Finding the perfect slice of pizza is no easy task. But fear not, for five of the Black & White’s most dedicated and pickiest reporters joined together to comb Bethesda and its close neigbors for the best pizza joint.
Some restaurants may “bite the crust,” but others reign supreme in our Pizza Panel. We picked eight esteemed pizza places in or near Bethesda to judge. To fairly grade and rank them, we considered four factors:
crust (texture and taste), cheeseto-sauce ratio, stability of the slice and overall taste. For consistency’s sake, we always sampled a slice of cheese, a meaty option, a vegetarian selection and a specialty pizza.
1. Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza Plain and simple, Pete’s is where it’s at. The cheese and sauce are evenly balanced, with a tasty crust that was just a tad too tough and burnt from the brick oven. Despite some initial suspicion, we even tried their “New Haven” special, complete with clams, garlic and pecorino romano on a white pizza. It was a surprisingly interesting and effective combination. For the carnivores among us, each slice held plenty of pepperoni and sausage, even though the meat’s seasoning is nothing special. Pete’s delicious slice of “Apizza” was “Apleasure,” filled with harmonious flavors, making it definitely worth the occasional schlep to Friendship Heights.
3. &pizza
Think of pizza, only Chipotle-style. Located near the Bethesda metro station, &pizza (Ampersand Pizza? No, it’s pronounced “and pizza”) gives customers full creative control over their flatbreadshaped pizzas. From the type of dough to the flavor of sauce to the plethora of toppings, the options are endless. Their homemade sauce is thrown on in large amounts, yet it’s delicious all the same, and the crust is perfectly crisp. Plus, we got to watch the pizzas bake on a conveyor-driven oven, which adds to the tasty experience. The high level of customization, easy access and plentiful toppings make &pizza a convienient and delicious lunch spot.
5. Vace Italian Delicatessen
If you’re not located on Bethesda Avenue or Elm Street, you might not be considered a “popular” pizza joint. But go only two blocks down from the main downtown Bethesda strip to find Vace Italian Delicatessen, the hidden gem of this pizza panel. The pizza has a crunchy bottom crust, but there isn’t enough on the outer edge. The spicy sauce is slopped on top of the cheese (or lack thereof). Our pepperoni slices were drenched in oil, masking some of the pizza’s flavor, but the spinach white pizza was tasty. Not the best—but not the worst—Vace is a decent break from Bethesda’s high-profile pizza places.
7. Ledo Pizza
A staple for rec baseball team parties, Ledo Pizza is the ultimate friendly neighborhood restaurant. The unorthodox rectangular shape provides a different take on the classic dish. The thinner, less crispy crust compliments the rest of the square surprisingly well. However, the lack of crust on the middle squares of the pie make these pieces messier to eat. The sweeter sauce nicely balances out spicier, thick-cut pepperoni, and the cheese offers a satisfying combination, although it is a bit too greasy. While unconventional, Ledo Pizza will satisfy when needed.
THE B&W
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