Not much of an update. Just wanted to say that I had pizza here again and I really enjoyed it. It's one of my favorites. It was slightly greasy, but the crust is amazing. The surface was really good. This place has a comfortable ambience. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Just a cheese pizza with peppers and onions. - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Representing a restaurant that started in Connecticut, Frank Pepe Pizzeria. So, there was a lot of buzz on Frank Pepe coming to Maryland at Montgomery Mall. It looked like a cute place with a nice looking store front by the side entrance of the mall across from Cheesecake Factory. The original location started about a century ago in the 1920's. So, it took 'em long enough to open a location in MD...haha. In November 2023, the Pizza Addicts Meetup group was meeting here on a Friday night. I was excited to try a century old place, which is renowned. The group had a reservation, but we were crammed in a booth with a table maybe added as I recall. I remember it also being slow service. When the pizza came out, it was just ok for me. Nothing to write home about. The pizza was overcooked, which was a big negative. My toppings were pretty good, broccoli, black olives, & mushrooms. But overall, I wasn't impressed. I'd like to think the original CT location is better. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Overcooked, kind of average as far as pizza goes for me - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Tried this place a couple of weeks ago out of pure curiosity after learning there are only two in the DMV. We went for the 5 Pie Sampler--Margherita, Amanti Della Carne, Quattro Formaggi, the Veggie Special, and the Chicken & Broccoli--along with a large Pepi's salad. We were beyond pleasantly surprised, especially by the crust. It's different - can't really figure out what it was but kinda of rustic, with a satisfying crunch...something just a little different (I see they are calling "New Haven-style"). They were quite good and the ingredients were very fresh. The Veggie Special was really delicious. It was only the Chicken & Broccoli I didn't enjoy -- was a little dry for me, perhaps because it was a white pizza the chicken needed to carry it. While savoring the meal, it took us all a minute, but then we realized that for as much as we ate, no one (there were four of us) felt bloated or stuffed. That spoke volumes and also encouraged at least one of us to have yet another slice . We didn't finish everything, but that was part of the magic too it seems. The ingredients did their thing, and somehow the slices tasted even better reheated the next day. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

While you're looking for clam pizza, we found this restaurant, it is a chain, serving New Haven style pizza. It is a pretty chill sit down place, the initial service for waiting to be seated, was a bit slow, but after that, the lady who helped us, was very helpful and sweet. I absolutely loved her. It is a bit ghetto to see that the restroom doors had to be propped with a lock code. But I guess that's what Bethesda is. Expect us to be a very casual restaurant, people will bring their friends and family. For two people, a small is perfect, if you have a bigger appetite, a medium sized pizza is fine. The clam pizza was actually pretty good, I enjoyed how crispy the pizza was. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I had dinner with a friend here on a Monday night. Not much of a crowd so no surprise our pizzas were delivered in a timely manner. The pizzas are cooked to a charred crispy crust and was very good. I got the Caprese pizza which had pepperoni, sausage and Calabrian chilies which made it spicy but very good. Ambiance was typical family pizzeria and pleasant read more

I was there august 4 at 6pm My server was absolutely wonderful. She was taking care of the whole section alone and was attentive and pleasant to everyone. I had the clam pizza which was incredible. The server was a young black woman and she is great. All the servers i have had at this location have been great. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - This is how they served it. WTH - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Very attentive staff and the pizza was good! They do use charcoal to give their pizza that unique crispy taste and that comes with a trade off of some parts of the crust being slightly over cooked than the rest of the pizza. We also had the sangria and it did not disappoint. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Quattro Formaggi Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

TLDR: Frank Pepe Pizzeria in Bethesda is a fantastic recreation of the original New Haven location. The interior captures the original Frank's charm and the pizzas have the signature coal charred crunch. This is a must visit if you want true New Haven style pizza without traveling to Connecticut. Frank Pepe Pizzeria in Bethesda does the original New Haven spot justice. Located at the Westfield Montgomery Mall near the food court entrance, the space is styled to mirror the original with tall green retro booths, simple decor, and photos of the New Haven location. The restaurant offers both sit down dining and carry out with easy online ordering. For carry out, there is reserved parking right out front in a separate lot which makes pick up very convenient. On my last visit, we ordered the famous clam white pizza, seasonal fresh tomato cheese pizza, the meatball and ricotta pizza, and the meat lovers. The medium size is perfect for two to three people while the small works well for one to two. Each pizza had the signature coal charred crunch and chewy dough that defines New Haven style. The toppings were generous yet balanced so the slices held together without flopping which is essential . Every pie was excellent and worth the slightly higher price compared to your standard mall pizza. Overall, this is an outstanding option that scratches the New Haven Apizza itch without the drive to Connecticut. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - clam pie - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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I'm glad we ordered delivery from Frank Pepe. We purchased two small pepperoni pizzas and ended up with about four servings. The pizza was delicious. Good flavor with plenty of cheese. It tasted even better when heated in the skillet, so that the crust got crisp. I haven't been inside a Frank Pepe since my last time driving through Connecticut, but I'd love to check out this location in person and try more on the menu. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

