"Italian owners Antonio Matarazzo and Matteo Venini brought this bright, counter-service place to the Union Market neighborhood in 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 Northern Virginia locations in the Village at Shirlington and Tysons, too. Know before you go: Some locations offer a grab-and-go market" - Tierney Plumb
"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
"Head to the Italian pizza chain for Euro Cup and Copa América games, when it’s always happy hour (as well as 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) on weekdays. The $25 game-day special includes a drink, pie, an arancini ball, and more." - Vinciane Ngomsi, Tierney Plumb
"Stellina’s pizza is thin with a crispy crust and creative topping combinations like salame, red onion, black pepper, honey, and calabrian peppers. There are two different locations, but you should go to the Mt. Vernon Triangle spot to watch the pizzas get rolled out and tossed in the oven from front-row seats. This location also has a special waffle menu, and bright red diner-style seating that makes for a fun dinner with friends." - tristiana hinton
"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