One of America’s most lauded pizzerias will open in Palm Beach County in June.
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (pronounced "pep-eez"), the iconic Connecticut-based brand, will open its Delray Beach location on Monday, June 5, at 1701 S. Federal Highway in the Harbor Plaza.
Founded in New Haven by Frank Pepe in 1925, who immigrated to the United States in 1909 at the age of 16, Pepe’s Pizza is the originator of New Haven-style “apizza,” characterized by its signature crispy yet chewy, slightly charred crust.
In its 98 years in business, the family-owned and operated pizza eatery has established itself as an American classic, amassing a legion of fans around the world along with a growing list of accolades and recognitions from top-tier organizations and national critics. The brand hasearned the number one spot on The Daily Meal's list of Best Pizzas in America nine times.
“There’s been a lot of excitement from Palm Beach County residents about our new Delray Beach location—especially transplants from the northeast who grew up dining at Pepe’s,” Jennifer Bimonte-Kelly, granddaughter of Frank Pepe, tells News Break. “We are excited to bring them a little piece of home and introduce Pepe’s to Delray’s vibrant culinary scene.”
The restaurant will uphold the traditions that Pepe’s fans have come to know and love, including sourcing the highest quality ingredients—starting with the water used to make the dough. To ensure pizzas are on par with the original New Haven pies, Pepe’s includes an innovative water filtration system that balances the water in Delray Beach to match the water in New Haven.
"Making our pizza is an art and a science, and the water used for the dough is a critical component to ensuring a consistent cooking process,” said Kevin Gagliard, the brand's director of operations.
The Delray Beach eatery is the second Florida location following Plantation. It will feature the iconic look and feel of Pepe’s original Wooster Street location— evoking the same comfort, familiarity and tradition. The 124-seat restaurant is visually dominated by the view of its 14 x 14-foot, 104,000-pound coal-fired oven, a customized replica from its famed locale and the significant "paddle area," where expert pizzaiolos create made-to-order masterpieces on an oak wood table and use 16-foot-long paddles to place them in the 600-degree oven.
Pepe's Specialty Pies include the original White Clam Pizza, a combination crafted by Frank Pepe himself (fresh clams with Pecorino Romano, proprietary oil blend, fresh garlic, and oregano); Spinach, Mushroom and Gorgonzola (mozzarella and Pecorino Romano); and the Amanti Della Carne (crushed Italian tomatoes, mozzarella, meatball, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and Pecorino Romano). The restaurant also offers seasonal pizza specials and a variety of salads, including the traditional Pepe's Salad (seasonal greens, grape tomatoes, cucumber, shredded red cabbage, Kalamata olives, Pecorino Romano, and balsamic vinaigrette) or Caesar salad.
To accompany Pepe’s delicious variety of pizzas and salads, guests can enjoy Vino Dulce, a vibrant, refreshing Italian Sangria mixed fresh in-house, along with a selection of Italian red and white wines by the bottle, glass, or carafe. The pizzeria also offers an assortment of imported and domestic craft beer as well as non-alcoholic drinks including Foxon Park soda, an East Haven, Connecticut beverage served at all Pepe’s locations since 1925. For a sweet finish, Pepe’s offers authentic Italian desserts, including tiramisu, limoncello mascarpone and gelato.
Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. In addition to dining in as well as outdoor patio space, patrons can carry out by calling 561-431-5601. The restaurant will also offer online ordering in the near future.
In addition to its other South Florida locations, Frank Pepe’s operates in Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. For more information and store locations, visit pepespizza.com.
Additionally, fans of the brand can now sign up for Pepe’s Rewards by downloading the Frank Pepe’s app. New members receive $10 off their first order, available to download on both iOS and Android devices.
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