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Pizzeria Paradiso
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
2003 P St NW(between N 20th St & N Hopkins St)
Washington, DC 20036
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
(202) 223-1245
- Nearest Transit:
-
Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
421 reviews for Pizzeria Paradiso
Review Highlights
"My go to's are the Atomica and Bottarga."
(in 55 reviews)
"The beer selection was outstanding."
(in 55 reviews)
"Also, had the Insalata di Tonno e Fagioli (Tuna and White..."
(in 5 reviews)
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421 reviews in English
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Review from Samuel H.
Washington, DC
2/9/2012
In pizza land, I believe there is a bit of confusion as to "What makes a good pizza?" It is not helpful to judge Paradiso as a Chicago deep-dish pizza, because clearly, it was never intended to be deep-dish, oozing with a pound of cheese. Then the New York thin-crusters are like "This crust is way too dry." Well, guess what folks? This ain't New York style either. The best way I can describe Paradiso is that it is Neapolitan-style pizza, at least in terms of the crust and woodfire oven. (A bit more liberal when it comes to topping variety.) And in this category, Paradiso is quite solid: fresh ingredients and well-balanced between cheese and crust. And yes, "well-balanced" can mean very different things depending on the type of pizza. For Neapolitan, think a light layer of toppings to complement the crust. It is not an "in-your-face" pizza, loaded with tons of cheese and a dozen different toppings. (It is my personal belief that it is NOT sacrilegious to enjoy and embrace all forms of pizza, be they thick or thin, saucy or cheesy.)
Pizza comes in two sizes: 8" ($10-13) and 12" ($16-19). The 8" will leave most guys a bit hungry, and the 12" is enough for two small women. 8" or 12" and which seasonal beer to order are usually my only two questions when eating here. Um yeah, so if you were looking for cheap pizza, definitely the wrong place.
So the next time you ask a friend, "Where is the best place to get pizza in DC?" Perhaps, you will consider being a bit more specific. (You wouldn't order an egg sunny-side-up and then complain that it was too runny, because it wasn't scrambled.) If you are looking for the best Neapolitan-style pizza in DC, you would be hard-pressed to find much better than Pizza Paradiso. -
Review from Jeff R.
Accokeek, MD
2/7/2012
New in town, friends took us here because they knew we were searching for a great pizza. They told us this was fantastic pizza. They lied and we are still searching.
Nice informal atmosphere, seating pretty close together but still comfy. Service was quick and courteous. I'm not a big beer person but my friend was pleased with the list of drafts and he picked something unusual for me that was very tasty.
The salads were okay, not write home to momma. A little on the plain side. Bruchetta was disappointing. The ingredients were good, but it was very plain - no spices or herbs at all.
My wife and I split a quattro formaggio pie. Nice thin and crisp crust, not as much cheese as I would have liked, and not a lot of zing to the sauce. Not bad and we certainly enjoyed it. Just not up to the great level. -
Review from Catherine M.
Washington, DC
1/29/2012
This will be a quickie review as it pertains to a to go stop on the way home from work since my baby LOVES pizza in a slightly overzealous way, and I was not in the mood for slaving over a hot stove! I ordered the 8 inch Quattro Fromagio with some prosciutto topping for myself and the 12 inch Margarita for "the connoisseur" with some extra parm and red pepper flakes for added excitement.
As I was waiting for the fire grilled crustiness, I happened to browse the drink menu... what an expansive, impressive beer selection! The girl who took my phone order was apologetic because I had to wait a minute for my order to be ready, but I was extremely comfortable waiting because on a brisk night, the blast of heat from the oven and the strong smell of garlic and dough rising brought you back to your childhood in grandma's kitchen.
When I finally got home, which seemed to take forever with the fabulous smell in the back seat, WOW is all I have to say! It definitely hit the spot, the thin crust allowed for more "packing in" and overall the flavor was music to my stressed out taste buds from chomping on gum and yelling at people all day long!! "The connoisseur" didn't have any words, just the sound of chewing and grunting satisfaction filled the dining room... -
Review from Kris G.
Updated - 2/9/2012
the new venue is two blocks from my new apartment. i think i'm okay with that.
