The Boston Globe
The hardest desk on the town as of late? No, it’s not at a swanky downtown restaurant — it’s at Sally’s Apizza. The celebrated, 85-year-old New Haven pizzeria opened its first Massachusetts location in Woburn in December, with traces out the door and across the block. I do know; I noticed them each time I scooted into HomeGoods subsequent door to do my vacation buying.
Not lengthy after, an e-mail arrived from a reader, who had unsuccessfully tried to order a takeout pie at 5 p.m., when the restaurant opened (they’ll launch lunch service quickly).
“I had tried ordering a pizza on-line, however stored getting a message that learn, ‘One thing is fallacious. [We] gained’t have the ability to begin processing your order till 8:00.’ I used to be grocery buying within the close by Market Basket, so I made a decision to only go over to the restaurant and order a pizza in individual. . . . They advised me it was very busy and the pizza wouldn’t be prepared till 9. ‘Is that OK?’ one of many girls requested. ‘No,’ I replied. ‘I’m not going to attend 4 hours for a pizza.’ I left and ordered a pizza elsewhere,” the reader lamented.
“I don’t know if this was a one off, attributable to a couple bumps within the highway of beginning a brand new enterprise, or if their pizza is so good there’s all the time going to be an extended wait. It could be of profit to your readers to look into this and see what’s happening.”
What’s happening is that Sally’s thin-crust pizza has a lot of followers and is subsequently swamped. I’ve skilled the crush firsthand. I first tried to dine in with a celebration of 5 — arriving proper when doorways opened — and was quoted an almost three-hour wait. I used to be suggested to make a reservation subsequent time, however be forewarned: Sally’s solely takes reservations for events of 4 or fewer.
Undaunted, my household spent the subsequent week or so making an attempt to snag takeout. I might go surfing as if I had been making an attempt to get Taylor Swift tickets, able to pounce and place my on-line order as quickly as doorways opened. However no: I additionally acquired a message saying that attributable to excessive demand, my pie wouldn’t be prepared till 9 p.m. This was too late for my hungry brood, however even when it hadn’t been, I wasn’t given the choice of ordering and ready.
Clearly, the hungry Globe reader and I aren’t alone: Sally’s has posted a consumer information on social media due to the demand. Ideas embody the truth that “takeout is restricted” and “be ready to order quick.” There’s additionally the choice of calling in an order, however this didn’t work for me, both: After I known as, I used to be given the selection of visiting the restaurant in individual to position my order — which I might’ve cherished to do, if solely I might get a reservation.
That stated: The vacations are over, and it appears to be like like tables are opening up. Tonight, I’ve my choose of seats. And a Sally’s rep says that they’ll quickly raise takeout limitations. So, when you hanker for an genuine New Haven slice — that isn’t from Frank Pepe, which additionally now has areas all through the world — don’t hand over hope.
And if a visit to Woburn isn’t in your future? A Seaport location is within the offing. Simply e book your reservations upfront. 300 Mishawum Street, Woburn, 781-399-5264, www.sallysapizza.com