First time having this New Haven style of pizza. Love that it's thin and crispy. Flavors were great. We got the Margherita and it had good balance of tomatoes and cheese. We did order a large knowing we'd take leftovers home. We had Mya for our server. Friendly and attentive. Since it was our first time, she did give us a heads up about how the pizza would have some charred edges. We sat on the side that had the exterior wall. Brighter with the windows and could see the window too the kitchen. The fans above did make it a little chilly, but probably welcoming on a hot summer day. Since this location is at the mall, we had to stop at a couple places. Instead of carrying the pizza box around, we asked if they could hold it for us. They were happy to help. Good June 2025, they've got a couple promos. Sign up for the rewards program in the app and get $10 off. Large cheese pizza is $19.25 for their 100th anniversary. They've also got a giveaway with a grand prize of a trip to Tuscany! read more

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Never had a bad experience from this place. Came here with big groups or just take out and the Pizzas are always consistent. Service is always super friendly and helpful. The pies to get is their clam whit pizza and the meat ball ricotta cheese pies. Sign up for their rewards and you get points for discounts and such. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Meatball and ricotta cheese pie - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

A little hard to find in Montgomery Mall. Had the Frank Pepe salad (loved the vinaigrette), White Clam Pizza (delicious), tomato pie with mozzarella, and the amanti della carne (my favorite, forgot to take a picture ). Loved the char on the crust (not overpowering or bitter). Was surprisingly not too crowded on a Sunday afternoon. read more

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First time trying New Haven pizza. Full disclosure: I grew up outside of New York City, enjoy the thin crust, cheese and flop of a good New York slice. But here's the thing. This is really good pizza. We got the tomato pie with mozzarella. Yes, it's different from what I'm used to in that it is cooked in a coal fire oven, is charred and the crust is a bit thicker than I usually see (but still thin), but the tomato sauce and cheese were in the right proportions and the pizza has a nice chew. I'll be coming back to try different pizzas here, including the original tomato pie (no mozzarella), which I believe is the recipe that Pepe came up with 100 years ago (before availability of refrigeration for cheeses) and seemed popular during our visit today. Oh, we also got a large Pepe's salad which was freshly prepared (I saw them making it in the kitchen), including putting the fixin's in a large container and hand mixing the dressing into the salad. The salad was fresh, and the dressing really tasty. I recommend the salad. The atmosphere here is comfortable, looks like a pizzeria. Well lit. When you order a pizza, they place it next to the table on a foldable luggage rack so you can serve yourself from there and not overwhelm the table. The Staff there were friendly, hard working and efficient today. read more

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This is the real deal New Haven pizza right here in the DMV. Real sugar sodas no high fructose. The original clam please don't take it home u gotta eat it fresh! Dopio pepperoni is insane and don't skip tiramisu. Most pizza holds up great to take out just not the clam. Never had bacon and onion? This is the place you will not be disappointed. It's a spiritual experience. One bite pizza review top 1 %! read more

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It's solid good coal fired crispy pizza, if you like thin pizza you'll like this place otherwise maybe save your time. Location is not bad in the mall, plenty of parking. The service here was fast and friendly. The food was ok, nothing amazing but solid food for the price. The lunch special (12-4pm) for $15 is the deal to get. You get a soda, small salad, and a small 1 topping pizza. Pizza is thin and crispy with the coal fired flavor. An overall solid place but perhaps the hype is a bit generous lol. It's good pizza but not waiting in a line for kind of pizza lol. read more