Listed in: District Dining, Talking In Circles
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2009
pizzeria paradiso does amazing pizza. and i'm sad to say that this dupont institution is about to… Read more »
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Review from Nevena R.
Dallas, TX
1/28/2012
Sorry for the one star, but I guess I was expecting so much more because of the high ratings, and left severely disappointed.
Bf and I ordered bruchetta, crostino, and a quatro formaggio pizza. The bruchetta was two smallish pieces of bread, soaked in olive oil, with 20 cherry tomato halves on top and 6 pieces of mozarella. It actually wasn't too bad, and the tomatoes were good, but it was so strange nevertheless, with no spices and dripping in oil.
If nothing else though, this olive oil was high quality (compared to the cheap olive oil sitting on the table).
The cheeses on the pizza were mediocre at best, and I had hoped to avoid this by ordering the 4 cheese pizza (disclaimer: I consider myself a bit of a cheese snob). The pizza tasted... bad. The pepperoni was so spicy that it overwhelmed the half of the pizza it was on, but this is my own fault. I should have asked if the pepperoni were spicy before ordering them.
The crostino was horrible. It was on UN-toasted white (!!) bread. It was ONE piece of prochutto (I know this stuff is expensive, but come on!!), with goat cheese (good!), and some difficult-to-bite-into sun-dried tomatoes. At least the bread was fresh.
Another shock was the fact that in this "Italian" restaurant, you don't get bread before your meal -- it costs $2. Instead, you get a handful of olives.
I walked out of there, telling my bf that either Washingtonians (correct term??) have terrible taste buds and no sense of quality, or that it must be that everyone is too drunk there to remember the food. Everyone at the five tables around me did have beer(s) in his/her hand(s)... -
Review from pinguino k.
Studio City, CA
1/27/2012
So good.
So many toppings that it was hard to choose from. Quality handmade artisan woodfired pizzas, with a super impressive beer selection. Very attentive wait staff. We tried the 4 cheese and one with artichoke, capers, and sausage, and both were excellent. -
Review from Hilary T.
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'd heard amazing things about this place but I wasn't terribly impressed. It is a safe bet for decent pizza, though.
My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night without reservations. It was a bit crowded but we found a spot at the bar to wait 20-25 minutes (and it did end up being that amount of time, not longer, which we appreciated). The bartender was great - very cheery, very helpful, and after he charged us the wrong amount for two beers, he came back, acknowledged his mistake, and immediately fixed the error. We liked him.
Sidenote: Cheapest beers are $6. I find that expensive but apparently for Dupont on a weekend night, that's alright.
Be warned that the tables are close together so it's tough to carry on a truly intimate conversation, but it is a buzzing place to spend an evening with significant others or friends. I imagine, though, that they have difficulty accommodating large group because it is so small. We personally enjoyed mocking the couple at the table next to us, who were clearly still in their "honeymoon" phase, unable to take their eyes off each other or stop holding hands. Like an elderly couple on the verge of dementia, we made comments like "Remember when we were that young and in love?" batting our eyes at each other and making fake vomiting noises.
As for the food, we were severely underwhelmed. The Antipasto was actually kind of gross, especially compared to the Antipasto we've had at other (and comparable) Italian restaurants. There was only one piece of cheese and the meats were crap (except for the Prosciutto, which, like bacon, is always delicious and difficult to mess up). I wouldn't recommend it, nor the Atomica pizza, which served as "something to eat" rather than "an eating experience."
It's a cool setting, with decent prices and a nice location. It's not my first choice for places in Dupont, but I guess you could do worse. -
Review from Dave G.
Dallas, TX
1/25/2012
Paradiso is a small, hip, gastro-pizza joint with a deep selection of craft brewed beers. The pizzas are wood fired and quite good. The beer selection will blow your mind.
One anecdote that illuminates this place:
A waitress corners the bartender with a request for beer samples. "The keg of stout is giving me troubles. Let me put something together for them." She nods, "So you're going to talk to them?" He nods. He pulls a bunch of glasses and sets off to the table where he gives beer tasting lesson.
You have to love a place where they are in interested in educating you about their drinks and foods. It is even better, and this is the case with the Paradiso, when they know what they are talking about and expand your pallet. -
Review from Rachael N.
