A new style of pizza is coming into the Pizza Capital of the World.

Bobbi’s, a new restaurant featuring square “Detroit-ish” style pizza is coming to Yale University Properties at 51 Broadway in New Haven.

The restaurant is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 1 p.m.

Once considered a regional dish, Detroit-style pizza is now gaining mainstream popularity. With a playful spin on pies that will widen local offerings, Bobbi’s aims to bring a sense of adventure, creativity and community to New Haven’s incredible pizza story, not compete with it, owner Ankit Chellani said in a statement.

“The timing felt right: students, locals, and foodies are eager for something fresh, and Detroit-style pizza allows us to bring a new twist to the mix,” said Chellani.

“New Haven is already one of the most competitive pizza cities in the country, but Detroit-style pizza doesn’t exist here yet. We’re not trying to replace New Haven apizza — we’re celebrating pizza in a different form.”

Detroit-style pan pizza features thick, square pies with caramelized cheese edges and airy, crunchy, chewy crusts. Think thick and fluffy inside, golden and crunchy outside, with a steady rotation of new specialty pies on the menu, said business partner Bryan Burke.

“The highlight of Detroit-style pizza, for me, comes from the traditional Wisconsin brick cheese melting down the sides, between the crust and the pan, to create these wonderful crispy cheese edges,” Burke said. “The fat content of the brick cheese gives the bottom of the crust a slight buttery flavor and almost griddled texture. The toppings range from classic to pretty adventurous.”

At Bobbi’s, that’s where the “ish” comes in, said Chellani.

“We’re in New Haven, not Detroit, and the ‘ish’ gives us permission to be playful and creative,” Chellani said. “This style is still new to Connecticut, and we’re excited to introduce it. The brand is cheeky, fun, and welcoming — the experience feels fresh compared to what’s already out there.”

According to a statement, “Bobbi’s grabs attention with its lighted signage done in chunky, square lettering. Inside, the restaurant pops with cosmic pop-art wall murals, including Bobbi’s oversized message to all who enter: ‘In a city of circles, be a square.’”

The restaurant will be open for dine-in, grab and go and delivery. It will also offer smashburgers, wings, fries, salads and desserts. Beer, wine, ready-to-drink cocktails and sodas will be available.

This is Chellani’s second restaurant at The Shops at Yale. In 2019, he introduced Sherkaan, located just a few hundred yards away on Broadway, where Burke is also executive chef. Sherkaan is known for its seasonally rotating menu of Central and South Indian street food and creative dishes inspired by Indian-American culture.

CT’s largest grocery chain expanding tech-based recycling system to all of its locations in state

“It’s exciting to take what I’ve learned at Sherkaan — creativity, bold flavors, and quality sourcing — and apply it in a completely different way with pizza,” Burke said. “My restaurant career actually first started in pizza, 18 years ago, so this is a full-circle moment for me.”

Chellani said Bobbi’s has found an ideal space among The Shops Yale in the Broadway District.

“Yale has always been a great landlord to work with. When the space became available, we reached out to lease it,” Chellani said. “The location is ideal, with strong foot traffic, the Yale community, and the growing local population.”

“Ankit and Bryan have already shown the creativity and energy they bring to New Haven’s dining scene with Sherkaan Indian Street Food, and Bobbi’s is the next exciting step,” said David DelVecchio, director of real estate asset management at Yale University Properties, in an email. “Their take on Detroit-style pizza adds something truly unique to the city — it’s a concept that will appeal to students, residents, and visitors. We’re thrilled they chose The Shops at Yale on Broadway for their new restaurant.”

https://www.courant.com/2025/10/13/move-over-new-haven-style-pizza-detroit-ish-is-coming-to-ct/