Written by DCist Contributor Andrew Chriss

Self-deprecating moniker aside, Pizza Zero, located along on Bethesda Avenue next to the Edgemont neighborhood in Bethesda, has plenty to offer pizza explorers looking for a slightly different experience. Perhaps the best way to pinpoint what’s unique about Pizza Zero is to have all the pizza joints in the area stand up and be counted. Standing? O.K.

How many of you serve pizza that I can tolerate (being a born and raised Jersey pizza snob)? I see all of the chains are sitting down. How many of you cook your pizza using a wood fire? I see the Italian Store in Arlington is sitting down. Sorry…you still rock, though. How many of you grill your pizza over said wood fire, and top it with ingredients traditionally found in South American cuisine? Hey, there’s Pizza Zero!

The interior of Pizza Zero provides an inviting warm atmosphere, with relatively modest lighting levels and rich brownish-orange walls. There’s a bar when you walk in, which provides seating for about ten to twelve people and has two flat panel T.V.s on the wall. The dining area contains a large flat panel television that, although the sightlines may be a bit awkward, make for a great place to sit back and enjoy your favorite sports event (Champions League fútbol on this night), though not so great if you’re trying to focus on your dining companion. Mirrors line the right side of the restaurant wall, making the inside seem more spacious than it actually is.