May 23, 2007
5 O'Clock Meeting: Ella's Wood Fired Pizza
In the summer of 2003, Chef Ed Hanson opened a pizzeria on the western edge of a neighborhood that had just renamed itself Penn Quarter. Four years later, Ella’s Wood Fired Pizza, named for Hanson’s young daughter, remains a rarity in downtown Washington: it is an independently owned--and not the least bit pretentious--place to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat. Located at 901 F Street, Ella’s features neither a unifying decorative theme (Matchbox) nor a specialty martini list (just about every other establishment in a six block radius). Its happy hour is an early one, running from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Ella’s pizza recently was voted Best in Washington by the 2007 AOL City Guide to D.C., beating out such notables as Pizzeria Paradiso and Two Amys. During happy hour, seven-inch pies of this award-winning pizza sell for just $5. Suffice to say that this reviewer does not agree with the AOL City Guide. Ella’s happy hour pies seem almost utilitarian: Mere dollops of mozzarella decorate a circle of tomato sauce. The cubed sausage adds some flavor, but accomplishes little that a few dashes of pepper wouldn’t accomplish. The cheese pizza arrives as a pool of red dotted by a few stingy islands of cheese. To its credit, Ella’s offers no less than 8 different kinds of pizza during its happy hour, and, taste being a matter of, well, taste, you very well may find one to your liking; perhaps you work for the AOL City Guide. At the very least, there is ample food to soak up house-made sangria, offered for $3.50 a glass and $15 for a carafe.
Ella’s American draft beers sell for $1 off during happy hour, setting you back about $4.50. The Victory Prima pilsner has some bite and could hold its own with an India Pale Ale. Allagash White brings a taste of Belgium via Maine, and Brooklyn Brown Ale has a wonderful nose tinged with notes of coffee and nuts; Brooklyn makes a great I Only Have Time for One Beer beer.
The crowd during Ella’s happy hour tends to skew young; the bartender had good reason to be checking IDs like a Friday night bouncer on 18th Street. Thankfully, however, the bar area is not at all boisterous. The restaurant’s proximity to the Spy Museum and other tourist attractions invites hungry and thirsty out-of-towners. Not unlike at Corduroy’s bar, it is easy to feel a bit like you’re sitting in Anycity, U.S.A. when Ella’s catches a wave of tourists. So, if you stop by, put your Hometown Host hat and raise a mug.
Ella’s Wood Fired Pizza
901 F Street, NW
202.638.3434
Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown
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Ella's is cheap, but awful. Of all the places to review... why?
I used to really like Ella’s but a few too many inconsistent experiences and generally inattentive service has me rarely dining there anymore. It is less pretentious than some of their better known competitors; better quality than the grossly overrated Pizzaria Paradiso (G’Town especially) while not as good as 2 Amy’s or Matchbox. The overall quality of ingredients and rare wait for a table makes it a serviceable choice, and the chocolate pudding is a real treat. Happy hour is the best bet.
I work near Ella's and go there quite frequently. Here's why: They have fast, good service. They take reservations for groups. They have interesting topping selections, and the food quality is consistent. With all the chain and/or overpriced places in the GP/Chinatown area, this one is a nice option to have.
Pizza is OK, but not worth dealing with the horrible service.
Ella's is the best pizza in the city, hands down.
Ella's is terrible. The pizzas are soggy, small, and really short on toppings. Oh, and when I was there on Friday, sangria was $20 for four glasses' worth.
Maybe you Ella's bashers are right, but that picture is making me hungry.
Ella's is the best pizza in the city, hands down.
It is definitely, absolutely NOT. Not even close.
Eeesh.
hmmm...i live in chicago and have just had the pleasure of tasting "coal fired" new haven style pizza. wood burned pizza sounds really good too.
all i know is that new york and chicago pizza is boring these days and i love new things to try.
last time I went I couldn't get a refill on my drink. or the check. the service is awful. and the pizza wasn't impressive enough to go back for.
Matty--New Haven style pizza--NOW we're talkin! New Haven has got some of the best pizza in the country. One of these days, the Elm City is going to get its due.
Rawn
My experience with Ella's hasn't been all that impressive. It's been said a million times, but there isn't any good pizza in the metropolitain area, and the ones I know that approach decent-ness are well outside District boundaries.
There's a lot of pizza places in and around DC; good, bad, and indifferent. I'd put Ella's in the latter category.
As for AOL City Guide, I didn't think anyone could top Washingtonian in ineptitude (Best Tex Mex? Lauriol Plaza! Best Burger? Five Guys!). I stand corrected.
Ella's is on Buyindie here.