After falafel I had a little bit of a siesta, and then dinner at Grimaldi’s. I love my pizza. I’m opening a pizzeria in D.C. in the next three or four months. I just took over the building the other day. I’m researching pizza, so I’m trying to hit up all the spots. They do a great coal-fire pizza. I had pepperoni and green peppers on it and a pitcher of beer. I love watching the owner give everybody attitude in the restaurant; it’s part of the ambience. I don’t think I want to have coal fire. I want to have American-Napolean [sic] pizza. But not a true Napolean [sic] pizza; it needs to be Americanized a little bit. The true pizza from Napoli is really soggy in the middle, and you have to eat it with a knife and fork. I don’t think it’ll take well to the American palate. I mean, most pizzas in the States that are called Napolean pizzas are crispier. That was the night.
Mendelsohn also visited 99¢ Fresh Pizza and Lombardi's and had plans to visit Tonda, Una Pizza Napoletana, Kesté, San Marzano, Emporio, and Artichoke Basille's.
Well... If his pizzeria mimics his burger joint here in DC, we can expect undercooked dough, overcooked sauce, and raw meats. All the money his Mom pumps into his ventures should be spent on a basic food safety course.
ugh....I dunno if DC needs someone to open up some fancy pizzeria who cleary hasn't educated himself enough. "Naploean" pizza? It's bad enough that Vapiano's opened up here in the Gallery Place area.
I wish DC had more places mom and pop places downtown where you can just get a good slice. Supposedly, Alberto's over in Dupont Circle has decent slices, but I can't get over there during lunch hour without coming back to the office late.
Awesome! The food & service at Good Stuff is better when he's not around, so if he has something new to distract him, maybe he won't show up over here on the Hill for a while. As for what kind of an oven to have, he likes to leave his deliveries out in the back alley (DC has cited him twice for it, & he responded with the "Back Alley Burger"), so perhaps he could assemble the pizzas & just toss them outside to bake in the sun for a while...
Paulie - last two times I was at 2 Amy's the pies were undercooked - it was as if the oven was running cool and no one was watching what came out of the oven. Great cheese plates and salumeri though. Try paradisio, RedRocks, some love Comet Ping Pong (i think it's Ok) and if you can wrangle a fresh pie at Pete's Apizza it's not bad either.
Paulie- 2 Amy's is good, but like others have said, sometimes it can be hit or miss. having said that, I haven't been there in awhile. It's worth a shot. You should have fun at Nationals Park, it's a nice stadium. The Nats have such terrible pitching though! Place will prolly be loaded up with the opposing team's fans anyway, the Nats are so bad...
Yeah, Pete's Apizza serves up New Haven style. I've only been there once and it was good. It's convenient too as it's right outside the subway stop so I need to get back there soon!
has anyone tried Moroni & Brothers? It's in a weird location, right on Ga Ave in the Petworth neighborhood. Doesn't look like there's any parking so you have to go off into the neighborhood on the side streets to park. Supposedly one of the owners used to work at Pizza Paradiso and learned how to make pies.
Santoslhalper - yes, I've heard good things about Vace. Again, I wish there were more these places close into downtown where I work. I can only go to those other places in mid town or uptown on the weekends when I have some time.
has anyone been to the Washington Deli on 19th and K St? I keep hearing from other sites how they sell good slices.
Thanks one and all on the 2 Amys feedback. Sounds like I'm gonna have to find out for myself and hope it's a hit and not a miss day. Certainly sounds like it'll be hit day at Nationals Ballpark (What no naming rights?!?!?!?!).
Moroni is pretty decen but in the middle of no where is right. Pretty sure that Dora (from paradisio at Dupont) and her husband own the place - both learned pizza at Paradisio. And yes, Vaca is fine good serviceable slice pizza served up in a fine italian deli. And Red Rocks is two blocks west of the same Metro (Columbia heights) as pete's.
oh man...I didn't know that Vace had a deli store in Bethesda, MD! That's fairly convenient to me since about a 20 minute drive away from Bethesda. I just wish that downtown DC had more places that sell good slices (or at least convenient to where I work). I'm guessing maybe some of these mom and pop pizzerias can't afford the rent?
You have to go outside DC to get the best pizza. Primo Italiano in Reston, VA just outside DC has the best pizza by far.
I also strongly recommend Crozet Pizza outside of Charlottesville if you are ever in that area. You need a reservation because they only cook one pizza at a time.
I don't get out to Reston, VA very often, but I'll keep that in mind.
