&pizza coming to Chinatown, Dupont

&pizza Chinatown's shop would occupy the white building next to Starbucks.

Washington Business Journal is reporting that &pizza will open more restaurants, and soon. Three of the planned four new shops will be located in the District. The Dupont location will be located at 1215 Connecticut Ave NW, near Rhode Island Ave. The Chinatown restaurant will be located at 802 7th St NW, most recently the site of a bank. &pizza also plans to open restaurants in Capitol Hill and Rockville, MD. They hope to accomplish all of this by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

&pizza is a fast casual style restaurant that makes-to-order personalized, single-serve pizzas. Once you start the customization process, it typically takes 4-5 minutes to receive the pizza ready to eat. It's a neat process and they are vegan friendly, so I eat there A LOT. They recently opened a restaurant close to the new Chinatown location at 1005 E St NW. 

Interesting note in the WBJ article: west coast pizza chain Pizza Studio will also open in Dupont at 1333 New Hampshire (formerly Baja Fresh). Looks like I need to revive Pizza Wars!

Vegan Pizza Day is Saturday

Vegan pie at Pizzeria Paradiso

Right up there in relative prestige with Squirrel Appreciation Day (last Monday): Vegan Pizza Day. Except on Vegan Pizza Day you get to eat pizza. You don't eat squirrels on their day. Normal people don't, anyway.

Yes, Saturday January 29 is National Vegan Pizza Day. Pizza. Vegan. Can't go wrong. You just can't.

You may know that I was slightly obsessed with vegan pizza few years ago. Still am, really. I like making my own, but there are several places in DC where you can get a primo tomato pie or go full on with vegan cheese, like Teese or Daiya. I'm a fan of cheese-less vegan pizza. 

My favorites are Pizzeria Paradiso and believe it or not, Astor Mediterranean. Honorable mention to Ella's and I only recently discovered 2 Amys, which was also outstanding. Matter of fact, I owe 2 Amys them another visit.

VegDC has a more complete list of local parlors where you can order the dairy free pizzas this Saturday, or whenever. I'm planning on celebrating Vegan Pizza Day more than once of course. Like tonight. And maybe tomorrow. and I guess, if I have to, Saturday. Like I said, I love the stuff!

Travel Channel Jumps Into Adams Morgan Pizza Wars

Who has the best jumbo slice of pizza in Adams Morgan? As a vegan, I have no idea! But I've stepped on a slice or two. Or a plate. Or box. I mean, go to 18th Street NW on a weekend and you'll see pizza everywhere. On plates, in hands, on sidewalks; often in that order. Well, tonight you can see how Travel Channel came to DC to settle it once and for all.... sort of.

No, really, airing tonight on the Travel Channel is an episode of Food Wars which will showcase two pizza joints in Adams Morgan, Jumbo Slice and Pizza Mart. The competing shops are actually owned by the Chisti brothers, who've had quite a sibling rivalry over the best pizza for about a decade.

The show is a little silly, but that's OK, we're talking about greasy, cheesy, no-nutrition-having, foldable, brick in your stomach, big as your head slices of pizza. It's not heart surgery people! (there's a joke in there somewhere) This is just fun y'all. If you can't laugh at this, DC has gotten to you.

The producers, to my surprise, capture what I think of as Adams Morgan pretty well. And definitely poke fun along the way. No one (except the brothers!) are taking this too seriously. The host, Camille, profiles the brothers --owners of each respective shop--, goes behind the scenes to see how each larger than life pizza is made, and gets the help of some DC residents to rate the slices. Aiding Camille are two self styled superfans of Pizza Mart and Jumbo Slice who are DC witty -- and skinny, considering how much pizza they purportedly eat.

