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Marco's Pizzeria
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Marco's Pizzeria
Review Highlights
22 reviews in English
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Review from Robert H.
West Hartford, CT
8/14/2011
A check-in in October, '11: Approximately the tenth great meal here. The servers now know us and they're super-friendly. (Even they, however, warn that when this place is really busy it's *all* business -- that's why we visit on off-times, typically late afternoons.)
The chicken soup with ditalini warmed us nicely. The simplicity of everything here is what's so sublime about this experience.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Why should I chime in when there're already plenty of Yelpers who're mighty happy with this place?
They have the best escarole and beans I've ever eaten.
The white clam pizza is among the best I've ever had.
Service is friendly -- and after only three visits, the cheerful waitress remembered what we had. We've never, ever experienced this kind of passion at a fast-casual restaurant.
Every product we've had here has exceeded our expectations.
'Nuff said?
Details: the escarole and beans is redolent of garlic, uses the right beans and the escarole is pristine and vibrant green. I, personally, would like there to be more olive oil present, but I'll forgive them. It's all about garlickey, escarole flavor FLAVOR. Did I mention flavor?
The white clam pizza uses a combination of cheeses including what I'd hazard a guess is Asiago. The clams are hacked into manageable pieces and are tender and flavorful. The crust is New Haven-thin and made from wonderful Semolina flour. What's not to love?
Their marinara sauce is the fresh-tomato type. It's seedless and bright red and packed with tomato flavor. And, thank God, there's no oregano at all. I'll forgive them for skimping on the onions, garlic and basil. It's simplicity at best. The meatballs elevate this to a five-star dish. The meatballs aren't fried, they're probably roasted in the oven yet remain soft. They're made from beef and pork and have just the right balance of garlic and something else (Marjoram?). The pre-ground cheese at table adds richness and complexity. I ask for extra butter pats to melt on top of this dish.
Sodas are from Foxon Park and I can get my fave flavor - Birch Beer - in the clear incarnation.
Service is cheerful and lightning-fast. They're engineered to do a brisk business so if you're hungry and it's not peak-time on a weekend, expect to be served really, really promptly.
Their chicken soup and minestrone are archetypal and very, very good.
Grinders are generous and filled with clean flavors and premium ingredients. A chicken cutlet was a home run, with a flavorful seasoned breadcrumb coating that was as greaseless as you can get, wrapped around moist, flavorful meat. The meatballs shone in a grinder topped with good sauce, peppers and good melted mozzarella and provolone (ask for the two cheeses instead of just one).
The fifth star is for value. Nothing's expensive here although it's obvious that they don't get cheap with ingredients.
Because we often eat here at off-times, it's hard to get a cup of coffee after the meal. Again, I'll forgive them.
You must try this if you're at all into good Italian-American food that's simple and oh-so-delicious. We drive all the way to the shoreline from the Hartford area to eat here. -
Review from Ned H.
San Jose, CA
9/14/2010
HEADLINE: Just shut up about your pretentious New Haven thin crust, brick oven mozzarella meccas or untouchable Village pizza pie palaces (yes, I am guilty here) ... this little place holds its own quite admirably for a hot pie or calzone.
We've all heard, and played victim to, the hype ... especially in this part of the country.
Here on shoreline CT, you should feel privileged to wait a hour and a half out in the December cold to be seated at Sally's or Pepe's on Woostah ... wait another hour to be served ... and then pick burnt charcoal (formerly observed as dough) out of your teeth for another hour following your pie.
In the shadow of New Haven, there sits New York City. John's on Bleecker for pies only (my personal world-favorite, I must disclose); Joe's around the corner for slices; age-old battles between pizza zealots regarding Grimaldi's versus Lombardi's versus Di Fara's versus Luzzo's ... a veritable Holy War, indeed the Crusades, could be launched over opinions, biases and bigotries on crust / sauce / cheese.
And then there's Branford, CT ... whoddathunk?
This past week, while home for a brief excursion seeing family, I sought out a pie and calzone from this little hole in the wall called Marco's ... no pretensions, no North Star shining brightly over it for pizza pilgrims to find, no 85 year history involving Frank Sinatra and the Brat Pack.
Just downright decent thin crust pizza.
Excellent crust, superbly oven baked to crunchy perfection and a hint ... HINT, Sally's and Pepe's ... of char ... outstanding. You know what the test of a great crust is? You finish the whole crust on your slice before diving into the next one. I haven't done that in years being back in California. Usually there'll be half a dozen crust carcasses on my paper plate ... abandoned ... not worthy of the carbs. Not here!
Sauce, likewise was very good ... not too salty ... not under-salted. Good sweetness factor, excellent garlic factor, and in perfect proportion to the other ingredients ...
Which were excellent in and of themselves ... sausage ... very good, pepperoni .... very good.
Cheese ... outstanding ... in all things to be considered ... sodium content, melt-ability, taste, very complimentary to the whole experience.
