New Haven-style pizza doesn’t stop at the city line. On Washington Avenue in North Haven, Grand Apizza North has been turning out charred, chewy pies for more than two decades.
The family-friendly pizzeria at 448 Washington Ave. thanks customers on its website for “over 20 years” of support. It’s a steady presence on a busy stretch of Route 5, the kind of place that works for a quick slice at lunch, a family pizza night or a graduation party in the back room.
A name with history
For many customers, the Grand name carries weight. The original Grand Apizza at 111 Grand Ave. in New Haven’s Fair Haven neighborhood opened in 1955 and closed in January 2024 after 69 years, the New Haven Register reported. Google reviewers still bring up the Grand Avenue shop when they write about the North Haven pizzeria, and one praised the kitchen for doing simple things well, “like the New Haven location.”
The restaurant describes itself as a family-friendly Italian restaurant and pizzeria serving New Haven-style apizza, traditional Italian dishes, calzones, stuffed breads, subs, pasta and salads, made with quality ingredients and a mix of classic and specialty toppings.
The pies
Every pizza starts with one of three bases: red tomato sauce with mozzarella, white mozzarella, or pesto and mozzarella. Gluten-free crust is available for an extra charge. A mozzarella pie is $12.28, a tomato pie with grated cheese is $10.72, and slices are $2.60. A party pizza is $34.
Most specialty pies run $18.51 to $19.42. Charlie’s Pizza is a white pie with grilled chicken, roasted red peppers and garlic. The Grand Spuds brings creamy mashed potatoes and bacon. There’s an Escarole & Bean pie, a Broccoli Rabe & Sausage pie, The Casino with baby clams, onions, peppers and bacon, and a Margherita with fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato and basil, red or white ($18.88).
Beyond pizza
The rest of the menu is pure red-sauce comfort. Hot subs are $11.85 and hard rolls $9.69, from meatball parm to broccoli rabe and sausage. Soups include panecotto, which the menu calls “Grand’s soup version of your favorite casserole,” with escarole, cannellini beans and pepperoni. Pastas and entrées come with bread and a house salad: baked ziti ($17.68), chicken parmigiana ($20.80), Chicken Francaise in a lemon white wine sauce ($20.80), and the house Chicken “Grand,” with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and mushrooms in garlic and white wine ($20.80). Wash it down with a Foxon Park soda ($2.60).
Calzones come plain or filled; the chicken version can be ordered Buffalo, BBQ, parmigiana, cutlet or grilled ($20.80). Starters include bruschetta on homemade bread ($10.40) and broccoli rabe and sausage sautéed with garlic and olive oil and served with homemade focaccia ($11.40). The lasagna ($17.68) is made to order with ricotta, mozzarella and meatball. Home pizza makers can even buy a ball of dough to go for $3.64, or gluten-free dough for $7.28.
Grand Apizza North offers dine-in, takeout, slices and delivery, with ordering through its website and the Slice app. There’s a private dining room for wedding parties, birthdays, graduations and other events, and catering trays, too; a half tray of baked ziti that serves eight to 12 is $55.
What to order
Shrimp Scampi Pizza
Mozzarella, shrimp, fresh herbs and garlic, served white ($18.88). It’s a lighter, garlicky change of pace from a red pie, and a squeeze of lemon doesn’t hurt.
Plain Calzone
Ricotta and mozzarella folded into pizza dough and baked golden, with marinara on the side ($15.60). It’s one of the restaurant’s listed house favorites.
Stuffed bread
Pizza dough rolled around your choice of filling and baked until crisp. A one-topping stuffed bread is $15.60, and versions with chicken, broccoli rabe and sausage, or steak and cheese are $17.68.
Lobster Ravioli
Eight lobster-filled ravioli in a pink cream sauce ($20.80), served with bread and a house salad. It’s a rich pick for the person at the table who doesn’t want pizza.
Why we like it
Grand Apizza North isn’t trying to reinvent anything. It’s a dependable neighborhood pizzeria with a long menu, fair prices and a back room big enough for the whole family. Two decades in, that formula still works.
What diners are saying
“Grand apizza has been a staple location growing up on Fair Haven so when the location on Grand Avenue closed, my heart broke into tiny …”
— TheCorona Patron, Google review
“We’ve been here twice now, both times with friends who come regularly, and I honestly kept thinking… how have I not tried this place sooner?”
— Thomas, Google review
“Grand Apizza, like the New Haven location, does simple things extremely well and with noticeable care. Even the basic chicken grinder I ordered last night — I added pesto — was portioned and prepared with real attention to detail.”
— Phil, Google review
Hours
Grand Apizza North is open 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed Mondays. Call (203) 239-5786 to order or to ask about the private room. Google puts the typical tab at $10 to $20 per person.
Key facts
- Where: 448 Washington Ave., North Haven
- Hours: Tue. 4-9 p.m.; Wed.-Sat. noon-9 p.m.; Sun. noon-8 p.m.; closed Mon.
- Phone: (203) 239-5786
- Price range: $10-$20 per person (Google)
- Extras: Private party room, catering, slices, delivery
- Website: grandapizzanorthct.com
Is Grand Apizza North your top North Haven pie? Tell us, or send a tip about another local business, at northhavencourier.com/contact.
Photos: Matt W. via Google; Evan Reisfeld via Google; Slice via Google; Photos courtesy of Grand Apizza North
