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Pizzeria Paradiso
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Sandwiches Nightlife Bars Pizza, Sandwiches, Bars [Edit]
3282 M St NW(between N Potomac St & N Eton Ct)
Washington, DC 20007
Neighborhood: Georgetown
(202) 337-1245
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
341 reviews for Pizzeria Paradiso
Review Highlights
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341 reviews in English
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Review from Miguel R.
The 4 cheese pizza was, well, simply put, freaking the best thing ever!
In the heart of Georgetown, this place was packed throughout the night. Just minutes away from Downtown D.C. - not only must you see the historical memorials that it has to offer, but you must embrace the food as well.
There is just something so unique about brick fired pizza... The crust is so moist, but crispy and light. It's just so hard to describe! -
Review from Lisa X.
Chicago, IL
Wanted to like this place. Really. But crusts are really, really dry unless you get a topping with oil in it (e.g., pesto)
Salad and service good. Place has a nice, friendly vibe.
But the crust is an issue.... -
Review from Lindsay E.
Sunnyvale, CA
This is my boyfriend and my favorite spot in Georgetown!! The Pizzas and salads are all super yummy (my favorite is the 4 cheese, his is the spicy Atomica). It's more modern pizza than pizza-joint-and-bar-on-the-corner, if you know what I mean. Love that they change out seasonal items on the menu. And love love LOVE the beer selections. And what's more, the waiters actually know something about the beers. Always get great recommendations!
One time we had a kind of "too cool" waiter, but the other dozen times everyone has been great. Maybe the dude was just having a bad day? -
Review from Stephanie S.
Silver Spring, MD
Yummy, yummy pizza. The tables are quite small so it's a possibility you'll knock your drink off the table or your pizza will consume all the space, BUT, get comfy and enjoy (the crust is my favorite part). Be adventurous, I tried to seafood pizza (not really called by that name) and it came with mussels on top... so delicious. You can tell that they are baked in their shells on top of the pizza in the oven and the shells open when they're ready - so you know they're fresh!
I've been to the P street location which I like the inside a bit more. It's darker/warmer and has a more rustic Italian feel (although both locations have no difference in food quality/taste). -
Review from Sam H.
Fairfax, VA
Pizza Paradiso never disappoints, and I find myself going back there whenever I'm in Georgetown. My last trip was as good as it always is! The wait for a table was super-short, and the waiter got to us right away. I ordered the four cheese 8" pizza and added spinach, and it was better than I could have hoped for. Everything tasted so fresh, and the crust was perfectly baked. I fought the urge to eat the whole thing, but I eventually succumbed to temptation! I also ordered a glass of Ellie's Brown Ale to go with it, and it was delicious and nicely chilled. The waiter was even nice enough to bring me a small 4oz glass to supplement the 12oz can because the menu charged for a 16oz glass. I didn't really notice, but that was a nice touch of customer service! I will continue to come here whenever I'm in the neighborhood!
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Review from Maria L.
Wilmington, NC
I have very mixed feelings about this place.
My Aunt and I just got to Georgetown and we were both really hungry so we stopped at the first place we saw. Pizzeria Paradiso. When we were seated we were sat VERY closely to another 2 top table. When I say Very Close I mean our table was a foot away from another table. Which was very awkward for all of us. There were plenty of other empty tables but they decided to sit us next to a couple (that was probably on their first date). That made the nice warm atmosphere, awkward and uncomfortable.
We ordered garlic bread and the margarita pizza. I was so excited about trying the bread with elephant garlic (I don't remember what the name for it was on the menu) but once it was in front of me and I tried it I was disappointed. The bread was fresh but not warm. Although the elephant garlic was warm, it would have tasted ten times better if the bread was warm. The pizza was delicious and all the ingredients tasted very fresh. -
Review from Rahul G.
