Why go: This charming pizza joint got a culinary upgrade when chef Todd Wiss and his wife, Nicole, bought it. His roster of Italian-inspired small plates shows the seasonal sensibility he gained as a sous chef at Poste. The pizzas aren’t mind-blowing, but unexpected details—house-made pasta, artful plating—make up for it.
What to get: The menu changes often, but recent hits have included asparagus salad with a crispy poached egg; house-made cavatelli with stewed figs and braised rabbit; pizza with spring peas and fontina; lemon pound cake with rhubarb purée.
Best for: A spur-of-the-moment dinner; a quick weekend bite at the bar (a slice of pizza with a pint of beer is $5 all night Saturday through Monday).
Insider tip: Monday night, buy two large pizzas and get another free. Wednesday night, a large pizza and appetizer or two entrées and an appetizer come with a free bottle of wine. You can also buy dough and sauce to play pizzaiolo at home.
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here
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.