Cleveland, OH
12/25/2011
Although I had tried pizzeria paradiso in Georgetown about 1.5 years ago, I decided to give the Dupont Circle one a try, as the location was good. We didn't have reservations at all, but they were able to take my reservation and seat about 12 people within one hour on a Saturday night at 7pm, without a fuss. That gave it one extra star from me! (Although I begged a lot, gave me sad eyes look, and had to grab one friend away who kept pestering them..)
We got many different flavors- the napoletana, quattro formaggi, bottarga, and many other different ones, they all came out and were actually quite good (a lot better than I remembered.) I'm a big fan of eggs cooked in the middle of pizzas, so the bottarga was my fave by far.
For "DC" type of pizza, make sure to stop by pizzeria paradiso! -
Review from Stephanie S.
Silver Spring, MD
1/26/2012
All I can say is that it's exactly the same as the M street location food wise and the space is a bit brighter. That's all I got.
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Review from Morgan M.
Washington, DC
1/3/2012
It's almost incredible to believe that I've lived in Northwest DC for four years, and worked in the Dupont area during this time, without ever having gone to this place. I did so for the first time tonight with an old high school friend of mine. We arrived at the tail end of happy hour on a Tuesday and the bar was packed, despite the rest of the restaurant's slight emptiness. Somehow miraculously two seats opened up at the bar and we were able to snag them.
I'll make this short and sweet. Obviously you need to come early to enjoy happy hour. The draft selection is good enough that it's worth taking advantage of--and the ambiance is relaxed and casual without being too noisy. I have to admit, though, that I found the pizza to be just mediocre. My friend and I even split the Atomica--recently named one of The 2011 Best Things to Eat in Washington, DC. I can't explain why...
Based on its ingredients it was advertised as a flavorful, hearty, and somewhat spicy pizza, but was in reality lacking in flavor. We both piled on the red pepper flakes AND parmesan to add taste. I did enjoy the freshly baked, spongy pizza crust, but for a pizza called Atomica I am looking for something more.
Don't let my review dissuade you from partaking--the service was friendly and prompt, the ambiance and beer selection pleasing--but don't go expecting much of the pizza. -
Review from Graeme J.
12/6/2011
Another busy restaurant. If you can't wait, here's a quick tip: ask to be seated 'through the back'. It's not a bar, per se, but a row of stools against a large window to the kitchen, where you can watch the chefs (pretty soon we'll be calling them dough artists) prepare/perform their stuff. A tasty meal and a free show, what more could you want?
My pizza (tomato, mozzarella, anchovies, capers) was delicious, if a little burnt for my personal taste. But a decent beer list too.
Fun and funky. -
Review from K M.
Alexandria, VA
1/22/2012
This is a great place for neapolitan style pizza. We usually order the paradiso pizza with pepperoni. Yum! We also enjoy the Insalata Italiana. For some reason, we stick to these choices all the time but have tried some of the other pizzas and dishes as well, and they are good. They have a great beer and wine selection. I tried the shandy, which is basically a mix of lemonade and beer. Very refreshing! Also, they are open a little later than most restaurants which is always helpful when you're hungry late at night! I still believe 2 Amys is the best neapolitan pizza in the area, but this restaurant comes awfully close.
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Review from Robert S.
Jersey City, NJ
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Everyone told me this was the pizza place to go for the best pizza in DC. While It was good, the crust was very crisp and there were plenty of options to choose from, it didn't live up to the hype I was given. Most people have said this is the best pizza they have ever eaten. I suppose if you only eat at chain restuarants that would be accurate.
The service was great and the food was good, so I would eat there again. But Pizzeria Paradiso wouldn't end up on my top 10 best pizzas ever eaten. -
Review from Douglas G.
Park Ridge, IL
1/12/2012
Well, it can share that title with the Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown. I rate a bar based on the number of pages of their beer list. This place's beer list is a dozen pages and we are talking fine craft brews here, no corporate crap. I admire the diversity of the offerings too, they aren't focused on just one type or region. They always have a cask ale on hand too and if you have never tried a cask ale, you have to, it is a different experience than what most people are used to. The staff are always wonderful and by that I mean total beer geeks who love what they do and are excited about sharing their products with you. Sit at the bar if you can and chat with them about beers.
