Pupatella, a Local Neapolitan Pizza Chain Undergoing Expansion

[dcs]

Overheard this evening: "Do you sell pizza by the slice?" Now open Sundays. Zucchini Blossoms had too much breading. Otherwise, all is good.

[Amy Brandwein]

We went there this past Sunday and it was very busy which was great to see. It is really nice to have a local, independent Italian pizzeria where you can get a great pie, quality wine by the glass (aglianico in my case) and low key fun ambience. May be our new Sunday habit!

[DonRocks]

We went there this past Sunday and it was very busy which was great to see. It is really nice to have a local, independent Italian pizzeria where you can get a great pie, quality wine by the glass (aglianico in my case) and low key fun ambience. May be our new Sunday habit!

Amy! What took you so long?

Isn't it great?

[DanielK]

Amy! What took you so long?

Isn't it great?

If she went on Sunday because that's her day off, then it could be that they weren't OPEN on Sundays until recently. That's why I only get there a couple of times a year - no way I'm crossing the bridge on a weeknight, and my Saturdays are usually packed.

[Pool Boy]

The only problem with Puppatella is that it is on the wrong side of the river. I will still make the pilgrimage as time permits, but I'd chew my left arm off if they were in MD. ;-p

[Amy Brandwein]

I've been there many times but first since sampling the wine. It was nice quality, good pour plus a nicer glass than you'd expect for a casual place. I wish more casual places would follow suit!

[plarkins]

So, Pupatella serves doughnuts now, Friday-Sunday (maybe just lunch, can't remember). Is this new? I usually eat here on the weekdays. They're $3 each, but they're the no-hole variety. Choices are Sugar Dusted, Vanilla Creme, and Nutella. Split the sugar dusted with a friend. So good...incredibly fluffy and a nicely browned texture on the outside.

While ordering, I noticed 3 teenagers eating one of arugula salads each. While I love the salads here, I tried the hot panini (Eggplant parm) for the first time. While good and the homemade bread shines, it was a bit heavy for an early lunch. Should have gone with the salad. My friend had the prosciutto arugula pizza and loved it. I've introduced a number of friends to Pupatella's pizza in the past year, but this was my favorite experience as my friend couldn't go a bite without exclaiming aloud to anyone who would listen how amazing the pizza was. Fortunately it wasn't too crowded yet.

Oh and do try the doughnuts.

[darkstar965]

Had a chance to grab a later lunch at Pupatella yesterday. It had probably been more than a year since I was last there. Ordered the Margherita with sausage and, after being told they wouldn't do half-sizes of their interesting salads, ordered the side salad since that was the only realistic option to get a salad.

Pupatella is a wonderful place and no doubt a very popular godsend for the neighborhood in which it sits. Love their pizza oven (is it really made from Vesuvius ash?!?!) and the people are very nice.

As side salads go, mine was excellent; much more interesting the norm with a tangy vinaigrette, plenty of chopped olive and arugula. I really enjoyed it. Likewise on the pizza. Buffalo mozz. Excellent sauce. Good char and flavor though not what I'm used to from 2Amys (or Naples for that matter) but I'm not sure that's the goal here. The crust is a bit thicker/heavier than typical for an authentic neapolitan pizza; more Americanized in that way. It also doesn't really have the characteristic "soupy" center but that may be purposeful since they slice it before bringing it to the table, something I don't think I've ever seen a serious Neapolitan pizza do but I take has always been done here. All said though, I enjoyed and happily finished the pizza.

I understand fully why Pupatella is so popular and think they deserve all the support they get. And, what's "best" is in the eye of the beholder since we all favor different things. But, if you're looking for as authentic a neapolitan pizza as possible, I think 2Amys has to get the nod.

[DonRocks]

An empty Pupatella at 4:15 on Thursday afternoon. This crust is superb; my only beef is that the tomato sauce is a smidge too sweet, and the red pizza a touch too charred. All is well, Enzo and Anastasia - you don't need to be there.

My compositions:

Pizza ($7), White Sauce, Garlic, Sautéed Onions ($1), Prosciutto di Parma ($3) <-- Get this combination - it doesn't need cheese. While not inherently "seasonal," this is nevertheless a great springtime pizza.

Pizza ($7), Red Sauce, Garlic, Fresh Mozzarella ($1.50) Button Mushrooms Sautéed in Wine ($1), Beef Pepperoni ($1) <-- As with playing a Mozart sonata using the sparest of connective pedaling, the tiniest error in execution is fed through an amplifier. They forgot my pepperoni.

Vino ($30, discounted to $20 with the purchase of two pizzas), Sunday Mountain (Single Vineyard) Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ <-- A perfect, absolutely perfect, combination with the white pizza. Do try.

[Andelman]

An empty Pupatella at 4:15 on Thursday afternoon. This crust is superb; my only beef is that the tomato sauce is a smidge too sweet, and the red pizza a touch too charred. All is well, Enzo and Anastasia - you don't need to be there.

My compositions:

Pizza ($7), White Sauce, Garlic, Sautéed Onions ($1), Prosciutto di Parma ($3) <-- Get this combination - it doesn't need cheese. While not inherently "seasonal," this is nevertheless a great springtime pizza.

