Owner and chef Ruth Gresser opened the first Pizzeria Paradiso in Dupont Circle in 1991 because she wanted to make the kind of pizza that she longed for, but couldn't find. To Gresser, the crust is the most important part.

Gresser developed a dough that rises slowly in the restaurant's wood-burning, domed, stone oven at a temperature of 650 degrees. The oven is in the heart of the restaurant, giving diners the comfortable feeling of eating at a friend's house.

Regulars recommend the Atomica, which comes with tomato, salami, Kalamata olives, hot red pepper flakes, and mozzarella. The Bosco pizza is another favorite, wihch includes tomato, spinach, mushrooms, red onion, and mozzarella. You also can't go wrong with the classic margherita, with tomato, basil, and mozzarella.

Pizzeria Paradiso has 14 craft beers on tap, dozens more in bottles, and a strong wine list. This restaurant doesn't take reservations, which means you might be in for a bit of a wait, especially on weekend nights.

Pizzeria Paradiso
124 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 837-1245
eatyourpizza.com
Read the reviews on Yelp.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/reivax

For good food and entertainment in Alexandria, you’ve got to try FireFlies Restaurant. This Del Ray neighborhood spot is known for its welcoming attitude and classic food. You’ll like both the modern yet comfortable ambiance, and everyone raves about the friendly, fast service.

Happy hour is a good time to come with friends to try some local microbrews, hand-crafted cocktails, and tasty apps to share. Come for lunch or dinner to try the selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees. The bacon, salmon, lettuce and tomato sandwich is a big hit, as are the burgers, all served on house-made rolls and bread.

Open seven days a week, FireFlies also plays host to the Sunday "Bluegrass Brunch."

FireFlies
1501 Mt Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 548-7200
http://www.firefliesdelray.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fireflies-restaurant-alexandria

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/The Culinary Geek

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