Why go: Is there a better, more consistent pie in this newly pizza-mad town than the boutique pizzas at Melissa Ballinger’s surprisingly chill cafe? The dark-blond crust, anointed with a drizzle of olive oil after baking, would be terrific without sauce or toppings, and the mostly local, high-quality ingredients shimmer with freshness.
What to get: A small plate of broccolini, vividly green and dressed like a salad; lightly sauced beef-veal-and-pork meatballs, alone or in a trio of sliders; arugula-pear-and-Gorgonzola salad; among the pizzas, the simple Mia’s or Margherita, the spicy Arrabiata, the mussel-topped Di Mare, or the Salsiccia, shingled with slices of pepperoni and sausage.
Best for: Parents who want to eat well but need to feed little ones, too.
Insider tip: Wednesday is half-price-bottle-of-wine night.
Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
See all Cheap Eats 2008 restaurants
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
