Hi Bagel Bites!
We're doing a new thing: best-of lists. If we missed a slice, or you want in on the next one, hit reply. Open experiment. Ideas welcome.
Every place here is one we have eaten, or a trusted correspondent (Riz) has eaten and told us about.
Enough talking. Let's get down to business.
– Billy
🍕 Our top 5
🔥 5. Pupatella (North Arlington + Columbia Pike) @Sun-Thu 11:30am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm
What's the vibe? Neapolitan, about 11 inches, one pie per adult. Two Arlington shops, North and South.
What to order: Margherita DOC (buffalo mozzarella, basil, olive oil).
What's the standout? House-made dough and ingredients imported from Italy. It is a sit-down Neapolitan, not a slice counter.
🦅 4. Andy's Pizza (Ballston) @Sun-Thu 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am
What's the vibe? Late Ballston NY pies. Metro is done, Andy's is not.
What to order: Pepperoni Special ('roni cups, burrata, basil, hot honey, parmigiano).
What's the standout? 72-hour cold-ferment 18-inch pies, and it stays open.
⬛ 3. Nighthawk Brewery & Pizza (Pentagon City) @Sun-Thu 12pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am
What's the vibe? Super-thick Detroit squares and beer. Laid back spot, usually not crowded.
What to order: A hot honey pizza with banana peppers (trust me).
What's the standout? The Detroit style pizza clears everything else on the menu. And it’s great as leftovers.
🛢️ 2. Colony Grill (Clarendon) @Sun-Thu 11:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-12:30am
What's the vibe? This place doesn’t waste your time with frivolous diversions. They only serve pizza and beer.
What to order: Bar pie with the pepper hot oil. Ask for it charred, extra sauce.
What's the standout? Original Hot Oil Bar Pie. The poppers are crazy hot too.
🧀 1. The Italian Store (Lyon Village + Westover) @Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm
What's the vibe? Family-owned NY slice counter, not a sit-down Neapolitan room. Lyon Village and Westover.
What to order: Nino's (white garlic sauce, spinach, ricotta, mozzarella) or the thick Siciliana.
What's the standout? Everything in this store is delicious. You cannot go wrong.
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🔖 Honorable mentions
The Liberty Tavern (Clarendon). Good vibes, decent pizza. Wood-oven tavern. Order The Dude.
Timber. Riz rec. We have not had it.
Old Dominion. Riz rec. We have not had it.
Wiseguy (Rosslyn and Pentagon City) and Ravenna (Rosslyn) are still on the to-eat list. Fire Works Courthouse is still fire-closed.
💬 Riz, Lead Pizza Correspondent
“For me it’s Andy’s, then Colony (ask for it charred, extra sauce). Timber, Pupatella (Neapolitan isn’t my favorite style), then likely Old Dominion / Italian Store.”
🥯 Get Involved
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Got an Arlington pizza rec we missed? Hit reply or email [email protected].
🙏 Thank you!
Does anyone read this far? Reply if you do!
Thank you for reading.
– Billy
