Fortunate Son burst onto Garland’s dining scene in March 2024, bringing authentic New Haven-style apizza to North Texas for the first time. 🍕
This wood-fired pizza haven quickly became the talk of the town, earning rave reviews from both locals and pizza purists who travel from across the state to experience genuine Connecticut-style pies in the heart of Texas.
How Fortunate Son Won Locals’ Hearts
Fortunate Son’s meteoric rise began with pure authenticity and dedication to craft. Before opening, the entire culinary team took a research trip to New Haven,
Connecticut, to study the legendary pizzerias like Pepe’s and Sally’s. 🛫 They brought back more than just recipes – they captured the soul of New Haven pizza culture.
The restaurant’s commitment to traditional techniques like slowly fermented sourdough crusts and high-temperature wood-fired ovens created something Dallas had never experienced before.
Word spread like wildfire when Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy gave their pizza an impressive 8.1 score, declaring it authentic New Haven-style apizza. 📺
Local food critics from the Dallas Observer named it the “Best New Style of Pizza to Hit Dallas” in 2024.
But it wasn’t just the accolades – it was the passionate response from customers who drove hours from Houston and across Texas, with many declaring it “the best pizza in Texas” and comparing it favorably to legendary Connecticut establishments.
Food Highlights
- The Original: This authentic tomato pie features grated Pecorino Romano cheese, San Marzano tomato sauce, olive oil, and fresh garlic on a perfectly charred sourdough crust that rivals New Haven’s most famous establishments like Pepe’s.
- The Basic: A classic cheese pizza with whole milk mozzarella, bright San Marzano sauce, and fresh basil that showcases the restaurant’s mastery of traditional New Haven-style dough with its signature thin, crispy, and chewy texture.
- White Clam Pizza: The showstopper features fresh shucked clams, white sauce, mozzarella, olive oil, rosemary, garlic, pecorino, black pepper, and lemon that delivers buttery, garlicky goodness on every bite of this coastal Connecticut classic.
- Meatzilla: A carnivore’s dream loaded with pepperoni, Calabrese sausage, Italian sausage, Texas Wagyu meatballs, pancetta, mozzarella, ricotta, spicy honey, and Calabrian chiles that creates an explosive flavor combination.
- Potato and Pancetta Pizza: This unique creation features white sauce topped with shaved potatoes, shallots, fontina cheese, duck fat, pancetta, and scallions that offers an innovative twist on traditional pizza toppings.
Atmosphere
Fortunate Son occupies a prime spot on Garland’s revitalized downtown square, featuring a large horseshoe-shaped bar and modern industrial design with warm touches. 🍻
The space strikes the perfect balance between casual and contemporary, with stained glass windows and an open layout that encourages socializing.
As a full-service beer garden, it offers an impressive selection of craft beers, specialty cocktails, and wines curated by Master Sommelier James Tidwell.
The restaurant benefits from Garland’s open container laws, allowing guests to stroll around the downtown square with drinks, creating a unique small-town vibe just minutes from Dallas.
Bottom Line
- Authentic New Haven-style apizza – the only place in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to get genuine Connecticut-style pizza
- Wood-fired perfection with charred, chewy sourdough crusts and premium ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes
- Exceptional variety from classic cheese and tomato pies to unique creations like white clam and potato pizzas
- Outstanding atmosphere combining craft beer culture with a revitalized downtown setting
- Worth the drive from anywhere in Texas for pizza enthusiasts seeking an authentic East Coast experience 🚗
Address: 500 Main Street, Suite 100, Garland, TX 75040
🕔 Wed-Thu: 4 PM–10 PM, Fri-Sat: 11 AM–12 AM, Sun: 11 AM–10 PM (Closed Mon-Tue)