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Liberty Tavern
Liberty Tavern
Photo: Facebook

Find Solid Pizza at These Non-Pizzerias

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Liberty Tavern
| Photo: Facebook

Sandwiched into menus of some non-pizzerias around town are some great pizzas. Eater unearthed some tasty gems served at unlikely places, both new and old — from ahi tuna flatbread at Georgetown's latest bowling alley Pinstripes to cozy Arlington bar and restaurant Liberty Tavern. Whether the restaurant leans ethnic, American or vaguely Italian, the pies are worth checking out.
—Tierney Plumb

Have another favorite pizza at a non-pizzeria? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Cafe Caturra

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This Arlington wine bar keeps neighbors coming back for its red pizzas, which use San Marzana tomatoes—arguably the most flavorful kind to use. White pizzas come with mushroom and olive or fontina, garlic and chile flake.

Pinstripes

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The Shops at Georgetown’s newest bowling and bocce post serves up a mean ahi tuna flat bread, keeping eaters fueled up for their next strike. Pizzas like BBQ chicken and Italian beef are all $14 and under.

Mothership Restaurant & Bakery

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Park View residents rave over Mothership’s Cuban Pizza, which comes with roast pork, Virginia ham, swiss, pickles, and mustard Béchamel—an ode to Chef Stephan Boillon’s early days growing up in Southern Florida. Vegetarian pizza lovers opt for the fingerling potato pizza with roasted cauliflower, swiss chard, tomato and fontina.

Masa 14

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Richard Sandoval’s 14th Street pioneer has long been known for flatbreads, integrating its Latin-Asian fusion roots with the Pennsylvania Mushroom ( oaxaca cheese, piquillo pepper, avocado) and Pork Carnitas (smoked panela cheese, spicy crema, citrus pickled onion, rapini).

Liberty Tavern

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Eater checked in with the kitchen at this longtime Wilson Boulevard staple to find out what pizza’s most popular: It’s hands down the Vermont, which has had years-long staying power on the menu and is topped with Cabot white cheddar, smoked prosciutto, caramelized onions, granny smith apples and sage. The newest pie is the Meatball, packed with pickled banana peppers and scamorza.

Cafe Milano

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The pizza, topped with famous San Marzano tomatoes, is one reason D.C.’s power players keep coming back to this elite restaurant. The signature Café Milano comes with baby artichokes, seasonal mushrooms, ham and Gaeta olives. The $18 pie is dinner for a hungry senator but may be too big for the ladies who lunch.

Mussel Bar & Grille

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Robert Weidmaier’s Bethesda establishment is known for its namesake mussels but wood fired pizzas are also hot hits. Quirky combos include Kennett Square Mushrooms with smoked bacon, mozzarella cheese arugula, and truffle essence; Spicy Lamb Sausage with Harissa tomato sauce, goat cheese, and yellow pepper; and Fennel & Pork with shaved fennel, pork sausage, and gruyere. (Multiple locations).

Dupont’s health conscious crowd flocks to Hotel Palomar’s upscale eatery for its gluten free lunch menu, which includes the Margherita, Quattro Stagioni (tomato, parma cotta ham, artichoke, olives, mushrooms, basil, mozzarella) or Funghi. (The gluten free crust costs $2 extra.)

Chef Geoff's

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Since 2000, the Chef Geoffs brand has expanded from D.C. into Maryland and Virginia, mastering the pizza pies tucked into its diverse American menu along the way. Simple yet effective toppings like chorizo and thick cut pepperoni keep busy patrons full, from Tysons Corner to Rockville. Try them at happy hour for a discount.

Mad Fox Brewing Company

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Pizza goes great with beer, and Mad Fox's pies also are an asset for the family-friendly vibe of this Falls Church bar. There's a new chef at Mad Fox, so time will tell what he does with the pizza program, but current menu offerings include The Garlic Pig (with bacon, garlic and pepperoni) and the Grand Funk (with taleggio, mushrooms and garlic).

Though the restaurant has seen some turnover behind its pizza oven, this Chevy Chase restaurant has maintained an entire menu section devoted to pies. Recent toppings include the artichoke, mozzarella, maitake, and olive pizza, as well as the pork sausage, smoked mozzarella, rapini and chili pie, all cooked in a wood-burning grill.