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Frank Pepe is a New Haven experience (I walked by the original but did not visit due to the crowds), but their expansion is welcome from my perspective. This Bethesda mall seems like the sort of location that someone who wasn't familiar with DC would land, but to their credit, they've decorated it nicely and it was busy for lunch. I got takeout, which was ready in short order, and I tried a quattro formaggi. It was good, and I got peppers and mushrooms in part because they are a delicious combination and in part because it got me to the price that I needed to get a discount on my order. Still, the extra cheeses were not necessary and I think the basic pizza is impressive enough, from when I've had it elsewhere. I wish they'd offer some different salads as I'm not a fan of the selection they have, but for those who haven't tried the New Haven style pizza, it's a sort of best of both worlds of American and Italian styles, and Pepe's is expanding because it's a good pizza. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Quattro formaggi with cherry peppers and mushrooms - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

We are here for the first time because we had to wait for an Apple Store appointment that was 2 hours away. We were promptly seated and looked over the menus. I was initially concerned about the prices compared to the sizes of their pizzas but we took a chance on getting two small pizzas and were not disappointed. It was plenty. The crust is thin with a burn around the edges. Very tough to cut but amazing to eat. We loved the crispy crust. We also had a salad which was good. I'd eat here again. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Small mushroom pizza. Just enough pizza and the crust was SO crispy. Loved it. - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Best pizza anywhere. As good as the original location . Do people have an issue with the charred, crispy crust? The staff frequently start by notifying customers about this style of pizza. I'm sure that you can ask them to bake the pies for less time. Otherwise, the ingredients and flavor are top notch. The Pepe's Italian Salad is great, but it should automatically come with croutons, like the Caesar Salad. I still can't believe how underrated this place is on Yelp. read more

Absolutely delicious fresh pizza, refreshing drinks and wonderful service! This location has truly exceeded my expectations in every aspect. I also couldn't believe that this family business has been going for 100 years now! Truly amazing and will be coming back again. For new customers, sign up for the rewards to get $10 off your order during your first visit! read more

Food was tasty. We got the Margherita Pizza that has fresh crushed tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella. Thin crust pizza, that lends to crispiness in every bite. Charred crust as you can see from the picture. Service was fast and prompt, served was hospitable and even endorsed they're 10 off perk going on with downloading the App. Ambiance is nice, clean, and reminds me of a rustic yet modern pizzeria. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Woodfire Ovens/Kitchen Area - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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This is a 3.9 star review. Accepts cash and credit card. Located inside Westfield Montgomery mall. Right across from Cheesecake Factory. Tons of free parking. We came here to try their pizzas. With limited time, we ordered their medium size margarita pizza. The pizza came out in a huge pan and the pizza was fresh. Sauce was good (not too sweet). Wished there was a bit more cheese. Tasted pretty good. Prices are a bit on the high side, but the quality of the pizza is good. Staff here are hit or miss. Some are more friendlier than others. However, the food here is decent. If you are around the mall, definitely give this place a try. read more

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Our server was very nice and attentive. It was our first time to Frank Pepe and will definitely go back. My wife and I got a medium pizza to share and we honestly would've been fine with a small pizza because these pizzas are HUGE. You can taste the quality and freshness of the ingredients. It was quiet and relaxing during our meal. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Amanti Della Carne - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I wanted to thank the staff today (12/6/25) for being very calm and understanding of a bad situation. My 4 y/o drank his milk too fast and vomited it all over your floor while my wife was trying to get him to the restroom. In the very brief window between letting the staff know and cleanup, a man stepped in the mess. He made a scene and left, but then came back to give more grief to the staff who were trying to clean up. I got upset, and tried to intervene - I tried to explain my kid had gotten sick just a minute before, and they were trying to clean up. I'm sure I came in a little hot, but then he got in my face and yelled "who the *expletive* was talking to you, *slur?*" From there it escalated. I couldn't let the homophobia stand on top of the way he was acting, and so I lost my cool too. We got into a shouting match that spilled into the mall. Staff at the restaurant was extremely understanding, and calmly let my wife know what had happened when she came out of the restroom with our son. The food and service was also great up to that point. I know the scene got ugly and I wanted to apologize for my part in that and applaud the staff for being professional and kind in a difficult situation. It was the way the other patron was treating *them* that got me fired up in the first place, and I started from a place of trying to take the heat off, but it got away from me and I'm sure I looked like the jerk from certain POVs. I was wrong too after a certain point and should have let it go. We also had a spectacular meal prior to the scene, so well done all around. I couldn't think of another way to make amends than to leave a public review. read more

I haven't been to the OG Frank's in New Haven so I can't compare to the original, and I k ow they are famous for their clam pie. However, my test is plain cheese pizza. It was delicious! read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Original Tomatoe Pie with mozz; was phenomenal! Love the sauce, the cheese and the crunch! - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