Dallas, TX
Tasty pizza, good service, nice wine, ok service
I came here at the suggestion of a co-worker that lives in DC. Walked over from the West End and sat at the bar. No one else at the bar until one other person sat at the end of it about 15 minutes into my meal. Paradiso also have some "bar-type" seating in the back where you can watch the pizza being made. I opted for a glass of red wine that was fairly priced at eight dollars. For dinner I ordered a house salad and an eight inch pizza. The salad was fresh and well dressed. The pizza was steaming hot and also quite good. Perhaps not the best pizza of all time, but really quite appealing. Overall, dinner came to under thirty dollars (plus tip) and I felt for this part of the world, that was a fair prize. They played some cool, old style Rolling Stones so that was a bonus for me. If they manage to further improve their pizzas, this place has 5 star potential. -
Review from Cindy W.
Nashville, TN
I visit almost every time I'm in DC. Yes, the pizza is paradise. But what I love the most is the tuna, white beans and olive oil. When you've been battling the crowds in Georgetown for a few hours, it's the perfect power meal (esp if you add in a cheap and generous pour from the small but adequate wine list).
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Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
I have wanted to check out this restaurant since moving to d.c. It definitely didn't disappoint. Now I know why it is always so busy. We went to the P street location and ended up waiting for 45 minutes. However when you are in Dupont we just walked around and came back in 45 minutes when our table was ready. We had the 4 cheese pizza, veggie pizza, and pesto pizza. Very good! We also ordered to sides of bread before our pizza arrived and the bread was delicious.
Great place, great food! -
Review from Tori G.
Washington, DC
The first time I went to the Pizzera Paradiso in Georgetown was with my boyfriend for beer and appetizers. We ordered the antipasto plate with different types of prosciutto, provolone (i think), homemade bread and olives. It was a great compliment to the Belgian beer that I got and the 3 flight beer samples that my boyfriend got. The bartender was very knowledgeable about the different beers and was excited to engage in beer man talk with my boyfriend about all their favorite beer.
The second time that I went to Paradiso was with my family. It was a bigger group and it's a small place so it was pretty loud and crowded. The beer was great as usual. We ordered the Bosco and added prosciutto di parma, spinach and red onions. We also ordered the special pizza for the night, the Pesto pizza with wheat crust, spinach and mushrooms. The Bosco was great, but the Pesto pizza was pretty gross. The combination of pesto with the whole wheat crust made it soggy and flavorless. I would definitely not get the Pesto again. Other than that, the everything else was great! -
Review from Christina L.
Pleasanton, CA
I have been to both of the Georgetown and Dupont Circle locations twice.
In my four experiences at Pizzeria Paradiso so far, it has always been crowded but worth the wait. The crust of the pizza is not too doughy but has a slight crisp to it. The ingredients on the pizza are what make it so delicious, only the most fresh vegetables and meats are used. On that same note, the bruschetta uses fresh cherry tomatoes and balls of mozzarella. I usually don't like tomatoes very much but these are so sweet and tasty that I feel like they have to be a different fruit/vegetable.
They also have a large selection of beers, ales, ciders and wines.
You should go here. -
Review from Alan C.
McLean, VA
Great beer selection, good service, and comfortable seats...and thats just at the downstairs bar area. I've never eaten in the main dining area of this location, but I expect it to be equally good as the bar.
If you're not a beer person, go here anyway and they'll make you into a beer person, but it might take a bit of experimenting. -
Review from Richard w.
Rockville, MD
Pizzeria Paradiso (at least the original location at dupont circle) used to set the standard. Now, it is a sad imitation of itself. Too crisp, dull crust; tasteless toppings; not enough time in the oven. Doesn't even come close to being the top pie in DC or the 'burbs. If you want a beer, go. The salads are decent. But if you go there expecting the kind of pie you get at 2 Amy's or Comet Ping Pong, or Il Canale, save your money (and tastebuds).
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Review from CHRISTOPHER F.
Arlington, VA
Delicious pizza and great beer selection
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Review from Nate C.
Alexandria, VA
Glorious pizza and an impressive assortment of beers.
Definitely a superior pedigree of pizza than the typical DC Jumbo Slice or home delivery fare. The pizzas come in two sizes, 8" and 12" - the 8" is enough for me to eat alone, a 12" pie is just enough to sate two people. Lots of delicious pizzas on the menu, my personal favorite: the Quattro Formaggi.
