We opened Pizzeria Paradiso so we could make the kind of pizza we longed for but couldn’t find in the DC area; the kind of pizza where the crust was the most important part. To create that pizza, we start with a wood-burning, domed, stone oven able to cook at a temperature of 650 degrees and above. Then we placed the oven at the heart of the restaurant so our guests would feel the warmth and comfort of its glow. 

Next, we developed dough that would respond to our oven the way we dreamed. We let our dough rise slowly, work it by hand, lightly grace it with the finest quality toppings, finish it with extra virgin olive oil and cook it in our beloved oven.

As Phyllis Richman wrote about us, “[m]aking great pizza isn’t all that difficult. You need good yeast dough – left to rise long enough to develop the flavor. Then a tomato sauce of quality, cheese that’s delicious and fresh herbs from the garden, honest olive oil and vibrant toppings. Plus a good hot wood-burning oven. In other words, all it takes is a commitment to quality. That’s what makes the difference at Pizzeria Paradiso.”

The original Pizzeria Paradiso, located on the second floor of a small townhouse in Dupont Circle, opened its doors in November 1991. The restaurant received immediate critical acclaim and has consistently been ranked among the best dining in Washington, DC.  Since the original location opened its doors, we have opened Pizzeria Paradiso restaurants in Georgetown, DC (2002), Old Town Alexandria, VA (2010; closed 2020), Hyattsville, MD (2017) and Spring Valley, DC (2018). We also relocated our original restaurant to a larger space down the street, complete with a small outdoor patio space.

Founded on the spirit of laughter, Pizzeria Paradiso evokes the warmth one feels in the home of a close friend. Founder and Chef/Owner Ruth Gresser’s vision of Pizzeria Paradiso during its formation was of her standing near the kitchen laughing with her co-workers. The notion of creating a nice, respectful and positive place to work is the bedrock of Pizzeria Paradiso, guiding the staff and transferring to our customers. At Pizzeria Paradiso, the people in our community change but the feeling our community creates remains true to Founder Ruth Gresser’s vision. Come enjoy with us!