Pizzeria Paradiso

Description:

• In spite of awesome competition, this is still the best pizza place in the city. Situated on the second floor of a town house, this cool, 10-table-plus-counter-seating pizzeria often overflows with discriminating pizza fans. An oak-burning oven at one end of the charming room produces exceptionally doughy but light pizza crusts. The no-reservations policy means you'll have a wait if you arrive at peak times. It's worth the wait, though. Pizzas range from the plain Paradiso, which offers chunks of tomatoes covered in melted mozzarella, to the robust Siciliana, a blend of nine ingredients including eggplant and red onion. Or you can choose your own toppings from a list of 31. As popular as the pizzas are the panini (sandwiches) of homemade focaccia stuffed with marinated roasted lamb and vegetables and other fillings, and the salads, such as the panzanella (thick crusts of bread with chopped zucchini and peppers tossed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil). Paradiso serves beer and wine and good desserts. Pizzeria Paradiso has another location, at 3282 M St. NW (tel. 202/337-1245), in Georgetown, right next door to Dean & Deluca. This location is larger, has a full bar, a private party room, and the popular Birerria Paradiso, "one of the best pubs in the region," according to Washingtonian magazine.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2009