Honestly, I had never heard of jumbo slice before I moved to DC. Such a strange, but very American bigger-is-better idea. But DC seems so health conscious, right?! Right. We are home to Ben's Chili Bowl and Five Guys. And multiple competing jumbo slice restaurants. I hesitate to call them pizza "parlors" for obvious reasons. I think one of the newer places has no seating, but does have a disco ball and plays dance music. Ah, the AM nightlife. Gotta love it. The show airs tonight on the Travel Channel at 10:00pm.

Paradiso Still the Best, Even at New Location

Over 100 years ago, the first pizzeria opened in the United States. Way back in 1905, in New York City, opened by Italian immigrants. Pizza became really popular all cross the U.S. after World War II, when soldiers came back from Europe excited and hungry for this old Italian dish. Now you can get it cheap and by the slice, deep dish, thin crust, with cheese, no cheese, crazy toppings or plain as a tomato pie.

New York and Chicago are the recognized pizza meccas of the U.S., but we aren't doing so bad here in the District. At the top of that list for me is Pizzeria Paradiso. They've been around since 1991 and the original location on P Street just closed and relocated a few blocks east. The new location is at 2003 P Street NW, about a block from the nearest 42 bus stop.

All of the old menu is there with the same wood burned pizza from the stone oven. Slightly charred crust and fresh, fresh vegetables. Vegan friendly and the new Dupont location is now beer friendly. Between draft and bottled, there are over 180 beers. Pilsner to stout and beyond. An amazing list.

The atmosphere is very different from the original P Street shop, and in some ways, more similar to Georgetown. The space is actually pretty narrow, but opens up in the rear of the restaurant near the kitchen. Like the original P Street, there are bar seats that look over the kitchen. And like Georgetown, there are actual real bar seats. A long 15+ seat bar brings the total seating in 2003 P Street close to 100. I didn't do a full head count, but I estimate 90-100 seas in the new location. That's similar to the Georgetown location. Get ready for outside seating, which will raise the capacity even higher. The outside seating area is just to the west of the building, near the front door of a newly constructed office building next door.

P Street has gotten a major face lift (with public and private investment) over the last 5 years and is entering a new revitalization period. Thanks to these businesses, especially locally owned like Paradiso, for keeping Dupont fresh and a destination neighborhood for DC residents and others.

Pizzeria Paradiso on the Move

Pizzeria Paradiso is moving!! But not far. My favorite pizza place in all of DC is moving the original Dupont location a few feet down P Street to a new, larger space. The second floor location now located at 2029 P Street NW can seat 35-40. Contrast that to the 100+ that can be seated in the Georgetown location. Hopefully the new shop's capacity is equivalent to the one at Georgetown. The new Dupont location will be at 2003 P Street NW, adjacent to Le Pain Quotidien. 2003 P St NW used to house The Bike Shop, if you recall. I nearly bought a bike there once several years ago. That's all I really remember about that place. Smelled like rubber inside.

The new Paradiso, which will open sometime this summer, will also house a Birreria Paradiso, like the Georgetown location. Birreria carries close to 100 bottled and draft beers (my fave: Victory Prima Pils) to go with your pizza selection. I don't try to match one with another. Beer + pizza. Can't go wrong if you try. For the vegans, yes! They do serve vegan pies, with or without soy cheese. The Pizzeria Paradiso web site has photo progress of the new space here. Pretty neat. Count me in as one of the first "new" customers to this new space.

Astor Joins Growing DC Vegan Pizza Scene

Astor Mediterranean has joined several other DC pizza parlors by offering vegan cheese for their pizzas. Two Fridays ago the Adams Morgan eatery began serving the popular Teese vegan cheese on its vegetarian pizza. Astor was already a destination for me because of their other vegan offerings like falafel, which they do very well.

