First Look at Frank Pepe's Pizza (Now Open)

Connecticut-based Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana officially opened its first DMV location at Bethesda’s Westfield Montgomery Mall (7101 Democracy Blvd) on Monday, March 28.

“It may have taken nearly a century for America’s best pizza to arrive in the DMV, but we are thrilled to finally be here.” said Jennifer Kelly, granddaughter of Frank Pepe. “These are our family’s original recipes,” she added. “We even replicated our signature coal-fired, hand-built brick oven using iron castings from the original restaurant.”

Our very own “Mr. MoCo” stopped by on Friday to check things out. We asked him for his thoughts on the pizza and he said “Like every other restaurant, there are going to be people who love it and people who don’t. There will be people who say it’s just as good as the original and others who say it doesn’t compare. There will be people who think it’s overpriced and others who think it’s worth every penny. Some will say it’s overrated and others will say it doesn’t get enough recognition. Just go give it a shot if you’re able to and you’ll be able to come to your own conclusion.”

That doesn’t mean you can just pop in anytime and place your order. “While we were there, carry-out orders took about 45 minutes if you placed them at the mall. We were told that they are running between 45 minutes and 2 hours, and dinner wait times could be just as long, especially on the weekend. I recommend stopping by for lunch if you are interested in dining in.”

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Per Frank Pepe:
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 pizza, which is characterized by its signature crispy yet chewy, slightly charred crust.

Inspired by the look and feel of the original New Haven location, Pepe’s Pizza of Bethesda evokes the original’s comfort, familiarity, and tradition. The 3,500 square-foot, 90-seat restaurant is visually dominated by the view of its 14 x 14-foot, 104,000-pound oven and the even more 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 oven.

In its 97 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 has earned the number one spot on The Daily Meal’s list of Best Pizzas in America nine times.

Pepe’s Specialty Pizzas 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, & Pecorino Romano). In addition, guests can enjoy a traditional “Pepe’s Salad” (seasonal greens, grape tomatoes, cucumber, shredded red cabbage, Kalamata olives, Pecorino Romano, and balsamic vinaigrette) or Caesar Salad, along with a selection of red and white wines by the bottle, glass, or carafe. Non-alcoholic beverages and an assortment of imported and domestic craft beer will also be offered.