Pizza ($7), Red Sauce, Garlic, Fresh Mozzarella ($1.50) Button Mushrooms Sautéed in Wine ($1), Beef Pepperoni ($1) <-- As with playing a Mozart sonata using the sparest of connective pedaling, the tiniest error in execution is fed through an amplifier. They forgot my pepperoni.

Vino ($30, discounted to $20 with the purchase of two pizzas), Sunday Mountain (Single Vineyard) Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ <-- A perfect, absolutely perfect, combination with the white pizza. Do try.

Thanks for the tips. I am going to be over there in about an hour and a half!

[Nervous Eater]

Pizza ($7), White Sauce, Garlic, Sautéed Onions ($1), Prosciutto di Parma ($3) <-- Get this combination - it doesn't need cheese. While not inherently "seasonal," this is nevertheless a great springtime pizza.

Any idea what their "white sauce" is? Is it a beschemel, or is it just a reduced cream sauce? Just trying to gauge how heavy it might be.

[DonRocks]

Any idea what their "white sauce" is? Is it a beschemel, or is it just a reduced cream sauce? Just trying to gauge how heavy it might be.

I'm pretty sure it's a reduced cream sauce, but it's not heavy at all. I tend to prefer Pupatella's white-sauce pizzas to their reds, for whatever reason - I'm thinking it might be because the flavor profile falls within a narrower range. I really hope someone tries that exact same pizza I had last night - the sweetness of the sautéed onions played so well off the saltiness of the Prosciutto di Parma, and tomato sauce + cheese would have overshadowed the subtleties of the interplay (yeah, I know those last four words sounded douche-y).

[Nervous Eater]

I am absolutely going to try that combination this weekend. Thanks, Don!

[beachgirl54]

I was there last night too, on the patio with my son - he had the bimbi, and I had Vincent's recommendation, the special - it had no sauce, eggplant (kind of a puree) and bresaolo, which my son kept trying to take (hard to say no to him but you bet I did). Amazing, as always - this place never, ever disappoints me.

I do like the mushroom pizza very much - it has the white sauce and I don't find it heavy at all.

[KMango]

For pictures that will make you cry and crave pizza at 8:00 in the morning, type Pupatella in the search box on Pinterest.

*swoon*

[dcs]

30 plus minute wait for take out. Business is good. As is the DC Brau. Sometimes it is good to wait.

[Bob Wells]

I took the fam to Pupatella last Saturday and overall it was really good. We got three pizzas, a salad, a side of meatballs, aranicin with eggplant, and fried mozz balls, and gelato. One of the pizzas, a special, had thin slices of zucchini on top, and they got a bit burned, which I didn't mind but Twinsmommy wasn't crazy about. Their pizza crust is really something!

The only other small quibble was that some of our apps got lost and came out with the pizzas. Nothing major, would go back in a heartbeat.

[DonRocks]

Confession time. A few years ago, I had called Pupatella the new king of pizza in the DC area, having wrested that (unofficial, but correct) award away from Comet Ping Pong, which had previously wrested it away from the intractable 2 Amys - if it wasn't for someone coming in and shaking things up a little bit, 2 Amys would still be cruising right along, widely considered the best pizza because it is still excellent (though since Edan Macquaid left, it has never been the same), but the reality is that it has been surpassed.

However, the last several times I had pizza at Pupatella, Pizzaiolo-Owner Enzo Algarme and GM-Owner Anastasia were absent (they are new parents), and the pizzas suffered because of it. Oh, they were still good pies, but they no longer deserved to be called "the best in DC." I was going to make it official after this visit.

However, after this visit, I can safely say that when Enzo is manning the oven - and lo and behold - he was on this visit, they *are* the best pizzas in the DC area. So, if you walk in and see him there, you're in for a real treat; if you walk in and he isn't there, you're in for merely a very good pizza, but not the best in town (in these situations, the award goes to Ghibellina in 14UP which, during happy hour, produces the single best value pizza in DC history - trust me and try it sometime, and you can write to thank me at donrockwell@dcdining.com).

To those who say "it doesn't matter if the chef is in the kitchen," you're wrong. So just get some more experience dining out, and you'll see for yourselves.

Pupatella was running a special wine deal - with the purchase of two pizzas, you got $15 off   a brand new Erbalino that I'd never seen before  - whatever Pupatella's 2-pizza, $10-off wine happens to be, it's a deal that you should always get. The wine is always good (both one white and one red to choose from), and it makes the price so, so much more gentle.

Two pizzas, a white and a red, and both given my highest recommendation:

The white: a Mimosa ($12) with Italian cream, roasted corn, prosciutto cotto, and fresh mozzarella

The red: a Capricciosa ($13), certainly one of my standing orders here, with Sauteéd mushrooms, marinated artichokes, Proscuitto cotto, and fresh mozzarella

Both pies complemented each other very well, and since the Capricciosa has ham and artichokes, it goes very well with a white wine. These are pizzas of Pupatella's Halcyon Days, enjoy this great pizzeria now, before Enzo and Anastasia get so busy being parents that they'll need to hire more help, expand, etc. It's a beautiful moment in time that won't last forever (it would be a lovely fantasy to think otherwise, but the odds are stacked against it).

