A Look At: Pizzeria Da Marco
Many years ago before this whole food gig started, I used to think pizza was good if it had a little bread and cheese to match. Now that I have tasted everything from authentic deep dish to grilled pizza, my standards for pizza have risen to a Michelin rating system. Since tasting 2 Amy’s pizza many years ago and a recent trip to Italy, I have not met a pizza that stayed in my cranium this long. Neapolitan style pizza from Pizzeria Da Marco has literally taken over my taste buds for pizza since dining there recently. The local pizza joint now seems like McDonald’s compared to the wood fired pizza that Chef Dino Santonicola is whipping together in this downtown Bethesda pizzeria.
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood (Ruschetta)
Lucky for me, I had an opportunity to visit on a day where the pizza’s were 50% off if both parties ordered a pizza as their entrée. Now I could indulge in my greed for pizza for half the price. On this particular afternoon, my vegetarian and meat eating palates were fighting for attention so I decided to go with the Ruschetta (*cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto and parmigiana cheese). Despite having asked the waiter to ensure they tone down the amount of arugula, which can devastate a pizza when overused, the pizza arrived piled high with the leafy veggie. Fortunately, it did not overwhelm the pizza as I had suspected…as a matter of fact is fully complemented the thin slices of prosciutto and juicy cherry tomatoes.
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood (Americana)
I could go into my enjoyment of the Americana (*tomato sauce, basil, fresh mozzarella, parmigiana and pepperoni) but that seems too self explanatory. The most important memory I took away from this experience is the simplicity of it all. Fresh ingredients, thinly rolled dough and a wood fired brick oven, which are essentially all that are necessary for authentic Neapolitan style pizza. The menu lacks complicated pizza combinations, which serves as additional validation of its Naples background. Offering an open space and plenty of natural light, Pizzeria Da Marco has destination afternoon “lunch with friends” written all over it.
Category: restaurant reviews, Washington D.C.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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The Americana looks SO GOOD. I’m hungry :-\
Yes, it was so worth the trip!