Posh Tomato’s Ultra-Thin Crust Sets It Apart

Have you ever wanted a customized personal pizza in the same time it takes to get a Chipotle burrito or a Five Guys cheeseburger? Posh Tomato, a new fast-casual pizza franchise in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, is hoping to capture hungry shoppers, strolling locals and busy professionals with its quick-service pies.

The trick to these speedily baked individual pies is the ultra-thin crust – just a bit thicker than a flour tortilla. Three-ounce dough balls are hand-stretched to a lean 12 inches in diameter on pizza peels, and employees move the pies down an assembly line adding sauce, cheese and toppings. In a 572-degree brick oven, the pizzas cook in just over 2-1/2 minutes.

“We can pump out 100 to 125 pies an hour,” says franchisee Dan Taskila. “Through the lines and through the ovens, we can really move the product. If people are coming in to eat, they’re literally in and out in 15 minutes.”

Taskila and and co-franchisee Chad Kirby know a thing or two about dough, as the owners of two Goldberg’s Bagels in the Elmwood section of West Hartford and on Trinity College’s campus in Hartford. Taskila met the owners of Brooklyn-based Posh Tomato through a mutual friend a few years ago, he says, and they kept in contact. When the owners decided to franchise, they spoke to Taskila and Kirby about a Connecticut location, and eventually the brothers-in-law decided to branch into pizza. “We really liked what they were doing…we got the real estate here in Blue Back Square and put the deal together,” Taskila says.

Fast-casual pizza is a growing national trend, with companies like Blaze, MOD, and Pieology sprouting new units all over the country. West Hartford’s Posh Tomato is its first location outside of Brooklyn at the moment, with future franchises in the works.

While that exceptionally thin crust is “not going to be everyone’s cup of tea,” Taskila says, it serves as a canvas to showcase dozens of gourmet toppings and combinations. Pies start at $5.95 with a base of white or red sauce with Grande cheese blend, garlic oil and oregano, and meat, vegetable and premium cheese toppings are an additional 75 cents to $3 apiece.

Posh Tomato’s variety of creative pre-designed pizzas ($8 to $9.95) are popular as well, like the Spicy Buffalo with Frank’s Red Hot sauce, grilled chicken and gorgonzola; the Charcuterie & Fromage with Alfredo sauce, ricotta, Parmesan and prosciutto di Parma; and the Salmone, with smoked salmon, capers, red onion and a cream cheese drizzle. The indulgent Three Little Piggies boasts a pork trifecta with pepperoni, hot capicola and bacon – but on the other end of the health spectrum, there are three “lean and green” pies to choose from, on which fresh Greek, gorgonzola and Caesar salads are piled into a crust.

“We get a lot of trainers from the [New York] Sports Club coming in,” Kirby says. And save room for the sweet dessert pies, topped with peanut butter and strawberry jelly, warm chocolate sauce, cinnamon dust and toasted marshmallows.

The former Pinkberry space has been transformed into upscale pizzeria, characterized by subway tile, reclaimed wood, funky pendant lighting and marquee letters spelling out “POSH.” Seating in the small restaurant is limited, but it’s augmented in the warmer months with outdoor tables. Possible future Posh Tomato locations in Connecticut may have larger spaces, Taskila said.

With competition like Harry’s and Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana with town limits, Posh Tomato is up against legendary names, but Taskila says its unique pies set it apart from the pack.

“There’s a ton of great pizza in West Hartford, but this is completely different. It’s not like anything else.”

>>Posh Tomato, at 38-41 Isham Road in West Hartford, is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. 860-967-3783, poshtomato.com.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the base price and dimensions of the pizza at Posh Tomato’s.