Astor (1829 Columbia Rd NW) joins several other DC pizza restaurants which offer a dairy free alternative to cheese pizza. Ella's Pizza in Penn Quarter has been serving vegan soy cheese for as long as I can remember. Pete's Apizza in Columbia Heights starting offering Teese only days after opening last year. Pizzeria Paradiso offers a soy based cheese alternative for its pizzas at both locations (Georgetown + Dupont). And both Red Rocks (Columbia Heights) and Moroni Brothers (Petworth) have dairy free cheese available for pizzas. I prefer my pizzas without any cheese--just sauce, tomatoes and veggies--but I love that these restaurants are recognizing the vegans and those who are dairy free for health/lactose intolerant/other reasons. I joined a packed house to congratulate Astor and buy pizzas two weeks ago and will continue to support similar efforts from other establishments.

Pete's Apizza

I still don't know what New Haven style pizza is! Ha, but Pete's was great, so it doesn't matter. We rather liked this place.

The new pizza kid on the block delivered (no pun intended) exactly what we needed on a lovely Friday evening. We heard that Pete's was serving vegan pizzas. It's true! Some people prefer the vegan cheese, which Pete's now carries; I'd rather get a pie with no cheese and lots of veggies accompanied by a great sauce. Pete's provided that, all within a friendly, unique atmosphere.

Pete's New Haven Style Pizza is close to Mt Pleasant, directly atop the Columbia Heights Metro Stop at the SW corner of 14th and Irving Streets NW. Its in the Highland Park Apartment Building between Potbelly and Five Guys. The restaurant is tiny. They do pack the seats in, including multiple community tables (à la The Heights) and limited outside seating. There is no traditional table service. You order in line, as if you were in a to-go pizza place, but the staff will bring your drinks and entrees to your table. No need to listen up for a number or stand around waiting for your order. Seemed fairly efficient.

The pie was pretty good as well. We split the pizza, one side with vegan cheese, the other without. Again, I don't like the fake stuff, but the others in our group (also vegans) gave the thumbs up. I thought the regular no-cheese portion was very satisfying. The toppings were peppers (grilled fresh in the kitchen) and onions, pretty simple. We did pay extra for the vegan cheese ($4.00 per pizza/$2.00 for half) and the the toppings, at $2.00 a piece, put the total for the pizza at $24.00. That's a little more than I wanted to pay for an 18" pizza pie, but again, the quality and service were there, so my wallet took one for the team. Not sure if Pete's could be an every day pizza place for me; my local favorites are Mount Peasant's own Radius, and Red Rocks, in Columbia Heights. Next time I'd like to try some of the other foods, namely the pasta. Seems they should have some vegan friendly pasta options, seeing that I lived off the stuff for nearly 10 years. Make sure to go this this summer, they have one of my favorite beers on tap, Victory Prima Pils. And until July 31, get a happy hour pint of Pils and a slice for only $5.00. Goodness, doesn't really get any better than a tall glass of Pils and a good pizza pie on the patio, watching the buzz of the CH streets on a warm summer evening.

A Break, A Brake, A Bake

I'm on a short hiatus, but I'll be back soon with postings updating the drama surrounding the DC voting rights bill, the final installment of The No Cheese Thin Crust 42 Bus Pizza Wars (plus addendum) and a little bit on the DC gun ban issue, which will hit the national stage in a few months if the Supreme Court takes it up.

I breached the topic of comical and absurd condo names and I have a little more to say about that since we're supposedly in a "market downturn" although my expenses haven't been reduced at all recently. And there'll be a little feature on everyone's favorite local vegan bakery. Mmmm.....

The No Cheese Thin Crust 42 Bus Pizza Wars: Round 2

Second Stop: Pizzeria Paradiso

Finally, Round Two of this thing. And it's at Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle. Check out Round 1 at Ella's.

To be fair, we visited Pizzeria Paradiso on a Friday night (as we did at Ella's), and as usual it was busy. There were three couples waiting in the slim vestibule that everyone has to squeeze through to get to the dining area. The place was packed (pretty normal as well) and it smelled great. I've never counted, but I'd say the place seats 25, maybe a little less. We were surprised that the entire "bar" was nearly empty. There were 5 seats for the taking and all the other future diners were waiting for a table so we were seated immediately. The bar is literally a bar, but you overlook the kitchen area and stone oven, not a bartender and drinks. It's really refreshing to see the pizza chefs make the pizzas and prepare your salads. The prep and cooking area are tiny. The place is pleasantly minimalist in this way.

