Piola

Trying something different for our June Pizza 'Pinion review... a video! Let us know what you think of what we thought of Piola 14th St.

Menomale

What: Menomale

When: November 13, 2014

Where: 2711 12^th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017

As the newest member of Pizza ‘Pinions I was tasked with the write up for Menomale. First, I must thank the ladies for welcoming me into this pizza-worshipping group. I mean, who wouldn’t want to gobble some delicious pizza while chit chatting with four awesome chicks?

So, back to the task at hand – Menomale. Located in NE DC, this pizza joint sits on the bottom level of two row houses. As it was dark and raining outside when I arrived, I didn’t spend much time taking the lay of the land but Menomale seems to be nestled into what is predominately a residential neighborhood. Upon entering, you can’t help but notice the epic pizza oven to your right. If you’re an oven connoisseur be sure to stop in and check out this 6,000 pound, hand-built, wood-burning mammoth. It will not disappoint. 

To reach the bar and seating area, bust a quick left through the open doorway. Since I arrived about ten minutes late Jenn, Courtney, and Catherine had already snagged some seats at the bar for us. Becky was right on my tail, arriving a couple of minutes later. The seating capacity inside is pretty minimal so we ended up getting a couple of drinks while we waited for a table to open up. Be sure to take a look around and pay close attention to the wall that houses a miniature scene depicting what I can only interpret as a pizza wonderland.

At long last, a table opened up. We got right down to business and started selecting some pizzas to order. In true rookie fashion, I began to pepper the group with questions about the Pizza ‘Pinions process. After a mini lesson and a brief discussion, we decided on four pizzas: Margherita, Quattro Formaggi, Brooklandissima, and the Di Ettore (Chef’s Special).

I was immediately impressed with the presentation when the pizzas came out. This is in large part due to the scissors that accompanied the pizzas. Apparently, true Neapolitan pizza is never sliced. You learn something new every day, right? Eager to try this new pizza cutting skill, I grabbed the Di Ettore and cut away. These tools work surprisingly well and serve as an ode to the authenticity of this restaurant.

Alright, now to the actual point of this blog. Critique time:

Crust

The group consensus was a big thumbs up on the crust. Becky said she “…really enjoyed the crust. It had a good texture, soft but not too chewy.” She even went as far as to say it was the best crust yet. Jenn and Courtney were questioned on their approval of the crust because they left some remnants behind. We were assured this was purely a strategic move, so they could continue eating slices without getting too full.

My only complaint would be that the pizza is a bit floppy. To rectify this problem, try folding the pizza in half for a little more stability.

Sauce

I’ll admit, I dropped the ball on listening to the group’s feedback on the sauce. Since I can’t remember any specific comments, I am going to make the assumption that it was neither spectacular nor terrible. A solid, middle-ground sauce. The next time I have to do the write up, I’ll take better notes.

              

Toppings

Our assessment on the toppings was a mixed bag. Individual comments about the toppings are below with the ratings.

Margherita

Becky – ¼ pie

Catherine – ¼ pie

Courtney – 1 slice (Courtney was not impressed with the Margherita, the flavors were mediocre.)

Jenn – ¼ pie

Laura – ¼ pie

Quattro Formaggi (½ with Gorgonzola Cheese, ½ without)

Becky – 1 slice (Becky discovered she does not like Gorgonzola cheese after eating this pizza.)

Catherine – 1 slice (Catherine knew she didn’t like Gorgonzola cheese hence the ½ without, however this pizza still did not impress.)

Courtney – 1 slice

Jenn – 1 slice

Laura – 1 slice (Goat cheese was my favorite flavor on this pizza.)

Brooklandissimi

Becky – ½ pie

Catherine – 1 slice (Catherine did not like the peppers.)

Courtney – ½ pie

Jenn – ½ pie

Laura – ¼ pie (Strong garlic taste but did not take away from the overall flavor of the pizza.)

Di Ettore

Becky – ½ pie (Becky really liked the prosciutto di parma and arugula.)

Catherine – ¼ pie

Courtney – ¼ pie (Courtney did not like the prosciutto di parma.)

Jenn – ¼ pie

Laura – ½ pie [sans prosciutto] (My favorite pizza of the night. Thought the flavors were good and the arugula added the perfect touch of freshness.)

Overall, this is a great pizza place that has both authenticity and character. There is a lot of hype about Menomale, which our group agreed and disagreed with on certain aspects. It’s definitely worth a trip out to NE to make your own assessment.