Oh, and they have pizza too, which is high quality Neapolitan style (lots of crust) but the beer is the thing here, no question. -
Review from Josh F.
11/9/2011
If this spot was JUST a bar with small plates, I would still come in here to get down on the incredible beer selection they offer. With a deep menu of craft beer and Belgian favorites, I was well pleased with this spot even before we were seated.
It takes some time to get seated here, as they don't take reservations and this is a pretty popular joint. (The location helps, it's a stones throw from the Dupont metro) The staff was patient and funny, and managed to sneak us in ahead of their expected wait time.
Food was just fantastic. We got an antipasto plate and two wood fired old school pizzas, the Atomica (buffalo mozz, tomato, salami, etc) and a four cheese pie. Every bite was fresh in the way it can ONLY be when made from scratch, and the price was reasonable. (considering the area) Service was prompt, and the interior has a cozy tavern feel that makes you feel warm and comfortable.
I'll be back.....hopefully sooner than later. -
Review from Jenny H.
10/27/2011
They have my favorite, favorite pizza ever here- their 4 cheese pizza!!!! It's the ONLY pizza I get here since I think their other pizzas are just OK.
It's a blend of four amazing, salty, nutty cheesed melted on top of freshly made dough. It's the best four (or three, five, etc) cheese pizza I've ever had- I don't know how they got the combo so perfect!!! I'm a die-hard cheese lover so this is my go-to pizza!!
I dip it in my plate of olive oil and cheese mixture that I make for myself at the table- for that extra cheese flavor! :) I usually empty out the cheese jar since the table cheese is so good. -
Review from Tim S.
10/22/2011
Delicious is the word that comes to mind off the bat.
After a long day of work a few decided that we had to get pizza at their favourite place, great call. We arrived a little late to find our buddies waiting by the front door as they could not be seated till we got there. Understandable as they do a good job of turn around here. Sat down in less than 10 min after we all assembled and got right to it...
... that is after we finally dug through their extensive beer selection, with the help of our knowledgeable server. I ordered the Bosco (Tomato, Mushrooms, Spinach, Red Onion, Mozzarella) and found the 8" to be plenty for dinner. Well executed, nothing taking the lead and working in balance.
Service was on top of everything, as one might expect in a place that is popular. Kept us progressing along and out the door without feeling rushed. -
Review from Kate R.
Washington, DC
1/6/2012
I like the Dupont Pizzeria Paradiso better than the Georgetown one, as it attracts a better crowd, and the recent renovation has make it much more spacious.
Pizzeria Paradiso doesn't take reservations, and getting a seat at the bar at happy hour is quite the challenge. The service is good though.
After you put in your order here, you'll receive a small dish of exquisite olives, and it's worth getting homemade bread (for a mere $2) to start.
The beer selection is always really interesting, and generally consists of a number of harder-to-find beers my well-known microbreweries.
I know it's heresy, but I'm not the biggest fan of the actual pizza. It's very good, obviously, but there's something about the crust I've never really loved... The toppings are good, and the ingredients taste fresh... Anyhow, I think the proprietors and I have a disagreement about what pizza is supposed to be like. -
Review from Michael S.
Washington, DC
1/29/2012
This is an excellent pizzeria for tasty "individual" sized pizzas with a neapolitan-like crust. (they excel at pizza, not the starters.) the beer list is outstanding with a nice focus on belgian-styles. and the staff are generally pleasant and efficient.
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Review from Steph L.
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Pizzeria Paradiso a few times now and have yet to be impressed. I think it's safe to say that I won't return anytime soon willingly.
Huge mark-up on their beers, so much so that recently we walked out of there with an $80 bill (tip and tax not included) when we only had 2 salads and 4 beers! I was not happy. The pizzas are also nothing special in my opinion and also pricey. The ingredients on each pizza are pretty sparingly placed, the pizzas themselves were uninspiring unless you create your own, and the dough is ok but can't compare to Two Amy's.
If you must go, go at happy hour so you can at least get 1/2 draft beers. -
Review from Tim R.
