New Pizzeria Celebrates Grand Opening In West Haven

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — Papa Dough’s, the city’s newest pizzeria, celebrated its opening in grand style Wednesday.

Mayor Dorinda Borer cheered as Papa Dough’s co-owner Pasquale Villano, sporting a pair of oversize scissors, snipped a “West Haven blue” ribbon to officially open the restaurant’s doors in West Shore’s Woodlawn Shopping Center at 845 Jones Hill Road.

Villano was accompanied by co-owners Mike DelVecchio and Josh Wechsler and family and friends.

Borer delivered remarks welcoming the owners to the city’s business community and the “beautiful” location on Route 162.

The location is familiar to local pizza aficionados as the former longtime home of Full Circle Pizza. The site has been extensively remodeled and is situated across from a stand-alone CVS Pharmacy.

At Papa Dough’s, pizza connoisseurs can sink their teeth into The Godfather, a thin-crust red pie topped with meatball, mozzarella cheese and vodka sauce, and The CPR, a thin-crust white pie topped with mozzarella, chicken cutlet, pepperoni and ranch dressing.

“Papa Dough’s mission is to redefine the quick service pizza experience by crafting exceptional pizzas with the highest-quality ingredients,” said Villano, of Orange. “With a commitment to excellence, we aim to delight our customers with every bite, creating a memorable eating experience that reflects our passion for quality, speed and unparalleled customer satisfaction.”

Also marking the afternoon ribbon-cutting were West Haven Democratic state Rep. Bill Heffernan, Borer chief of staff Rick Spreyer, city Fair Rent Commissioner Steven R. Mullins, City Council Chairman Nicholas A. Pascale, D-at large, and council members Gary Donovan, D-4, and Christopher E. Vargo Jr., D-8.

They were joined by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce President Michael Moses and Simon McDonald, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing, along with chamber members West Shore Associates of West Haven owner Erin Eberhardt, New Haven Bank of West Haven branch manager Hala Urban and Edward Jones of Milford financial adviser Jay Borelli.

The dine-in pizzeria, which offers delivery and takeout services, also serves a variety of tasty calzones, such as The Wise Guy, filled with meatball, sausage, and mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, and The Angry Bird, filled with chicken cutlet, mozzarella and buffalo sauce.

Other menu favorites include bone-in and boneless chicken wings and Papa’s “shareables,” such as seasoned waffle fries and Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, as well as flavorful desserts, including deep-fried Oreos and churro fried dough sticks.

Papa Dough’s is open from 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon-8 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Monday.

Pictured — West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, right, claps as Papa Dough’s co-owner Pasquale Villano, center, cuts the ribbon to mark the West Haven pizzeria’s grand opening in West Shore’s Woodlawn Shopping Center at 845 Jones Hill Road on Wednesday. With them are, from left, Director of Membership and Marketing Simon McDonald of the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, Papa Dough’s manager Andrew Tudino, co-owners Mike DelVecchio and Josh Wechsler, West Haven City Council Chairman Nicholas A. Pascale, council members Christopher E. Vargo Jr., D-8, and Gary Donovan, D-4, and state Rep. Bill Heffernan, D-West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)