Officina Marketplace

One of the newer additions to the Wharf, this is advertised as a "three level" Italian eatery, but it is actually four. I did take-out from their ground floor marketplace, which has everything from fresh pasta to olives to meat. Half a level up from there is a cafe for a slice of pie (both pizza options were vegetarian) and a drink. Above that is supposedly a mid-range sit-down restaurant and on the top floor is the elegant dining option. I selected from two large rectangular pizzas. They were called pizzas but looked more like oversized focaccia. One was a traditional style -- olive oil, rosemary, rock salt and Romano cheese. The other was covered in plentiful crushed Italian tomatoes with baby basil and the prerequisite olive oil. Both were delightful. The crust appears thick but is actually that fermented dough which produces lots of holes while cooking. The result is a crunchy, crumbly crust which has a touch of tang and doesn't leave you filled up. The toppings were perfect in their flavor and each could be considered a meal in and of itself. If this "first bite" of Officina is any indication, the food here will be great. The "upstairs menus" are not vegetable-forward and look pricey (my downstairs take-out, by comparison, was very reasonable) but one can find meat-free dishes, and, given the nice flavors on the first floor, I'm eager to explore the next level up. Furnishings on the first floor are classy and do a nice job of transporting you to Roma or some other similar venue. As my explorations of the Wharf have not resulted in much success (I was sorely unhappy with Lupo Marino, got sick after eating at Del Mar and found nothing to eat at Kaliwa -- Mi Vida being the only success story), I'm hoping that this gives me a reason to come back.

Marketplace, casual and upscale Italian restaurants, all in the same building
1120 Maine St, SW
https://www.officinadc.com/

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