10/29/2011
Never before have I been to a pizza restaurant with a better selection of beers.
Never before have a been to such a bustling restaurant on a Sunday afternoon, which was as happy to have customers who just wanted to drink.
I'm reserving full judgement for when I return and try their pizza.Listed in: Washington, DC, Pizza
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Review from Al A.
Beverly Hills, CA
10/16/2011
Okay pizza. Great selection of beers. Friendly enough bartenders. One of those annoying places that won't let you sit down until your entire party has arrived.
Allows parents to walk in with a crying baby and annoy the hell out of everyone in the entire restaurant. Parents with an uncontrollable child should be asked to leave. -
Review from Jeremy S.
Reston, VA
12/1/2011
We went to Psradiso last night and it was pleasant as usual. I am motivated to review today because I keep expecting the pizza to taste better and it does not. There is almost no flavor on the pizza, just some cheese and dough. However it is fresh, it is cooked in a brick oven and it is in the heart of Dupont Circle so we have to go with it. Their service is good and the hours are until at least 11pm most nights. DC is not the place for late night dining though I am a night owl. Some reviews of some better pizza places are to come.
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Review from Lia M.
7/26/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I don't care for the service or the ambiance, but I think Pizzeria Paradiso pizza is amazing. Crack pizza, as my friend calls it. I like the margherita with capers and artichokes (however, they do not offer broccoli as a topping - minus one star). I keep trying to branch out, but can't. I am obsessed with this pizza. Crust is perfect. Cheese-to-sauce ratio is perfect. Plenty of artichokes. So good. Bread is fine, but I would not waste my calories or money ordering it. Just stick with the pizza.
I do hate that it is so popular, thus making it crowded and loud at all times of day. Matter-of-fact, not-so-friendly service was fine the first time, but quite awful the second. The server did not bring straws or napkins without being asked; my friend's pizza was served burnt; the original server disappeared; drink orders were wrong. Of course I'll come back - pizza is a food group to me and this pizza at the top of that food group.Listed in: Good Times in Dupont Circle
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Review from Ashley L.
Washington D.C., DC
9/4/2011
A real nice spot. It's slightly pricey, the kind of place I go when I have friends or family in town or maybe for a date. It's great that they have vegan cheese, and it's daiya, which is the good kind. The Siciliana pizza is my favorite, lots of fresh tasting veggies.
A word of advice: Ask for the chili oil to put on your pizza or to dip your crust in. Yum! -
Review from Brian Y.
9/9/2011
There's a bit of a wait if you don't get there relatively early. Seems to be consistently busy every evening throughout the week.
The service here was very good, as was the food. Being a native New Yorker, I tend to be picky about pizza. I took a leap of faith and ordered the "New York style pizza" they offered as a special that evening. It turned out to be excellent. The crust was thin, with just the right amount of sauce and cheese.
I'd definitely pay this place another visit to see what else they had to offer on the regular menu. -
Review from Saman S.
Denver, CO
11/26/2011
Perfect pizza every time!
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Review from Adam B.
Abingdon, MD
10/25/2011
A few days ago, a couple of my friends and I decided to take a trip to Georgetown. The primary purpose of this trip was to go shopping and check out the famous and much hyped Georgetown Cupcake. But little did I know that the highlight of my trip may have just been this pizzeria called Pizzeria Paradiso. Nested on the bustling Pennsylvania Ave is a nice pizzeria that seemed to draw large crowds. I didn't think much of this restaurant when I walked past and glanced at the menu. However, just before I past the restaurant, I happened to glance at a customer's freshly served pizza, and at the moment I was hooked. I had to go check this place out. We went in, put our name on the waitlist and then in about 10 or so minutes we were taken downstairs to this seating area. The overall atmosphere of this restaurant was very rustic, with a prevalent bar/pub theme throughout. It seemed like I was in a wine cellar that happened to serve great brick oven pizza.
Now the pizza at this restaurant was the real show. From being cooked in a huge brick oven, to utilizing fresh ingredients, the pizza was delicious, crispy, and so fulfilling. We ordered two pizzas: The Atomica, which featured tomato, salami, black olives, hot pepper flakes, and fresh mozzarella; and the Margherita which featured tomato, basil, and mozzarella. Both of these pizzas were very good and I will definitely have to try them again.