You're back, Pupatella, #1. Best Pizza in the DC area.

[naxos]

Went to Pupatella last night after an early movie.

Was seated quickly at 9pm- Enzo and Anastasia were not present, but a team of 4 or 5 were manning the prep station and oven.

 
Ordered Brussel sprouts -delicious as usual and Fig and Pig as well as a Buratta pizza- we were happy and felt things were good as ever with leftovers for lunch today-

Need to get to 14th street at happy hour- difficult for me but so far Pupatella is highest on my pizza list .

[plarkins]

Made a trip in from the outer suburbs last night to get our pizza fix. Usual line but it went fast. There is now a dedicated staff member managing the seating. Once you finish your order, they will give you the options and point you to your seat. Pretty simple I suppose, but it used to be a bit more hectic and it probably limits the squatters with friends in line. I always order a special pizza and last night we ordered 2 of the 3 specials and the #3 salad. I forget the name of my pizza special, but it was probably the best pizza I've had from Pupatella or anywhere. Enzo was not in the house, so if anyone is still concerned about the quality....no issues last night. The pizza was charred more than normal, but it didn't affect the flavor to me at least. The pizza had chorizo, pine nuts, eggplant, provola and fresh mozz. The other pizza special with a house-made sausage was good, but didn't make my mouth melt like the other one. Bummer being a further from Pupatella than I once was, but makes the occasional visits all the more enjoyable. 

[DonRocks]

For a long time - over a year - whenever I went to Pupatella, both Enzo and Anastasiya were both there, every single time without exception. Then, life for them progressed, they had a baby, and word of the quality had spread enough so that the business grew substantially.

Now, it's almost the exact opposite - Out of the past, say, ten visits, I've seen neither at the restaurant probably eight times.

But how has the pizza been?

First of all, I *always* take advantage of the "$10 off" any bottle of wine with purchase of two pizzas offer - if I'm there alone, I'll invariably buy a second pizza to go, just so I can get a $30 bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or Vermentino for $20 - I'll have a couple glasses there, and take the rest home. It's a really good deal on some very drinkable wines, and one which you should be enjoying.

A few days ago, I ordered four pizzas, and I'd say they were pretty representative of my recent experiences there. They're slightly different than they used to be - not better, not worse, but different. The crust is perhaps a millimeter (but only a millimeter) thicker, and the crust coming out of the oven is slightly more soft than it used to be (but only slightly). The flavors in the dough are still right there, and the toppings - which have never been the same quality as what you'd get at 2 Amys, for example, are about the same. In other words, the pizzas have been pretty consistent over the years, and are among the best in the area if not still *the* best.

But I've developed what is nearly a fetish for their Mimosa ($12): Italian cream, roasted corn, prosciutto cotto, and fresh mozzarella. And on this recent visit, I ordered two of them - that's how much I like them. In fact, I think I've gotten the Mimosa on each of my last several visits. This time, I also got two red pizzas (with San Marzano tomato sauce) to go along with my two white pizzas: a Ham and Mushroom ($11), with prosciutto cotto, sautéed mushrooms, and fresh mozzarella, and for the first time ever, a Pepperoni Pizza ($10.50) with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and beef pepperoni. For "personal-sized" pizzas, these are technically 11 inches, but they seem slightly larger, and the four pieces they're cut into are enough for a meal unless I'm really hungry - there are always leftovers for the next day, and I'm still trying to master the art of reheating these. Even if I put them into a pre-heated oven, directly on the rack, the crust comes out softer than I'd like - if anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

Pupatella remains in Italic in the Dining Guide (as it always has been), remains the top-ranked restaurant in Ballston, and remains one of the best, if not *the* best, pizza in the DC area.

[meatwad]

Microwave to hot cast iron...

[Ericandblueboy]

Last 2 visits I haven't been a happy camper.  Undercooked dough on both visits (on 3 pizzas) and flavorless sausage.  

[DonRocks]

Last 2 visits I haven't been a happy camper.  Undercooked dough on both visits (on 3 pizzas) and flavorless sausage.  

I can't vouch for the sausage, but I've seen the undercooked dough before. I haven't seen it undercooked to the point where if you pinch it together, it turns back into batter, have you? My experiences with it have always been merely "not as cooked as Enzo would want it, floppy, and with very little char." My guess is that the oven's not hot enough.

Enzo and Anastasia used to be there almost constantly; now, they've had a family, and I've seen them on perhaps two out of my past ten visits. (I'm pretty sure I saw them every single time I was there for at least an entire year.) I fear a choice had to be made between serving what was arguably the best pizza in town and being responsible parents. I do *not* "know" this; but it makes sense. I *do* know these are correctable issues, but I don't know what it would take to correct them.

[Ericandblueboy]

The dough under the cheese was raw, and the cheese was clumped and not melted usfficiently.  I haven't seen Enzo on the last 2 trips.  One a Fri and another on a weekend.  I'm not sure Enzo needs to be at home all the time to be a responsible parent. 

