Bobbi’s Pizza Brings a Detroit-ish Twist to New Haven’s ah-BEETZ Scene

When you open a pizza shop in New Haven, you know exactly what you’re getting into. “We knew we were opening in the pizza capital of the nation, and that’s exactly what made it exciting,” says Bryan Burke, co-owner of Bobbi’s Pizza, one of the city’s newest and buzziest arrivals on Broadway.

Instead of trying to outdo New Haven’s iconic apizza, Bobbi’s set out to add something new with “Detroit-ish” style pies, as Burke calls them.

Baked in steel pans, the dough is light and airy with a crisp, buttery edge formed by caramelized cheese. “The cheese melts down between the dough and the pan to form that griddled crust,” Burke explains. The result is golden, rich, and deeply satisfying.

It is a style that feels right at home in a city obsessed with pizza. “Apizza is unbeatable, and we love it,” he says. “We are just looking at the same obsession with dough, cheese, and sauce through a different lens.”

While Detroit style is the star, Bobbi’s menu does not stop there. Smashburgers, wings, and fries from Burke’s first restaurant, Taprock Beer Bar & Refuge, have already found fans here too. “We want every item on the menu to have the same level of care, flavor, and fun as our pizzas,” he says.

Among the pies, the Sgt. Pepperoni leads the pack with crispy cupped pepperoni, caramelized cheese edges, and a drizzle of hot honey. The Butter Chicken Pizza, inspired by sister restaurant Sherkaan, fuses two comfort classics, while the Gabagool with capocollo, goat cheese, and balsamic delivers big flavor in every bite.

The name Bobbi’s honors Burke’s mother, Barbara, whose spirit inspired the whole concept. “She did not even know it was being named after her until a couple of months before opening,” he says. “So much of our brand comes from her, fun, a little cheeky, and always doing things the right way.”

Bobbi’s may be new, but it fits seamlessly into New Haven’s pizza legacy. “We did not come here to compete. We came to add to it,” says Burke. “Detroit style has not had much of a presence in Connecticut, and we saw an opportunity to bring something different but rooted in the same craft and care New Haven is known for.”

At Bobbi’s, perfection comes in squares, and New Haven is all the better for it.

Photo: The Shops at Yale