Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Pines of Florence Food Review


Connecticut Avenue is lined with restaurants; but for almost a mile, Pines of Florence Restaurante Italiano stands alone. Nestled on the ground floor of the 2100 Connecticut apartments, Pines is a welcome reprieve from its branded (and more frequented) competition north and south of the Taft Bridge.

Admittedly old, but charming... Pines makes up for modern amenities with rustic charm. Its cozy interior invites conversation: What's more Italian than that? The staff are warm and engaging: There's even a small bar area if you feel like watching So You Think You Can Dance, which is exactly what I found myself doing (along with the host and waitress) as we waited for my carry-out pizza. I felt most welcome, despite staying for just 10 minutes.

What about the food? OK, OK. It took another 10 minutes to get home; but once I did, I was pleasantly surprised at how good my pizza tasted. A medium 12" pizza with two toppings costs $12 and feeds two (it costs an extra $2 to have the same pizza, only 14" instead of 12.) The crust was delicious, not crisp but almost pastry-like. Cheese was thick and gooey; and nicely-sized chunks of sausage, the perfect topping. Onions were sparse, but I'm not complaining. It may even become my new go-to for carry-out and delivery (free with a $15 minimum.)

Atmosphere: B (I like the old-fashioned digs: I felt comfortable.)
Service: B (They made me feel like a regular, even though I was only picking up.)
Crust: B+
Toppings: B (Almost a B+)
Value: B- ($16 after tax and tip, about average for the Avenue.)
Overall: B (Again, almost a B+)