2Amy’s Pizza

2Amy’s neighborhood just isn’t the typical place I’d find myself hanging out in DC. It’s in Northwest, but it’s pretty up there as far as NW DC addresses go. Idaho Ave? I didn’t even know there WAS an Idaho Ave in this city. This all goes out the window, of course, if you’re a student at American University, which is about half a mile from this pizzeria.

Calling 2Amy’s just a pizzeria doesn’t seem to quite do this place justice. You don’t see slabs of pizza perched on stainless steel pedestals, slowly turning to cardboard behind Windexed glass panes. The interior of 2Amy’s is much, much classier, with brick walls, glossy subway tiles, and a large, hungry crowd waiting outside that never quite seems to entirel disperse.

There are an endless array of appetizers to whet your palette before your pizza arrives, so it’s a good idea to show up with a large party.  We were able to try a number of incredibly fresh and tasty plates.

The fried squash blossoms that are popping up all over various DC menus was something I’ve been wanting to try for  a few weeks now.  The taste is not too different from a light, fried okra, and the chefs here know the golden ratio for batter to oil for maximum taste.

The fried risotto balls were also very well done, although not something that I’d order on my own.  Risotto and molten hot magma (could have been cheese, although I swear it’s lava straight from Eyjafjallajokull) in a breaded crust, guaranteed to burn your mouth unless you know to cut these things open and let them cool down a bit prior to consumption.

Consider this your fair warning.

The prosciutto ham here is unbelievable.  I don’t know what sort of people had to get killed in order for this ham to get passed through customs from Italy, but they died for a very, very good cause.  2Amy’s takes it up a notch and pairs the ham with fresh honeydew (the money melon), a dusting of fresh ground pepper, and a quick splash of virgin olive oil.

The pork cheeks mixed with vegetables aren’t for everyone, and naturally only the more adventuresome will get over the sourcing of this meat.  The delicate texture of this meat here, however, seems to be overwhelmed by the mixture of oils and vegetables used to serve as it’s accompaniment.  That very well could be the traditional way of serving it Neapolitan style, but I’ve enjoyed pork cheese in previous experiences, and this dish just wasn’t something I was thrilled about.

The goat cheese served with a fig spread here is excellent in taste, texture, and quality.  Make sure you get the trifecta right and properly shove these two down your gullet on a raft of fresh baked bread.

The pickled sardines are flat out a must if enjoy like sardines.  The pickling process perfects the properties of these pescados for your palette.  The fish like taste is really kept at a minimum, with the strong pickling flavor coming out, giving these tiny fish a wholly unique taste.

The Margherita D.O.C. is most likely the most basic pizza you can order here at 2Amy’s, and that’s not at all a statement of disappointment.  The simple flavors of buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil stand strong, playing no supporting role in accompaniment to other pizza accoutrements to this Denominazione di Origine Controllata (D.O.C.) dish, which means that the pizza was prepared using only authentic Italian ingredients and authentic Italian preparation methods to produce what you see above.  The result?  Mostly likely one of the best pizzas, if not THE best pizza you’ll have within 50 miles of DC.

There are, of course, those who feel the need to take their pizzas the extra mile, and order a Margherita pizza with prosciutto, and 2Amy’s amply delivers with class.  My pizza arrived at the table covered in enormous slices of prosciutto, placed atop my pizza after being baked, but only moments before I tore into this dish.  You can also ask for your pizza to be served well done, as I did here.

You can by all accounts, buck the normalcy and order a pizza with buffalo mozzarella, sausage, and cockles, for an equally satisfying pie.  The flavors on this one are decidedly a bit different, but no more or less amazing than the traditional offerings above.

What better way to finish a dinner than with a pair of cannoli?  Fresh cream stuffed into crispy baked shells, this dessert was just enough sweet to finish a meal, without being overly heavy.

If that doesn’t quite suit your tastebuds, you can always perk up with a Foggy senor –  a shot of fresh espresso topped with whipped cream, a much more suitable way to exit a good dinner than doing Jaegerbombs and flipping over the table after you’ve paid your check.

It’s a bit unfortunate to me that 2Amy’s isn’t more accessible from downtown DC, but taking a trip solely for their pizzas is a journey that’s well rewarded.  The pizza here is hands down my choice as the best pizza in the city, and the fact that 2Amy’s is no dive should be given the consideration it deserves.  The staff here is knowledgeable, friendly, and accomodating; the vibe is energetic and happy; the food is going to blow your socks off, assuming you’re not some crunchy hippie rolling up in Birkenstocks and your nevernude denim shorts.

See 2Amy’s Pizza on a map here.

Recommended For:

• Pizza Worshippers
• Neapolitan Expats
• First Dates
• Casual Birthdays
• Vegetarians

Not Recommended For:

• Paleoheads
• Zone Dieters
• Cramming for Your Finals
• The Jumbo Slice Crowd
• Vegans