Where to get the best pizza in Washington, DC.
For many of us, there is no greater comfort food than pizza. It reminds us of childhood birthday parties, late nights as college students, and lazy take-out Sundays as adults. Well, Washington D.C. has an impressive pizza scene–spots that warrant a night out not only for the quality of pizza but also for the appetizers and drinks, and of late, more spots have joined the roster. As such, we put together a guide to new pizza restaurants in the DC area, with recommendations on how to experience each of these and what to order.
For a pizza night with friends: Alfreda
Another new pizza restaurant in DC that you should add to your list is Alfreda. Located in Dupont Circle, this charming pizzeria excels at the most important thing: making extraordinarily delicious pizza, hence why we included it in our guide to pizzerias in DC. Made with sourdough bread, fresh and aged mozzarella cheese, and a garlicky, savory tomato sauce, the pizzas at Alfreda are truly irresistible. While I am partial to the classic plain pizza for its simple flavors, the Alfreda, with Romano cheese and wild oregano, is lovely, and the white pizza is a cheesy dream, with garlic oil and fresh basil for an herbaceous note.
For a fancy pizza experience: Rosedale
At Rosedale, there is a whole lot more than pizza to enjoy – heavenly potato and cheddar croquettes, for example – but the pizzas are one of the highlights of their menu. Although there are only four types of pizza to choose from, there is one for everyone: a classic cheese, a seafood option, a meat option, and then the best one of all: the Rock Creek, which pays homage to our local park. Featuring two kinds of cheese, creamy whipped ricotta and nutty parmesan, as well as roasted mushrooms and walnuts, it has all the texture and flavor you crave in a pie.
For a family pizza night: Elena James
The unstoppable team from Nina May and Opal has opened up a new spot in Chevy Chase called Elena James. Here, the menu offers items that are great for sharing and that the whole family will love. Breadsticks, covered in a cloud of finely grated parmesan cheese, golden-fried mozzarella sticks, and, of course, various pizzas. The cheese is a simple choice, perfect for picky eaters, with a smattering of basil leaves and melted mozzarella moons, while the forest mushroom and truffle is a decadent option with nutty pecorino, and full of woody notes from the mushroom, truffle, and rosemary. White pizza loyalists will love the caramelized Vidalia onion pizza, with its creamy mozzarella sauce, fresh thyme, and garlic confit. All the pizzas are served on a house-made dough, baked until crispy on the edges, and a lovely chew. Enjoy the pies as much as you can – but do order dessert! There’s a banana split, brownies, and a seasonal pie.
For a pizza surprise: Alta Strada
While you may be distracted by the rich wild-mushroom arancini, chewy and heady rigatoni alla vodka, or the tagliatelle swirled in truffle sauce at Alta Strada, you should not sleep on the chef’s pizza of the day. Made with seasonal ingredients, the kitchen has a different surprise pizza each day. A recent option was a gorgeous roasted maitake pizza, with bubbles of burnt dough, delicate earthy mushrooms, heaps of melted mozzarella, fresh herbs, and smears of garlic-infused tomato sauce.
For pizza from DC’s OG pizza maker: Bar del Monte
If there is one thing Peter Patsan, owner of Two Amys, knows, it’s pizza. His new pizza restaurant in DC, with son Oliver Patsan, is Bar del Monte, which just celebrated its first anniversary. The menu at Bar del Monte is highly seasonal, and can even change daily, but guests can always revel in its Margherita pizza, the deliciously classic combo of tomato, basil, and mozzarella.
For a quick bite to go: Red Hound Pizza
Occupying a tiny spot in Takoma Park, this hole-in-the-wall pizza shop serves up delicious squares of pizza with naturally leavened dough made from wheat grown and freshly milled locally. The small menu at Red Hound rotates regularly, but you can expect 4-5 options daily. Pizzas are sold by the slice and the pie, so you can sample a few different ones!
For pizza with a side of fun: Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza D.C.
With almost a dozen different kinds of pizza, there is something for everyone at Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza. Vegetarians will love the charred eggplant, drizzled with pesto and dotted with pine nuts, purists will go for the Margherita, and the adventurous will love specials like the stout pizza with Guinness mornay and smoked cheddar cheese. The venue also offers a vegan pizza, pizza dips, and sundaes for dessert.
For a pizza and bubbles experience: Pop Fizz
Sparkling wine and Detroit-style pizza. Sounds like an unlikely pairing? Don’t knock it until you try it! Bubbles are the perfect pairing to the decadent and rich pizzas, which include a crispy kale pizza, a mushroom and taleggio pizza, and a lump crab pizza. If it feels heavy, try one of Pop Fizz’s salads with your pizza, but if you’re going for gluttony, be sure to get their truffle fries and skillet chocolate chip cookie too!
