&pizza Tour: Past, Present, and the Future

Back in 2012 Michael Lastoria and Steve Salis sat somewhere in West Chelsea concocting their master plan… how to bake a personalized pizza in less than three minutes, and &pizza was born. Prototypes and five states later (the duo tried out NY, CA, CO, OH, FL), they settled on the Nation’s Capital due to its untapped market. Their first store opened on H Street, which back then was no easy feat. No one wanted to take a chance on the new concept where a pizza glides effortlessly along a conveyor belt through a ventless oven. However, the team was in good company as Taylor Gourmet’s owners Casey Patten and David Mazza just so happened to be their next door neighbors provided moral support and good cheer.

Yet Michael and Steve knew they were onto something big and after Washington wrapped its head around it, the lines begin to form. From one location in 2012 to thirteen and counting in 2015, continued success is evident. Partnering with other local retailers like DC Brau and Lost Rhino, &pizza is truly about community. Their logo is simply an ampersand and what the product they serve, including whatever neighborhood they open their doors to. Just take a look at the design within each restaurant and you’ll see photographs of local residents gracing their interior walls from young families to someone’s grandmother. As &pizza grows (they’ve started bottling wine and are soon to release their own beer) we can’t wait to see what else this dynamic duo has up their sleeve.

&pizza Jeep

(You may see one of the two rolling through the city)

Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza

(A new take on on fold and go…)

Gnarlic

(Completely vegetarian and the combination of flavors are seriously delicious.)

Lori Lane

(White Chocolate Sauce, Four Berry Blend, Sweet Ricotta, Powdered Sugar, Agave Syrup)

&pizza

(Numerous locations)

Tags: pizza, washington dc

Category: restaurant reviews, Reviews, Washington D.C.