Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana

Alright, here it is… let’s start with the most important part…the crust. It’s impressively thin, with just the right amount of chew. Every bite gives a satisfying bit of resistance before yielding to those toasted, yeasty notes that only a hot coal-fired oven can deliver. Light and airy, the crust is studded with bubble pockets and kissed with char that adds both flavor and texture. The balance between crust, cheese, and sauce is spot-on. The sauce itself is delicate and restrained, it presents pure tomato flavor with subtle undertones of oregano and garlic. No heavy sweetness here, which earns big points in my book. That simplicity shines especially on the Original Tomato Pie, which keeps things minimal with just crust, sauce, and a dusting of Pecorino Romano. But the 🍕 is where things level up. It builds on the original with creamy mozzarella and a generous layer of thick-cut pepperoni cups, their edges perfectly curled and crisped by the coal fire. The result is smoky, savory, and utterly satisfying, especially with an ice-cold beer and the game on. The real test, though, will be later tonight (or maybe breakfast tomorrow): does a cold slice still call my name from the fridge? My guess? Absolutely. Final score: 8.4/10

First time trying New Haven pizza. Really liked the white clam pizza. Never had anything quite like it before. The margherita pizza was good as well but to me it didn't stand out as much as the clam one.

True to the original in New Haven. They are meticulous in recreating the setting, and more importantly the pizza! Crust has the typical "char", but they ask if you would rather have a pie without it. In the summer get the Fresh Tomato pie, add pepperoni for a real treat. Service is fast, without being abrupt. They clearly want to take care of you. This is in a mall, but also has an external entrance. It is not in the food court. Pro tip: they get busy a little before closing time for the mall, so plan your visit accordingly.

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.

If you haven't tried Connecticut style pizza definitely give Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana a try. The thin crust is delightful and if you have a toddler & are lucky enough to get a kitchen window side booth, you may be able to position them to watch the team make the pizza. My toddler loves that & the team there was very kind often waving to him while he watched them work.

We saw this pizza place on a pizza show and we went today. They immediately asked us if it was our first time, and gave us a 10 dollar off our first visit. Our waitress Mya could not have been nicer or more informative about the menu. Most delicious Gorgonzola pizza ever. And we got a ricotta n meatball that was to die for. Bathrooms were so fancy n clean. So terrific food, terrific price, service and ambiance. Best pizza place I’ve ever been to. Truely. We lived it! My Sangria was so good too!

4May2024 I’ve eaten at the original Frank Pepe’s in New Haven, Connecticut(the building in the back)several times during my 8 yrs of living in Connecticut. The pizza there was so delicious just like the one in the Montgomery mall. The atmosphere here is wonderful and friendly. Loved every moment in this location. The customer service was great as well as the food. I’ll be back again. 12June2024 I’m back after being outta town for 10 days. Ce Ce was so wonderful and patient at 11:30a.m. with my person and I deciding what we wanted on our pizza. The Date Night(pizza with 2 toppings, bottle of delicious wine, a nice size salad for two, and a delectable dessert)offer was great and delicious for the day. The pizza was(a bit) burnt than usual and was good. Another good experience at Frank Pepe. Thank you pizza makers and our server Ce Ce.

We came here with some friends who went to the original location in New Haven, CT. They were thrilled to see this one open at the Montgomery Mall near their home. For my wife and I, we just wanted good, old fashioned American pizza with many toppings since we live in Germany. We get great pizza there, but the pepperoni is clearly different and toppings are limited. The service here was good, but nothing special. The pizza was very tasty and had plenty of toppings on the Special with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. The glass of wine was a let down, especially for the price. All in all, a hearty lunch with pizza to take home for another meal.

This pizza place has become our go-to. The 'tomato pie' is generous and tasty - the shrimp pizza is a real surprise delight - gotta love garlic! Staff uniformly friendly and accommodating and it's a comfortable place to eat.

