New Haven is famous for its pizza, and the lines on Wooster Street prove it. But students and locals know a secret.
Some of the best cheap eats in town come by the slice, often late at night, and usually without a long wait. Here are seven spots in and around New Haven where big slices and small prices keep the crowds coming back.
1. Yorkside Pizza & Restaurant, New Haven, CT
Plenty of visitors line up for thin, charred pies on Wooster Street. Yorkside makes a different case, with pizza that leans on hearty sauce and cheese so one or two slices actually fill you up.
The York Street spot works as a Greek diner and a student go-to. Old photos line the simple dining room, and the pizza by the slice is a steady seller, with pepperoni slices piled with plenty of peps.
The menu goes far beyond pizza. Look for a Signature Greek Salad, fried calamari, stuffed mushrooms, chicken wings, onion rings, and a Fried Filet of Sole Platter, plus a full vegetarian menu.
Most meals land in the $10 to $20 per person range. Hours run 11 AM to 10 PM most days and until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Street parking is paid and can be tricky, so walking over from campus is the easy move. Families are welcome too, with high chairs available.
2. New Haven Pizza, New Haven, CT
A slice as big as a quarter of a pizza is the kind of math students can get behind. That is the calling card at New Haven Pizza on George Street.
The shop is compact and no-frills, with counter service and no table service. You can order by the slice or grab a whole pie with a thin, crispy crust and a balanced layer of sauce, cheese, and spices.
Beyond pizza, the menu covers burgers, sandwiches, and Italian entrees. Prices stay in the $10 to $20 range.
Night owls, take note. It opens at 2 PM daily and stays open until 2 AM, or 2:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, with delivery and curbside pickup available.
Parking is easy here, with a free lot and free street spots. There is no restroom on site, so plan for a quick grab-and-go visit.
3. Est Est Est Pizza & Restaurant, New Haven, CT
Since 1973, Est Est Est has been serving pizza and calzones from a small corner space on Chapel Street. Brick walls and wooden furnishings give it an old-school look.
The big draw is the slice case. Many New Haven pizzerias skip slices, but here they sit hot and ready, with options like pesto, buffalo chicken, margherita, BBQ chicken, shrimp pesto, and a popular bacon chicken.
The crust lands somewhere between chewy and crunchy. Wraps, subs, salads, stromboli, garlic bread, mozzarella sticks, and desserts round out the menu.
Late hours make it a favorite after a night out. It stays open until 1 AM most nights and until 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Delivery, outdoor seating, and both free and paid street parking add to the convenience. Prices run about $10 to $20 per person.
4. Aladdin Crown Pizza, New Haven, CT
Chicken shawarma on a pizza might not be the first thing you expect in New Haven. At Aladdin Crown Pizza, it fits right in with a menu that blends Mediterranean and Italian cooking.
The pizza uses buffalo milk cheese instead of the usual cow’s milk version. Halal pepperoni gets balanced by a slightly sweet sauce, and a falafel pizza mixes savory and sweet.
Slices are available if you do not want a whole pie, which is still rare around town. The menu also lists a White Clam Casino Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, a Lamb Kabob Combo, and baklava for dessert.
Hours stretch late, up to 3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed on Mondays and does not take reservations.
Expect to spend $10 to $20 per person. Parking is paid, both in lots and on the street, and dogs are welcome outside.
5. Pizza at the Brick Oven, New Haven, CT
Wood fire is the whole point at Pizza at the Brick Oven. The Howe Street shop bakes thin-crust pies in a brick oven, giving them that New Haven style many people travel for.
It is a small counter-service space, but it does more than pizza. Subs and salads share the menu, and house picks include The Brick Special Pizza and a vegetarian Classic.
The hours are a big reason students keep it in rotation. Doors open at 3 PM and stay open until 3 AM most nights, or 4 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Parking is simpler than at many downtown spots, with free and paid lots plus free street parking. Delivery and outdoor seating are both options.
Most orders fall between $10 and $20 per person. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor area.
6. Alpha Delta Pizza, New Haven, CT
Ask around campus about the Wenzel grinder and you will likely end up at Alpha Delta Pizza. The Elm Street restaurant is known for that signature sandwich along with its pizza.
Fresh pizza and fries are the core order. Service is quick, which matters when it is past midnight and you need food fast.
And it does stay open late. Hours run 3 PM to 3 AM most days, and until 4 AM Thursday through Saturday.
The vibe is casual and fairly quiet, a nice change from busier spots. It even accepts reservations, plus delivery and curbside pickup.
Free street parking exists but can be hard to find, so walking is smart. Prices sit in the $10 to $20 range.
7. Abate Restaurant, North Haven, CT
Skipping a two-hour wait is a strong selling point. Abate Restaurant on State Street in North Haven offers thin-crust pies and everyday Italian favorites without the famous Wooster Street lines.
The Giant Sicilian with Pepperoni Pizza Slice lives up to its name. Portions here are generous across the board, from wings to cannoli to the Hot Seafood Antipasto.
Families get plenty of perks, including a kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables. There is also a full vegan menu and a full vegetarian menu.
Hours are more traditional, generally 11 AM to 9 PM, with a 10 AM start on Fridays. Reservations are accepted, and delivery reaches parts of New Haven that other spots skip.
Parking is easy, with free lots and street spaces. Expect to spend about $10 to $20 per person.
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