The fresh oven-baked crust is so good, use it to soak up some olive oil.
In addition, the 'birre' selection at Pizzeria Paradiso is epic. The best restaurant in the DC area to get a nice Belgian ale, and they always have an interesting array of seasonal craft brews on tap.
Also, there's a rad basement room, which opens up for happy hour on the weekdays.
Good service - I've only had to wait for a table to open up once, and it was on a Saturday afternoon in Georgetown, so blah blah blah...
You should go, and admire the nice bright interior aesthetics / drink a couple seasonal tap beers. -
Review from annie d.
Washington, DC
Okay, let me admit that the beer selection here is awesome awesome awesome. But expensive. Yes, I love that you have one zillion beers. No, I do not want to pay ten dollars for a bottle. Buuuuut on occasion I may consider it.
The pizza... I had heard it was extremely delicious but I've got to say it let me down. Mainly it was the lack of sauce. I am a person who absolutely enjoys a sauce-less pizza, but this one didn't muster the flavor to do without sauce. It was trying so very hard, but it just couldn't pull off the fancy-factor it was trying to achieve. I will say that the crust was really yummy, especially when dipped in olive oil.
Points for the crust, the beer, the fresh ingredients. Minus points (or lack of points? I clearly need to make a better defined grading scale) for being over priced and forgetting that pizza needs some flava. -
Review from Sandy C.
Washington, DC
Thin crusted Neopolitan/New York style pizza.
Although I like pizza with a thicker crust, this place was pretty good!
They excel in their pizza and for some, pizza + beer can't get any better.
Ardent service and clean, open environment
= 3.5 stars -
Review from Shachi B.
This sister restaurant to the Dupont Circle location is pretty damn good.
Pros:
-We got seated much faster than in Dupont, in spite of being a table of 8. No wait = Gold Star!
-The beer selection here is much better as well. The servers are very good with pairing and offered us all recommendations we ended up enjoying.
Cons:
-The service is a bit slower. I'm not sure whether it was because there were 8 of us, but it took almost 45 minutes for our pizzas to be ready. 5 pizzas shouldn't take 45 minutes, but they were really tasty, so my complaint should be tempered a bit.
I'll probably stick to the Dupont location simply because it's closer, but if you're in Georgetown, this is an excellent place to grab a bite! -
Review from Jessica H.
Arlington, VA
Awesome beer list. Good service. Great beer. Did I mention the beer?
The pizza is just okay. I might just stick with beer and apps and dessert next time. -
Review from Natasha S.
Washington, DC
My friends were heading out back to California in less than 24 hours, and I wanted to take them out to our last lunch before we departed. We were in the area, and decided to try this place out which was another restaurant that had been on our list of "To Try".
We were seated immediately, and fortunately dined at a time that it wasn't too busy on a weekday. Service was good.
We ordered the Mozzarella Fresca as a starter - Fresh Mozzarella with Sundried Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes and Basil. I thought it was super fresh and delicious. A winner.
For pizzas, we ordered two and shared.
Siciliana - Tomato, Zucchini, Eggplant, Sweet Peppers, Red Onion, Capers, Garlic, Oregano, Mozzarella, Pecorino minus the Capers. We added Arugula to replace the Capers and also ordered it on a Whole Wheat crust.
I thought it was good and again very fresh.
Paradiso - Tomato, Mozzarella and added Mushrooms and Sausage on a regular crust. This one was very delicious, and the Sausage was gourmet - and had a very taste to it.
I thought the pizza's were very good, but I'm a simple gal who loves inexpensive huge, cheesy and thin New York style slices. But if I'm feeling a overpriced gourmet pizza kind of a mood, I'd return. -
Review from Melissa S.
Seattle, WA
I was expecting amazing pizzeria-style pizza, but I was kind of dissapointed. The sauce was just ok. The toppings on our veggie pizza were a little sparse. The crust was good. I figured for the price it would be a little bit more impressive.