Should Arcuri be billed as a pizza place? It's debatable, but the restaurant is more of a neighborhood joint and Italian restaurant. Don't miss the pizza menu, though, with pies like the Smokey, with smoked buffalo mozzarella, guanciale, smoked pepperoni and scallions.

Cafe Caturra

This Arlington wine bar keeps neighbors coming back for its red pizzas, which use San Marzana tomatoes—arguably the most flavorful kind to use. White pizzas come with mushroom and olive or fontina, garlic and chile flake.

Pinstripes

The Shops at Georgetown’s newest bowling and bocce post serves up a mean ahi tuna flat bread, keeping eaters fueled up for their next strike. Pizzas like BBQ chicken and Italian beef are all $14 and under.

Mothership Restaurant & Bakery

Park View residents rave over Mothership’s Cuban Pizza, which comes with roast pork, Virginia ham, swiss, pickles, and mustard Béchamel—an ode to Chef Stephan Boillon’s early days growing up in Southern Florida. Vegetarian pizza lovers opt for the fingerling potato pizza with roasted cauliflower, swiss chard, tomato and fontina.

Masa 14

Richard Sandoval’s 14th Street pioneer has long been known for flatbreads, integrating its Latin-Asian fusion roots with the Pennsylvania Mushroom ( oaxaca cheese, piquillo pepper, avocado) and Pork Carnitas (smoked panela cheese, spicy crema, citrus pickled onion, rapini).

Liberty Tavern

Eater checked in with the kitchen at this longtime Wilson Boulevard staple to find out what pizza’s most popular: It’s hands down the Vermont, which has had years-long staying power on the menu and is topped with Cabot white cheddar, smoked prosciutto, caramelized onions, granny smith apples and sage. The newest pie is the Meatball, packed with pickled banana peppers and scamorza.

Cafe Milano

The pizza, topped with famous San Marzano tomatoes, is one reason D.C.’s power players keep coming back to this elite restaurant. The signature Café Milano comes with baby artichokes, seasonal mushrooms, ham and Gaeta olives. The $18 pie is dinner for a hungry senator but may be too big for the ladies who lunch.

Mussel Bar & Grille

Robert Weidmaier’s Bethesda establishment is known for its namesake mussels but wood fired pizzas are also hot hits. Quirky combos include Kennett Square Mushrooms with smoked bacon, mozzarella cheese arugula, and truffle essence; Spicy Lamb Sausage with Harissa tomato sauce, goat cheese, and yellow pepper; and Fennel & Pork with shaved fennel, pork sausage, and gruyere. (Multiple locations).

Urbana

Dupont’s health conscious crowd flocks to Hotel Palomar’s upscale eatery for its gluten free lunch menu, which includes the Margherita, Quattro Stagioni (tomato, parma cotta ham, artichoke, olives, mushrooms, basil, mozzarella) or Funghi. (The gluten free crust costs $2 extra.)

Chef Geoff's

Since 2000, the Chef Geoffs brand has expanded from D.C. into Maryland and Virginia, mastering the pizza pies tucked into its diverse American menu along the way. Simple yet effective toppings like chorizo and thick cut pepperoni keep busy patrons full, from Tysons Corner to Rockville. Try them at happy hour for a discount.

Mad Fox Brewing Company

Pizza goes great with beer, and Mad Fox's pies also are an asset for the family-friendly vibe of this Falls Church bar. There's a new chef at Mad Fox, so time will tell what he does with the pizza program, but current menu offerings include The Garlic Pig (with bacon, garlic and pepperoni) and the Grand Funk (with taleggio, mushrooms and garlic).

Range

Though the restaurant has seen some turnover behind its pizza oven, this Chevy Chase restaurant has maintained an entire menu section devoted to pies. Recent toppings include the artichoke, mozzarella, maitake, and olive pizza, as well as the pork sausage, smoked mozzarella, rapini and chili pie, all cooked in a wood-burning grill.

Arcuri

Should Arcuri be billed as a pizza place? It's debatable, but the restaurant is more of a neighborhood joint and Italian restaurant. Don't miss the pizza menu, though, with pies like the Smokey, with smoked buffalo mozzarella, guanciale, smoked pepperoni and scallions.

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