Herndon
Pizzanese
For: globally inspired pizza
13047 Worldgate Drive, Herndon
Gleaming white subway tile. Funky swirling Edison bulbs. Herbs growing from wall planters. Chrome. Wood. Pizzanese brings all the modern restaurant design trends to a Herndon strip mall. It also collects the world’s flavors for personal pizzas. And with Tuesday’s BOGO promotion it’s easy take in a kimchi-chorizo-tandoori sauce pie. Most customers, says owner David Neal, chose to build their own, though there are set pies hinting at international affiliations. The Japanese Terimayo uses teriyaki-spiked mayo and nori flakes, but mozzarella and diced chicken bring you out of the Pacific. The Indian-themed pizza smells vaguely of the subcontinent’s spices, but it features mozzarella when paneer would continue the charade. The crust holds up well to the oven’s 600-degree heat and can handle multiple proteins and sauces, so best to concoct one yourself. This includes a dessert pie that you can load with peanut butter, Nutella and marshmallows.
(July 2014)