Square up: Where to find Detroit style, grandma pie and Sicilian pizzas in Connecticut

We know. Connecticut is all about the thin crust, and our pizza is famous for good reason. But hear us out — don’t sleep on the state’s thicker pies.

Sicilian-style pizza, with a thick, fluffy crust, is pretty commonly found throughout the Nutmeg State, and grandma pies — square pizzas with a slightly thinner crust, baked in olive-oil coated pans — are a slice of comfort.

And in the past couple of years, Detroit-style pies have made their way east onto Connecticut menus, baked in square metal pans with cheese placed all the way to the edges of the dough so that it caramelizes onto the crust.

(Note: Detroit style is actually having such a moment across the country that Pizza Hut recently came out with its own version.)

It’s hip to be square. Here’s where you can find Detroit, grandma and Sicilian pizzas around the state.

Detroit-style

Joe’s Pizza, New Canaan

Joe’s Motor City-style pies are cooked in metal pans with traditional Wisconsin brick cheese (commonly used in Detroit-style pizza for its high fat content and buttery flavor) along with mozzarella, Vermont sharp cheddar and Pecorino Romano, topped with cherry tomato marinara. The thick, square edges are crispy and caramelized.

Joe’s also offers Sicilian and “Brooklyn Sicilian” style with an airy thick crust, and a grandma pie with a thinner square crust, topped with house-made fresh mozz, fresh basil, fresh garlic, imported Sicilian oregano and Bianco DiNapoli organic California plum tomato sauce.

23 Locust Ave., 203-9662226, joespizzanewcanaan.com.

Joey Garlic’s, Manchester and Newington

Joey Garlic’s introduced a Detroit pie in late 2019 and it’s become a favorite at its two Greater Hartford-area restaurants (and at its sibling pizzeria, Joey’s Pizza Pie in West Hartford). With the thick, substantial crust as a base, Joey’s loads the pizzas with hearty toppings: buffalo chicken with chopped tomatoes and roasted peppers, barbecued chicken and caramelized onions, sausage with fresh tomato sauce and ricotta, pepperoni with hot cherry peppers and a hot honey drizzle. joeygarlics.com; joeyspizzapie.com.

Good Old Days Pizzeria & Cocktail Den, Newtown

The pizzeria and cocktail den, in the lower level of Marygold’s on Main in the former Inn at Newtown building, offers “square pies,” a hybrid of Detroit and Sicilian styles. They feed two to four people, showcasing recent toppings like mozzarella with vodka sauce; mozzarella with broccoli; Calabrian chile honey and Gouda (the Yasss Queen); and a French onion with caramelized onions, mozzarella and Gruyere.

19 Main St., 203-491-2920, goodolddayspizza.com.

Square Peg Pizzeria, Glastonbury

Square Peg offers the best of both worlds. Thin-crust lovers can enjoy signature wood-fired pizzas as 12- or 18-inch round pies, and for an extra $4, you can “Detroit” the classic cheese, pepperoni and bianco (garlic, mozzarella, goat cheese, ricotta, basil, maple syrup and Calabrian chile oil.) Square Peg also offers a drive-thru takeout window (if you’re getting it to go) and coin-operated vintage arcade games (if you’re staying.)

1001 Hebron Ave., 860-2860415, squarepegpizzeria.com.

Grandma pie

Pizzeria Marzano, Torrington

“One bite brings you on a texture journey,” Pizzeria Marzano says of its grandma pie, which the Torrington restaurant introduced in early 2020. The dough is fermented for 72 hours, featuring a firm base and “soft, spongy center laced with air pockets.” The pies are available from 4 p.m. to closing, with up to three toppings of your choice. The pizzeria serves grandma pies by the slice for lunch, usually offering plain cheese and one specialty option.

1315 E. Main St., 860-6180875, pizzeriamarzano.com.

Joey’s Pizza Pie,

West Hartford

Joey’s offers grandma pies with a fresh, sweet tomato sauce and up to three toppings, with or without mozzarella cheese (a mozz-free version gets a dusting of imported Romano). The West Hartford pizzeria also offers rotating slices of Grandma, Detroit and Sicilian.

353 Park Road, 860-5235639, joeyspizzapie.com.

Sicilian

We asked, and you shared. Here are some favorite spots for Sicilian pies in Connecticut:

Massimo Pizzeria Ristorante, Bridgeport

Arcuri’s Pizza & Salad,

Cos Cob

Villa Pizzeria Bar Ristorante, Stratford

Pizza Mediterranean, Fairfield

Romanacci Pizza Bar: Norwalk, South Norwalk, Trumbull, Westport

Fairfield Pizza: Fairfield, Greenwich, Stamford and Stratford

ReNapoli Pizzeria & Chicago Italian Beef, Old Greenwich

Naples Pizza, Farmington

Mondo, Middletown

Melilli Caffee & Grill, Portland

Contributed photo Romanacci features panini sandwiches, crepes, a coffee/espresso bar, wine and artisan cheeses and pizzas made from organic Italian flour.