Arlington’s Colony Grill: Your New DMV Pizza Spot

As Covid-19 continues to be our nation’s biggest health concern, local restaurants are able to operate with indoor dining at reduced capacity. But many people still prefer to support the restaurant industry from afar by taking their meals to go. One of the easiest, and arguably favorite, foods to take away is pizza. And now, DMV residents have a new pizza place to frequent for dinner at home or out.

In late October, Arlington residents were treated to the opening of a new pizza spot: Colony Grill. The Connecticut-based franchise originally opened in 1935 as a post-Prohibition tavern in an Irish neighborhood, and while the original owners were of Irish decent, their Italian and Eastern European chefs introduced their “bar pie” pizza.

The pizza recipe was a hit, and Colony Grill became synonymous with the bar pie, eventually reducing their menu to include nothing else. Colony Grill is so committed to their pizza that they even serve breakfast pies on the weekends – up your brunch game by ordering a sausage, egg and cheese pizza to go with your mimosas.

Colony Grill’s signature bar pie is unlike any pizza I have had from other local pizza places or chains. The crust is extremely thin and topped with a light smattering of sauce and cheese, allowing the flavors of your other toppings to really stand out. Patrons have a dozen toppings to choose from, allowing them to truly make their bar pie unique.

One topping no one should skip out on is Colony Grill’s signature hot oil. Drizzle this hot pepper-infused oil all over your pizza to transport your taste buds. The hot oil is just the right amount of spice, adding flavor without setting your mouth on fire. Once you’ve had pizza with hot oil, it’s hard to go back.

The chain’s Arlington location has a separate entrance for customers taking their orders to go, ensuring you are distanced from those dining inside. I personally kept my order simple, only getting hot oil and sweet peppers as my toppings. Because it was cold and windy, I took my pizza home, but during spring or summer, I probably would have taken it and eaten at a nearby park while taking in the views.

I would suggest reheating your pizza before enjoying it, because even if you’re a fan of cold pizza, the bar pies really shine when fresh out of the oven. I paired my pizza with an affordable Chianti, a classic that can never go wrong. Because the pizza crust is so thin, you can eat a lot more before getting full. If you’re sharing, or if you just love a good pizza, I definitely suggest ordering a couple of pies so that you don’t run out of slices.

Check out Colony Grill’s menu at www.colonygrill.com. Stay connected by following them on Instagram @colonygrill, Twitter @colonygrill1 or the Arlington location’s Facebook @colony-grill-arlington.

Colony Grill: 2800 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.colonygrill.com // 703-682-8300. 

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