(3.85) ~ good overall food & service DRINKS: ** White Birch Beer = (4) very good ** Water (tap) = (4) very good, must be filtered;) FOOD: ** Italian Lemon Cake = (4.25) Very good ** Small Caesar Salad = (4) very good * Original Tomato Pie = (3.75) Good * Clam Garlic w. extra & cooked lite = (3.25) pretty good, but not great... *** Chicken Diablo (add broccoli) = Next time...

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.

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.

Are here for the first time instead of takeout. Was so surprised in terms of quality difference. Also, excellent service and price.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Pizza for the pizza lover Have you eaten this unique gourmet pizza? It's perfect for a savory lunch or dinner. They offer the range from basic fresh ingredients to fancier offerings. The price is more than your average "factory" made pizza but if you are a pizza lover who enjoys the taste finer things, this is the best pizza for you. Growing up in New York, I consider myself a pizza snob and this pizza definitely passed muster. The crust was amazing, the sauce was really delicious and the ingredients made my taste buds pop with delight. Service was good and the pizza arrived on time. I can't speak of the ambiance, it looks really nice from the outside. I've only ever had this pizza elsewhere, to go. If you are looking for a good and different pizza experience, this is the pizza for you.

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.

I looooved the pizza here! We got the classic tomato pie with mozzarella and marcher it's and OMG I'm trying to plan my next visit! This place is sooo good the ovens are hot hot hot and give the nepoletana pizza the gorgeous crust you look for. Can't wait, super delicious, and you get $10 off your first visit when you sign up for rewards!

I love their pizza but I've only done take-out here. My favorite is the pepperoni and hot cherry peppers which is excellent. It is a bit tangy which adds flavor. Their crust is perfection! There's just enough of it and it is chewy and tastes a bit buttery. It's delicious! The small size is plenty for two people. Each person gets four slices each. I can't speak to the ambiance or service since I haven't eaten in, but it is super popular and always busy evenings and weekends.

//5 stars for redemption and food quality //-1 quality contrast from representation Redemption is the American culture that Frank's Pepe has achieved. Customer service: Super improvement. Alex was our waiter and was very professional and patient. Although the person who brought our pizza was a different person (kinda quite lost on where to set the pizza) he did not put it in an another table. A much improved service. Alex gets a kudos. Appetizer: I've had the Pepe salad last time but I do not remember it being this amazingly seasoned and fresh. The crunchy veggies contrasting with flavorful grape tomatoes and the appropriately dressed lettuce made the whole dish a bowl cleaning appetizer. Great job. The pizza: The Special pizza was of course special. From it's cheesy pull and the curst being baked just right to hold the toppings, it's the New Haven pizza I've had several times before. The cured meats were not overwhelmingly salty and the cheese was not too fatty that you would need a gallon of water after. Rather, they had a balance of flavor that you can eat and eat more slices. I'm happy with the result. One minor negative - the leoparding on the crust was maybe a few seconds over as it had more charred outer crust than I am used to. I understand it adds flavor but it was more on the burnt side on one section. Overall: I've had a change of heart - I never imagined customer service can affect the whole restaurant experience. I will be back for sure.

Good. I enjoyed their pizza more when eating in the restaurant as opposed to takeout or delivery.

Food was definitely fresher and better than pizza chains. The service was efficient and courteous, the atmosphere was casual. The prices were reasonable. We ordered half MARCHERITA and half WHITE CLAM PIZZA; we also ordered tiramisu for dessert. Both were good.

Without a doubt one of the best pizzas in the DMV. Like all pizzas better eaten there than takeout.

CeCe rocks! Food was great! Amazing pizza! Service was fast and friendly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely the best pepperoni pizza outside of New York City that I have ever had, it was delicious!

This place charges for toppings individually and as a result, the bill could get really high quickly. Decided to check the place out based on the reviews however was disappointed. The pizza was soggy and the sauce tasted like it was watered down. Felt like it should have been baked a little bit more to get a crispy crust. To be fair, it was also a 20 minute drive back home for me so the pizza may taste better if you dine in. I'm on the fence of whether to come back and try another pizza. They also don't offer slices which is a shame.

