When it comes to pizza, boy do people have opinions. We asked local parents what their go-to pizza place is and we got many responses. Here are a few of the recommendations.
Piccoli Piatti Bethesda (two locations)
Piccoli Piatti is a neighborhood gem, with a walk-in only policy; one can always grab a table with a 20 min[ute] wait max. The Italian dishes and Neapolitan pizza are authentic and affordable. The crust is light and chewy, the tomato sauce is made with true San Marzano and the fresh mozzarella is tasty and gooey. While most Italian-inspired restaurants in the area are very caricatured of Italian-American dishes like Alfredo pasta or chicken Parmesan, Piccoli Piatti exudes the simplicity of good and authentic Italian cuisine at an affordable price and family friendly environment. — Clau Johnson, North Bethesda
Andy’s Pizza (14 DMV locations)
Andy’s Pizza is the closest thing to authentic New York -style pizza in the DMV. The crust hits that perfect balance of thin, crunchy and chewy, with just the right amount of sauce and toppings. I grew up in Philadelphia — where mom-and-pop pizza shops are on every corner — and I’ve always believed NY/NJ/PA make the best pies. When I’m craving true NY-style pizza, Andy’s is the one I go to. — Radhika Prout, Germantown
Coal Fire Pizza Frederick, Gaithersburg
The thing I love most about Coal Fire is their signature sauce — perfect blend of sweet and a bit spicy. The perfectly charred crust is also amazing, but that sauce is unmatched. It’s not like NY-style pizza, [but] it’s not even meant to be. — Sunita Shukla, Rockville
Stained Glass Pub Silver Spring
I have been eating pizza at the Stained Glass Pub for decades, along with many other locals. They have half price pizza Mondays and Tuesdays, friendly staff and always somebody fun at the bar. I met my last husband there many moons ago! — Mary Halako Dunton, Silver Spring
Paisano’s (36 DMV locations)
We love Paisano’s because of the variety of pizza toppings and how fresh the topping are. The fact that we can get different types of crusts, too, are a plus. Everything always tastes fresh. Plus, the Rockville location is amazing with supporting our tiny community pool and local elementary school. Even their non-pizza menu items are amazing. — Jen Sorrentino, Rockville
Potomac Pizza (Chevy Chase, College Park, Rockville, Potomac)
Here’s the deal. As a native Clevelander, I am VERY picky with pizza … [I enjoy] the old faithful, Potomac Pizza. I resisted trying it for YEARS because I assumed it was going to be pretentious, overly-hyped … and therefore disgusting. I was wrong. I learned from a 10-year-old student of mine that it’s quite good, so I tried it. It’s now my go-to carryout pizza joint. The location in Potomac Village is also [a] very 90s pizza spot to me, very nostalgic and quite good. — Brittany Higdon, Bethesda
The best pizza Katie Schubert ever had was at Savelli’s Pizza during the summer of 1997 in Colorado Springs, CO on a family vacation. Her favorite toppings are extra cheese and sausage.