The only thing this NY pie lover could have wished for was .... wait for it .... and I know some will disagree here ... just a tad more of that nectar of the gods ... grease!!!
I didn't have to fold my slice in half to preserve every single drop of that liquid gold ... oh well ... my arteries thank you.
Even more commendable ... this was all observed as a takeout pie ... though, honestly, home was only 3-4 minutes up the road off Damascus.
Mom's calzone ... very generous portions ... it feeds her for three meals. Sauce on the side ... outstanding. Ingredients within ... melted cheesy perfection.
This is not world class pizza; but for Branford, CT, it serves quite nicely in terms of quality for value ... and travel time ... and lack of hassle ... and, thus, the four stars awarded here ...
... and you don't have to be treated for hypothermia or heat prostration while you wait in an hour and a half line outdoors for your charcoal briquette and cheese on Wooster.
Highly recommended for those pie seekers east of the Q Bridge ... or even you dwellers (dare, I say it) of the Elm City. -
Review from nook n.
Hamden, CT
9/27/2011
Good thin pizza. My second favorite pizza place to visit!! I recommend this place.
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Review from John D.
Branford, CT
9/9/2011
When in New Haven, go to Sally's. When I Branford visit Marco's. By far the best pizza in town.
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Review from basil m.
CT
8/22/2011
You can take your lines-around-the-block at Pepe's and all the Wooster street hype and go get Marco's whole belly clam pizza [casino?] with bacon and show me one pie in New Haven that stacks up to it...toe to toe this pie has no competition. I hear they schuck their littlenecks every morning which is idicitive of how abolsutely insane this pie is. Crisp crust, tender/fresh clams, bacon, few spices and a mild mozz--its that good. Escarole and beans are really good--not amazing, little bland, but not mushy/al dente beans and the garlic is pronounced. For the kids, they love a cheese pie and they make it great. Tough parking, lines on weekends, awkward seating--still a 5..worth every dime.
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Review from Cheri K.
New Haven, CT
7/31/2011
My friend took me here recently to grab some pizza on a Friday night. She told me that it may well be one of my new favorite spots to grab a slice or two or three. It just so happens that her family owns this place so I thought she may be biased but she was right and it was worth the wait. This was by far the best pizza I've had in CT. I will definitely be back again for another margherita pie!
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Review from Joe C.
New Haven, CT
4/26/2010
I like my pizza like my women: dark and black.
OK, not really. But I do like my pizza slightly charred underneath and a little black around the edges. It's a New Haven thing. You out-of-staters wouldn't understand. Well, last night I got a nicely charred one from Marco's and it was perfect.
My only complaint is that they tend to use an ingredient that's a little overbearing for my taste. I've noticed it before. I don't know what it is (maybe a little too much salt or too much garlic) but I wish they left it off. -
Review from K W.
New Haven, CT
7/23/2007
This is a hot spot for Branford residents. Every Friday (for the last month), I've been here to find this place full of people, which is a welcoming sight for me, given I'm from near NYC. This place is filled with regulars, who either pick up their pizza boxes (like myself) or dine in with family and friends.
First time, I made the mistake of coming in first to order out (thus waiting for 20 minutes for my box of pizza). If you order in advance, you can pick up your pie 20 minutes later and head over to Branford Point to see the beautiful sunset. If you are going to eat out at Branford Point, make sure you ask for paper plates and napkins!
There's no brick oven here, but then again, Marco's pizza crust is less burnt. Apparently, the owner of this place used to work for Pepe's for many years, therefore having knowledge about making good pizzas.
I'd prefer Modern's dense crust to this place's any time, but Marco's sauces and toppings are comparable to Marco's. They are fresh, delicious, and have neat combinations of ingredients. I've tried their shrimp pizza (with huge sized shrimps), clam pizza (very good but Pepe's is slightly better), escarole and bean pizza (interesting texture), Italian pizza (solidly good), and tomato and basil pizza. Their simple tomato and basil pizza is the best. Try it both with white sauce and red sauce. I think you'll find one flavor here that works for you. -
Review from Erika S.
9/17/2008
Marco Pizzeria. I heart you.
I used to live in Branford and miss being ever so close to this wonderful pizza establishment. The owner, a Pepe's alumni, knew just what to do about opening up a pizzeria and did it to perfection. I loved nothing more than going to Marco's on a rainy Friday night, taking the table by the front window, ordering a pitcher of beer, a salad and pie. What a wonderful night. Their white clam is amazing as is their fresh tomato and basil. Their crust is perfect, not to hard, crisp and airy.
Like a true New Haven county pizzeria, they serve Foxon Park....and like someone already mentioned, and I concur, at times the White Birch goes with this pizza or any New Haven pizza just like a fine red goes with steak. Heavenly. -
Review from Sean C.
8/28/2008
Marco is a classic stand-by.
