2 Amy’s

I have been searching for good pizza in the district since I moved here almost 2 years ago. Used to the thin crust pies I ate while growing up in Jersey and going to college in CT, Armand’s Pizza and the like just weren’t cutting it for me here in DC.

All this changed when I hit up 2 Amy’s on Wisconsin Ave. between Tenleytown and Glover Park (sort of a no-man’s land for Washingtonians) a few weeks ago. Wine bar + delicious pizza = my new home.

Conveniently located next to my yoga studio, I decided to give 2 Amy’s a shot on a Friday night. I had been warned that there would probably be a wait, but I didn’t mind knowing that i could grab a seat at the wine bar.

Arriving at 2 Amy’s at about 6:30, I was surprised by the decor and the atmosphere. I had expected a somewhat sophisticated locale, only to find a packed room full of families with loud kids running around. And when I say packed, I mean packed. The hostess told my friend and I that it would be at least a 45 minute wait. We decided to wait our turn despite the chaos.

We muscled our way up to the wine bar and were pleasantly surprised by the selection, which was not only extensive, but affordable. We grabbed a bottle of red and began to enjoy our evening.

We waited probably close to an hour, which was slightly frustrating, but turned out to be worth it in the end. Pizzas at 2 Amy’s are personal-sized, the perfect amount of food for one person. You can order a pie from the menu, or design your own from their list of gourmet ingredients, which are interesting and delicious.

The pies were gloriously thin, perfectly cooked, and mouth watering. I don’t know how else to describe them except to say that they were by far the best pizza I’ve had in the district.

As if that weren’t enough, my friend and I split a dessert–hazelnut ice cream and cappuccino. I have to say that I would go back to 2 Amy’s just for the dessert. It was amazing. The cappuccino was also wonderful. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t have any amaretto for an after dinner drink, but I survived.

Overall, the food and wine at 2 Amy’s is fantastic and a great value. It’s definitely a kid-friendly, casual establishment that seems to be a neighborhood favorite, nestled in with Cafe Deluxe and Cactus Cantina.

On the negative side, I was frustrated by the long wait. I went back a few weeks later, only to be told by the hostess to expect another hour-long wait. I was starving, so didn’t stay to get a table and went next door for Mexican food. I also felt somewhat rushed by our server, who was understandably trying to turn tables. Also, we had a less-than-ideal seat next to the door of the restaurant, which in the middle of February provides a chilling draft.

I would give 2 Amy’s an B+, although I wish I could score the food and the actual restaurant separately, because the grade does the food an injustice. The food is fantastic, but the dining experience makes it somewhat frustrating. Consider ordering a pizza ahead of time and taking it home.

Check out the review in DCFoodies.com.