FAMILY FUN
SAY-C H E ES
E / IS
TOCK / GE
TTY IMAG
ES P
LUS Easy as
Pie (Pizza)
By Barbara Noe Kennedy
The D.C.-region’s
best kid-friendly pizza
parlors that parents will enjoy, too
Pizza is a no-brainer when it &PIZZA
comes to kids, but it takes a big
heart (and a good set of ear
plugs) to bring the family to a
sensory-overload pizzeria-
fun-center geared specifically
toward the younger set —
especially when the pizza is
sure to disappoint. Luckily, the
Pizza “with an edge” is the name of the
game at this popular pizza joint, with
offerings such as the Bad and Bluezy
(grilled onion, pepperoni and blue cheese)
and the 3Peat (pepperoni, Italian sausage
and bacon). Rest assured there are basic
kid-friendly options as well. But the reason
little ones love this place is because they
can watch their pizza go through the
oven’s conveyer belt. The flagship location,
established in 2012, is on H Street, with 10
other outposts in D.C., 10 in Maryland and
13 in Virginia.

andpizza.com Washington, D.C. region has COMET PING PONG
some amazing pizza parlors that The kids may not appreciate some of
both kids and parents will love.

the pies at this hipster Northwest D.C.

pizza parlor, which are, admittedly, a
10 Washington’s FAMILY OCTOBER 2021
little wacko. There’s the
pepperoni-and jalapeño “Hottie”
and the clam-packed “Yalie,” for starters.

But don’t worry: kids can build their own,
with a slew of familiar ingredients. They’ll
also be plenty content playing ping-pong
— and dreaming about a yummy sundae
for dessert. Parents like the fact the
ingredients are farmed and harvested in a
sustainable manner, including housemade
tomato sauce. The backroom is a popular
spot for birthday parties.

5037 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-364-0404 cometpingpong.com



DC PIZZA
You can play it safe at DC Pizza with age-
old favorites, or you can get adventurous
and try the Bacon Jam pizza (spinach,
pepperoni, Italian sausage and chicken
drizzled with bacon jam), the BTR (bacon,
tomatoes and ranch dressing) and the
MATCHBOX Its large dining area and playful menu
make Matchbox a favorite for birthday
parties, family get-togethers and end-
of-sports-season celebrations. And what
kid would not enjoy the colorable kids’
menu with its fun brain games and yummy
choices, such as cheese pizza, quesadillas
and mini burgers? There’s also a “Captain
PIZZERIA ORSO
This buzzy neighborhood eatery produces
gourmet brick-oven pies, including the
Toscana, with pepperoni, ham, salami and
sausage; and the Frutti di Mare, topped
with “no shell” clams, shrimp, fingerling
potatoes, grana and ricotta. There’s also a
good selection of pastas, such as gnocchi
with sausage and lobster fettuccine, and
sandwiches. Kids can order from their own
(colorable) menu, featuring cheese pizza,
spaghetti and meatballs, grilled chicken
salad and more.

400 S. Maple Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046
703-226-3460 pizzeriaorso.com
PIZZERIA PARADISO
This local fave for wood-fired pizzas
boasts a large menu of 9- or 12-inch
pies, including unexpected flavor
combinations like the pepperoni-
and-pork-topped Macellaio, the
salami-olive-and-hot-pepper-flake Atomica
and the Paesana, piled high with spicy
garlic pesto, chicken sausage, escarole and
broccoli rabe. There’s even a supervised
children’s room, where kids can eat,
play and watch movies while parents
covertly keep track of them through a
one-way mirror.

Locations in Georgetown, Dupont Circle
and Spring Valley in Washington, D.C., and
Hyattsville, Maryland
eatyourpizza.com POTOMAC PIZZA
Honey Sriracha (bacon, chicken, onions
and honey sriracha). If the kids turn up
their nose at those, they can choose their
own toppings, some of which are rather
interesting: wing sauce, pineapple and
apples, to name a few.

1103 19th St. NW
Washington DC 20036
571-200-2172 dcpizzaonline.com
Healthy to the Rescue” plate full of apples,
bananas, celery, peanut butter and the like
that no kid in their right mind would order
— but their parents might!
Eleven locations in Washington, D.C.,
Maryland and Virginia
matchboxrestaurants.com Serving up pies since 1978, Potomac Pizza
has firmly established itself as a beloved
family restaurant — and a favorite
birthday party venue. As far as pizzas go,
most kids will love Amanda’s Original
cheese and tomato pizza, though there are
plenty of more daring options, including
the Ultimate Potomac, with anchovies,
Canadian bacon, peppers, ground beef,
mushrooms and Italian sausage. Whew!
Ask the kids over dinner if they know the
restaurant’s founder, Adam Greenberg
— aka the “Pizza Man.” He gives pizza
demonstrations at elementary schools
throughout the region, showing kids how
to make pizza while teaching them about
cleanliness in the kitchen.

Locations in Chevy Chase, College Park,
Middle River, Potomac Promenade and
Traville Village Center
potomacpizza.com WashingtonFAMILY.com 11