Martha Dear - Review - Mt. Pleasant - Washington DC - The Infatuation

"Tucked into a cramped, cave-like space in Mount Pleasant, Martha Dear makes Neapolitan-style pizzas with flavors that are all Greek. The bouncy, beautifully-blistered sourdough crusts have a natural tang that’s noticeable without being overwhelming. They’re a perfect compliment to the boisterously salty cheeses on top, like the brilliant one-two punch of kefalotyri and myzithra on the white pie, punctuated with a sunshine-y squeeze of fresh lemon. Aside from the pizza, you’ll see the whipped feta appetizer on nearly every table, and for good reason. What seems like an unassuming dip on the menu is a revelation when it comes out of the kitchen, thanks to a generous addition of ouzo-spiked glyko portokalaki, a Greek “spoon sweet” made from whole chopped oranges simmered in sugar. It’s meant to be shared, but shouldn’t be. Save your generosity for dessert and split a decadent slice of barely-sweetened chocolate olive oil cake, which is almost as dark as the subterranean spot itself. photo credit: Martha Dear" - Allison Robicelli