink, although the skin was seasoned nicely. I'm partial against this style of chicken wing so its hard for me to give it any credit... moving on. I also had the chicken kebab sandwich... which isn't really a sandwich. Its more of a ... gyro? I liked it. The chicken in the sandwich was really nice. Cooked well, definitely cooked better than the wings. Wish the cuts/pieces were smaller though. It was nice and hot, but also kind of wet, I guess from steam? It came wrapped in sort of a parchment paper, that was also wet. And the closer I got to the end, the more liquid dripped out from the bottom. Water mixed with tomato, other spices and whatnot... it wasn't pretty. I got less and less interested as I made progress. Better half got the Merguez Kebab Sandwich/gyro thing. Similar to my Chicken Kebab, the cuts of meat were huge however it was just hard to come to terms with the notion that they were each fully cooked through, and it was also... wet. More wet than my Chicken Kebab. She didn't finish it, and I don't blame her. The hummus was nice. The pita was hot and fresh. You could see some of the char from the skillet it was made in, which was nice. Unfortunate that either are individual at-cost appetizers (although looking at my receipt, I can infer that the first pita was included with the hummus as I was only charged for one and we had two). I don't think I will be returning there on my own volition. Maybe tonight was a bad night, and that happens sometimes. The staff were certainly nice, and considering it was a Saturday evening, the volume of patrons is worth appreciation. It wasn't rowdy, the music was nice, the ceiling fan blades passing over one of the ceiling lights drove me crazy a little bit, but it is a nice place. I'm just a little let down that this was how my Saturday night dinner went. I'm still hungry, dawg. There was also a woman in scrubs(?) or some sort of inpatient-wear that walked past the restaurant outside, locked eyes with the folks at a table, smiled and waved, and slowly meandered away until she came back to walk in the other direction. Not sure what that was about, but its typical New Haven shit. Stranger things have happened, lol! TLDR if you're not super picky/sensitive about your food and you're a big (gotta be big) fan of Mediterranean Fusion food, I absolutely recommend RAWA. Otherwise... hard pass -- for me, at least. Respectfully.

Photos
RAWA Mediterranean Fusion, Middle Eastern Food, Pizza Place - Inside

Inside

RAWA Mediterranean Fusion, Middle Eastern Food, Pizza Place - Moussaka

Moussaka

RAWA Mediterranean Fusion, Middle Eastern Food, Pizza Place - Exterior

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Exterior

BAR - pizza - Updated October 2026

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