If you're looking for NY style slices in DC, I found it at the Washington Deli on 20th and K St. I decided to bite the bullet and get on the subway to check the place out (closest one is Farragut West station) yesterday for lunch and it is really close. It reminded me a little of the slices at Joe's on Carmine St in NYC. The underside was nice and crisp with some char, no tip sag. when I went in, they had a rack of pies in the back counter and a bunch of pies up front at the display counter. It was worth the trip even thought it isn't the most convenient for me during lunch hour. it literally took me an hour and 7 minutes total time.
2 Amys is still tops, not just for DC, but would be hard to beat anywhere.
I love ordering an onion and olive pie from Vace. Getting a reheated slice does not do any pizza justice. They put the cheese under the tomato sauce here. Carry-out only. Finding excellent pizza can be difficult anywhere, especially if it is not thin crust.
Washington Deli is ok for what it is, but really, not serious at all.
The Atomica at Pizzeria Paradiso is excellent.
All the rest are ok to very good. have not tried Primo Italiano in Reston (mentioned above but this is the first I've heard of it) or American Flatbreads which is the Vermont place now in the VA suburbs which gets high marks.
Tried Primo Italiano in Reston per a previous post. Surprisingly good Italian-American food, worthy of a more serious restaurant, hidden in a counter service deli. I would go back for their pastas for sure.
As for the pizza, quite frankly, I'd never order it again. The crust is too squishy and both the cheese and sauce are standard issue. Almost every casual Italian-American resto in the burbs makes pizza, and this is a bit below average. For the poster who recommended it, I think Italian Cafe in Falls Church is much better. Still, none of these places put the same effort into the crust as a serious pizza parlor.
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By way of Grub Street's New York Diet feature, we learn that former Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn plans on opening a pizzeria in Washington, D.C.:
24 Comments:
His food always looked pretty substandard. This guy needs to just open a hat store and be done with it.
ratbuddy at 6:17PM on 05/01/09
Jesus, I just realized he said "Napolean" pizza. Ugh.
ratbuddy at 7:23PM on 05/01/09
My hair hurts from reading that quote. Really sounds like he is getting into the pizza business for all the right reasons.
canerosso at 12:32AM on 05/02/09
His goofy-cum-vicious smile irks me a little.
maxcriden at 1:08PM on 05/02/09
Oh no. Oh no. At least he's making pizza in DC and not in Philly making cheese stakes. whew!
lol I wish him all the best of luck either way. I did love him on the show lol
philadooklyn at 7:23PM on 05/02/09
"Napoleon" pizza. HA! What a dork.
One thing I'll say for him, he's got a rich business partner, whoever it is.
sunbyrne at 10:37PM on 05/02/09
Well... If his pizzeria mimics his burger joint here in DC, we can expect undercooked dough, overcooked sauce, and raw meats. All the money his Mom pumps into his ventures should be spent on a basic food safety course.
I'll stick with Domi-No's for my bad pizza.
jrd3se at 6:18PM on 05/03/09
ugh....I dunno if DC needs someone to open up some fancy pizzeria who cleary hasn't educated himself enough. "Naploean" pizza? It's bad enough that Vapiano's opened up here in the Gallery Place area.
I wish DC had more places mom and pop places downtown where you can just get a good slice. Supposedly, Alberto's over in Dupont Circle has decent slices, but I can't get over there during lunch hour without coming back to the office late.
DC Caps at 10:42AM on 05/04/09
@DC Caps What do you think of 2 Amys? I am planning on checking them out when I hit DC for a Nationals game.
Thanks,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 11:23AM on 05/04/09
2 amy's is awesome, probably the best pizza in dc.
mikeismora at 12:36PM on 05/04/09
vace on connecticut ave in cleveland park has decent slices, especially bianca
santoslhalper at 3:56PM on 05/04/09
Awesome! The food & service at Good Stuff is better when he's not around, so if he has something new to distract him, maybe he won't show up over here on the Hill for a while. As for what kind of an oven to have, he likes to leave his deliveries out in the back alley (DC has cited him twice for it, & he responded with the "Back Alley Burger"), so perhaps he could assemble the pizzas & just toss them outside to bake in the sun for a while...
SamsMom at 4:14PM on 05/04/09
Paulie - last two times I was at 2 Amy's the pies were undercooked - it was as if the oven was running cool and no one was watching what came out of the oven. Great cheese plates and salumeri though. Try paradisio, RedRocks, some love Comet Ping Pong (i think it's Ok) and if you can wrangle a fresh pie at Pete's Apizza it's not bad either.
stillrides at 4:35PM on 05/04/09
O, and by the way, Spike is a stiff and the money comes from his family. In general, he got nothin'.
stillrides at 4:36PM on 05/04/09
Paulie- 2 Amy's is good, but like others have said, sometimes it can be hit or miss. having said that, I haven't been there in awhile. It's worth a shot. You should have fun at Nationals Park, it's a nice stadium. The Nats have such terrible pitching though! Place will prolly be loaded up with the opposing team's fans anyway, the Nats are so bad...