[Bob Wells]

I was a very unhappy camper last Sunday -- was in the area for a soccer game and went to Pupatella at 4 PM only to find the place dark and closed for "oven cleaning." GRRRRR.

Plan B was Popeye's drive-thru: two of those $5 boxes for me and the boy. Possibly the best deal in fast-food history, given the quality of the food and the fact that we both got extra chicken tenders.

[astrid]

I feel like Enzo's particular style of Neapolitan pizza is particularly finicky to get right. There's a big drop off between perfect and anything less. I noticed the pizza being noticeably less good even when he's in the restaurant but not personally making the pizza himself. I never notice that sort of quality inconsistency at other restaurants known for good pizzas.

(Makes me glad that I gave up on Pupatella and now answer to the siren calls of the Pete's Apizza's New Haven. Plus you can get crispy spring rolls at Four Sisters Grill next door).

[ol_ironstomach]

Pupatella now selling frozen pizza at the Italian Store.

[DonRocks]

20 hours ago, Pool Boy said:

I ended up getting carryout from there instead of Pasta Plus because, I kid you not, I tried calling Pasta Plus about two dozen times over the course of 8 minutes or so and I just gave up. That is not the first time.

This is the *only* reason I don't go to Pupatella more.

[cheezepowder]

You need a subscription to Washington Business Journal to read the article, but you get the idea from the headline:  "Attention pizza lovers -- there soon could be many more Pupatellas"

[DonRocks]

14 minutes ago, cheezepowder said:

You need a subscription to Washington Business Journal to read the article, but you get the idea from the headline:  "Attention pizza lovers -- there soon could be many more Pupatellas"

This place was awesome for a couple of years.

[cheezepowder]

ArlNow article with Pupatella's press release that they have joined with founders of Elevation Burger to start offering Pupatella franchises.

[DonRocks]

48 minutes ago, yeah said:

5:30 PM Saturday finds the place about 40% full for Neapolitan pizza that is 80% as good as Pupatella and orders of magnitude less drama.  We parked 50' away from the door.  In a garage.  

I'm curious if anyone besides me has an uneasy feeling each time they make the "walk of shame" across Wilson Blvd. after parking in the Safeway lot - I've learned to park close to Safeway so I can co-mingle with the cars there.

[dcs]

12 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

I'm curious if anyone besides me has an uneasy feeling each time they make the "walk of shame" across Wilson Blvd. after parking in the Safeway lot - I've learned to park close to Safeway so I can co-mingle with the cars there.

My conscience is clear; I always park on N. Emerson St. right next to the 7-Eleven. It is just about as close, almost always has an open spot, and avoids a death defying scramble across Wilson Blvd.

[abigail99]

On 9/12/2016 at 9:11 AM, DonRocks said:

I'm curious if anyone besides me has an uneasy feeling each time they make the "walk of shame" across Wilson Blvd. after parking in the Safeway lot - I've learned to park close to Safeway so I can co-mingle with the cars there.

Ha, we take the opposite tactic-- parking at the far other end by the dumpsters because we assume no one could possibly care about those spaces. Also sometimes we go in and buy a half gallon of milk

[Deborah Lee]

On the SPECIALS MENU (March 5, 2017):

PISTACCHIODELLA:  Pistacchio cream sauce, thinly sliced red onions, gruyere cheese, more chopped pistacchios, a drizzle of olive oil, topped off with shaved mortadella

[dcs]

On ‎8‎/‎24‎/‎2016 at 7:14 PM, DonRocks said:

This place was awesome for a couple of years.

Arlington pizzeria Pupatella is opening in the former Rancho T in the Fan, with 3 more in the works, by Karri Peifer, in Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 24, 2017

[ol_ironstomach]

Pupatella RVA in Richmond, first of the franchises, opened Friday.

[DonRocks]

I had dinner at Pupatella (Arlington) about a week ago - I haven't seen Enzo or Anastasia there in ... years, but the pizzas were still terrific (they have a Latino gentleman who has been their main pizzaiolo for quite some time). The highlight of the meal, however, was the Sausage Arancini, and this might be the first time I can ever say that.

They've certainly come a long way, financially, from the first post in this thread.

[DanielK]

2 hours ago, DonRocks said:

They've certainly come a long way, financially, from the first post in this thread.

I haven't been in years - I used to go regularly, first to the cart when I worked in Ballston, and then to their store. But they were on the leading edge of an explosion of great pizza places in the area, and now that I have Pizza CS around the corner, it's hard to justify the 30+ minute drive to Pupatella. But I remember them fondly and wish them well.

[Pool Boy]

On 8/2/2017 at 7:38 AM, DonRocks said:

I had dinner at Pupatella (Arlington) about a week ago - I haven't seen Enzo or Anastasia there in ... years, but the pizzas were still terrific (they have a Latino gentleman who has been their main pizzaiolo for quite some time). The highlight of the meal, however, was the Sausage Arancini, and this might be the first time I can ever say that.

They've certainly come a long way, financially, from the first post in this thread.

