2 Amys — Restaurant in Washington

A little backstory: In 1998, the Italian government granted Neapolitan pizza D.O.C (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status, which specifies the ingredients and methods of making authentic Neapolitan pizza. An Association was stood up to protect and promote authentic Neapolitan pizza making and 2 Amys is apart of the Association. So only soft-grain flour, fresh yeast, water, and sea salt may be used for the dough, and only Italian plum tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, extra-virgin olive oil and fresh basil or dried oregano may be used for the toppings. All Neapolitan pizzas must be cooked in a wood-burning oven.

History lesson aside, I came here on a beautiful Saturday afternoon for lunch. Amazingly, it was not crowded, as I've heard it can get cramped in the restaurant. Sure enough, by the time we had finished eating and were leaving, the lines were starting to form. So if you want to avoid this, come a little earlier than the predestined lunch/dinner times.

The significant other and I ordered a margherita pizza to share ($12.95). It was very good; crust was crispy, mozzarella oozing, basically it was a well-cooked Neapolitan pizza. I had no complaints. I was especially impressed with the crust, which is thin but pillowy on the edges and the inside is very chewy. I'm usually a thick-crust gal but this crust really won my heart over.

My very hungry boyfriend then ordered a second pizza, this time the norcia, which is tomato, salami, grilled peppers, mozzarella, and grana. I was too full to eat another slice, but he scarfed down all but one slice. He said the salami was smoky, peppers sweet, and grated grana had a subtle sharpness. The norcia had more complexity in terms of flavors than the margherita.

In comparison to Pupatella, a Neapolitan pizza joint located in Arlington, VA, this place falls just short of my favorite Neapolitan pizza. I had a more meatier pizza at Pupatella so it's a little hard to compare, but I still think back to my first experience at Pupatella watching the pizza being made in the brick oven that's freakin' built using volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius and shipped from Naples and can't possibly rate 2 Amys over Pupatella.

2 Amys is a DC institution and there are some drawbacks. For one, due to the location and it being a family restaurant, you'll see so many kids here, running around, screaming, crying, doing what kids do. It makes enjoying your pizza a little difficult when a child is screaming his/her head off a table...

If there has ever been a restaurant that exemplified The art of simplicity it’s 2 Amys. My wife discovered this restaurant through a list of popular spots and while it was off our beaten path I am so glad we went, and I am 💯 coming back.

With two outdoor patios, one out front and one in back there are many seating options including a small bar if you’re flying solo.

The menu is well balanced with many starter options, salads and of course pizza. There are several main course options including a porchetta which I will get to in a minute.

We opted to go heavy with starters as we were four and hungry. The anchovies came with a dark bread and soft butter, deliciously salty and sweet at the same time. Deviled eggs were rich and savory and vanished quickly. The meatballs were also a huge hit, small and crisp exterior, dressed with sauce while staying tender on the inside. Lastly there was the caponata which was exceptional and so much so, we specifically saved a little to take home so we could try it a second time with a fresh palate.

The pizzas were hard to choose from as the all looked fun. We had one classic margarita style and two with the homemade sausage which was spicy and sweet, as it should be. The dough was just the right balance of light with a little char and a little chew. We loved them all, count on one person no matter what your light eater says.

Now to the porchetta. This dish is served cold (room temperature) which makes it that much more epic. The skin was crispy and amazing while the meat was a perfect balance of salt and spice. The entire slice of meat was served with chickpeas and greens which made for a perfect summer meal.

While not one to go for dessert it was hard to pass on a homemade cannoli. The filling was cloud light with a hint of orange. Amazing!

No meal is enjoying without exceptional service and here 2 Amys did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in the door to when we walked out the door everyone was smiles and filled with hospitality. One of our guests noted your water glass never gets to 1/2 full as someone ALWAYS notices and tops your glass up.

All in all this is my new favorite spot in DC. Unpretentious, unapologetic, exceptional and artistic while...

2 Amys has been, hands down, my husband's and my favorite pizza restaurant for close to 10 years now (and the closest resemblance we've found to pizza from the best pizza restaurant in Naples, Italy). While we no longer live close enough to go on a regular basis anymore, we make a point to go every time we visit the DC area. I get the margherita every time, but I've tried other flavors when my husband has ordered them and also loved them. The margherita is the perfect blend of simple and flavorful: the richness of the tomato and mozzarella flavors, the flavorful and tender crust, and just the right amount of fresh basil.

I also love the atmosphere of the main seating area downstairs and the patio out back, and love how quickly you get your food as a function of the speed with which the pizza cooks (between that and fast service, despite my attempting to savor every bite of pizza I was in and out in 30 minutes for a meal before the dinner rush began). And while this is a minor detail, I'm SO happy that the restaurant upgraded their knives since the last time I visited in 2015, as the only complaint I've ever had about this restaurant was the amount of effort you had to put into cutting the pizza with dull steak knives, but that issue is now gone! You wouldn't guess that the new knives would be as sharp as they are, but cutting the pizza is now a breeze. :) And finally, I love that they changed the original setup of men's and women's restrooms to gender neutral restrooms (I think they had "WC 1" and "WC 2" on the doors in painters tape, I assume until they come up with more permanent signs).

If you're anywhere near 2 Amys, please give it a try! You won't regret it! And if you're coming from a metro line, get off at the Cleveland Park station on the red line and walk down Macomb St from Connecticut Ave, as it's a beautiful walk past tons of gorgeous houses with beautiful landscaping. And stop by the National Cathedral before heading back, as it's only a block from the restaurant and absolutely beautiful...