If you drive down Franklin Avenue in Hartford, you aren’t just looking for food. You're looking for a specific vibe. It’s that old-school, slightly chaotic, South End energy where the air smells like roasted peppers and wood smoke.
People argue about pizza in Connecticut like it’s a blood sport. New Haven has the "apizza" loyalists. West Hartford has the artisanal, sourdough-crust crowd. But NY NY Pizza Hartford sits in its own category, basically refusing to play by everyone else's rules.
They aren't trying to be a fancy bistro. Honestly, they aren't even trying to be the most "Connecticut" pizza place. As the name suggests, they’re chasing that specific New York City soul. But here’s the kicker: they’ve added a Balkan twist that most people don’t even realize is there until they open the menu and see kajmak and cevapi sitting right next to the pepperoni.
What Really Happens at NY NY Pizza Hartford
Walk into 547 Franklin Ave and the first thing you notice isn't the decor. It's the heat.
The brick oven is right there. You can see the hot coals. You can see the wood burning in the back. It’s a literal open kitchen before "open kitchens" were a trendy thing developers put in luxury condos. The chefs are moving fast.
Some people call it doughy. Others say it has the perfect "char." The truth is somewhere in the middle. It’s a New York-style slice that’s been slightly beefed up for the Hartford appetite. It’s thin enough to fold—essential for any place claiming the NYC title—but sturdy enough that the grease doesn't immediately turn the paper plate into a translucent mess.
Most people get it wrong. They think it's just another corner shop. But then you look at the NY-NY Special Pizza. It has mozzarella and prosciutto, sure. But then there’s the kajmak. For the uninitiated, kajmak is a creamy, dairy product from the Balkans, similar to clotted cream but with a savory, salty punch.
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Mixing that with prosciutto and wood-fired dough? That's not just a pizza. It's a cross-cultural event happening in a cardboard box.
The Menu: More Than Just a Slice
If you only order a cheese pizza, you're missing the point. Yeah, the cheese pizza is a solid $12 baseline. It’s the "control" in this culinary experiment. But the deep bench of the menu is where the weird, beautiful stuff lives.
The Balkan Corner
This is the "secret sauce" of NY NY Pizza Hartford. They have a section dedicated to Balkan cuisine that hits different when it’s cooked in a pizza oven.
- Cevapi: These are small, hand-rolled beef sausages. They stuff them inside lepinje, a wood-fired pita bread. It’s salty, fatty, and perfect.
- Burek and Sirnica: Ground beef or feta cheese pies. If you haven't had a Burek that’s been crisped up in a high-heat oven, you haven't lived.
- Pljeskavica: A Balkan-style beef patty that makes a standard burger look a little sad and under-seasoned.
The Pizza Heavy Hitters
The "Gourmet" section of the menu is actually pretty massive.
- The Capricciosa: It’s got prosciutto, mushrooms, and... peas. And eggs. It sounds like a kitchen sink experiment, but the eggs bake into the cheese in a way that’s surprisingly rich.
- Sweet & Spicy: Pepperoni, jalapeño, and hot honey. It’s 2026, and hot honey is everywhere, but they don't skimp on the heat here.
- The Deluxe: Mushrooms, roasted peppers, olives, onions, and prosciutto. It’s a lot. You’ll need napkins. Many napkins.
The "Real World" Experience
Let's be real for a second. This isn't a Michelin-star experience.
It’s a neighborhood joint. Sometimes it’s a little greasy. Sometimes, if it’s a Friday night and they’re slammed, you’re going to wait. There are reviews from people who got a cold delivery or felt the cheese was "too much."
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But then you see the reviews from offices that ordered 40 pizzas for a 150-person lunch and the crew nailed every single one, delivering them hot and on time. That’s the duality of a high-volume Hartford pizzeria. It’s built for the hustle.
The prices are actually reasonable for the current economy. You can get a 14-inch grinder for about $13. In a world where a "craft" sandwich costs twenty bucks, that’s a win for the South End.
How to Do NY NY Pizza Hartford Right
If you’re going to go, don’t just wing it. There’s a strategy to getting the best out of this place.
The "Old World" Move
Skip the soda once. Order an Ayran. It’s a savory yogurt drink common in the Balkans and Middle East. It cuts right through the salt of the prosciutto and the fat of the cheese. It’s an acquired taste, but once you get it, you get it.
The Wood-Fired Advantage
Ask for your pizza "well done." Because they use a wood-burning brick oven, that extra minute gives the crust a structural integrity and a smoky flavor that you just can't get from a standard gas deck oven. You want those little black bubbles on the crust—that’s where the flavor lives.
Timing the Crowd
The place is usually most busy on Friday afternoons and Saturday evenings. If you’re looking for a quick "grab and go" without the crowd, Monday through Wednesday nights are your best bet. They’re open late (until 10 or 11 PM), which makes it a sanctuary for the late-shift workers in the city.
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Is It Actually "New York" Pizza?
Purists will argue. They’ll talk about the minerals in the NYC tap water. They’ll talk about the fermentation of the dough.
Honestly? It doesn't matter. NY NY Pizza Hartford captures the spirit of a New York slice—the accessibility, the foldability, and the lack of pretension. But they’ve layered it with the immigrant history of Hartford's South End.
It’s a place where you can get a Meat Lovers pizza and a side of Baklava. It’s a place where the guy behind the counter probably knows half the people walking through the door.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning a visit or ordering in, here is the move:
- Check the Location: They are at 547 Franklin Ave. Don't confuse them with the dozens of other "NY Pizza" spots in the state. This is the one with the wood-fired Balkan menu.
- The Coupon Play: Look for their "Deal #2." It’s a Large One Topping, 10 wings, and a 2-liter soda for around $31. It’s the most efficient way to feed a small group without overthinking it.
- The Balkan Test: Even if you're a die-hard pizza fan, order one Burek for the table. It’s the most authentic thing on the menu and explains why this place has stayed open while others have vanished.
- Delivery Radius: They offer free citywide delivery in Hartford with a $15 minimum. If you're outside the city, use the Slice app or call 860-296-1177 directly to see if they’ll make the trek.
At the end of the day, a city is defined by its corner spots. NY NY Pizza isn't trying to change the world; they're just trying to feed Hartford something that tastes like home, whether home is Queens or Sarajevo.