We split a pizza this time, ordering the Bosco, with no cheese and no mushrooms (ech). The staff here was exceptionally nice and we were offered an extra topping since we didn't want cheese which rarely happens at a restaurant. In college, when ordering a cheese-less pizza from Papa John's, I'd practically beg for that extra topping, but usually without success. Pizza nazis. I had to get that guy on the phone who JUST started working there and sell him on the idea before he wised-up. Anyway, we declined and had the Bosco with tomato, red onion and spinach. Usually, even if the place is full, its not too noisy (its a small, like I said). Tonight there was a rather raucous table. You know, the one that everyone is quietly whispering to their mates about, but food's so good and the guys were genuinely are having a good tome, so no one really cares enough to complain.

When the pizza came out we were so happy! It was delivered just as we finished our starter salad (the simple, but well done, insalata mista) and at 12" was just the right size to split. The tomatoes were the bee's knees. Chunky, but small pieces covered the crust, which was hot and had a good burnt to chewy ratio. I'm not a slice folder, but one could get by doing that sort of thing here. The table settings are pretty simple and we only needed to go for the olive oil. The left over crust makes a nice little "bready" snack with a little olive oil. The spinach and onions were very fresh as well.

Overall, very, very, very good pizza, ambiance and service. Who needs the cheese! The pie was very "natural" tasting, if you know what I mean... like it was meant to be bade without cheese and the chefs knew this. Very good then. Radius, you're next!

The No Cheese Thin Crust 42 Bus Pizza Wars: Round 1

This is fun. Pretty simple concept. I want the best no cheese thin crust pizza. Rules are: 1. No national chain restaurants (sorry Cali Pizza Kitchen, Bertucci's). 2. Any toppings I want, but I'll keep them to the minimum. 3. One visit per restaurant. 4. No delivery; I'll sit down and enjoy each restaurant. 5. Oh yeah, they have to be within walking distance of any stop on the 42 bus.

I've selected 3 pizza joints; Radius Pizza in Mt Pleasant, Pizza Paradiso in Dupont and Ella's in Penn Quarter. I've been to each of these restaurants several times over throughout the years and I enjoy them all on casual visits. Level playing field here, no advantage to the local place, Radius.


First Stop: Ella's













We ate at Ella's on a Friday night, just after the pizza happy hour (7" pizza's for 5 bucks!), but I didn't find this out until later, so no harm, no foul. The restaurant was extremely busy and there were all kinds of folks eating. An an obviously-tourist family came in right after us and a party of 8 or so college kids celebrated a birthday two tables over. There were so many couples and I suspect a few first dates (definitely the two right behind us). We only waited 1 minute and a half or so for a table and after water the waiter immediately took our order.

Some restaurants double take at the no cheese request, but since Ella's has vegan soy cheese, I guess they're used to vegans/lactose intolerant folks. When the pizza's came out they looked perfect; and had no cheese (passed the first test!). I ordered a pretty simple to make Marinara pizza. It came hot and with a thin, thin, thin, crispy, but not burnt crust. I really love the thin flour crusts and theirs was perfect. The sauce could have been applied a little more liberally, but after a few bites I forgot all about the sauce. The pie was very good. The only drawback was the garlic. I do enjoy it, but it came on the pizza in fairly large slivers. I had to pick off the last two slices worth of garlic slivers and pile them on the plate. The sauce was not acidic and very tasty. I did add some pepper flakes for a little added taste, but could have gone without it. The few burned spots on the crust made it all the better. I'd say an 8 out of 10. Overall great experience and I enjoyed a tasty tasty pie to boot. Next up, Pizza Paradiso!

Too be continued.....