Colony Grill - Stamford

We had two pizzas. They were crispy, with toppings well placed and cheese out to the edge. Great pizzas! Jonathan was our server, he was also excellent. He hustled and made sure all of our needs were met.

This review is based solely on a to-go pizza order. I went after seeing a high score on the one bite app but was very disappointed. Yes the pizza is paper thin, it was perfectly cooked and had a nice crunch when you bit into it but lacked flavor. Cheese also lacked flavor.

We had a terrible experience ordering take out from colony grill, we ordered a sausage and stinger and they sent an onion pizza, im severely allergic to onions, we rang to ask them to send another pizza and they refused and said there was nothing they could do. The pizzas were also cold. Do not order from colony grill for both the quality of delivery and the terrible customer service,

The best thin crust pizzas I ever had in CT. It's clear why their menu is dedicated solely to pizza—it’s exceptional. Visited based on a friend's recommendation, and it was absolutely worth it. If you enjoy spicy flavors, be sure to try the hot oil and stingers.

Colony Grill in Stamford, Connecticut, is a culinary landmark renowned for its distinctive thin-crust pizzas, particularly the signature “Hot Oil” pie—a spicy, pepper-infused creation that tantalizes the taste buds.  Established in 1935, this post-Prohibition-style tavern has dedicated its menu to perfecting these crispy, perfectly round pizzas.  The ambiance at Colony Grill is both inviting and nostalgic, reflecting its rich history. Patrons frequently praise the friendly and efficient service, contributing to a warm dining experience.  While the restaurant can become lively, especially during peak hours with families and young children, it adds to the vibrant atmosphere. For pizza aficionados seeking a unique and flavorful experience, Colony Grill stands as a must-visit destination in Stamford.

Visited with my wife, got two pizzas, they’re very thin so one per person works well. Got the signature Hot Oil plus a Bacon addition, delicious. The second one was a Pepperoni and cheese, also very good. The pizza is very thin and seems almost fried, crunchy crust and the cheese is great. They only serve pizza btw. The place is an old pub, with a large bar and a variety of drinks.

Amazing food and great service - thanks to Madison and the team for making us feel welcome. All the pizzas were great, we had one with pepperoni and onions, another with anchovies. We’ll be back soon.

New Haven is the spot for pizza in Connecticut, but don’t sleep on Stamford’s Colony Grill! If you like your crust super thin and your pie crispy—the Colony Grill will make you feel like you died and went to heaven the second you walk through the bar entrance door. The place has been around for close to 90 years with only pizza on the menu, so you know it has to be good. Has a very cozy and friendly atmosphere, and the staff is amazing. The famous pie to get is the hot oil. It is not too spicy at first, but it catches up with you after the 3rd slice. These bar pies are the perfect size for one person. I loved the crispy crust. It was so stiff, you couldn’t even fold it. Flavor was great and the sauce didn’t overpower the pie. Menu is limited, but worth coming back for. Parking lot is a little tight, so your best bet is the back your car in.

Oh colony, oh colony how much I love colony pizza! This was my first time at the OG COLONY PIZZA!!! Went in August and right away was seated. I love the half chili oil, half cheese. Definitely would go this route if you have never had their chili oil before, it's spicy but definitely is a great spin on the traditional cheese pizza. Prices were affordable and the service was great! I'll be back!

Great ambiance and server. Full bar. Parking is decent. So basically what they have is personal pizzas which are pretty generous size, but very very thin crust. They specialize in hot spicy oil as a topping. Very filling. So for what it is, it's five stars. Basically they do one thing they do it well. He also catered to vegans as well. If you're looking for a diverse menu look elsewhere. If you're looking for New York style pizza it's also not a good choice. But I would go back.

My husband and I used to love Colony Grill. Now that we have a newborn, we've tried delivery since dining in is more challenging. 2 times in the past month we have received ice cold pizzas. Tonight, we received the wrong pizza - onion instead of sausage / stingers. My husband can't eat onions. When I called colony grill, they said not their problem. Uber gave us a 5 dollar credit for the topping change.. Come on, do better. Customer service - where you at?

