A Comet Appears

You don’t have to know a lot about the game of table tennis to feel at home at Comet Ping Pong in Connecticut Heights. It’s not necessary to know the difference between a chop and a block and a lob. All you really need is a craving for good pizza in a relaxed environment.

The décor leaves much to be desired, especially when you are sitting on the metal benches. Yet, you aren’t here to curl up in a booth, and that’s more than ok with the waiters and waitresses who look like they would be more at home in the hipster kingdom of Brooklyn. Yet, it’s easy to see that the peeling paint, exposed brick and abstract steel sculptures mimic the laid back attitude that is Comet Ping Pong. In fact, the place is so laid back that they hid their restrooms behind an unmarked door and there is a mint green Vespa hanging from the ceiling.

Without a doubt the star of the show at Comet is the pizza. This isn’t a place to pussyfoot around and try to remain “healthy” (especially if you are on a date). I can tell you from experience that whatever calories are hidden in the hand-formed pies are worth it. We were able to try 3 different pizzas while sitting at our table (which looked like a mini ping pong table) and all of them were deserving of being in the winner’s circle. Elliot and I opted to share The Smoky, while our friends tried the Steel Wills and The Dive. Our pizza lived up to its name with layers of gooey smoked mozzarella, sweet onions and mushrooms (we opted to skip the bacon). We were afraid that the single pizza with our side of meatballs (more on them later) wouldn’t be enough food for the two of us. Luckily the close-to-excessive amounts of cheese on the pizza prevented that from occurring.

The other big winner of the afternoon, the Steel Wills looked (and tasted) even better than when it was featured on Food Network’s Triple D. The house-made ricotta lived up to all my expectations and made me wish I knew how to make it myself. And you can’t forget The Dive. I am a sucker for egg on a pizza, but unfortunately this one fell a little flat. The yolk was a tad overcooked, resulting in a less than ideal yolk to crust ratio.
In addition, we opted to try and order of the Curtain Lady’s Special (aka meatballs). I’m normally not a huge fan of this particular Italian specialty, but the combination of the veal meat, flavor-packed tomato sauce and the salty Parmesan made it a perfect starter to our meal.

Even though there are plenty of more metro-accessible pizza joints, this one is a “can’t miss.” Make the trek up Connecticut Ave for a date or go out with a group of friends. The restaurant is extremely proud of the fact that they have offered free ping pong in the back room for over two years and they have live music a handful of times each month. In addition, they have a well-crafted beer menu that features beers from some great breweries including Bells and Great Lakes. All of these things make for a relaxed environment that one expects from a great pizza joint, and the best part is - it can all be had for a great price.

Italian Paradise at Pizzeria Paradiso

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost six and a half years since my mom and sister helped me move into Letts Hall at American University. After hauling all my stuff into the dorm and sizing up my roommate I think we were all more than ready for a great meal. Even though I was new to the city I still had the foresight to do my research and find a great restaurant that would cater to me (the adventurous foodie), my sister (the picky eater) and my mother (who’ll eat anything). I had read great things about Pizzeria Paradiso, so off we went to Georgetown.

Although I don’t remember precisely what I ordered that night, I remember the lemonade that I tried. It was clearly made in-house and it was bubbly and tart and sweet. Yum. But, now that I am legally allowed to drink there are other drinks that draw me back, both to the location on M Street, and the locations in Dupont and Old Town Alexandria. Their beer list at Birreria Paradiso (also known as the bar) is quite impressive. Each location has at least 12 beers on a tap, a beer on cask and over 80 bottles in the large refrigerated cases behind the bar. Although the bar tends to be extremely crowded with people enjoying the suds or waiting for their table, the bartenders are helpful and will happily steer you toward something that will please your palette.

Pizzeria Paradiso the perfect casual restaurant to share a pizza, try a new panini or discover a new antipasti. The offerings range from traditional to the extraordinary, and 9 times out of 10 they nail the flavors and cook everything to perfection.

When you sit down you are greeted with a tiny bowl of various olives. Pizzeria Paradiso immediately wins my heart for ensuring that the olives still have their pits intact and supplying you with another bowl for the discarded insides.