Working in Ballston these days, I need to get back here and try it again - especially when traffic back home on the commute is particularly lousy.

[DIShGo]

My son is visiting from UCLA this weekend, and I took him to Pupatella (Arlington) tonight. We shared a fantastic order of the Arancini with Sausage, and he had a pepperoni pizza, which he enjoyed. I tried the special, Pig and Fig, with brie, figs, prosciutto and balsamic vinegar. It was delicious.

[MidwestTransplant]

On 12/13/2015 at 12:03 AM, ol_ironstomach said:

Pupatella now selling frozen pizza at the Italian Store.

I had lunch at the Italian Store today, and it reminded me of what seemed like a very brief time that Pupatella was selling frozen pizza there.  They definitely have not available there for awhile now.  Does anyone know if they are still selling them, or do they just not sell them through Italian Store anymore?

[Pool Boy]

Went here recently finally and still enjoy their pizza. It's quite, quite good.

[DonRocks]

On 10/5/2007 at 9:57 AM, pupatella said:

http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2...s_the_pizza.php

Thanks for the great support!!

Can anyone find this article on Washington Post Express? They changed their URLs, apparently.

[sheldman]

18 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Can anyone find this article on Washington Post Express? They changed their URLs, apparently.

Probably this?

[DonRocks]

1 hour ago, sheldman said:

Probably this?

Thank you, sir. I *hate* broken links, so I try to put in a screenshot whenever possible (which I'll do right now).

This isn't the first time Wayback Machine has saved the day (assist to sheldman!). I see they now have the name archive.org - they provide a great service to internet users (it's funny - 50 years from now, people will see the term, "internet users," and not have a clue what I'm talking about).

[ATF]

The pizza here never disappoints, really reliably spot on. The service is always pleasant, despite often long lines of hangry customers, and I have never had a problem getting a seat by the time a delicious pizza with wonderful fresh ingredients is ready to be savored. To top it off, I left my cell phone on the seat once, and a server tracked me down outside to return it.

 

[dcs]

Pupatella pizza shifts gears with $3.75M raise, by Rebecca Cooper, Senior Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal, October 15, 2018, on bizjournals.com.

[TSchaad]

On 10/16/2018 at 9:11 AM, dcs said:

Pupatella pizza shifts gears with $3.75M raise, by Rebecca Cooper, Senior Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal, October 15, 2018, on bizjournals.com.

Looks like they are putting the money to work. From ArlNow:

Neapolitan pizzeria Pupatella, the which was a popular food truck before opening its acclaimed bricks-and-mortar location in Bluemont in 2010, is opening a second Arlington location in the restaurant “Bermuda Triangle” at 1621 S. Walter Reed Drive. The opening is planned for this summer.

“The restaurant is 2,200 square feet and will seat approximately 60 guests inside,” a press release said of Pupatella’s new location in the Nauck neighborhood. “The location also features a covered patio area that will have seating for another 40 or so guests.”

Pupatella also announced plans today to open a 2,700 square foot location at 1821 Wiehle Avenue in Reston by early 2020, as part of a new expansion push fueled by a $3.75 million investment.

This will be within walking distance of my house -- YES!

 

TSchaad

[DonRocks]

1 hour ago, TSchaad said:

Neapolitan pizzeria Pupatella, the which was a popular food truck before opening its acclaimed bricks-and-mortar location in Bluemont in 2010, is opening a second Arlington location in the restaurant “Bermuda Triangle” at 1621 S. Walter Reed Drive. The opening is planned for this summer.

This is currently an Ethiopian restaurant called Lalibella. I've driven past it many, many times, and have never seen anyone in it - I guess it has been abandoned now for quite awhile. Pupatella will be *more* than welcome here, and will do a brisk business in restaurant-starved South Arlington, both for carryout and dine-in.

[plarkins]

Excited for the Reston location as well. The Reston/Herndon area is a pizza desert. I think they'll do well at that location

[Ferris Bueller]

17 minutes ago, plarkins said:

Excited for the Reston location as well. The Reston/Herndon area is a pizza desert. I think they'll do well at that location

Just adding to the post above for more info - Pupatella Pizzeria is Coming to Reston Next Year by Fatimah Wassem, RestonNow

Taking over the current location of Pizza Hut at the corner of Wiehle Avenue and the W&OD - directly across from the fire station and adjacent to the McDonalds and TacoBell.  This will be an interesting location for outdoor seating.

 

[kieplangdu]

On 4/18/2019 at 3:44 PM, DonRocks said:

This is currently an Ethiopian restaurant called Lalibella. I've driven past it many, many times, and have never seen anyone in it - I guess it has been abandoned now for quite awhile. Pupatella will be *more* than welcome here, and will do a brisk business in restaurant-starved South Arlington, both for carryout and dine-in.

It was once a Pho place. Didn't last long either. 

[DIShGo]

On 4/18/2019 at 3:44 PM, DonRocks said:

This is currently an Ethiopian restaurant called Lalibella. I've driven past it many, many times, and have never seen anyone in it - I guess it has been abandoned now for quite awhile. Pupatella will be *more* than welcome here, and will do a brisk business in restaurant-starved South Arlington, both for carryout and dine-in.