Yeah, Pete's Apizza serves up New Haven style. I've only been there once and it was good. It's convenient too as it's right outside the subway stop so I need to get back there soon!
has anyone tried Moroni & Brothers? It's in a weird location, right on Ga Ave in the Petworth neighborhood. Doesn't look like there's any parking so you have to go off into the neighborhood on the side streets to park. Supposedly one of the owners used to work at Pizza Paradiso and learned how to make pies.
DC Caps at 5:15PM on 05/04/09
Santoslhalper - yes, I've heard good things about Vace. Again, I wish there were more these places close into downtown where I work. I can only go to those other places in mid town or uptown on the weekends when I have some time.
has anyone been to the Washington Deli on 19th and K St? I keep hearing from other sites how they sell good slices.
DC Caps at 5:21PM on 05/04/09
Thanks one and all on the 2 Amys feedback. Sounds like I'm gonna have to find out for myself and hope it's a hit and not a miss day. Certainly sounds like it'll be hit day at Nationals Ballpark (What no naming rights?!?!?!?!).
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 6:03PM on 05/04/09
Moroni is pretty decen but in the middle of no where is right. Pretty sure that Dora (from paradisio at Dupont) and her husband own the place - both learned pizza at Paradisio. And yes, Vaca is fine good serviceable slice pizza served up in a fine italian deli. And Red Rocks is two blocks west of the same Metro (Columbia heights) as pete's.
stillrides at 6:05PM on 05/04/09
oh man...I didn't know that Vace had a deli store in Bethesda, MD! That's fairly convenient to me since about a 20 minute drive away from Bethesda. I just wish that downtown DC had more places that sell good slices (or at least convenient to where I work). I'm guessing maybe some of these mom and pop pizzerias can't afford the rent?
DC Caps at 12:30PM on 05/05/09
You have to go outside DC to get the best pizza. Primo Italiano in Reston, VA just outside DC has the best pizza by far.
I also strongly recommend Crozet Pizza outside of Charlottesville if you are ever in that area. You need a reservation because they only cook one pizza at a time.
FryPrayEatPassOut at 2:56AM on 05/06/09
I don't get out to Reston, VA very often, but I'll keep that in mind.
If you're looking for NY style slices in DC, I found it at the Washington Deli on 20th and K St. I decided to bite the bullet and get on the subway to check the place out (closest one is Farragut West station) yesterday for lunch and it is really close. It reminded me a little of the slices at Joe's on Carmine St in NYC. The underside was nice and crisp with some char, no tip sag. when I went in, they had a rack of pies in the back counter and a bunch of pies up front at the display counter. It was worth the trip even thought it isn't the most convenient for me during lunch hour. it literally took me an hour and 7 minutes total time.
DC Caps at 11:31AM on 05/06/09
Washington Deli is opening up a new store on 5830 Georgia Ave NW. I hope they can maintain the same standard of the one on 20th and K St.
DC Caps at 12:13PM on 07/24/09
2 Amys is still tops, not just for DC, but would be hard to beat anywhere.
I love ordering an onion and olive pie from Vace. Getting a reheated slice does not do any pizza justice. They put the cheese under the tomato sauce here. Carry-out only. Finding excellent pizza can be difficult anywhere, especially if it is not thin crust.
Washington Deli is ok for what it is, but really, not serious at all.
The Atomica at Pizzeria Paradiso is excellent.
All the rest are ok to very good. have not tried Primo Italiano in Reston (mentioned above but this is the first I've heard of it) or American Flatbreads which is the Vermont place now in the VA suburbs which gets high marks.
Shelemm at 6:42PM on 09/18/09
Tried Primo Italiano in Reston per a previous post. Surprisingly good Italian-American food, worthy of a more serious restaurant, hidden in a counter service deli. I would go back for their pastas for sure.
As for the pizza, quite frankly, I'd never order it again. The crust is too squishy and both the cheese and sauce are standard issue. Almost every casual Italian-American resto in the burbs makes pizza, and this is a bit below average. For the poster who recommended it, I think Italian Cafe in Falls Church is much better. Still, none of these places put the same effort into the crust as a serious pizza parlor.
Shelemm at 10:17PM on 09/20/09