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Review from Emme E.
Friendly staff & authentic Italian pizza. If you ask for a cheese pizza with half sausage and onions you will have no cheese on the half with the toppings but guess what! Still delicious! Their crust is excellent and they have olive oil on the table so you can slather your crusts with it! They have a crazy good beer selection and their tap beers rotate so don't go in there looking for a PBR. Other things that diners ordered looked delicious as well. Try the Kasteel Rouge Belgian Ale! Yummy cherry but not sweet.
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Review from Sang L.
Oh my goodness...
I got the margarita pizza and their special of the day "broccoli pizza"
Both very very good.
I wish I had more dishes to try...
Good artisan beer, nice personal size pizza.
What can be better?!?
Maybe a little bit cheaper would be nice... -
Review from Nicole L.
I was planning on meeting my friend at Morso to find out that restaurant had closed. I looked across the street and saw Pizzeria Paradiso. Though I was familiar with the tasty pizzas at paradiso I had not visited this one. When I walked in, I immediately liked the light and airy Tuscan feel, the host told me I should check out the basement for Happy Hour. Since I was early I walked down to the basement, one step before the entrance I saw all these people crowded in the basement bar like in a cave looked up at me, it almost felt like Neil Marshall's Descent. No thanks, I quickly turned around and went back to the bar upstairs. The bartender made me aware there was no happy hour special at the upstairs bar. Okay, got it!
At Paradiso, they had a great selection of beer. I was tempted to try some but my friend and I ended up sharing a bottle of Angeline Pinot Noir. The only decent wine on the list. It was served in a tumbler, as the bartender said Tuscan-style. I thought that was a good spin on not using wine glass but I felt like I was drinking grape juice as I laughed to myself. The bruschetta appetizer was toasted baguettes brushed with olive oil and topped with cherry tomatoes and baby mozarrella balls. It was very rustic but a fresh taste from the wholesome tomatoes and cheese. For the pizza, though this was best tasted after a hangover, somewhere between breakfast and lunch it was still the choice pizza that night.
Pizze Bottarga
The basics: Tomato, 2 Eggs, Garlic, Parsley, Parmesan, Bottarga (Salted Fish Roe)
Addition: Pancetta, Kalamata Olives and Anchovies.
The combination was atomic-formidable! You've got plenty of umami flavors from the bottarga, parmesan and anchovies. Salt from pancetta and olives, acid from the tomatos, richness of the eggs and the kick from the garlic. It was a tasty pizza indeed.
The tiramisu served in a ramekin dish was just the right portion, it was a creamier variation topped with coco powder. It had just the perfect sweetness. I also ordered a cappucino it was frothy and delish! Very enjoyable meal!Listed in: Best Beer Places, Das Best Pizzas
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Review from JACKIE n.
Washington D.C., DC
Overrated and expensive...
Pizza is flavorless and the olives that they give you in the beginning tasted rancid to me ....avoid if you can -
Review from Meghan M.
Super crazy impressive beer selection.
Super crazy impressive food.
WIN-WIN
Sunday brunch around 1:30 was busy but there was only about a 2 minute wait. The local beer on tap, Citizen, was cold and incredibly refreshing at $6 a pint. For our meal, we ordered and shared:
* Crostini with prosciutto, goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and basil
* Salad of arugula, goat cheese, pinenuts, and mushrooms
* "IPizzaA" (special pizza of the day) topped with local apricots, peaches, prosciutto, ricotta, parmesan, and garlic
Everything was absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. Highly recommended. -
Review from Paige M.
When you can't stop thinking about a restaurant you ate at three years ago, you know it's something special.
Pizzeria Paradiso was discovered on my first trip to D.C. in 2008, and when I returned this summer, I knew I had to take my friends there to experience the wonder.
The pizza dough is hand tossed and covered in a delicious olive oil. The pie is perfectly lopsided; it's not that standard circular crust. You can get a size big enough to share, half and half, or get your own personal size. The options for ingredients are a mile long, and have many eccentric options, especially for vegetarians. There are also specialty pizzas on the menu.
