The truth hurts: we’re not a pizza town. And not in a “DC isn’t a sports town” kinda way. But in a factual way. Good pizza may be hard to come by, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great Neapolitan or Detroit-style pies. We’ve done the legwork, so you never have to eat a sad, soggy, underdone slice ever again.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
When a food truck gets a brick-and-mortar location, it’s usually because it’s damn good at what it does (or some enterprising chef won big at National Harbor). In the case of this former food truck with a shop in Petworth, "damn good" means they're currently making DC’s best pizza. Grab-and-go is the name of the game here—there’s only a cramped back bar and a couple of indoor picnic tables typically filled with families wrangling excited kids. The thin pizzas are all saucy with carefully paired toppings, like The Bentley, a salty-sweet pie with chorizo, sopressa, juicy Peruvian sweet peppers, and a spicy honey that adds a little kick.
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
This Cathedral Heights pizzeria has been making the most reliable Neapolitan-style pies in the city for more than 20 years. Their 12 pies—including your classic margherita with mozzarella dripping off or the Pozzouli with sausage and peppers—all get a nice char from the wood-fire oven. These days, you can only order pies on evenings or weekends. While we’ll forever miss weekday lunches here, the pizzas still go down easy with a bottle of wine and some friends, or maybe just your screaming kids in tow.
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
If you’re looking for a good slice, Wiseguy is the only place to get it. Unlike a lot of slices in the city, these snap back to that freshly cooked state when they’re reheated. The cheese is stringy, the sauce is tangy, the crust is crispy. No hardness, dryness, or staleness here. And while they’re not jumbo-sized, these Chinatown slices are at least as big as a football. Which means a single is usually enough for a quick lunch, but you’ll still probably want two to soak up a night out. The shop is extra popular on Fridays and Saturdays, when it’s open until 4am. So come when it’s busy if you want to watch folks stumble in and out after haphazardly making their way from 7th Street.
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
Stellina’s pizza is thin with a crispy crust and creative topping combinations like salame, red onion, black pepper, honey, and calabrian peppers. There are two different locations, but you should go to the Mt. Vernon Triangle spot to watch the pizzas get rolled out and tossed in the oven from front-row seats. This location also has a special waffle menu, and bright red diner-style seating that makes for a fun dinner with friends.
Emmy Squared serves the only Detroit-style pizza we eat in the city. This NYC-based chain with a location in Navy Yard makes thick, square pies with crispy edges and tangy sauce. But our favorite element here is the expansive universe of toppings, like kimchi and burrata. There are also some good vegan and gluten-free options, which means you can bring just about anyone here (including picky kids) and they’ll find something they like.
Little Coco’s pizza is the gooiest, cheesiest in the city. The Columbia Heights Italian spot only serves seven pies, split between red, white, and pesto sauces. But the pizzas, like The Dr. Pepper version covered in pepperoni and fior di latte, are crispy and perfectly salty. These are the kinds of pies you’ll risk a slight roof-of-mouth burn to eat as soon as it lands on the table. Split them at brunch while squeezed into a yellow booth with a few of your closest friends, or come for a quick weeknight date.
photo credit: Nina Palazzolo
If you want to eat pizza on a date, this tiny restaurant near Catholic University is your best option. You’ll sit shoulder-to-shoulder with priests, professors, and undergrads, and all try to avoid bumping into each other while downing pizza made with four different cheeses. Neapolitan pies, like the Diavola covered in spicy salami, basil, and red peppers, are slathered in a tart sauce and piled high with toppings. The pies can sometimes get soggy in the center, so we’d suggest asking if they’ll give your pizza a couple extra minutes in the oven.
