With a handful of exceptions, Americanized pizza has never quite been D.C.’s strong suit. While a few places — most notably Andy’s Pizza, Wiseguy, and Slice Joint — contest the perception that Washington is weak when it comes to New York-style slices, the District is more of a stronghold for Neapolitan pizzas that showcase imported ingredients and fitfully fermented doughs.
While 2 Amys is the OG, Menomale and Pupatella both compete for the title of best Neapolitan pizza in D.C. The can’t-miss pies at Inferno Pizza Napoletana, puffy to the point of near weightlessness, are special enough to warrant a drive to Darnestown, Maryland. D.C.’s pizza scene has been buoyed by the pandemic-induced push for takeout and comfort food as seen in June, a wildly popular pan pizza pop-up that plans to open its own space. And Chinatown’s Present Company Public House offers stellar sourdough pies twice a week via chef Lincoln Fuge’s winter pizza pop-up Lievito Notte.
A slew of exciting new pizza places around town are also worth a try, including downtown’s New York-style Grazie Nonna, European Market for delightfully crispy pies in the Palisades, New Haven-style import Frank Pepe in Bethesda and Alexandria, The Little Grand off H Street NE, Roman-style In Bocca al Lupo in Glover Park, Booey & Peel in Dupont Circle, ghost kitchen TBD Pizza in Bethesda, and Slice & Pie and Lucy on 14th Street NW.
Here are 22 tried-and-true pizza destinations around D.C.
—Updated by Tierney Plumb
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