901 F St. N.W. Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (red, green and yellow lines) 202-638-3434 www.ellaspizza.com
Ella's Pizza: A-
Restaurants often target a specific clientele, catering to the particular needs of a single audience. Ella's Pizza, a pizzeria conveniently located across the street from the Gallery Place Metro and within walking distance of the Spy Museum and several movie theaters, offers a chic, trendy environment and a relaxed atmosphere that attracts all types of hungry customers.
Ella's Pizza has a contemporary, stylish appearance. Wood-paneled floors and chairs contrast sharply with the walls, which are painted different colors, allowing the diner to choose the atmosphere of his or her choice.
One look at the menu of Ella's Pizza reveals a variety of 10-inch personal pizzas, as well as specialty pizzas, for patrons to choose from. The pizza is wood-fired in a large brick oven and is pleasantly light.
For those looking for something besides pizza, the restaurant has a variety of small plates of salads, cheeses and seafood. The portions are all very reasonable - food is not excessively piled onto plates.
While sitting in the spacious environment, augmented by mirrors and soft lighting, diners can watch ESPN on the large plasma TV, which is visible from almost anywhere in the restaurant.
Soft, ambient music is also played, which offsets the sports on the flatscreen and makes diners feel relaxed.
Diners will not have to wait long, as waiters take orders promptly and food is served surprisingly fast. The fresh mozzarella balls were delivered atop a small hill of cherry tomatoes and basil at a refreshingly cool temperature. The personal 10-inch cheese pizza was served ideally hot, with a deliciously thin, crispy crust beneath the fresh cheese and tomato sauce. Every slice was a treat to the last bite.
Individuals seeking to unwind after a long day are offered a stylish bar that serves a variety of alcoholic beverages. Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 7-inch happy hour pizzas are only $5. People on tight budgets will prefer dropping by then.
With its high-quality dishes, Ella's Pizza may be slightly expensive for some college students' budgets. Small plates range from $6.50 to $7.50, salads from $5.95 to $11.50 and pizzas from $8.95 to $12.95.
Regardless, Ella's Pizza is truly an example of getting what one pays for. Everything about this restaurant is superb - service, atmosphere, location, convenience and food quality are all top-notch. Anyone out for an evening in D.C. with friends or a date should keep Ella's Pizza in mind.
