There's no shame in taking a low-cost option every now and then. Isn't that why Aria Pizzeria & Bar opened their popular Walk-Up Window? Open weekdays from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, the window offers cheese and pepperoni slices in addition to five different salads and three paninis. It was a beautiful day, almost 2:00 and I had yet to eat breakfast or lunch. Cue transformation into the Incredible Hulk. Luckily, I was able to get two slices of pepperoni pizza ($3.50 each) and a can of Coke ($2) before turning green.
Aria's setup is to the say the least... extensive. They offer a Patio/Bar (Aria Fresca) Grill (Wednesday - Friday, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM) and the aforementioned Walk-Up Window (Click here for full menu) in addition to a spacious dining room inside (closed Sundays.) It's conveniently located next to the Federal Triangle Metro stop and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
They also offer pretty good pizza, even in take-out form. Each slice was cooked perfectly, nice & hot. The crust was thin, yet sturdy; and the pepperoni... above average. Where Aria's pizza won me over, was in its cheese. Gooey, thick and delicious, it covers all the bases... even for someone like me, who often passes on cheese altogether. More importantly, it's good enough to get me inside next time, where I can add Aria's housemade Kettle Chips and North Carolina BBQ Chicken Wings to the mix. Customer service was brief but outstanding: Hats off to working outside, where it's downright hot at times. There's also plenty of comfortable, shaded patio seating available. What more can you ask for?
Atmosphere: B (Outdoors, but busy & vibrant. Shaded seating is a plus.)
Service: B (Very polite. Quick service.)
Crust: B- (Nice texture.)
Toppings: B (Awesome cheese.)
Value: B- ($3.50 is a bit high, but we're near the Mall.)
Overall: B (Good enough to come back for more.)