I'd read about this location online and a lot of people left reviews stating I should check it out. I was on a layover and while hanging at the hotel, I decided that I really wanted some pizza and Colony Grill kept popping up. I had seen a couple of other locations that stated that they did hot oil, but Colony was supposed to be the originator, so I decided to check it out . I ordered a large pepperoni pizza with hot oil, including the pepper. I took a bite of the pepper when I got the pizza and it was far too hot for me LOL, but the hot oil made the pepperonis taste really good! And even though it took about 45 minutes for the pizza to arrive, it came feeling fresh out of the oven, and it was super delicious. I ate half in the first hour, waited a couple hours and ate the rest by myself (so I didn't seem greedy lol) it was super good and I will return.

(Visit date: 1/2025). Nice little spot. Classic New England pizzeria atmosphere (including wood paneling, & ceiling tiles which were definitely in place for many years , back when indoor smoking was still legal in CT). The waitstaff was friendly, without being pushy; the pizza was excellent (I got hot oil, sausage, & mushroom). It did get a little loud and crowded around the bar, but it didn't impact the experience much. I'd return.

Colony Grill was my first stop on my "tour" of Connecticut pizza. I ordered the hot oil pie with pepperoni and onions. This pizza is delicious! It's thin and crisp and not loaded with cheese. If I ever went back I'd probably request the hot oil on the side. I thought it made the pizza way too oily but I enjoyed the subtle heat. Loved the very thinly sliced white onion. The stinger pepper is HOT! You have to love a place that does pizza so well they don't serve any other food! The service is friendly and it's a great place to drink beer and eat pizza. I would absolutely return!

Favorite pizza for 40 yrs. If you like thin crusted pizza, this is the best! I could eat 3?

Good hot oil and peppers pizza. Good atmosphere and friendly servers. I definitely recommend it.

This style of pizza seems to be a local favorite. If you enjoy greasy, processed?! cheese, and paper thin crust...this is your destination. Frankly confusing for me. The attraction seems to be the hot oil and stingers (long hots) pie which will satisfy the heat seekers. The bar area has quite a history with portraits of "honored" locals. This place seems more nostalgia for locals and seen better days. The limited menu (if one is available) is thin crust pizza and choice of toppings. You're not at a resort so service depends on how the individuals feel that particular day. A place to check off for visitors but reluctant to experience again. Footnote: the original pizza maker had a falling out and opened a similar (original) place called Riko's. Multiple locations.

Came here late Saturday night, sat at the bar and was surprised that they were not busy. I have always enjoyed their pizza here. Thin crust with their signature hot oil. Yum... this time we had the hot oil, sausage and mushrooms and another pizza with hot oil and pepperoni. So good! Bartenders were nice. I'm hooked. Too bad they're 45 minutes away.

Get yourself a beer and a pizza and you'll be good. I like Colony Grill because they really have a welcoming no-frills neighborhood joint feel. For moderate-severe hungry people, one pie can easily be conquered by just one person since it's so thin. As for toppings, I recommend hot oil and sausage or pepperoni.

We had a terrible experience ordering take out from colony grill, we ordered a sausage and stinger and they sent an onion pizza, im severely allergic to onions, we rang to ask them to send another pizza and they refused and said there was nothing they could do. The pizzas were also cold. Do not order from colony grill for both the quality of delivery and the terrible customer service,

Got to say I wasn't the biggest fan of the hot oil pizza. Waiter recommended that we order this with pepperoni and bacon. I guess the toppings influenced this, because there was way too much pork which kind of masked the hot oil. But even then didn't seem as tasty as the other pizzas. And not surprisingly, the pizza was dripping with oil. I think the simpler toppings suited this style of crust more. I preferred the simple cheese, as well as cheese and sausage. Personal preference, but I don't love this style of ultra crispy crust. On the plus side, the service is very friendly and they do have parking. But on future trips though CT I will be visiting Pepe instead.