Seen on my walk today...

[DonRocks]

6 hours ago, Bob Wells said:

 Love Pupatella but haven't been in a while.

Are you sure you love Pupatella, or do you love Enzo Algarme? I fear that, for me, it's the latter - we'll find out soon enough.

[DanielK]

13 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Are you sure you love Pupatella, or do you love Enzo Algarme? I fear that, for me, it's the latter - we'll find out soon enough.

I remember in the early days, the store wasn't open if Enzo wasn't at the oven. That's long since changed, so I'm hoping that he has his process established enough to train others to replicate his pies.

[Bob Wells]

13 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Are you sure you love Pupatella, or do you love Enzo Algarme? I fear that, for me, it's the latter - we'll find out soon enough.

LOL good point. We will definitely find out. But even if Reston Pupatella is 80% of Arlington Pupatella, that's about 100% better than Reston Pizza Hut. 😃

[DonRocks]

3 hours ago, DanielK said:

I remember in the early days, the store wasn't open if Enzo wasn't at the oven. That's long since changed, so I'm hoping that he has his process established enough to train others to replicate his pies.

I don't mean to be a rabble-rouser, but even the original Pupatella is nowhere near what it used to be in quality - there was a time when it was the best pizza in the area; that time has passed.

[astrid]

I think both Pizza CS and Inferno have far surpassed Pupatella. Inferno now is better than Pupatella in its prime. 

[DonRocks]

Am I a pagan for saying Frankly ... Pizza has some problems?

On my last visit to Pizza CS, it was better than Pupatella had ever been.

[wristband]

I second Don's opinion.  Pupatella is not what it used be back when it came on the Arlington scene and, at least for me, there is no compelling reason to return these days.  I am happy for the prospect of its new backers realizing - potentially - success in aggressively expanding.  But I wonder if Enzo et al along with quality control will be stretched as multiple stores open. 

Plenty of alternatives now offer excellent pizza in NOVA.

[hopsing]

Maybe I'm too much of a pizzaholic to know when a pizzeria has gone downhill.  I've been to Pupatella's several times in the past year and it has always been good.  Do you find the crust too soggy or not soggy enough? The toppings not delicious?  I usually get the same pie all the time:  Clasico DOC with Greek olives.

[arldiner]

I’m also curious here - end up at Pupatella every few months for years and still greatly enjoy it (I can’t say whether I’ve seen any small drops in quality as that’s hard to judge, but I greatly enjoyed it then and greatly enjoy it now). Perhaps a tad less consistent, but still great. I typically go on Friday evenings or Sunday for lunch, so maybe a function of going at high volume times. 

More importantly - I’m curious what folks consider better in northern VA. If there’s better pizza out there, I want to be eating it! I would also put Pizza CS and Inferno at least at same level if not higher than Pupatella, but have not found anything I like better in VA. While I know Pizzeria Orso is popular, I’ve always found them to be solid, but not great, and ditto for Crust in Tyson’s. I have not tried the new Turo Ballston yet. 

[DonRocks]

3 hours ago, arldiner said:

More importantly - I’m curious what folks consider better in northern VA. If there’s better pizza out there, I want to be eating it! I would also put Pizza CS and Inferno at least at same level if not higher than Pupatella, but have not found anything I like better in VA. While I know Pizzeria Orso is popular, I’ve always found them to be solid, but not great, and ditto for Crust in Tyson’s. I have not tried the new Turo Ballston yet. 

I'm pretty much with arldiner - if there's better NoVa pizza than Pupatella, I'd like to know.

[Seanchai]

Pizzeria Orso, while never at the highest level, has also declined from what it was.    I had a pizza there last month that was basically at a Matchbox level in quality and construction.

[Bob Wells]

How would you folks rate Ciao in Centreville? I'm always thinking I need to take my family there more. We've always enjoyed their pizza and other dishes. The place is generally packed.

[Ferris Bueller]

On 7/29/2019 at 3:25 PM, Bob Wells said:

How would you folks rate Ciao in Centreville? I'm always thinking I need to take my family there more. We've always enjoyed their pizza and other dishes. The place is generally packed.

I made a special trip out there a few weeks ago for lunch.  Service was great, food was great and the owner stopped by to welcome us and make sure we enjoyed everything.  It is a small-town, independently-owned restaurant in suburbia - that does what they do well.  From their Caesar salad to pizza and pasta dishes they are all decent.  The opened a Gelato place next door, but whenever I visit Ciao, after salad and an entree, I do not have room for gelato.  And yes the place is always very busy.

[DonRocks]

The South Arlington location is getting closer to opening - they held a job fair last week.

[DonRocks]

Pupatella South Arlington is having their final inspection tomorrow, and if all goes well, it should open sometime this week.

[DaveO]

On 12/8/2019 at 6:21 PM, DonRocks said:

Pupatella South Arlington is having their final inspection tomorrow, and if all goes well, it should open sometime this week.

