The Gist: http://www.2amyspizza.com/
The Why: Lunch at Ashby Inn was at 11:00am while the Omakase at Sushi Taro was 8:00pm – clearly in need of a snack I decided on an early stop at 2Amy’s, a spot I’d unfortunately missed on my prior trip to the Nation’s Capitol. Having heard rumors of long waits and questionable service I arrived just moments after the doors opened and after asking a few questions went with this “Standard” to quell my VPN curiosity.
The Food: 1 Appetizer, 1 Pizza, 1 Dessert.
Margherita Tomato, mozzarella di bufala, basil, pancetta: Beginning first with the ingredients, all superlative, and moving on to the bright and minimally sweet sauce it would be hard to say that anything at 2Amy’s would be less than impressive just based on these but admitting my personal appreciation for crust it was here that the pie truly wowed – a light rise without too much blistering and yeasty notes throughout; every bit on par with some of the best in the country – likely in my longterm ‘top 10’ for a Margherita based strictly on ingredients, structure, and crust composition.
Salt cod croquettes: A side dish I cannot pass up I was disappointed that the restaurant would not go half-orders each of this and the potato/prosciutto croquettes (particularly as I agreed to pay for a full order of the more expensive salt cod version) and even more disappointed at the low quality of these bites – the cod dry and the breading rather lifeless.
Cannolis: I considered the tiramisu but my server talked me into these “filled on the spot” classics. Served as a pair but only filled on the ends while the center languished without a drop of the creamy ricotta/mascarpone blend I think what struck me most about this presentation was the use of orange zest – the flavor profile reminding me of those orange Hostess cupcakes…oddly a childhood favorite, but probably a good reason to pass on this dessert if you don’t have some odd emotional attachment to such a thing.
The Verdict: A bustling scene with parking (like much of DC) at a premium 2Amy’s should definitely be at the top of any Pizza Lover’s “Go To” list, but trying to function like a full-fledged restaurant unlike a spot like Lucali or Great Lake that just makes a killer pie I think they overstretch a bit. Service is perfunctory, the scene is fine, but clearly the price you pay is based on the ingredients and the technique. My advice – go early, go for the pizza, and go elsewhere for appetizers, drinks and dessert.