Pupatella (Arlington, VA)

Margherita DOC: Neopolitan buffalo mozzarella, basil, olive oil ∙
Diavola: Spicy salami, fresh mozzarella, basil ∙

Spawned from a successful food cart, the first restaurant opened in Arlington, VA in 2010. Pupatella is certified by the Assozione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), which dictates strict traditional rules of pizza preparation.

First, lets talk about their Margherita DOC. From their website:

“The toppings for the D.O.C. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) pizza may only include sauce made of San Marzano tomatoes grown in Italy, fresh cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella made with buffalo milk or fior di latte, sea salt, fresh basil and olive oil.”

Do I need to say, incredible? How could you possibly NOT visit this place if you were in town? Don’t worry, they are expanding in the region quickly. I’m fortunate to live close to the original location.

So, the Diavola. It’s the first pie I had when my eyes were finally opened sometime in 2015. Spicy salami and Neapolitan pizza go together. It is one of the most flavorful I’ve ever had, which is no surprise considering Pizzaiolo Enzo’s passion.

It’s no surprise that 2016 Foursquare data showed it was the best pizza in all of Virginia!