I believe it will be open for business either 12/18 or 12/19.   Enzo will be training all the new Pizziolo's (or however they are described.).  Besides Reston I believe they have signed leases in Dupont Circle and Mosaic and possibly one other location.

[DonRocks]

4 hours ago, DaveO said:

I believe it will be open for business either 12/18 or 12/19.   Enzo will be training all the new Pizziolo's (or however they are described.).  Besides Reston I believe they have signed leases in Dupont Circle and Mosaic and possibly one other location.

I've heard (without substantiation, so don't rely on this) that they're open tomorrow at 11. Let me emphasize: This information was on a ListServ, and relayed to me.

[naxos]

Open!

[DonRocks]

58 minutes ago, naxos said:

Open!

Yes, but no phone, and no online ordering (I tried to order from them today, and the phone rolls over to voicemail).

The "Fresh Garden Rolls" at Thai Square were notably better and fresher-tasting than they've ever been (and I've had them probably ten times) - this leads me to believe that they make them (not necessarily cut them) all before the restaurant opens (I think I've only had them at dinner, and can personally vouch that they decline in quality after a couple of hours).

[naxos]

Over one hour wait to order- line out the door at 7 tonight .

Will return at lunchtime 

[Tweaked]

Coming to the Dupont area in the former Rosemary's Thyme space, 1801 18th Street, NW

[DonRocks]

9 hours ago, Tweaked said:

Coming to the Dupont area in the former Rosemary's Thyme space, 1801 18th Street, NW

It will do extremely well there. They're smart going for residential areas - it's just that kind of place.

The South Arlington branch is crowded to the point where it has changed traffic patterns at this chaotic intersection. A "No Right Turn on Red" sign has recently gone up on northbound S. Glebe Road turning right onto Walter Reed Drive. Someone needs to do something about their parking situation, because (I'm trying to avoid the word "dangerous") it's starting to affect surrounding traffic - especially people picking up carryout orders who park catch-as-catch-can.

From a recent dine-in meal:

Note: This location is only about 1.5 miles (maybe 3 minutes) from I-395, and the Glebe Road intersection on I-395 is only about 5 minutes from the DC line.

[lion]

Pizza Hut on Wiehle Avenue has closed down and been somewhat cleaned up a bit. There doesn't look like any construction going on at this time but I know my wife is very excited so hopefully it will open up before the end of the year.

Across the street at the Wiehle Avenue metro stop, Matchbox is on the way, too.

[dcs]

Pupatella Searching for New Arlington Location, June 9, 2020, on ARLnow.com.

[Ferris Bueller]

Pupatella Pizzeria Aims for Fall Opening in Reston by Fatimah Waseem, RestonNow

Although the COVID-19 pandemic stalled plans to open but early 2020 at 1821 Wiehle Avenue, founding partner Michael Berger told Reston Now the restaurant is planning for a fall opening.

[lion]

We've been watching with expectant eyes the past couple of time that we've driven by the location. Our son doesn't remember going to the Arlington location a couple of years ago so he's excited as well and of course, my wife can't wait. I won't be making pizza at home on Fridays for family movie night in the fall...

[Ericandblueboy]

I saw a sign for Pupatella at the Mosaic District, near Spark Yoga.

[lion]

Looks like they started the demo work at the Reston location! 

[lion]

The work has continued and looks like they are on track for end of the year. 

[MarkS]

I doubt I will ever be back at my Reston office.  Oh well.

[Ericandblueboy]

So they're still operating at 5104 Wilson Blvd.  Any news on the lease? Which location has a patio?

[DonRocks]

4 hours ago, Ericandblueboy said:

So they're still operating at 5104 Wilson Blvd.  Any news on the lease? Which location has a patio?

South Arlington has a "patio" (some tables put onto the parking lot out front).

[hopsing]

Wilson Blvd. location has a nice big patio in the back (converted parking lot).  They settled with the landlord about the lease so they are staying in the Bluemont location.  https://www.arlnow.com/2020/08/07/pupatella-is-staying-put-in-bluemont/

[hopsing]

Here is a photo of Pupatella patio and parking lot (Wilson Blvd location).  No need to sneak parking at Safeway anymore.

[ArlFred]

NB: The parking lot is the former, now demolished, Bookhouse. 

[hopsing]

Interesting.  I mentioned this to my husband and he says he used to buy musty old books there.  It was run by a Miss Marple-type lady and it was indeed a house that sold books, so aptly named.

[lion]

Reston Location has a sign outside announcing hiring! Hopefully they will be able to open up by the beginning of the new year. 

[Ferris Bueller]

Soft opening Wednesday at 4 PM, full menu. 

Had driven by the other day and it appeared almost ready....place looks very open and bright.

[lion]

Stopped by at the opening yesterday and ordered a selection of pies and of course, the arancini. 

Everything was excellent and we enjoyed our first Neapolitan style crust in ten months. Again, they are one of the best in the DC area, the quality control as they expand appears to be working at this point and highly recommend them.

We'll definitely be adding them to the regular rotation and look forward to next summer when dining out can become a regular thing again.

During my wait time there, they had a brisk amount of business which appeared to be just from an article in the RestonNow advertising their soft opening on Tuesday. 

