You might not think that a transportation
conference would inspire great food. But
thanks to the Transportation Research Board’s 2014 Annual Meeting in Washington , DC
My friend Bob and I needed a place to eat dinner
between two meetings. After learning a
reliable Irish pub near the convention had a long waiting list, we started
foraging.
On the west side of Connecticut Avenue ,
a few blocks south of the Smithsonian
National Zoological
Park Italy .
The Italian Pizza Kitchen has a
wide variety of appetizers, pizza slices, pizzas, salads, Paninis, sandwiches
and entries, all at reasonable prices.
The place definitely serves beer and wine and may serve mixed drinks.
Our waitress was capable and
attentive but not overbearing. Our meals
arrived quickly, which was appreciated with the deadline for the next meeting,
but were cooked just right.
Bob ordered a roasted eggplant pannini
and I ordered a personal pizza with sausage and green peppers as the toppings.
Both meals were tasty and
appealing. Bob said his panini "was very tasty and I really liked the bread." Although the personal pizza
is suggested as a meal for one, its six slices and 10 inch diameter means the
average eater may have a slice or two leftover.
But, that is what a doggy bag is for.
The pizza had a crust that was
thicker than the Neapolitan pizza favored in the New York
metropolitan area but thicker than a Chicago
or Sicilian pizza.
With this thickness, the crust was
crunchy on the bottom, not soggy on the top and was light and airy in between -
- like good Italian bread. The tomato
sauce nicely balanced sweet, savory and spicy.
Best of all, neither the crust nor the rest of the pizza was
greasy.
We dined at the newest of the Italian
Pizza Kitchen’s two locations: 2608 Connecticut Avenue, NW. But with
the capable, welcoming staff, comfortable décor and delicious food, the place
felt like it had been in business for generations, not the several years it has
been open.