We've been to the original Frank Pepe's in New Haven, CT several times. The atmosphere at the mall isn't the same, but there's also no wait. The pizza was excellent and baked the same as the original. It's a bit more expensive than many pizza places, but so much better. We're glad we don't have to wait to head to New England to get this pizza, but can stay in Maryland instead. read more

Had a large gathering here on a Saturday evening and they really took good care of us. We had a whole section to ourselves and ordered several pizzas to share amongst 5-6 tables. They put all the pizzas in the middle and we attacked them like vultures. It's been a few years since I've been here, and all the pizzas were great. We had several different ones like clam, pepperoni, meatball ricotta, the special, etc and no complaints at all. Pizzas came out pretty fast and they were able to handle separate checks easily. Would definitely return again. read more

Big restaurant inside of Montgomery Mall. The insides seemed like a classic pizza shop, with very little decoration, but a bit darker inside. It seems quite busy throughout the day, adding to the family feel. We weren't seated immediately, which is fine, it was busy. The hostess and servers were nice, but it did take some time to get water or take our order. I would say overall the pizzas were tasty and had a unique flavor, especially the white clam pizza. I feel as if the portions are quite large, but the price still seemed too much. The flavors didn't really boom, but overall still delicious. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Meatball and Ricotta (left), White Clam Pizza (right) - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

1.14.24 My hubby and I came in for lunch today and arrived when they opened. We ordered a Medium Pepperoni pizza. It was served on a tray stand. It was piping hot and oh so delicious! I asked the hubby to rate it among our frequent pizza joints and he placed it as #2 in his top three favorites. He said if we lived closer we would frequent this establishment. They have a Rewards Program, which would have been an incentive for us to come regularly. The New Haven location was #17 of 28 on Food and Wine's Best Pizza Places in the U.S. https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/best-pizza-places-us (Updated June 2, 2023) They have an exterior front, but to enter the restaurant, you must go through the mall entrance. It is closest to Macy's Home. They have indoor patio seating (out front inside the mall). I would have preferred that the window at the booth where we sat were lower so that we could look outside. It would be helpful if you were waiting for someone. There are two restrooms that require a passcode: 1925, which is the year they were established. We are definitely fans and will return if we are in the area. read more

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Did something change? Last experience was awful. I've eaten many times at the Pepe's and this last time the crust was awful. It was chewing cardboard. The salad was skimpy and the dressing had little flavor. Please tell me it was an off night? I grew up in Connecticut & had been impressed that they were able to be almost as good as original. This was sad. read more

Today I was in the area so I am tempted just gotta call Frank Pepe - last year I was going to order the tomato pie but it was off season. I'm glad I finally get to order the tomato original pie aka pizza. And I took it home anxiously to sink my teeth into it so I did. And I was like ahhh awwwww gosh I so needed that New Haven Connecticut - it was like soooooo goooood - now this is my new favorite pizza Frank Pepe in Bethesda Md across from Cheesecake Factory. Sorry I wish I had picture of it I just realize I wanna to send this review after the fact that I ate it all. Here's what happen after I picked up my pizza lol oooo the first thing when I walked in to my home was that dang pizza - I was anxiously wanna to sink my teeth and tear into that original tomato pie that Mr Frank Pepe invented back in 1925 with his designed coal pizza oven. In short one slice and then another and another- before I know it it was all gone lol All I could say it was good I waited for the next time and now is the time good as any. I finally got a chance to try that original tomato pie as they called it. It may not look fancy but don't let that look fool you coz it tasted suprisingly really good to my amazed - I was amazed. In my opinion. Sorry I texted this right after I finished it all. lol. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - White shrimp pizza - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

First time trying after thinking about it for months. We were not disappointed. We were greeted right away on a quiet Tuesday evening and could pick whatever booth we wanted. Shortly after sitting and receiving the menus, our waitress came by, nicely introduced herself, asked if we had dined with them before and when we said this was our first time, she genuinely offered us a great welcome and informed us about the cooking process of the pizza in the brick oven and how that will leave some char on the bottom. We were fine with that, and honestly when we were served, it wasn't that much. She pointed out that the ovens were visible behind us if we wanted to see or watch the pizzas being made. We ordered the large Chicken and Broccoli as we wanted to have leftovers for next night's dinner and this was a great choice since the pies are pricey, BUT as we soon discovered they're made with quality ingredients without skimping on toppings. As Celine told us, their pizza is made with love and I believe so as it was DELICIOUS! The restaurant is small size with 2 sides to the dining room and take out seems to be easy if you chose to do so. Dining room is clean with mainly booth seating for 4 or larger groups and very comfortable. This location is set in the mall so there's tables out in the mall as well. Our waitress, Celine was very attentive and sweet personality. Before we paid the bill she did let us know that if we signed up for their rewards program, we'd receive $10 off our bill. Sure! That was nice of her to suggest. No service charges and a pizza that we REALLY enjoyed and price was definitely worth it. read more