Now if Reston could only get a good Dim Sum place! 

[Ferris Bueller]

They have a great thing going here...went by this evening about an hour ago, and the stream of people going in/out was pretty steady. They are only accepting in-person ordering but the wait after ordering was less than 20 minutes.

- Arancini with Sausage - excellent, and not greasy at all - peas were a cool touch.

- Meatball Pizza - crust is excellent, slightly sweetened, perfect char and travelled well.

- Meatballs in Marinara - decent sized meatballs, marinara was mild and their bread which accompanies the order was very good.

- Bimbi Pizza - basically straight cheese pizza - it was fine, enough said.

- Pepperoni Pizza - good sauce, and meat combo - nothing crazy but nicely seasoned and everyone loved it.

If you go, there is outdoor seating enclosed by a new wood 4' high fence. There are a few gas fireplaces and you can grab a beer while you wait. If you want to wait in your car they hand you a laminated # and bring the food to you. For being a new location, they have it down. Easy ordering, hardly a wait time, and food was fresh and hot.

[Bob Wells]

On 12/27/2020 at 6:51 PM, Ferris Bueller said:

They have a great thing going here...went by this evening about an hour ago, and the stream of people going in/out was pretty steady. They are only accepting in-person ordering but the wait after ordering was less than 20 minutes.

- Arancini with Sausage - excellent, and not greasy at all - peas were a cool touch.

The Arancini have always been a winner at Pup.

[Joe H]

On 9/30/2007 at 3:17 PM, pupatella said:

Team,

We have been reading this forum for a long time and found it very helpful in enhancing our dining experience.

Now, me and my partner Enzo Algarme have opened our own food establishment and want to invite you guys to check it out.
Enzo, who is from Naples, Italy, worked in the kitchen of the renown "Il Pizzaiolo del Presidente" (certified by Verace Pizza Napoletana) in Naples, where he learned how to make authentic Neapolitan specialties, which we are now making here, in Arlington, Virginia. Some things, like the Neapolitan Fried Calzone, you can't find anywhere else in this area.
We also make Palle di Riso (crunchy rice balls stuffed with peas, veggie crumble and cheese), Panzarotti - potato croquettes stuffed with mozzarella, Neapolitan-style pizza (we do not have a wood-burning oven, but use the same recipe and the ingredients as pizzerias in Naples).

The food we serve is the authentic Neapolitan STREET food, just like you find on the streets of Naples.
Our food establishment is a STREET CART, not a restaurant, so the prices are more than reasonable.

We have been open for about 1 week in the neighbourhood of Ballston, in Arlington, VA just outside the Metro station, at the corner of Stuart and 9th streets. We are only open Mon-Fri for breakfast and lunch right now, from 8 to 3:30, but soon will be open until 8pm.

Come to give us a shot!

Anastasiya and Enzo

pupatella.com
myspace.com/pupatella1pizza

Are you actively involved in overseeing the pizzas that come out of the new Reston location’s ovens?

[lion]

10 hours ago, Joe H said:

Are you actively involved in overseeing the pizzas that come out of the new Reston location’s ovens?

He was there when we got our pies. Have you tried them out yet? 

[Pat]

They're taking over the (cursed) restaurant space at 3rd and Massachusetts, NE, last occupied by Romeo and Juliet. Per Hill Rag.

The only place that's been there that I thought was halfway decent was the Thai one 30ish years ago, but I have high hopes for this.

[DonRocks]

The other night, delivery from Pupatella was surprisingly good, with one big caveat.

On my past few visits, the pizzas have been invariably floppy which is why I hadn't been to any Pupatella in probably two years, even though I live a half-mile away from one of them. When I say "floppy," I mean the crust is limp and without architectural integrity - when you touch it, it almost feels like injera.

Anyway, such was the case the other night (one pizza was also charred, the other wasn't). However, Pupatella also includes instructions for reheating, and they were followed to the letter (except that a baking sheet was substituted for a pizza stone). 

Both pizzas were wonderful, with excellent flavor and unimpeachable texture. I tend not to like Pupatella's "named" pizzas, mainly because I find their smoked mozzarella to be overly aggressive, so these were custom-built from the menu (which you can click on here):

pupatellamenu.pdf

* Tomato Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella [not Buffalo, not Smoked] ($8), Pepperoni ($1.50), and Sautéed Mushrooms ($1)

* Tomato Sauce with Sausage [not Chorizo] ($8) and Sautéed [not Caramelized] Onions ($1)

* Meatball Panino (enjoyed the next day after a long, slow reheat wrapped in foil - if you want the middle piping hot, go low and slow in the oven)

Getting a Pepperoni-Mushroom and Sausage-Onion pizza may not seem like any type of grand decision, but these specific combinations just really worked on this occasion, without any other distracting ingredients thrown in. Both items were sautéed perfectly, with the mushrooms having an earthy taste almost like they were done in red wine, and the onions absolutely not caramelized, but as sweet as can be. And the pepperoni and sausage had the correct amount of saltiness to counterbalance the sweetness on both pies, so there!