The last time we were at the Dupont Circle location Elliot and I opted to go the traditional route and ordered bruschetta and an old fashioned Margarita pizza. Although the food came out a bit too fast for my liking, it was the perfect way to warm up on a Friday evening after a long cold week. The bruschetta was garlicky and topped with sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella balls and seasoned well with salt and pepper.

I believe the best way to judge a pizzeria is with a traditional cheese pizza. There are not toppings for the sauce and crust to hide behind. Luckily Pizzeria Paradiso does it right. The cheese comes out hot and bubbly and the sauce stays true to the tomato taste that is so ubiquitous in Italian cooking. If you are looking for a bit more variety when it comes to your pizza toppings, you will find everything from basil to pine nuts on the menu.

Just a quick final note – if you can belly up to the bar between 5 and 7pm on Monday and Tuesday you can enjoy ½ price draft beers and discounted pizzas and appetizers.

The Way "We" Slice It

To my mind, few food items inspire the same kind of loyalty in people as pizza. When you find a great spot, you end up eating there religiously. People argue why their place is better than alternatives X or Y. And, if you frequent a restaurant, you become a regular... part of a community. Sure, people take ownership of other kinds of restaurants. But for pizza, it just seems to make more sense.

As such, my expectations were immediately sky-high upon hearing that Chief Spike Mendelsohn, the Top Chef contestant turned mad grill-ologist behind Good Stuff Eatery, was opening a pizza place. Good Stuff had quickly become one of my favorite DC food spots; the Good Stuff melt is very nearly a religious experience on a bun for me. So, after enduring a set of fairly extensive delays - it was originally billed to launch in April - We, The Pizza finally opened it's doors to the public.

When Elyse and I visited We (as Spike and co. have taken to calling it), we immediately knew that we'd have to spread ourselves out. We, The Pizza offers 12 different pies... and that's before you even consider the wings, pasta, sandwiches and homemade Italian sodas. We decided on four different slices (sausage and peppers, cheese, spinach and artichoke, mushroom) and two different sodas (sour cherry and pineapple). The sodas were great, but they definitely weren't the stars of the show.

Before we go any further, a confession: I judge every pizza joint by how it handles a plain, cheese pizza. Without any exotic ingredients or zany combinations to hide behind, cheese pizza gives a truly accurate depiction of what kind of clout any given pizzeria truly has. Spike did not disappoint. The crust was baked perfectly. The blend of cheeses was balanced and delicious. And don't even get me started on the seasoning. After my first bite, I knew I'd be back for more.

That only set me up for the other flavors. While the sausage and peppers pizza was fairly bland and non-distinct, the final two slices sent me into the stratosphere. The Forest Shroomin Pie -made with wild forest mushrooms, truffles, mozzarella and thyme - was unbelievable. This is what people should mean when they say mushroom pizza, rather than a normal pie topped with a few measly fungi. But as good as the Shroomin Pie was, nothing could prepare me for the spinach and artichoke slice. It was a revelation; rich, creamy and had a tremendous amount of flavor cohesion. Even after a few weeks, I still don't feel as though I've had enough time to truly put it into words. But suffice it to say, Elyse and I will be back soon. On our walk home that evening, we talked about making We the Pizza our pizza place. Or, in her words, "God help us when they start delivering."

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image: capitolbites flickr

Pete's Apizza

Who out there remembers the Little Ceaser's commercials from the 90s? Oh come on, you've got to remember the awkward cartoon character that said "pizza pizza" at the end of every 30 second spot. When Pete's Apizza opened a few years ago, everyone seemed to confuse the new restaurant and the silly saying. Yet, "Apizza" is actually pronounced "ah-BEETS" in the true New Haven dialect. The pronunciation isn't the only thing that is reminiscent of this Connecticut city, everything from the crust to the pizza toppings scream East Coast.

The crust is extremely thin, allowing the dough to become crunchy on the outside while still remaining delightfully chewy on the inside. Yet, this is only the beginning. You can choose to order a whole pie or just grab a slice. The toppings are extremely fresh and change on a regular basis. If you enjoy the classic there are always a few pies that are simply cheese or cheese and pepperoni. To stay true to the New England roots, Pete's offers the New Haven classic pizza with clams, olive oil, oregano and pecorino.

