Belmont Pizzeria (Richmond, VA)
Buffalo Chicken & Margherita pies ∙
Fire buffalo chicken!! The flavor was incredible; the sauce was some of the best buffalo I’ve ever had (it maybe had some cheese in the buffalo sauce itself). Margherita – delicious sauce, somewhat garlic forward. Possibly overpowering? The basil (pre cook) totally hits. Crust is wonderful, light and airy. Delivery was a bit cold so we re-fired in the oven for a nice crisp!
Ledo Pizza (Arlington, VA)
I’ve been eating Ledo’s as long as I can remember. These are the (almost) thin crust mini square pizza bites that blew your mind as a child, a difference you can appreciate as an adult. The edges of the crust crack like a fried tortilla shell, while a thin, doughy, substantive crust supports the rest of the pie. If the crust hasn’t captured you, lets talk about the lightly spicy, tangy sauce. Imagine a thin crust platter pie presented to your person, perpetuating sensual seductions to your perception that dazzle the senses before they tantalize the tastebuds. Doesn’t matter what you’re doin in the DC metro area (an Adelphi, MD original), you have to grab a Ledo pie.
Anthony's On The Hill (Richmond, VA)
Detroit Pan Pizzas: Three Meat (Sausage, Pepperoni, Prosciutto) & Pepperoni ∙
Gooey spongy greasy goodness. Like a savory sponge cake of cheesy tomato sex. I preferred the pepperoni pie over the meat pie because it was more well done. However, the prosciutto on the meat pie was delicious! I actually liked it better the next morning reheated in the oven, accentuating the caramelized cheese on that fluffy crust, which soaked up more grease. While this wasn’t a true Detroit pie, it was very good. I lean towards thin crust on the spectrum, but this is a devilishly filling treat! I categorize this as deep dish because I can (pan pizza is just a shallower dish with a topping vs filling approach…Sicilian pizza is different….I do what I want…oh so YOU’RE the one reading this)
Fox's Pizza Den (Front Royal, VA)
Fox’s Pizza Den is every hometown need you ever had. Imagine sitting on the rolling hills of Shenandoah Valley, enjoying the delicate sounds of nature. Then a dude in a coupe drives up with two steaming pies. Where on Earth did you come from?
I’ve had many great pies delivered to a friend’s house from Fox’s Pizza Den. This is a blessing. The dynamic of desolate nature with the accessibility of delivered pizzas is incomparable. Embrace it.
Featuring my personal favorite custom topping combination: jalapeño, bacon, and onion
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!
Turu's by Timber Pizza Co (Arlington, VA)
Pepperoni ∙
Great for delivery – not terribly warm, but typical Neapolitan crust, where you can taste the wood fire. Cheese was good with what looks like light drops of mozz. Sauce is solid. Wonderful cup pepperonis, nice and spicy. I topped with my own fresh basil. I need to visit to try this pizza fresh….this shop is the baby of the nationally ranked DC location.
Italian Store (Arlington, VA)
Hometown favorite, IMO best slice in Arlington. This is also the spot for all your authentic Italian needs (make sure to get a cold cut – the Milano!). The crust is very well structured, there is no flop in this game. The cheese is fresh…dare I say…authentic? The sauce is light but tasty – there’s some spices in there. How do I convince you to visit? A quick google should settle that one. Take my advice.
I’ve eaten my fair share of I-Store pies. My favorite custom, courtesy of my energy trader at work: Sausage, white onion, ricotta cheese. Slam bang!
