2 Amys

Review by meliakristin on September 23, 2009

2 Amys offers authentic DOC pizzas as well as some more creative variations on Neapolitan classics. While the pizza here is better than most, the star of the menu is the “little things” which can be ordered as appetizers or a tapas style main course. My husband and I usually opt for the later, especially on a Friday night when we just want something to nosh on. The bar at 2 Amys is reminiscent of a quaint Italian tavern- nothing over the top ,just a variety of savory antipasti including artisan curried salamis and imported Italian cheeses. I would suggest dining at 2 Amys after a week spent down the work rabbit hole- it’s the perfect place to resurface, relax and converse.

Review by jd294 on September 23, 2007

People want things simple. That’s not just me opining – it’s the collective assumption of the entire marketing, branding and public relations industry. Look around – some of the most successful brands (IKEA, Apple) are the ones whose simple, easy-to-use products promise a life that’s easier, better and more enjoyable.

But is a life made simpler tastier? When chefs uncomplicate their dishes, free them of added frills and sauces and front the ingredients in an attempt to craft the iPod of cuisine, do they succeed?

At 2 Amy’s Neapolitan Pizzeria, the answer is most often yes.

Known for it’s certified Neapolitan pizzas with thin, chewy crusts and topped only with the allowed essentials – Italian plum tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, olive oil and fresh basil or dried oregano – 2 Amy’s excels at tasteful simplicity. And that extends to their non-pizza offerings too.

Take their anchovies with bread and butter. That’s just it – slices of crusty, rustic Italian bread, deliciously oily anchovies and creamed butter. Put them together and you’ve got the perfect combination of fat, salt and crunch.

Another simplistic winner is the mixed greens salad where again there are no embellishments to the menu’s description. The salad is comprised mainly of slightly bitter baby arugula and frisee tossed in a light oil and vinegar dressing with a hint of lemon. Perfection.

Part of the reason why 2 Amy’s line of simple “little things” and salads succeed is that they rely on fresh from the farm ingredients. Just one look at their bar, which is usually topped with the day’s specials – baby radishes chilling on ice, fava bean crostini or an array of cured meats – and you begin to understand that the simplicity is merely a veneer masking a highly discriminating and attentive ingredient-selection process. Which in turn increases the volatility of their product. If the ingredients aren’t great, neither is the dish.

The heirloom tomatoes and sheep’s ricotta, for example, fell flat one night when the tomatoes lacked flavor. And an orange, red onion, olive and chive salad missed the mark when the oranges weren’t sweet enough to counter the salty olive and pungent onion.

But more often than not, 2 Amy’s delivers. And they’ve smartly chosen a wine list that while simple in its shortness, provides a satisfyingly complex counterpoint in taste. A perfect example is the De Angelis Lacryma Christi. Lacryma Christis (literally “tears of Christ”) by definition come from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. And while some truly taste volcanic – like earth, smoke and tobacco – the De Angelis smells and drinks as if it came out of a flower bed. With strong fruit and mineral notes, it is equally delicate and refined – with subtle hints of rose and violets – and makes an excellent complement to a simple Margherita pizza. The Cusumano, a Sicilian Nero D’Avola, is a fruit forward, bold wine that also matches well to pizza.

In short, and to keep it simple, 2 Amy’s proves that the most basic of dishes are also the most beautiful. Steve Jobs would be proud.

Review by Good Eats on June 12, 2007

As many others will note, the service here can sometimes come with an atitude. But like most places of work, there's always some staff that can't handle large crowds without getting flustered. Aside from this X factor, 2 Amy's offers the best pizza I have encountered in DC. While not quite on the level of Lombardi's in NYC, it is very close--an overall 8 out of 10 on the pizza scales. Some great appetizers to be had as well, such as the Supli a telefono.

Review by elbows on February 2, 2007

We ordered an Etna pizza, which we enjoyed. But given the wait, the intolerable crowd, the lack of parking, and the poor pizza value, I doubt we would ever return.

Review by m24679 on November 19, 2005

2 Amys is the best! Totally worth the wait. The bar can get crowded but is a relatively comfortable place to wait, and they have a really good selection of wines by the glass and beers. Plus, you can get really good, rustic Italian appetizers while you wait. The pizza is definitely worth the wait, and the appetizer of fried risotto croquettes is totally worth the calories.

