Penn Quarter's Queen of Pizza
Some places just seem to get it. Take Ella's Wood Fired Pizza, located one block west of Verizon Center at 901 F Street, NW. Home to perhaps the city's best Neapolitan-style pizza, Ella's offers consistently good pizza, amidst a warm and inviting atmosphere with some of the best service you can find. In other words, Ella's is awesome.
I arrived at Ella's last night, a minute before six. I had half an hour to eat dinner, purchase several gift certificates and get to nearby Regal Gallery Place for a screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. If you've ever had dinner in the bustling Penn Quarter, you know 30 minutes is a challenge and then some. Toss in the fact that Christmas is a mere two weeks away, and only a special place could make my dreams a reality. Ella's is that special place.
I explained my predicament to Ella's hostess, who couldn't have been nicer or more efficient. To say she went above and beyond to help me is an understatement. Before I knew it, she had me seated with gift certificates and envelopes in hand... and a word to my waiter, who took the baton and rushed my order along. Best of all, everything was handled in a calm and professional manner. A++ for service.
The good times continued when my pizza (see below) arrived ($12.50 for a 10" pie with tomato sauce, mozzarella & sweet Italian sausage.) This wasn't my first rodeo at Ella's; and as usual, their pizza was delicious. For starters, it's not covered with shredded cheese; but rather real mozzarella of the finest quality. The sausage was tasty, not to mention plentiful. The sauce (again, not too much) was bright red in color and perfectly flavored. The crust (courtesy of Ella's wood-fired oven) was lightly crisp and smoky.
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| Sausage Pizza at Ella's |
$12.50 is a steal for a pizza this good. Ella's has a cool vibe with great music, without an ounce of pretension. Spotless too. Their staff bent over backwards to accomodate my every request, and it's that type of service that guarantees repeat visits and the heartiest of recommendations (including this review.)
Atmosphere: A-
Service: A++ (Best service I've had anywhere all year.)
Crust: A (Wood-fired oven = pizza's best friend.)
Toppings: A (Cheese and sauce to die for.)
Taste: A (So simple, but executed perfectly.)
Overall: A (I love this place.)