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Come for the pizza and stay for the dessert! Frank Pepe has a seasonal menu so check that out as well. Tip: I'd recommend calling to order rather than ordering online because ordering online may show a later possible pick up time than someone would want. When I ordered online, the earliest pick up time I was given was two hours later than when I arrived... I didn't know I should have called (just thought they l were super busy on a weeknight around dinner time). This was for a to go order and the pizza took longer than anticipated to come out, about 20 minutes after the pick up time... the person working the front was apologetic, so that was kind. The food sure was delicious. I loved the crust on the pie as well as the cheese and sauce. The pizza didn't get too soggy during the ride home. The tiramisu and limoncello were creamy and decadent! I was glad to have indulged in getting both of the desserts and I'd love to go back. read more

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Ate here yesterday for the first time with my family. The service was great, restaurant was clean and the pizza was delicious. The 3 of us ordered a family size pizza with half shrimp, and half chicken and we just about ate it all. Glad we decided to try it out after a full day of shopping. read more

I'll just jump right into it and say that I was EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED with the pizza overall when I had such high hopes given that I have heard so much about this being Connecticut's BEST pizza and I left scratching my head going HOW??? I am a genuine pizza lover and pizza snob having grown up in north Jersey and NYC and I've had all types of pizzas including Napoletana and there are of course so many better Napoletana pizzerias up north and even in the DMV that I just don't get it. I will give them points for the tomato base being fresh and simple which in the world of pizza is wildly important, but beyond that .... SIGH! The white clam pizza was so dry and the crust overall was tough and overly charred. My server was amazing though so this review has nothing to do with her at all. Oh and the ambiance is very casual where you seat yourself and they already have menus waiting on the tables for you to make ordering simple and it's extremely clean and open inside. I can at least check off the box that I've tried this "famous" pizza but I am fairly certain I will never be back. read more

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Absolutely amazing pizza! We will definitely be back soon! The Tomato pie was perfect! read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Tomato Pie - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

The Friendly staff greeted us and sat us at a nice clean table - all the clean tables have menus and the ones without need to be bussed. It's a mall pizza place across from Cheesecake Factory and it was doing better than their culinary neighbor. The pizza was hot and crispy and of course tasty. I like this place and it's simple and good pizza! Great place to stop in after shopping and a great way to get away from the food court that is crowded and loud! Great job guys! read more

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The staff is always nice and attentive. The pizza is definitely one of the best in area, it still isn't quite New Haven good but most Pizza here is terrible so this is a step up. It's down a quiet hall in the mall, not the most ideal location but not the worst. At least it's kind of quiet unless it's Friday and Jumping. They have a Mon-Thurs Date Night Special, a medium 2 topping Pie, a large salad, a bottle of wine, and dessert for $45. We didn't do it because whoa that's a lot of food and we don't drink wine. The shrimp white pizza was really good but maybe a little too garlicky. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Shrimp White Pizza Medium Size - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Fabulous pizza at Frank Pepe. Ordered one (very!) large pizza to feed three of us. Chose half cheese and half cheese with chicken. So good! So large! Great service by Lena. Large sized dining areas. Lots of families as well as adults-no kids. Great place. read more

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - Large pizza - half cheese, half cheese with chicken. Delicious! - Pizza Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This place is located inside Montgomery mall but because it is in a corner removed from then craziness it's actually quiet and cozy inside, even on Black Friday, which was really lovely. Be patient here, because good things take time and their pizza is definitely a GOOD thing. Crispy crust, excellent cheese pull. Good topping to pizza ratio. Flavorful sauce. No complaints from us we would definitely come back! read more

Got the spinach mushroom and amanti pizza to go and we enjoyed both. Pizza was nice and hot when I picked it up. The box was a bit flimsy and soggy by the time I got home but I made it! If I'm at the mall, I'll try the sit down experience next time. read more

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