Frank Pepe's is the best pizza I've ever had and it's not even close. The ONLY thing you need to know is order the Tomato Pie, that is it. I don't even like tomato pie like that, but theirs is on ANOTHER LEVEL/PLANET/GALAXY. It is insane how tasty it is for just tomatoes. Throw some parm on it and damn man. These picky people on yelp are steering you wrong.

We were visiting the carnival and decided to take a break and crab a bite to eat. We entered and thought it must be good the tables were pretty filled with/ ppl. NOT!!! The pizza was soooo bland nooo flavor at all. Cheese had NO taste sauce had not flavor at all. I under stand the crust was a little chard from the way it's cooked. But even the crust was bland. Texture was like cardboard w/ a burnt after taste. We did have a side salad which I enjoy and the coke sodas were strong. But it's a definite NOOOO for the Pizza. I'm so tired of spending money for food that's truly belongs in the garbage can that has no quality at all. It's just not right.

We used to love the original Pepe's when we lived near it, so were really looking forward to eating at the Bethesda location while visiting Washington DC. We ordered a half and half, with Doppio Pepperoni on one half, and the Seasonal Special (sausage, fresh sauteed mushrooms, carmelized onions & olive oil...) for the other half. It was good and we really liked it. As good as the original Pepe's, no, but how can any location compete with the amazing oven in New Haven? But if we lived nearby, we'd definitely go again.

We were here for my friend's 50th birthday party. This was my first time at a Pepe's Pizza, but it won't be my last. WE were all surprised at the size of the medium pizzas, so sharing happened very quickly. We loved everything that we tried, the crust was just the right amount of crispy. And the service was awesome!

Ordered for pickup and got this - completely burnt and inedible. A bit of burn on the pie is acceptable, but black pepperoni is not. Usually the pizza is delicious, but a burnt pizza for pickup is not acceptable.

This is my favorite kind of pizza. I'm so glad we have another local option to flock to when I get a craving. Once you take a bite, you would not believe that this place is an East Coast chain (originating from New Haven, CT). Since it was my first time trying Frank Pepe's, I wanted to try something simple where I can taste the foundation of the pizza. I ordered one of their Specialty Pies: the Fresh Tomato Pie(S). My fiancé ordered The Special(S), which was also on of their Specialty Pies. In addition, we ordered a small Caesar salad to share while we waited. The small caesar salad was definitely enough to share if you plan on getting pizza too. It was a classic, chopped romaine tossed with more tangy than creamy caesar dressing, grated cheese, and a few of croutons. Can't go wrong. The Fresh Tomato Pie was what I was looking for: fresh & juicy tomatoes, aromatic garlic & basil on a good layering of mozzarella and pizza sauce. I tasted the quality of every ingredient! The crust was thin and crispy on the bottom, bubbles formed on the edges. The Special had the same base crust, sauce, and mozzarella but the toppings were crushed tomatoes, bacon, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions. Although this was good, it was a little busy for me. I don't like a pizza with too many meats. I would have also asked for the bacon to get a little more crispy. My fiancé loved the pizza he chose. He is a big fan of a good combination pizza with the works! You might be the same. We each had 2-3 slices and were stuffed, even though we got smalls. So we asked for boxes to take the leftovers home. We popped them into the air fryer over the next few days and they tasted just as good! The bacon was as crispy as I wanted it after reheating. It was kind of empty at the time we arrived so some of the staff were just floating around when we arrived but our server was great! He was friendly and attentive. I noticed that he also did a lap around to check on all his tables every time someone asked for something. That's smart! No wonder they've been around for almost 100 years now! The restaurant is located right inside Montgomery Mall across from the Cheesecake Factory. Get some shopping done, or not, then scarf down some of this Napoli style pizza! I know I'm going back to try the clam pizza.

Just tried this place out a while ago and was very pleasantly surprised. The location in the mall that it is in has had a lot of failed businesses so I didn't expect too much. The Connecticut style pizza was unique and was really tasty!! The waiter we had, who was most likely a high schooler, was actually really personable so big plus for that service. The ambience is made to harken back to when Frank Pepe first started and I think it works well for them. One of the best food places in the mall!!

