Dining
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The Place to Be: Fantini’s New Haven Style Apizza The chicken and shrimp are served with a side of pasta, and the entire dish is finished with a one-of-a-kind basil marinara sauce that, if you’re bored of traditional red sauce, is guaranteed to thrill your tastebuds. It’s almost like a marsala, with a subtle sweetness, yet a peppery finish that takes it to a whole different level. If this dish is as indicative of New Haven as I think it is, then I’ll be booking my plane ticket to Connecticut soon… it’s incredible. We couldn’t leave Fantini’s without trying dessert, especially since the rest of our meal was so satisfying! We sampled Jimmy’s chocolate cake ($8.95), a cannoli ($6.95), a slice of NY cheesecake ($8.95), and tiramisu ($7.95). All of them are, just like everything else on the menu, homemade. The chocolate cake is wonderfully decadent, with rich, dark chocolate fudge and cake. It’s any chocolatelover’s wildest fantasy. The cannoli maintains a satisfyingly crispy shell with luscious sweet cream in the middle. The cheesecake was, according to Trisha, “the best [she’s] ever had,” with a thick, yet smooth body that is wonderfully complemented by a sweet strawberry sauce. Finally, the tiramisu was pillowy and refreshing, with just enough coffee flavor. Abby said, “This tiramisu puts other restaurants’ versions to shame.” To summarize our feelings about Fantini’s sweets menu, I leave you with this — Trisha exclaimed at the end, “Who needs a man when you have Fantini’s desserts?!” In short, you have every reason to visit Fantini’s New Haven Style Apizza. If Abby, Trisha, and I haven’t convinced you enough, then I’ll give you two additional testimonials:
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Review by Gabby Gregory
One diner, Vinny, made a point to come to our table when he overheard Abby and I discussing Fantini’s authenticity. Born and raised in New Haven, Vinny ate and enjoyed apizza for 60+ years before moving to Stuart. “I literally cried rolling tears,” Vinny testified, “when I first ate here, because I was so happy to find apizza like at home. Now, I get here as often as I can.” Abby and I accepted his verification, not only because of his distinctive New England accent and clear passion for the restaurant, but also because he consistently held and ate a slice of apizza throughout our conversation.
Vinny
Then, I found out that two ladies dining at the fully-stocked bar area were from New Haven, and one was visiting Fantini’s for the first time to evaluate its authenticity. I requested that she come to our table after finishing her meal to let Abby and me know her final conclusions. She ordered a New Haven classic, which also happens to be one of the most popular apizzas at Fantini’s — the white clam pizza. Jimmy assured Abby and me that the recipe is original to New Haven, even down to the clams themselves, which he
with Gabby, Abby, & Trisha sources from the same distributor in Connecticut that one of the “Big 3” New Haven apizza restaurants use for their own, wildly beloved white clam apizza. Clearly, Jimmy wasn’t lying, because the woman came to our table and raved about Fantini’s white clam apizza, saying that eating it “was like being back in New Haven.” She expressed that the restaurant felt like home, and that she was definitely going to bring her other Connecticut friends to Fantini’s so that they too could be impressed by the genuine New Haven cuisine. Convinced? Well, Fantini’s was already popular, but with Dave Portnoy’s recent visit, the restaurant has become even more well-known in the area. With that being said, ensure that you make a reservation or call your order in early, because otherwise, you’re going to have to wait! Just like the “Big 3” apizza restaurants in New Haven, Fantini’s has become so sought after that a line begins to form out the door! That fact alone should convince you to try the restaurant, because it’s apparent that everyone agrees —it is the hot place to eat. Take your tastebuds on a trip to New Haven, Connecticut by dining at Fantini’s… you can’t call yourself a true Italian cuisine or pizza lover without doing so, and I promise the food and apizza will change your perceptions in the best way possible. Fantini’s New Haven Style Apizza is located in the North Stuart Plaza at 1560 NW Federal Highway in Stuart. The restaurant is open Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays from 3PM-9PM and Fridays & Saturdays from 11:30AM-9:30PM. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. For more information or to make a reservation, call 772-692-9980 or visit fantinisapizza.com.
“I made a resolution to go to Fantini’s New Haven Style Apizza in 2021 after hearing multiple reviews from pizza freaks like myself and I was amazed to find a facsimile of a New Haven CT area pizza joint plopped in an unassuming shopping center in sunny Florida. The pizza Jimmy Fantin and his crew are crafting made me think twice about southern Florida’s pizza scene. As a pizza guru I’m focused on tasting the crust, sauce & cheese in detail & Fantini’s nailed each one with the simple refinement of an authentic New Haven style apizza. I’ll go a step further and suggest to my Northeastern counterparts hailing from New York, New Jersey & Massachusetts that you’ll be doing yourselves a favor taking a trip to Fantini’s! And please, for the love of god, it’s pronounced ‘ah-beets!’” - Colin Caplan, New Haven Historian and Copyrighted© My Living Media. 2022 All Rights reserved. To Advertise call 772-617-4960 Producer of Pizza, A Love Story
