Bethesda: Pizzaria de Marco open

[MoCoMe]

Tonight is the opening. Diners get pizza free tonight and 1/2 off thru May 31.

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarti...

Pizzeria da Marco, 8008 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-6083; pizzeriadamarco.net. Open Sunday through Thursday 11:30 to 10:30, Friday and Saturday 11:30 to 11:30.

[Pappy]

Lots of press that the owner/chef is defending un-cut, soggy-center pizza as true Napolese style. I have had pizza in Napoli, so I can't say.

Anyone been lately? I'm interested in any reports/suggestions before I head over.

[Pappy]

Went last night. Nice, open space. Big floor-to-cieling windows facing Woodmont. Tables set with white tableclothes covered with white paper. Real napkin. Real wine glass. Few tables outside. About 1/4 - 1/3 full on a summer Tuesday night.

ntipasta platter $14 - Marinated eggplant, pickled zuchinni, roasted peppers, parmasean cheese, prociutto, salami. Good

House Salad $7 - Nice greens. Lots of endive. Very very very little dressing

3 Pizzas (Classica, Rachetta, Napoli) $11-$13 - Very soft dough/crust, with a little char on bottom, good flavor. Nice bright red sauce. Minimally topped. It is limp/liquidy in the middle, such that you cannot pick up a "slice". I thought it was better than Mias. Perhaps on par with 2 Amys. Comet has a harder, chewier crust that I like. This crust had no chew.

Wine List $25 -$45 - Lots and lots of great, pizza friendly, italian reds priced right. Really a great list of this type of place. Especially considering the hurdles of Montgomery County. Unfortunately, all are served at room temperature.

[reiflame]

Went for lunch today. There's a lot to like about this place; the toppings are fresh and well seasoned, the outside crust is crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. The only problem is that it's a Neapolitan pie and they're putting American levels of sauce on it, so the center gets soggy. Next time I will definitely order the sauce light, and see if that helps.

Since it's only been open for 2 weeks I'll definitely return; I loved the flavors but not the middle of the crust, but it's something I think they can easily fix.

[Doh]

We went over the weekend and liked it a lot (they were still doing half price pizzas when we went). I agree it's pretty much knife and fork pizza (the center of one of our pizzas sort of disappeared once it was cut) but it was delicious.

I agree it'll be worth return visits to check on how things go. I am looking forward to when they start serving outside, and I recall Mia's improved a lot over a period of about 6 months.

[chicken kabob]

Do they have eggplant as a topping?

[MoCoMe]

yes they have eggplant-
here's the menu: http://pizzeriadamarco.net/Pizzeria_D...

[Doh]

We had the Napoli with eggplant and sausage and it was very good (the eggplant was small cubes full of flavor, but perhaps as a result it was the pizza that was closest to soggy).

[chicken kabob]

Thanks! By the way, you should also try Geste Wine for their pizza (next to Chipolte on that little street that leads to Bethesda Metro.) The Caprese pizza (white w/ fresh tomato, basil and porsciutto-sp?) is really excellent.

[Doh]

Thanks for the tip. I picked up a menu from that place but haven't tried it yet.

[MoCoMe]

has anyone tried it yet? I haven't been since I'm off cheese right now
note the free pizza deal is over

[elegantelliot]

I had it the other night, but it was carryout, so thats not really a fair test. but it wasnt bad. my wife loves that style pizza and she enjoyed it as well. they put a lot of oil on after the pie is cooked so it was kind of wet and soggy, again, it probably would have been better not carry out. we will definitely try it again though.