3.75 stars for the pizza and 5 stars for great service by our server DJ. Like seriously, if you dine in, ask for him. I was lucky to get a booth seat and no waiting after a busy and hot Sunday. Bummer that there fountain drinks weren't working because they had no carbon, but their root beer is good. As for as pizza, they are a Napoletan, so no fancy toppings here. No pineapples are offered here. No extensive menu. This is like pizza only type of joint. I heard so many good things about Frank's, but didn't really read the reviews, maybe I should have. I got Margherita pizza medium size. Mistake number one. It was a long wait because our first pizza came out burnt and our server said they had to redo it. See I like when they own it, and remake it, saving me a headache. Our server told us how long and apologized for the wait. I was cool. Cuz no one likes a charred pizza. When I got my pie, I was starving. I was disappointed that the cheese wasn't evenly distributed. It had too much sauce, to the point where it got messy. I did mentioned this to our server, however I couldn't bare to wait for a redo. The pizza was good. I mean you can tell they use high quality ingredients. The sauce. Looks like all natural diced tomatoes, and definitely no Domino's or Papa John's quality. The cheese and basil, delicious. However it was very minimal. The crust delicious, especially the lil bit of char that was on my crust. A lil char is good. I hope they can fix this flaw on the pizza, because enjoying a pizza shouldn't be messy. I agree with another Yelper and this pizza is best enjoyed if it's ordered small. They carry tiramisu, but no cannolis :( (( why)) ?!! They told us it's not made in house, but maybe on another visit I'll try.

Bursting with flavor!!! I haven't had a pizza this good, that I can remember!!! And.... I am not a "pizza lover"! But the Pepe pizza is causing me to change my mind. I've tried two of the pizzas and loved both. I am looking forward to trying some of the others!!!! By-the-way.... "the pitcher of sangria was the finishing touch!". Our server "CeCe" was outstanding!!! She was attentive and made sure that our pizza was what we wanted and expected. She explained and made recommendations on the menu selections. She had a wonderful attitude and was very professional in the way that she serviced us. Hope that we can get again as our server when we go back. The ambience was very personable, and the seating by the window was pleasant. I'm looking forward to my next visit!!!

CeCe had a great attitude and gave us great service! Pizza was great too! Will be back!

Our server CeCe was outstanding!!! The pizza and the salad were great. Thank you Cece!

Tasty Pizza/Delicious Tiramisu! This Pizzeria recently opened @Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. I ordered Delivery via UberEats last night. Ordered a large "Sausage/Mozzarella Cheese Pizza" & Tiramisu for Desserts. Delivery about 1 hour. The pizza arrived warm. In a flimsy white box-I say this because if it had been a thicker cardboard box, (like other local pizzerias) said Pizza may have arrived warmer. The crust was not crisp but, had a good chew. Why 4 Stars... Generously Sized-Large Pizza. The fresh ingredients: creamy rich mozzarella cheese, Flavorful Italian sausage & chewy crust. Also the toppings did not fall off while eating the pizza. The Tiramisu: Delicious-Highlight of the meal. Generous portion. Rich creamy texture, smooth flavorful mascarpone cheese & strong coffee flavor w/boozy kick. Next time I'll dine in the restaurant for hot pizza. See Photos!

Loved it. Best pizza in a long time. Very authentic Italian. The service was fabulous. Prompt and friendly. Pitcher of beer for USD 16. We will be back for sure!

Get here early to avoid the long wait! I was amazed they were opening at the old Bobby's Burger location, thinking how many people can fit inside the place. Wouldn't the old Crave location be better, as it was a huge space. So yeah, this is a rather small location. There are maybe 20 tables if I counted correctly. Been here couple times and arrived around 5:30 or so and no wait. We really enjoy their pizzas here. You can order the pizza and ask for half and half like my picture. We did a large half white clam and half cheese and was just right. Nice char and very thin crust. We also had a salad that was quite tasty. The Peroni draft beer in a chilled glass was spot on. Large easily feeds 3 people. The menu isn't much - it's just pizza and salad. Desserts I believe was gelato ice cream. Very glad it finally opened here in the DMV. It's my wife's new favorite pizza place in MoCo.