If you aren't a pizza person, or you just want something a bit different try one of the many options that fill out the remainder of the menu. They include panini, pastas, antipasti and other Italian treats. The Sorbillo's Original is an "homage" to Itaty and is a rectangular shaped pizza filled with Salumi, ricotta and mozzarella. Prior to visiting Pete's I have never had anything quite like it. It's not a pizza, it's not a calzone, but it is an incredibly satisfying middle ground. Also, you won't be disappointed if you order one of the many salads that are offered. I ordered the crispy goat cheese salad and my friend ordered the caesar. The goat cheese was amazing, and don't tell my mom, but their version of this salad is better than hers. All the ingredients married perfectly, making me think that I could eat this every day of the week and die happy. The caesar didn't have the same punch, but the dressing was house-made and the crispy parmesan chips elevated the salad to another level.

Pete's also offers a great happy hour special that will make any young professional smile. You can get a beer and a slice of pizza for $5. I don't know how you can get much better than that. In addition, this may be the best pizza in DC that does delivery. Yes, it's a limited area, but as Pete's expands, more neighborhoods will be able to call and order in this local favorite.

image: dcbeer.com

Pizza for 2

When I walk into 2Amys it's like I'm going home. There is the familiar smell of traditional Neapolitan pizza cooking in the brick oven. Something about the families that spill out onto the sidewalk waiting for their table makes me smile. 2Amys is a place where you feel like you are family, in true Italian style.

2Amys makes the only pizza in the DC area that is certified D.O.C. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status, which specifies the legally permitted ingredients and methods of preparation necessary to produce authentic Neapolitan Pizza. This means that the pizza that you order is made with the freshest ingredients This means everything from the plum tomatoes to the yeast in the dough is all the best you can get.

There is also a section on the menu titled "little things." If nothing else you must order the suppli a telefono - also known as fried balls of mozzarella and risotto. They are absolute perfection, and the perfect way to begin a meal. You can also find bruschetta and other traditional small plates on the menu. I suggest that you order off of the special menu, because many of the small plates that are featured there are seasonal and well worth trying. A personal favorite are the fried zucchini flowers which make their appearance during the summer months.

This is a place that continually ranks at the top of my lists (and the Washingtonian and the Washington Post's lists) for the best places to eat in DC. It isn't fancy, but it certainly isn't a place to be missed on a culinary tour of the city.

image: pizzablogger.org

A Tree Grows on H Street

Recently, a group my friends decided to spend an evening in the Atlas District, the up-and-coming neighborhood on H Street, NE. We opted to begin with dinner at the newly-opened Liberty Tree and then walking a few blocks for some Dangerously Delicious pie.

Liberty Tree was hard to spot among the construction that has overtaken H St. The only way to know that we were at the restaurant was the neon "Open" sign perched in the window. When we walked in, I was surprised at how small and intimate the space is. We were led to the only open space, a cozy table in the front of the restaurant, where the late afternoon sun was streaming in.

Immediately, I was drawn to the well-edited wine and beer list. Nothing was over $10 a glass or $30 a bottle, which I personally found very reasonable. All four of us were hungry, so we perused the small plates and appetizers and were intrigued by the potato fritters. I was not expecting to enjoy these little bites of perfection as much as I did. We ordered the potato fritters - basically mashed potatoes with bacon that were covered in panko crumbs and then fried - along with some drinks. Yummm. If you go to Liberty Tree, you must try them.

For main dishes, seafood dominated the menu. I chose to have a pizza called the Cape Cod Casino. Generally I never would have ordered a pizza concocted with clams, garlic, bacon and spinach... but it was very good. Am I daydreaming about eating it again? No. But, it was very fresh and creative. And I think Liberty Tree deserves points for that.

My dining companions ordered the lobster roll, knife and fork meatball grinder and the clams. No one was blown away by their meals, but there also weren't any major complaints... expect for our those concerning our waiter, who wouldn't stop hovering. I left that evening feeling as if Liberty Tree needs a bit more time to get into the swing of things, but that it does have the potential to turn into a solid neighborhood hangout.

Note: Dangerously Delicious was closed due to some DC red tape that they were still working out with the city. They should be opening on April 2nd barring any unforeseen circumstances.

images: tastingtable.com