Bar Cotto

"If you’re going to shell out a lot on drinks around Capitol Hill later and want to go easy on dinner, splitting a pizza with friends is a solid plan. At Blotto, you’ll pay less than 10 bucks per person and still might likely leave a straggler slice or two. The excellent New York-style pies here range from a phenomenally done classic cheese to Ezzo pepperoni and castelvetrano olives. Share a caesar too, and don't forget multiple sides of Calabrian chili-vin for dunking your crust ends in." - aimee rizzo, carlo mantuano

"There are business lunches where it makes sense to go somewhere nice and have pasta or a steak. Then there are the business lunches when you just want some pizza, and in that case, go to Bar Taglio. They specialize in Roman-style pizza by the slice, and it’s thick, crunchy, and topped with delicious combinations like salami and Calabrian chile or potato, egg yolk, and guanciale. Sit at the marble bar, get a tart beet salad on the side, and before you know it, those Q2 OKRs will practically write themselves. Try one of their mini 2-ounce martinis if you need some extra inspiration." - aimee rizzo

"Pizza and Salumi at Bar Cotto A neighborhood bar with Italian flair, Bar Cotto offers a carefully edited menu of pizza, vegetables, bruschetta, and local and imported cured meats. The Corona bean and cauliflower salad with currants and rosemary is a must-try, while the creamy richness of fior de latte cheese adds the finishing touch to the Parma pizza (Prosciutto di parma, arugula, fior di latte, tomato). Desserts have unexpected twists, like the warm peach cobbler with polenta streusel. Happy hour is daily from 4–6 p.m. and 10–11 p.m., and features a menu of selected half-price pizzas and salads, plus discounts on wine and beer."