My favorite is the 8" Siciliana for $13.00. It features tomato, zucchini, eggplant, sweet peppers, red onion, capers, garlic, oregano, mozzarella, and pecorino.
In addition to pizza, the restaurant is known for serving craft beer. The beer menu is actually longer than the food menu, covering four pages. They have a beer flight, in which you can choose three or four small glasses of beer for $9.00 or $13.00. I opted for light, fruity beers: Captain, Finesse, Whirlwind, and Alagash White Beer.
Pizzeria Paradiso was just as memorable the second time around. I'll definitely be back during my next visit to D.C.! -
Review from Dana Z.
Ah, I am finally writing a review for Pizza Paradiso! My first time there was at the Dupont Circle location before my yelp days. But I was never really impressed by it.
I went to the Georgetown location with my brother last night and I have to say, the experience was just as I remembered except maybe a little better since it was late at night (9:30 on a Sunday) and this location seems to be much bigger than the Dupont Circle location.
I got the special pizza which was Lamb sausage, onions, endive, peas, and goat cheese. I know, it sounds like the barnyard pizza. But it was good especially with the goat cheese. Could have done with a little less onion. But overall, good.
I know people flip out over this pizza but I think it's just ok. It's a much better alternative to pizza chains that's for sure.Listed in: Georgetown, Big Brother
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Review from Sarah C.
Vienna, VA
This is my absolute favorite pizza place (along with it's Dupont Circle sister). FANTASTIC CRUST. Thin, with just the right amount of chewy, and gorgeous char on the edges. The margherita pizza (with Mozzarella di Buffalo - $2 extra) is outstanding. The cheese is so fresh and soft and bubbly, the tomatoes are sweet, there is just the right amount of basil, and a lovely olive oil taste throughout. The beer selection is pretty killer, too.
During the day, it can get really crowded and noisy and the service suffers. But the pizza is so worth it.Listed in: Best of DC
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Review from Topher B.
New York, NY
I'm a fan. This joint has a looong beer list populated by a slew of brews that I mostly have not tried. Lots of craft brews, at least one cask ale, and lots of unfamiliar brews by familiar breweries.
Oh yeah: the pizza is tasty, too. :) -
Review from Jamila J.
Yummy!
I honestly don't know how went through college not knowing about this place. At least I found it at last!
Two things that you shouldn't live without pizza and beer!
Starting with pizza. There's something for everyone, meats, cheeses, veggies. The crust isn't thin or thick, it's just right! Seriously dream about the pizza.
Next, beer. The best companion to pizza. They've got a great selection on tap and an even larger bottle selection. I was quite impressed with some of the microbrews!
It does get ridiculously croweded, so expect a wait. But the wait, if you have one is well worth it. -
Review from E J.
Wichita, KS
We are big fans of Neapolitan style pizza, so we're always looking for places to go when we travel. Pizzeria Paradiso definitely fit the bill with their super thin in the middle, puffy on the edges, and charred all over pizzas.
We went on a Friday night and the place was hopping but our party of 9 was accommodated relatively quickly (20-30 mins) despite being behind another large party. There were a few snafus with my drink order, but they were understandable and dealt with to the best of the servers ability. Speaking of drinks, their beer selection is one to be admired. I had a few really amazing and special brews there, including the outstanding Mikkeller It's Alright. To my husband's delight, they were feature a nice list of IPA draughts for the month of July. He enjoyed a couple of pints on the list.
We ordered the Margarita, which we always like to try as a benchmark at new places, and the special, a peach and prosciutto pizza. The Margarita was good, but a bit more tomato-y than I like. I really enjoyed the peach pizza, although one of our party thought it had a bit too much garlic. But I, myself, am a garlic lover so... Both had outstanding crusts. Nice and thin, but crispy enough to hold up to the weight of the toppings.
All in all, an enjoyable experience. I probably appreciated their beer selection over the pizza itself. I would definitely return, but as I only get to visit the area every once in awhile, I may take the next opportunity to try some place else. -
Review from Becky S.