Review by switchboard on August 1, 2005

Our waitress clearly could have cared less that we were there. Perhaps she wanted to be elsewhere, and she let it show. We ordered an appetizer of olives, which were great. Less than 10 minutes later our pizza arrived, brought by another servier. More than 5 minutes passed before our waitress returned, and we had to ask her for forks and to CUT the pizza. The crowd was flowing, and we were not surprised to see familiar faces even on Sunday afternoon. It was a good meal, but it could have been better.

Review by turtlen on June 23, 2005

Review by nomayo on November 11, 2004

2Amys serves some of the best gourmet pizza in town. It is even better than Pizzeria Paradiso and Coppi's -- although both of these places are also quite good. The ingredients are fresh and the portion size is large. The style is traditional, since 2Amys is a member of the Verace Pizza Napoletano organization and serves D.O.C. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) pizza. The salads and other appetizers are good, too. Most of the salads are large, so you can share them. Check out the polpettini (meatballs) appetizer. They're good. The atmosphere is simple and warm, if a bit loud on busy nights. There is outdoor seating out back in good weather. My biggest complaint is the increasing number of screaming kids. When the place first opened, it seemed like a hip, sophisticated pizza joint. Now, at least half the restaurant is full of suburban families. My advice is to go later at night to avoid the screaming kids. The service is good, but you may have to wait 20 minutes for a table if the place is busy. There is a small bar out back, but hanging out there while waiting for your table is a gamble, since if the place is packed, the tiny bar is likely to be packed too.

Review by redangel on September 28, 2004

In addition to great pizza, they have a good and affordable selections of wines by the glass!

Review by Zendigestion on August 13, 2004

Tip: The noise is a factor. If you want to have a conversation with someone in your party, make sure you are sitting next to them...at least until the food arrives. After that, only the occasional grunt is necessary.

Review by pen on July 20, 2004

Great crisp thin crust pizza topped with clams and capers.

Review by myeager on July 12, 2004

Honestly the best pizza in the city. Their appetizers and salads are excellent as well. Reasonably priced, fairly good service and worth the wait. Go on a weeknight for a slightly smaller crowd or call ahead and get carry-out.

Review by stacelaine on June 7, 2004

It's hard to quibble with the quality at 2 Amys - our pizzas and appetizers were delicious. The noisiness of the room, however, put a damper on the enjoyment. Meanwhile, our waitress appeared annoyed at our decision not to order wine (it was a Sunday night, Saturday's margaritas were still with us) turned her attitude inside out. She bumped my friend's chair so many times it was hard not to take it personally. I know the place is busy and we didn't expect to linger over our dinner, but the staff (hostess included) really could learn a thing or two about making customers feel welcomed.

Review by dks9u on May 27, 2004

I was told this was the best pizza restuarant in D.C....I would have to agree that the pizza was great. The pizzas are made in a brick oven with very fine ingredients. However, we got an Italian salad that neither of us could eat (it was too bitter). Also, when we arrived, we put our name on the list to be seated and waited. When we went to check on where we were on the list, we noticed that we had been crossed off the list! If you have patience, this pizza is definetly worth waiting for!

Review by rnelsonj on May 4, 2004

2 Amys is the perfect mix between neighborhood staple and "drive out of your way to get to" restaurant. I love all the appetizers and the endive salad is a particular favorite. In my opinion, if you don't try the "Santa Brigida," you haven't had the best at 2Amys.

Review by heathersacks on February 23, 2004

Unfortunately, there is no real waiting area, so people were standing extremely close to the table we were sitting at. Also, it is VERY child friendly, so it can be VERY loud at times with crying babies.

Review by sbelenkaya on December 29, 2003

2 Amys makes excellent pizza, lovely crust and very fresh ingredients toppings. There is great selection of southern Italian vines. Delicious appetizers are served in very small portions. Desserts are somewhat disappointments, which is surprising for such lovely Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is charming and people watching is fun! I was there 2 times for lunch and late dinner and will be back!