Red Light Bar & Detroit Pizza — Restaurant in Washington

From the moment you step into the dimly lit embrace of Red Light Bar & Detroit Pizza, there's a sense that you're in for something special. The Joe Louis pizza, named after the legendary boxer, is no mere contender in the world of culinary delights; it's a champion.

The crust, thick and chewy with a crisped edge, is the perfect canvas for the robust tomato sauce that sings with both sweetness and acidity. The cheese—a heavenly blend that stretches with each pull—melds into the sauce, creating a dance of flavors that's as graceful as it is bold.

But what truly sets the Joe Louis apart is the one-two punch of the toppings. The spicy pepperoni comes with a heat that jabs at the palate without overwhelming, while the bell peppers and onions provide a sweet counterpoint that's nothing short of poetic.

Pair this masterpiece with a classic Coke, and you've got a match made in gastronomic heaven. The cola's effervescence and familiar sweetness elevate each bite of the pizza, cleansing the palate and readying you for the next round.

And let's not forget the hot honey on the side. Drizzle it on, and the pizza transforms into a symphony of sweet, spicy, and savory notes .

In a city full of culinary heavyweights, the Joe Louis pizza at Red Light Bar & Detroit Pizza stands tall, a testament to the craft of pizza making. It's a must-visit for anyone who appreciates the art...

I love a good pizza bar! Red Light serves mostly Detroit pizza, and I think it's better than other Detroit pizza places in DC. This is mostly, I think, a bar that happens to have a small menu. But the drinks are kind of so-so and the food is generally pretty great! There aren't a lot of vegetarian choices but there are enough.

Up until a few months ago, I think, the food was more haphazard and less good overall. One of the appetizers was basically just strips of pizza dough with a dipping sauce. That would be ok by itself but not so great if you were going to get an actual pizza afterward. Also, it could take a long time before they got the food to your table, they might give you the wrong dish, the regular items weren't made consistently, and so on. But the pizza was so good, it was worth taking a chance.

Now, the menu and delivery is much more consistent, which is a great improvement! They're still overwhelmed pretty often, but they do a lot better than before. The service is pretty good for a bar.

My favorite pizza is the Red Wing, which is a Detroit burrata margherita pizza. It doesn't have as much cheese as a regular Detroit pizza, but it's delicious! I also like the tomato soup, which is better than most even at more expensive places. And Red Light is pretty inexpensive overall. It's a great place to go if you're looking for something...

As a Detroit native, the pizza is a 4/5 in my book. Great toppings (especially the Greenfield Village), but the crust is a bit soft and lacks a good chew. The ranch and other dressings are incredible, though. I’m not normally a ranch on pizza person but their ranch is so good. All things considered, it’s a solid Detroit-style pizza for DC.

However, the service and pricing are a 2/5. The pizzas are quite small for the price, and the appetizers are all $9-$10, so it adds up. Red Light also charges an automatic 20% gratuity for carry out, which is pretty steep. I’d have overlooked it more easily if the guy didn’t seem annoyed that I’d even walked in to pick up my pizzas and salads in the first place, yell at me for assuming they had Apple Pay (they have a reader, just say it’s not working!), or glare at me as I checked the bag before walking out to make sure I had everything. The service has always been a bit gruff, but this was just not necessary when I was paying $75 for two pizzas...