Austin, TX
One of our favorite places to eat (and drink) in DC. Their beer selection is awesome (draft and bottle) and their pizza ain't bad either! This will definitely be a go to place when we visit!
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Review from John H.
Ann Arbor, MI
Go downstairs.
The pizza at Paradiso is neapolitan style, but a little bland and too small. I haven't tried their other locations, but this place can be busy, so the wait can be annoying. The beer selection, however, is fantastic.
Come for the beer, stay for a pizza. -
Review from Melodi R.
I can't speak to the food here (but I promise to eat there next time I'm in D.C.) but the bar downstairs ruled! Loved it!
The bartender, Paul, who is nearly too tall for the bar and who loves wine so much he's tattooed a grape vine on his arm (so cool), got us plenty drunk on a couple of great beers! He lead the way allowing us to taste-test before committing, but he got it right every time! He knows his stuff and it was really fun chatting with him.
I will dream of a cold night where I can return here and enjoy a drink by a warm fire!Listed in: Local Favs!, Washington D.C.
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Review from Stef S.
Amazing pizza. The place was crowded but we were able to be seated right away on a Saturday night at 9:30 (well, you would certainly hope so,right!). I ordered the Bottarga... which was incredible. The garlicky, eggy yumminess was perfect. The crust was plain but still tasty. I gobbled up the whole thing gladly.
My friend loved her Genovese pizza.
Honestly, I think the pizza is more than i'd like ($12 plus tip and tax in the end) to pay , but the quality is great and it's definitely worth trying. LOVED the pizza. -
Review from Ben J.
Bowie, MD
The pizza quality was very good. The size selection seemed okay. Two people could split the small if they're not very hungry. I came here once in the evening and it was a 40 minute wait, came back again during the day and was seated immediately.
The ingredients had a distinct taste. The cheese was very good. The crust was one of the best parts.
The service was quite lackluster. Not happy with it at all. This place wouldn't be worth a 40 minute wait. Rating definitely suffers because of the service, and rightfully so. They performed like a 3 star. Maybe it's just their attentiveness during the day? Regardless, I was not satisfied. I would go back for the food quality and I would be surprised if the experience was any better.
There's a downstairs bar that's really cool. There's bar seating. The atmosphere is very nice. There's at least 2 bathrooms to use for each sex. -
Review from Sylvia B.
Manhattan, NY
pricey and mediocre
we got a salad to start (pine nuts, goat cheese, mushrooms, mixed greens). the pine nuts couldve used some toasting.
asparagus pizza: pretty good but a little bland. i appreciated the fact that the asparagus still had a bite to them even though they were roasted in the pizza oven
bosco: my favorite. i think pizza just requires mozzarella cheese. you couldn't taste the mushrooms (aka, you need to put on more!) but the rest of the ingredients were fresh and nicely balanced.
would i come back? probably not... -
Review from Mike E.
Arlington, VA
Came here last weekend before a movie with the girlfriend and was pleasantly surprised by the pizza. The pizzas were priced as about what I would expect for a place in Georgetown and they were delicious. I had the margherita pizza which was really good. The cheese was fantastic and the tomatoes were wonderfully sweet. The crust was also great and was light, airy, and crispy. Bonus points for the good olive oil they give you to dip your crust in. More bonus points for having open windows so you can get fresh air on those perfect nights. I will definitely be coming back.
Oh, I thought it was weird that they only have their happy hour special on Tuesday and Thursdays, not the entire week. -
Review from Jennifer R.
Washington, DC
I had not eaten at this place in years, and had only previously tried the Dupont Circle location. I found it still to be decent, despite the surly hostess at the door (was she surly because it was a busy Saturday afternoon? Who knows..). I had the basic margarita pizza, and it was cooked perfectly for my taste.
The Mozzarella Fresca appetizer was decent, but not overwhelming.
Service was somewhat haphazard, but friendly.
On a weird note, the ladies room bathroom has some of the best lighting ever. If you are feeling down about yourself ladies - take a look in the mirror here and you will perk right up :-)
