The pizza hunt continues

New Haven v. New Haven
"Your article rightly acknowledges Pepe's and Sally's as being New Haven standouts ... but don't forget about Modern Apizza. I lived in New Haven for a few years, and many there (including myself) believe Modern to be the king of pizza!" -B. Black, Philadelphia, Pa.

"The best New Haven apizza is actually found in neighboring West Haven at Zuppardi's. It's a dumpy little place in an unimpressive, out-of-the-way location; but just one straight-forward cheese pie from Zuppardi's will put Frank Pepe in his proper place -- #2." -Ed, Fair Oaks, Calif.

"Mushroom and bacon - Pepe's apizza - New Haven, Ct. - nothing better anywhere! I lived in Italy for a year and couldn't find a better pie (true, the styles are very different). I am spoiled living so close to such a great pizzeria ... and Libby's pastry shop next door is an added bonus!" -Erin, Branford, Ct.

"Sally's and Pepe's are both great, as is Modern Apizza on State Street in New Haven. But in my hometown, the Greeks have taken pizza and made it their own. I don't know if it's the spices they use or the cheese or what, but it's a unique taste. Totally different from Italian pizza, but equally yummy." -Debbie, Killingworth, Ct.

The Chicago wars continue
"Gino's East on Superior! I was born & lived in Chicago until I was 30. ... A friend from New Orleans, knowing I was going for a visit to Chicago, wanted a pizza from Gino's. So I obliged him, got the pizza to go. Put it in a freezer for the trip back. Slid the pizza in the middle of my folded suit bag. When I was going through security at Midway, the officer screening bags on the x-ray conveyor wanted to know what was in my suit bag. "Pizza," my reply. He said, "I knew that but what kind and where did you get it from?" It's the best of the best." -Mike, New Orleans, La.

"Lou Malnati's. We've all heard the speeches on Gino's East, and the tourists on Uno's. But if you want the true experience, its Lou Malnati's, in Lincoln Park just north of DePaul. That's the best there is." -Chris, Indianapolis, Ind.

"AURELIOS PIZZA! South suburbs of Chicago. The sauce is slightly sweet and the Super Six (sausage, pepperoni, ham, onion, mushroom, green pepper) is spectacular." -Megan, Seattle, Wash.

"I currently live in Chicago and one of the only things I don't like about an otherwise great city is that their pizza is mediocre at best. It is depressing some days." -Doug, Chicago, Ill.

"The best pizza I can ever remember eating was when I was in school, and living in Chicago. My dad would take us to pick it up, we would wait in the car. One night, I just counted the people going into the pizza place. I counted 100 people going in the front door. ... Home Run Inn, Chicago. Thin crust." -Elliott, Paoli, Ind.

St. Louis, or not?
"Fortel's Pizza Den ... The best. No doubt. I don't understand those losers in Chicago. If I wanted lasagna, I would order lasagna, not that crap they call pizza in the gassy city. New York? Please. That grease Frisbee? No. Fortel's Pizza Den. The absolute best." -Aaron, Allen, Tex.

"St. Louis pizza is a crust so thin it could be used as a Matzo. However, in the last 10 years we have been fortunate that our local chefs began making wood-fired oven pizza. Cardwell's at the Plaza makes one of the best in these parts!" -Mary, St. Louis, Mo.

"How about the pizza I *hate* the most? A transplanted East Coaster, I almost gagged when I had my first bite of St. Louis-style pizza, which is covered in a grey slime called provel cheese (cheddar, swiss and provolone), baked on a cracker-like crust and cut into ... (Lord save me) ... tiny squares." -Kelly, St. Louis, Mo.

And elsewhere ...
"I love thin pizza!!! The one that I love the most is called funghioni, it is plain white pizza with mozzarella, with medley of wild mushrooms ... then topped with [arugula] and shaved parmeggiano after it's been baked in the oven. ... This hot pizza place is called Enios in Padova, Italy, near the municipal airstrip, a local's favorite." -Maria, Padova, Italy

"Il Mediterraneo, on Nha Tho in Hanoi — the very best crust I've ever tasted." -Brian, Seattle, Wash.

"I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina and after living in the States for 26 years and having had pizza in many cities, states and other countries, I still haven't found better than in my hometown." -Ruben, Kirkland, Wash.

Comments edited for length and clarity.