Absolutely love Colony Grill in Stamford! Hands down, it serves the best tavern-style pizza in Connecticut! I've tried others like Sally's, Pepe's, and Rico's, but none of them quite match up to Colony! The service is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and the pizza is simply out of this world - I could easily devour two pies myself since they're just the right size! I'm a big fan of the hot oil too! Keep the great tradition of amazing pizza with that classic old school vibe alive!

Service was great. Unfortunately the pizza was terrible. It was the size of a personal pie at the price point of a large pizza. It was burnt and tasteless. Much to my chagrin, other than the service for takeout, I have nothing positive to say. Full disclosure, that was all we ordered. I have no idea what the dine in experience is like or what the other items on them menu are like; but I sincerely hope the other entrees are better than the brittle card board they call thin crust pizza. I will not be returning.

The Best thin crust pizza in town!!!! I Highly recommended the hot oil pizza... yum!!!!!

Excellent service even when they are slammed busy. Their thin crust pizza is always outstanding. I love the salad pizza and the hot oil. You can never go wrong with colony Grill.

Delish 'za! We ordered for pick up after a long travel day and our pizzas were ready in about 20 minutes, which was great because we were hungry! My husband used to live in Stamford and this was his go-to pizza spot, so I had high expectations going in, and Colony Grill definitely lived up to the hype! The pizza is thin crust and crispy. The kind where you can have lots of slices since it's so thin. What sets it apart from any other thin crust joint is the signature hot oil topping. It takes the pizza to another level; so flavorful, (greasy), and delicious. The crust is super crispy which balances the cheesy goodness perfectly. Would love to dine-in on a future visit, because it looked super cozy and warm inside!

I'm 80 yrs old and I have been coming here all my life! Still remember the sawdust on the flood, and our favorite waiter with his king sign white apron! So many pictures of people I knew.

Wow. Came because of Dave Portnoy and the pizza is even better than I imagined. So so good. And the staff was super warm and welcoming. Will be back again for sure. Thank you Colony Grill. Thank you Dave. Bonus: parking was quick and easy in their lot.

I'm sorry to say, it's getting worse and worse. I had a pizza tonight at the bar, it was so overdone, I forced down two slices and left the rest! You guys need to get it together. Sad to say Rico's is doing a better job.

If you would like to have a thin, spicy, crisp pizza, then Colony Grill is where you need to go! Colony Grill has been around for a long time and I have had the pleasure of coming here to have their signature Hot Oil Pizza. Open since the 1930s, this establishment created their signature thin crust bar pie that does not go crazy with a lot of cheese or sauce on it. It allows the pizza to stay crisp for a while when it is on your table without a flop! Their signature topping is hot oil, which is spicy through how the infuse peppers in the oil. I have always end up getting a Hot Oil Pie and it never disappoints me! I have had pies without the hot oil before and they tasted good as well, though I will say that for my taste buds, they all taste better with the hot oil! Do yourself a favor and if you are either this flagship location or one of their others... GET THAT HOT OIL PIE!

Happiness is a gluten free colony pizza. Thank you for giving this option for those of us who have the allergy.

"Colony?" Yes, please! Been coming here since moving to Stamford 27 years ago. It was actually recommended to me by an IRS agent in the middle of an audit . Was great then...even better now. (and there were no changes on audit) What to get? Beer and pizza. Pretty much all they have (well, that and a full bar). And great friendly service. Go! Why are you still here?

Interesting place. The only food they serve is pizza. And only one size; 12". Some unconventional toppings too. Extra cheese made it even a little better.

We make a point of stopping at Colony on our 3x per year road trip up I95 to Boston. First time at the Stamford location. Pizzas good as always. Crispy crust. Stingers and Hot oil always impresses - simple but clean. Sausage pie great too.

Nobody compares when it comes to bar style pizza. I can down a cheese pizza easily all by myself (unfortunately, considering the calories!).