So overall, if you are ever in the Georgetown area and are looking for some fresh and delicious brick oven pizza, be sure to check out Pizzeria Paradiso. I will be returning to Paradiso, hungry for more! -
Review from Vishal S.
8/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I can't believe that I have not reviewed this location of Pizzeria Paradiso yet! This location is just as good as the Georgetown location in food and service. I feel this place is bigger than the other location and that tips the balance to this location for me.
I have enjoyed gorging myself with the following pizzas (multiple trips) - atomica, margherita, Napoletana, Bosco. Also like their toppings of Prosciutto, and olives.
They do have a wide selection of unique beers to go along with the pizzas!
The only thing against them is no reservations and long wait times. But it is worth the wait! -
Review from Daniel H.
Silver Spring, MD
1/14/2012
Yes, this is a pizza place but I don't think that is where they excel. The pizza is okay, but its nothing special. Where this place really excels is its beer list. They offer a TON of options from breweries that I've never heard of.... I was really impressed with the wide variety. The wait staff were also friendly and attentive which is always a major plus in my book.
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Review from Rachel A.
New York, NY
9/8/2011
Closer to 3.5 stars, but i'm feeling generous tonight.
Got there around 6:30 tonight, and had less than a 5 minute wait, which is nice for DC.
The staff there is pretty amazing. Attentive, friendly, cute (I know that doesn't really count...) and helpful. Our waiter was really sweet and friendly, even as the dinner rush came in.
The alcohol list is pretty cool, with lots of interesting and delicious options. I didn't realize this place had so many choices, I think i'd like to come back just to drink. NOTE: The drinks are not cheap.
I had the Framboise with vodka drink, and it was delish. Definitely try it!
The pizza was decent. The base (crust, whatever) was delicious. I thought they could have been a little more generous on the toppings. I ordered a pizza with spinach, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes, and added anchovies. There was one anchovy sliver per slice of pizza, which was disappointing.
The place has a lively, loud feeling, so bad first date place, but great place with a lively group, or people who annoy you!
I wish there was some way to merge 2 Amy's and PP together! -
Review from Vivian R.
Alexandria, VA
7/22/2011
You know that feeling, when you bite into the perfect apple in the fall, and it crisps just so? And when you start chewing the bite and it fills your mouth with all its height-of-the-season juice, and you suddenly feel like you're smack dab in the middle of an orchard, sun on your face, cool breeze in your hair, you can hear the rustling of leaves on the trees, and you can smell the harvest?
Yeah, Paradiso pizza is like that. No, I'm not talking about the dough exploding in your mouth - it doesn't do that (thank god!). When I take a bite of their pizza, I feel like I'm instantly transported to the fields of Italy, smelling the freshness of the basil and tomatoes all around me, drenched by the Mediterranean sun, and feeling the oils of olives in my palms. It helps that the meal starts off with a bowl of their delectable olives on the table, just enough brine to prime the palate for their terrific beers (DC Brau has a couple of brews here!) and the crispy chewy dough of their pizzas.
When it comes to pizza, I'm pretty boring. I love the margherita the best, but if I really want to go out on a limb, I'll ask for a small bowl of anchovies on the side, just for nibbles. A recent visit brought me to have their bread with roasted elephant garlic. While it was quite good, I was, I'm sure, still emitting garlic from my pores the next day. And their beers - oh, their beers. What a selection, an endless list, and I've yet to have one I haven't liked.
Paradiso holds a special spot in my heart, as it was the first pizza place I visited when I first moved to DC some 15 years ago. And while every other place has tried to have some variation of wood-fired pizza, I still come back to Paradiso for their tried and true - which has yet to fail me. -
Review from Howie H.
Fairfax, VA
9/6/2011
This place gets 4 stars because it has produced consistently good pizza since it was just a little tiny pizza shop off of P st. Even with the Georgetown and new P St location, Paradiso has increased their appeal with all of the beers now offered. My go to's are the Atomica and Bottarga...sometimes I add an extra egg to the Bottarga as an egg on a brick oven pizza...which is the way to go if you love eggs!
