The third pillar of the Holy Trinity — Pepe's, Sally's, and Modern — a 1934 State Street institution that Pizza Today named Pizzeria of the Year 2023 and that New Haven refuses to rank below its more famous neighbours.
The Full Picture
The phrase "Holy Trinity of New Haven apizza" is not marketing invention; it is the considered verdict of food journalists, pizza historians, and three or four generations of New Haven residents who have eaten their way through the argument and declined to settle it. Modern Apizza at 874 State Street is the third member of that trinity, and the one that is perhaps most likely to surprise visitors who arrive with only the Wooster Street names in mind.
Founded in 1934 — older than Sally's, nine years younger than Pepe's — Modern has pursued its own path within the New Haven apizza tradition. The crust achieves that particular combination that defines the form: nicely charred on the bottom, the edge blistering in the oven's heat, the interior maintaining the chew that separates New Haven apizza from every other regional style. The pies are cut into small triangles, which is the correct approach and the one that encourages proper sharing.
The Italian Bomb — sausage, bacon, pepperoni, mushroom, onion, pepper, and garlic on one pie — is the signature, a pizza that makes the argument for loading in the most aggressive possible way and somehow achieving coherence rather than chaos. The Clams Casino, with clams, bacon, and peppers, represents the clam pizza tradition with a distinctly Modern interpretation. The margherita is available for those who want to understand the crust and sauce without interruption.
Pizza Today named Modern its 2023 Pizzeria of the Year, which put a national spotlight on what New Haven already knew. The recognition has not changed what happens in the kitchen or at the tables, which is exactly as it should be. Reservations are accepted through OpenTable, which distinguishes Modern from its Wooster Street counterparts and makes planning a visit marginally more convenient.
Why Modern Apizza Is Perfect for a Birthday
A birthday at Modern has a particular logic to it: State Street provides a more accessible location than Wooster Square for groups arriving from different parts of New Haven or Connecticut, the reservation system means you're not standing in a line on someone's birthday, and the Italian Bomb — ordered for the table — has the kind of crowd-pleasing scale that makes a celebration feel like one. The room is lively rather than intimate, which suits a birthday better than a proposal; the energy is celebratory by default. Families work particularly well here: the format is understood by everyone, the pricing is fair, and the pizza is good enough that the occasion is guaranteed to produce a genuine memory rather than a polite one.