Riko’s Pizza Challenges the Colony Throne

Connecticut is the pizza capital of the U.S. That’s indisputable. And if you’re going to open a pizza place in this state, you better have your credentials—and recipe—in order. Riko’s specializes in thin-crust “bar pizza” made famous by Colony Grill in Stamford—an almost cracker-like pie topped with hot oil and served in a size that’s not unreasonable for one person to eat alone.

Yes, Colony has been been doing it for almost a hundred years, but Riko’s has gotten recent attention for its own version. Barstool’s Dave Portnoy bestowed a lofty 8.2 ranking in his One Bite Pizza Reviews for a slice from the Stamford location and said Riko’s could “get into the ring with Colony and slug it out any time.” That review has received more than a million views, so it’s no surprise Riko’s has, like Colony, expanded beyond its original location.

The Fairfield shop is one of five in the state, and it has the added convenience of a dedicated entrance for take-out orders. Parking can be a challenge, but the pizzas themselves absolutely deliver. Our favorite? The hot oil pizza with meatball was a clear winner across the table, while two in our party thought the clever Nashville Hot Chicken pie was not to be missed.

Riko’s Pizza
1920 Black Rock Turnpike