Stellina Pizzeria

"A wood-burning oven, a desire to deliver an authentic Italian experience, and deliciously fluffy pies. That's the secret recipe behind Bib Gourmand Stellina Pizzeria's winning formula. The result is a simple yet effective operation, where pies like savory coppa and creamy Taleggio, along with homemade pastas like cuppo misto, await. Start with the cuppo misto, one of our delicious homemade pastas. For our spicy meat lovers, the picante pizza. For our vegetarian friends, the Basilico pizza. Finish up with some delicious homemade tiramisu and bomboloni. The idea behind Stellina Pizzeria was to deliver authentic gourmet food in an upscale casual environment. We want to be a part of the local community by delivering an Italian experience. It's all thanks to the experienced and talented Chef/owner Matteo Venini!" - Kevin Chau

"If you ever judged Luther Vandross for the whole burger-with-donut-buns situation, be prepared to eat crow. While this Mt. Vernon Stellina Pizzereia isn’t pancaking their juicy patty between Krispy Kremes, they do take two square waffles, stack them with arugula, caramelized onions, thick bacon, and gooey mozzarella cheese, and serve you a burger that will have you eating faster than Jughead. Dip the whole thing in the side of bourbon maple syrup for a little extra sweetness, though it’s delicious all on its own." - tristiana hinton, omnia saed

"Italian owners Antonio Matarazzo and Matteo Venini brought this bright, counter-service place to the Union Market neighborhood in April 2019. Venini’s hit neo-Neapolitan pies — boosted by high-hydration dough and a 48-hour fermentation — include a cacio e pepe variety with pecorino Romano, buffalo mozzarella, and toasted black pepper. Its patio is open on a first-come, first-served basis, along with takeout, delivery, and indoor/outdoor seating from Tuesdays to Sundays. Stellina added a Mt. Vernon Triangle outpost and has a Northern Virginia location in the Village at Shirlington, too." - Tierney Plumb, Eater Staff

"Stellina’s pizza is delicious—thin, crispy crust, topped with carefully curated toppings like the salame, red onion, black pepper, honey, and Calabrian pepper on the Peppertoni. But the Mt. Vernon Triangle location is more than just a pizzeria. It’s also a waffle joint. The restaurant, which inherited a red “Waffle Shop” sign out front, has a special menu dedicated to them. Like the Amburger Waffle, a juicy beef patty that will have you questioning your preconceived notions of burger psychics as you down the bacon-topped delight. Come here with your closest people, because between the cheese and the syrup, things are going to get messy, and you want to be able to enjoy the inevitable dripping and slurping without judgment. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo" - Tristiaña Hinton

"Self-appointed as a "Neo-Neapolitan" style pizzeria, this is a bright spot with a line of of colorful tiles, red stools and a blazing open kitchen equipped with—you guessed it—a wood-burning oven. You may even see Chef/owner Matteo Venini manning this mighty machine, as he is known to turn out pies faster than you can say Margherita. It's simple counter service here, yet those crusts are anything but—imagine a series of well-blistered and delightfully chewy pies, like the savory coppa and creamy Taleggio, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh thyme. The pizza is served whole, but you get to cut it yourself at the table. The light and crisp fritti makes a great start, just as the tiramisu is a fresh, delicious, wallet-friendly finish." - Michelin Inspector