This pizza is so good. We got the salad, tomato pizza, clam pizza and cheese pizza. It was hard not to eat it all in one sitting. The staff is great and the place is very clean. The smalls are not small, they are the size of a dominos medium.

I lived in Connecticut for many years and have had the original Frank Pepe's in New Haven multiple times. The unique thing about Frank Pepe's is the coal fired oven giving the pies a charred edge. When I found out they opened a new location in my neighborhood, of course I had to try. Particularly because I saw a Washington Post article which detailed how they built the coal oven. I was skeptical though because they opened in the mall and thus would encounter heavy traffic. Unfortunately, this location does not know how to properly cook the pies. The edges of our Margherita pizza were NOT charred and the dough was undercooked. So either the people making the pies do not know how to make the pizzas yet or the coal oven was not hot enough perhaps because of high traffic. More importantly, why doesn't this restaurant have quality control in place? The manager should inspect every pie. See attached photos. You can clearly see the lack of air pockets in the crust and lack of charred edge in the attached photo compared to the photo taken by the Washington Post article. Note that I took a survey around the restaurant and all the pies were improperly cooked. I would love to go back if they can fix this MAJOR problem.

I was very excited to hear that a Frank Pepe was opening in the DMV. I had tried their pizza in New England a little while ago and thought it was fantastic so I had to try this new location! Located in Montgomery Mall, this location gets super busy especially on the weekend so I recommend coming for an early dinner rather than 7 or 8 PM. We got here at 6 PM and were seated almost immediately but by 7 PM the line was almost 45 min-1hr long. The staff were friendly and offered great pizza recommendations. We ordered one small Margherita pizza and found out you can split a pizza half and half, so we ordered half Spinach Mushroom & Gorgonzola and half The Veggie Special for the second pizza. The Margherita was a classic but my personal favorite was the Spinach Mushroom & Gorgonzola. The creaminess of the cheese complemented the spinach and mushroom nicely. The Veggie Special is definitely the most bang for your buck though!

I was quite excited about this place when my pizza connoisseur friend raved about them, however I'd have to say I was quite disappointed. When we went to order our pizza, the gentleman working there was quite rude and uninterested. We told him our order multiple times due to the fact he kept talking to others while trying to take our order. After we paid, there were no instructions on when our pizza would be ready or if we would be notified. Instantly regret spending money here. So I thought the pizzas would redeem themself for their abysmal service but again disappointment. We ordered the white clam (apparently it's what they're known for) and the Frank's original. The white clam had okay flavor but the crust was tough and had clam shells on it! While the Frank's original had the same type of crust but probably needed some cheese. The reason why I didn't give this place a 1 star review was because it might be because it was take out and food is always better there. All in all I would not recommend this spot to others.

Very accommodating to vegans! Great service always! Pizza is always fresh, and they follow special instructions well!!

The DMV doesn't have too many Connecticut style pizzas, so I was very curious to try out the famous clam pizza. We ordered a medium clam pizza and a small margherita pizza. Clam Pizza (2/5): they definitely don't skimp on the clam here! Unfortunately, the flavor was way too seafood-y for me to enjoy and had an overbearing garlic flavor. The seasoning was also strangely distributed and pizza cut weirdly which made it odd to share (some were rectangular cuts and some were triangle? Is this QC issues orrrr on purpose?) Also- not all the clams were cleaned properly, which led to a gritty texture when chewing that's not ideal Margherita (3/5): love the fresh tomato flavor! Unfortunately the crust was significantly burned on several pieces which left me feeling like i was just biting charcoal. The mozzarella was also not well distributed. Service was really friendly, but the pizza was really a 2-3 stars. Not super outstanding and a bit overpriced. Would maybe come back but would get just the tomato pie next time

Came with a large group. This pizza place isn't in the food court of Montgomery Mall, but on the outskirts next to Cheesecake Factory. This place started in New Haven since 1925 and has made its way to us. Very nice servers and delicious smelling ovens! They have three different sized pizzas from a small (individual pizza), medium and large (share!!). They are thin crusted as Neapolitan style. They are known for the white clam pizza which came out smelling and tasting like a garlicky clam linguine but on a pizza. I was hesitant at first but pleasantly surprised, it worked and tasted great! I enjoyed all the pizzas we had that I couldn't narrow down a favorite! The classic pizza with just mozzarella and cheese was so tasty and saucy, so if you like sauce on your pie, I'd go with that and add toppings if you don't want plain! Margherita pizzas are always a Neapolitan plus to have! I really enjoyed the ricotta and meatball combo and my go to of meat lovers did not disappoint!