This place is awesome. Not crazy expensive, great tasting food, good service that is respectful of time. I came and had great pizza, a few beers, and stayed for 3+ hours talking. The staff was so respectful and accommodating. Lovely! Get the salad pizza for something different!

I love pizza and it's my favorite food, this place only sells pizza and the pizza taste like cardboard. Ultra thin and their signature hot oil is actually spicy oil. Had two different pies and was impressed with either. Love the ambience of the place old world local bar with a very nice staff. As for price, let's just say it wasn't worth money. Certainly will not be going back unless they change their menu which I doubt they will. It's one of those old, hand me down restaurants. Surprise it's been open this long if it's only been serving generic pizza at these prices.

Been here many times and the last few times, the energy, ambience, just the whole experience is like right out of a movie. Staff is always attentive, friendly and quick. Food is literally as consistent as it gets. This place is an institution.

So so friendly! I've dined and ordered out and everyone from the waitresses to the cashiers are always smiling! I will come back here whenever I have a hankering for the proclaimed thin crust hot oil pizza! Can eat an entire pizza and sometimes 2 depending on if I'm hungry which I will be as one is not enough.

Considering I go to Stamford, CT at least once a month for the past year I finally tried the "bar pie" pizza at Colony Grill. What is a bar pie? Extremely thin crust, smaller in diameter than a regular pizza and not alot of cheese or sauce and created to hold in one hand and fit a pizza tray on the narrow bar counters. Think personal pie. Of course I had to try their famous pepper infused "hot oil" as a topping along with mushrooms and sausage. Is the hot oil up to all the hype? Eh I don't know if I would order it as a topping. It has a nice heat but unnecessary. If you like thin crust pizza it's really good and the toppings and good service. And one of the few times I'll do a beer which seems fitting

Did not know about hot oil on pizza until now. Don't judge it until you try it! Pizza took about 20-25 minutes to make on a Saturday evening so be sure to call ahead if you pick up. The crust is SO SO thin and crispy!! And the toppings go almost all the way to the edge which is great for someone like me who doesn't care for too much plain pizza crust. Everything about the pizza was perfect. The hot oil was delicious but didn't feel overly greasy with the cheese and pepperoni. Perfect cheese to crust to sauce ratio. Great personal size as well and reasonable pricing. I would come back here any day for some crispy hot oil pizza!

It's a Stamford must. Thin crust is yummy! The business has been around for years. I prefer the stamford location over the Port Chester one. Stamford is smaller.

I tried this out for the first and last time recently. It wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't really good. There is no menu, really. They make pizza and they have a dozen or so toppings to choose from. Or a salad pizza. Those are the food choices. And they have a full bar. If a restaurant only does one thing, such as pizza, they should be experts at it. There's no excuse not to be. But the pizza had way too much moisture in it. The crust and the whole thing was just soggy, which means to me that they're not prepping their toppings correctly. The whole experience was pretty bland, from the indifferent service to the no-frills dining experience (napkin dispensers on the table, for example, typical of a neighborhood pizzeria but not a restaurant) The building is nice inside and out. It is brick, I assume a repurposed ex-industrial building of some kind. It has a large dining room with high ceilings and cozy colors. There is a nice outdoor deck on the river as well.

If you like thin crust, crispy pizza then is the spot for you! The pizza comes in personal pies that are a big larger than normal personal pies, but because they're thin crust they aren't as heavy. We ordered 3 different pies and no complains about any of them. The hot oil is their staple pie and that was delicious. I also had a bacon and pepperoni pie which was just as good. The only reason I gave it for 4 stars was because I wished they had other items on their menu like Buffalo wings or something else in addition to the pizza but the pizza was top tier. Service was great too!

OMG the pizza is a 20 on a scale of 1-10. Thin crust! Help is amazing! I prefer take out, the inside, though very updated and nice, is too noisy for my taste. They need something to absorb the sound echoing for that noisy crowd. I did eat there once, and did get accustomed to the noise after awhile. But I still prefer takeout. This is probably the best pizza I've ever had. Highly recommend.