Service is good, but they do get very busy so that might influence the attention that you get. That is to be expected with any popular eatery in DC. I do have to say that I'm going on a pizza hunt in the DC Metro area, and Paradiso is still one of my top favorites! -
Review from Mike P.
7/13/2011
PIZZERIA PARADISO IS SO GOOD.
SOME NUMBERS: 1 flight to DC, 2 cab rides, 6 hours working, 5 hungry coworkers, 0 desire to dine at an uptight restaurant
My coworkers and I spotted the Pizzeria Paradiso while walking to our hotel. It looked very busy but we decided to give it a try. We were promptly seated outside. Our waitress took our drink orders and answered questions about the menu like we were her only customers. Our meal was started with complimentary olives.
ORDERED: Insalata di Tonno e Fagioli - $6.50, Shared Pizzas of Margherita, Genovese, Quattro Formaggi, Bottarga, Salame di Cioccolato - $5.25
TASTED: The salad which consisted of tuna an white beans was the perfect appetizer on a hot DC day. Light, refreshing and large portion. The pizzas were a colorful mix of flavors that allowed our table to taste what Paradiso offers. My dessert was a chocolate fudge roll sliced with toasted walnuts and pistachios then topped with whipped cream. It was as amazing as my description.
HIGHLIGHT: The standout was the Bottarga pizza with Tomato, Egg, Garlic, Parsley, Parmesan, Bottarga (cured fish roe). This pizza had a spicy earthy flavor that was more robust flavored than it looked. The yellow from the poached egg yolk added a golden ooziness of color.
SCENE: People sipping on craft beers, casual attire, a gentle breeze chasing off the heat, wood-fired pizzas flying around, dogs waiting patiently under their tables outdoors. Great food delivered by great service. -
Review from Sara F.
Washington, DC
6/1/2011
I love this restaurant. Love it. Great beer, nice salads, excellent pizza, AND they have soy cheese. Soy cheese! What a treat. Also, the waitstaff is nice as can be. I once asked them where they get their olives from. The head waiter explained that they cure them themselves. I explained how I thought they were thee best thing since, er, cured olives, and he asked me if I wanted to take some home. I declined (kicking myself in retrospect) but thought afterwards about how neighborhood-y that was of him. I mean, they are essentially a chain restaurant in a top tourist spot but they really don't act like it.
Did I mention the great beer? Oh, I did? Yeah, that's because it rules. They have a fantastic selection on both tap and in bottles. And the waiters know enough about the different selections to give you excellent advice as to what you might like.
Pizzeria Paradiso, thus far you are my favorite pizza joint in D.C. And one of the only restaurants I find my mind wandering too. I heart you mucho. -
Review from Marc M.
My favorite pizza joint in the DC area and it has only gotten better by moving to a bigger location down the street from the old one. With the extra seating you don't have to wait like at the old place. However I didn't mind that so much since it was a good excuse to read what the chef at Obelisk next door was up to that night :-)
Excellent pie thickness and crispiness. No soggy crust at the center which is a pet peeve of mine. Also, they will substitute ingredients without a second thought. This includes veggie toppings for meat ones....excellent.
If a cat wore pajamas, this would be it.Listed in: ATF (All Time Favorites)
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Review from David C.
Chicago, IL
11/20/2011
I ordered take out from this place... while it was good it was not great. I too had a salad and much the same... average... nothing to write home about. There were at least 15 people outside waiting for a table... so if you are looking for a table... arrive early.
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Review from Jenny T.
6/21/2011
Yummm!! Kind of reminded me of California Pizza Kitchen. They have very original styles/topping choices. Just the right amount of crust, and the service was pretty quick. POTATO ON PIZZA??? OMG yum.
A group of us went, got a bunch of pizzas, and swapped slices. Some of them were EXTRA salty, though. So watch out for the ones with olives and pepperoni! -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Washington D.C., DC
1/7/2012
I don't get the hype over this place. After hearing rave reviews for quite some time, I finally grabbed dinner there with some friends and left pretty disappointed. The pizza was doughy and chewy--not in a good way. The restaurant overall was cramped and just not the kind of atmosphere that I expected--maybe I just went there on a bad night, but the quality of the pizza was so low that I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon.