I tried so hard to love this place, but I just can't. Had a stellar first experience here. Pizza was great. Crisp but tender crust with the right about of chew, extensive charring but not burnt, cheese and toppings on point... as good as any number of slices I've had in NYC or New Haven. I was ecstatic to have this place near by. But in my subsequent four orders here (3 takeout, one last dine-in chance), it was a huge letdown. Wildly variable. One order, the thickness of the crust was totally inconsistent, so half of the pie was doughy, and the other half was cracker-like. Another order, the crust was hard and chewy, like leather or jerky. Not burnt, just had the texture of a dog chew. Another order, the cheese and pepperoni were blasted to oblivion, the cheese wasn't melted, it was burnt and dry. The pepperoni didn't fare much better. I've given up entirely on this branch. Maybe I'll try again in a year to see if they've figured things out.

This place lived up to three hype. Best pizza I have had in this area for a very long time. The combination of the ingredients were delicious and preparation was perfection. The crisp and the charred spots from their oven was what I expected and it adds, not only to taste of the pizza , but the style it was intended to be.

Absolutely excellent pizza, coupled with excellent service and the hometown pizza place ambiance.

Very average pizza... it could be a location thing... rather than the actual chain. Bonus star for our waiter... I do not recall his name - but he recommended that I get both desserts and I did not regret it.

Best in tbe DMV. I am a pizza freak and there is nothing better locally. It's not the same as their Conn. location it's pretty close.

Overall solid very solid pizza no complaints on that, when I arrived at the restaurant I didn't know who to communicate with to be seated but eventually was seated. I'm also a big sauce person and not having ranch or buffalo sauce was not the best but the food itself was very tasty, also loved how they had an option for Powerade as a fountain drink!

We had dinner at Frank Pepe last night - my first time here in Maryland. The pizza was soooo good! Thin, crispy crust, good tomato sauce, and just enough cheese. Delicious. I joined their rewards club and got $10 off our check, right on the spot. We will definitely return!

Let me begin by stating that I'm not a fan of pizza made in the US. Pies fluctuate from a minimalist approach (paper-thin crust, almost no sauce or toppings) to the pizza-on-steroids versions floating around (such as the Chicago-style deep dish, everything-but-the kitchen sink approach). Many pizzas, actually, most of them do not remotely resemble the OG of pizzas, the Neapolitan pizza. Typical of Napoli style pizzas is the thin, crispy, slightly charred bottom crust, a signature feature of this style of pizza because they are baked in a screaming-hot brick oven. I visited Fran Pepe today for the first time, and I am happy to report that it did not dissapoint me. The pizzas I had are as close to the real Neapolitan pizzas as possible in the US. Do they use Italian-American ingredient combinations you may not see in Napoli? Or course! But the brick-oven method, the thin crust, the fresh ingredients and the attention to details were remarkable, and in my opinion, pretty authentic. The details went beyond the product; I loved that the pizzas are served tableside with plate, knife and fork, Italian style. The original Pepe started in Connecticut (where many swear the Italian American pizza was born, but of course there are hot arguments for and against that), and is now in Montgomery county. I decided to try the mushroom and sausage version, which had fresh mushrooms and Italian sausage, and also ordered a Margherita to go. The menu also has salads and a short of Italian deserts. The service was great (thank you Xander for taking the time to briefly chat with me) so I totally recommend that you try Pepe's pizzas.

The place is nice much like the original in New Haven. The pizza was very good. The price needs to reduce a bit. Very expensive.