Delicious thin pizza. Fast service too. Meatballs great addition to the pizza. Highly recommend.

Fun bar atmosphere with above average pizza. It was a little to crispy for my liking, but overall I can see that this is an experience. It's bar food. Plus the nicest staff ever! Very attentive and friendly.

This place came highly recommended. Must stop here before leaving Stamford, Ct. Staff is friendly. I enjoyed watching Judy the Bartender please every single customer with her amazing situational awareness. In a brief second, she attempts to soothe an angry customer with her charm. Bravo to you!! I had ordered a meatball and mushroom pizza pie. No singles sold here. After my third slices, I was grateful they didn't. Lol. I stuffed and I mean stuffed my face like a lady. Waited to get to my hotel to finish it up. Lol I crack myself up. It was delicious. Thin crust with perfect balance of cheese to sauce. Amazing!! I might have to go back tomorrow to get another one to bring back to Jersey. I definitely recommend having Stamford's finest pizza!!

Found this place on One Bite, we had a gluten free meatball onion pizza. It was one of the best gluten free pizzas I've had. If you like a crispy thin crust this is it!

This has become a "must visit" when we are driving through CT on 95. Thin, perfectly crispy pizza, perfect size for one! My go-to is hot oil with onion. And there is no skimping on the onion! Great, GREAT prices. Melissa behind the bar is always pleasant and makes a point to engage with her regulars! Love this joint, A+.

A true 5 star. A Stamford institution. I come just about every week, and the pizza is so consistently good, it's honestly impressive. The staff are all so friendly and accommodating, they are all willing to show you how to make a professional colony order. Shout out to Melissa, she will keep your drink full the whole time your there no matter how busy it is.

I live in NJ and I crave this pizza. "When I go to Connecticut" lol or just feel like getting some thin crust pizza. I always get some pizza from the colony grill. There are few spots and they all have the same quality pizza with delicious toppings. I have only gotten the bacon or sausage. And they are both delicious. And for $12 a pie with a topping I'm usually ordering two or more anyway. And eat a whole pie on the way home...calm down, remember it's thin crust lol. Don't even think about stopping to one of their locations. And order more then one bc you will be eating a whole pie by yourself. It's that good. You will thank me later. It's worth the trip. I wish I lived closer I would order pizza all the time.

A pitcher of beer and a pizza... doesn't get much better than that. The hot oil is a must if you haven't tried it. A great place for after work drinks or watching sports and to get some food. Always very busy but they find a way to squeeze you in a give you a enjoyable experience.

Very simple menu, and each food item there is executed well so the consistency is top notch. The ambience is exactly what you would like for a home style simple sit down restaurant. Service is pretty good. The staff is nice and friendly.

Awful service, the bartenders lie about legalities (not knowing attorneys are the ones they are attending) If you're over 30 and want a drink they will deny you for no reason and pretend to be nice about it. Very specific psychologic manipulation and not worth your money or time. You would think they would want customers when they are absolutely dead but specific bartenders prefer ego over money. Take yourself to Rikos a few blocks down.

Stopped by for dinner yesterday. Just a heads-up you have to use the right door to get in - but they offer indoor seating or seating out back. We sat out back on a picnic table in the corner. Ordered some rosé and a couple jack and cokes along with a pie with hot oil, stingers and anchovies (was mine - YUM!) and my bf got a mushroom and onion as he's vegetarian. Both were really good, our server was very friendly and we left a solid tip. I rated the pizza an 8.9, my bf gave an 8.2 - Dave Portnoy's (Bar Stool Sports President) review was 8.4.

We went to this place on the way back from a pizza tour in New Haven, so we originally were going to skip it (we had our fill in New Haven) but decided the pizza was different enough it was worth the stop. And it delivered. We had the hot oil pie and it was delicious. The crust is the perfect bar pie crust, the cheese was perfectly cooked, and the hot oil added to the flavor. The place itself is a great vibe, very "Irish Bar" but not divey at all. The bartenders were friendly, and the service was great. I recommend.