Coming home late and pass it on the way? Why not pick up a pie?
The pizza is consistently decent. It's perfect for a night when you don't have the time or effort to do better, but it's certainly not the type of pizza that you want to show out-of-towners or pizza snobs why New Haven's is the best around.
It's much more of a "gotta feed myself and the kids, have twenty bucks, and don't want to do dishes" type of pizza. -
Review from Gerard M.
New Haven, CT
8/30/2009 5 Check-ins Here
This is clearly my choice for pizza in Branford. Here in New Haven, where pizza can be the start of a fistfight, I stand with Marco. Of course, given the restaurant's heritage, I guess that was predictable: I am a Pepe's fan too.
My favorite is the white clam pie. The clams are never rubbery and the garlic is generous! (Important lifestyle tip: On a date, BOTH must eat the clam pie. Otherwise, not good.)
The restaurant is small and you might be tempted to take-out; but like all pizza, it's best eaten on the spot. I do take out mind you, but it's still better hot from the oven. -
Review from Ian R.
2/19/2009
Marco Pizzeria gets a solid four-stars.
Pleasant service and tasty pies.
Not as good as Pepe's but still a high quality pie and consistently enjoyable. -
Review from Melissa S.
Chelsea, MA
9/7/2009
I don't even remember who told me to go here...and I didn't take them seriously when they told me they have the best pizza in the New Haven area. Since I go down here every so often for work and stay at the hotel right next door I figured it was worth a try.
Wow, first off, the place is busy. The guy taking the orders is nice and efficient. They have white pizza - scored a point for that. They have ricotta - one more point. By the time I added up all the points, I was on my third slice back at the hotel.
Awesome pizza, definitely worth the stop. -
Review from Mike B.
New Haven, CT
9/11/2009
Best pizza around, and no long lines!!! Great people, great attitude and great food. The pizza's the best, but even things like side dishes (salads) are first rate. We usually do take out (20-25 minutes and always reliable) but sometimes go for a meal out. The boys love it. They each get their own "small." One boy gets a sausage and pepperoni on tomato sauce (standard fare) and the other a garlic white with bacon and mushrooms. Both are great. ( I get a slice or two of each as my reward.)
Only problem is small parking lot, but everyone seems to cope with it. Skip the Wooster St. snobbery, and for the same price as the chains, get the best! -
Review from Joe H.
Branford, CT
9/14/2010
Phenomenal New Haven style pizza located in my home town, what more could you ask for? Well, delivery would be nice...
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Review from kristen r.
Branford, CT
8/13/2008
Always a reliable treat! Try one of their tasty white pies topped with veggies and chicken cutlet. It's not quite the same taste or texture as a New Haven pie, but rather in a category of its own...sans the snooty 'superior pizza attitude' of other unnamed establishments. Crust is consistently light and airy. Prices are completely reasonable. A very family and group friendly establishment. Order a pitcher and an antipasto, sit back and enjoy the short wait to perfectly prepared pie.
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Review from Mark W.
7/12/2009
We ordered a couple of pizzas from Marco's, one pepperoni and one half and half of sausage and eggplant. The pepperoni was excellent pizza. the sauce was perfect as was the crust (just a bit burnt on the edge). The Mozzarella cheese was just the right amount and taste. I tried a piece of the eggplant pizza after I had the pepperoni, so it was a bit bland, but mostly due to my zest for some spice. Anyway, Marco's is excellent east coast pizza.
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Review from Jennifer G.
Middletown, CT
5/8/2010
Mmmmm. I love Marco's Pizza. I wish that they delivered, but the pizza is the best. I work in Branford live in Middletown and will get pizza here and bring it home because there's nothing as good in between.
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Review from James C.
Clearwater, FL
8/20/2009
Marco's offers some pretty good pizza for a place like Branford. It's definitely not New Haven-style pizza, but good nonetheless. I'd say definitely one of the top Pizza joints in Branford. I've never dined in, as the place seems fairly small and cramped. However, their take-out is great. The BBQ Chicken pizza used to be a personal favorite of my friends and I.
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Review from Cynthia T.
Branford, CT
9/30/2009
Yum! Branford's own version of Pepes in New Haven without the wait! We are spoiled because it is only 2 miles away but clearly the best in town! The staff is very nice too! They also have excellent side dishes like escarole & beans, soups & salad. Overall, very clean, good prices & great food. The only downside... the parking is a challenge during busy times.
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Review from Sarah D.
Durham, NC
5/20/2009
Their white pizzas are fantastic, especially the white pizza with garlic. Their red pizzas are less popular with our family. The eggplant sandwich is messy but deeply satisfying. Plain, no frills atmosphere with friendly service. Conveniently located right next to the cinema.
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Review from Liz W.
San Rafael, CA
6/8/2009
Delicious pizzas whenever you want 'em for those (many) nights you don't feel like driving into New Haven.
