Hartford Pizza garden, Hartford CT

Today we had a mini Slice Mob meetup, as one of our dear members had his son visiting. We decided on Hartford Pizza Garden, a cool little spot on Farmington Ave.

You walk in and you’re immediately hit with the unmistakable aroma of fresh basil, it’s growing right there in hydroponic planters on the wall. Farm-to-table doesn’t get fresher than this!

Their claim to fame? They serve up three of my favorite styles: New Haven, Detroit, and Grandma. So as the head of the Slice Mob, I had a solemn duty to try all three. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed!

First up: the New Haven tomato pie.

The old standard. Thin, crispy base with a gorgeous tomato sauce that hits that perfect sweet-meets-acidic balance. Topped with freshly grated Romano and just enough char to give it that smoky undertone. If I closed my eyes (which I didn’t, for fear of a fellow Mob member stealing a slice ), I would’ve sworn I was in New Haven!

Next: the Detroit Red Top.

Motor City, here I come. Thick, airy crust, like a ridiculously comfy mattress, blanketed with edge-to-edge melted mozzarella that forms that glorious crispy frico. That smoky, caramelized cheese on the crust? OMG. It’s the stuff of Detroit pizza dreams. Finished with bold stripes of their house red sauce.

Last but not least: the Grandma.

A perfect in-between thickness, somewhere between New Haven and Detroit. Maybe we should call it “Erie, PA style” (get it? Halfway between the two ). Bad dad joke. Moving on…

This one had a crisp base with a tender, tight crumb. Cheese coverage was on point, melted beautifully, and once again finished with those signature stripes of their simple-yet-stunning tomato sauce.

Let’s talk about that sauce.

It’s straightforward, seasoned just right, and lets the tomatoes be the star. Not weighed down by a bunch of extra seasoning. Sometimes, less is more, and in this case, less is just right.

Already looking forward to going back and working my way through the rest of the menu!