Bozzelli’s Deli, 2600 Crystal Drive
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.
Menu: https://www.bozzellideli.com/crystal-city
Suited for: Vegetarians, vegans, omnivores, pizza fans
Ah, pizza. Just the thought of it sets my mouth to watering. And, even if I order a pie for just me, the thought of pizza gives me a feeling of community that I suppose first took root when I was a small child, visiting our beloved Barnaby’s restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida, and enjoying their square slices year after year!
Delivery pizza also entered the lexicon for our family as I grew up in the 1980s, and before too long allegiances were formed (we were a Hungry Howie’s family in the ’90s). For football games, birthday parties, or lazy Friday nights at home, pizza was just a phone call away.
In this age of baking my own pizza crust and trying to eat a bit healthier, ordering pizza hasn’t been as regular of an occurrence as it used to be for me. But recently, I stumbled on Bozzelli’s, and it has quickly become a siren song. LeeLee out of town? Order a 10-inch Bozzelli’s pizza. LeeLee IN town? Order TWO 10-inch pies. Movie night? Order a Bozzelli’s pie. And so on, and so forth. It’s become a bit of a habit, to be honest.
And, pray tell, why not? From all the standard pizzas to ones stationed further afield, you could order from Bozzelli’s twice a week and still not come up with an identical combination for a long, long time.
I first learned of Bozzelli’s during Veganuary this year, and right away it became my go-to choice for vegan pizza. Gone are the days of pizzerias veganizing your order by simply removing the cheese and throwing on a bunch of vegetables. Oh, no. Want a good old-fashioned pepperoni pizza? They have a vegan version. How about vegan ground beef? Vegan sausage? They’ve got those too. Chik’n parm pizza? Yes, that too. Looking for a pie teeming with fresh veggies? The Farm Girl has your back.
My personal favorite go-to order is the Vegan Joe From Jersey, which begins with marinara sauce and is topped with mozzarella, sausage, mushrooms and onions. I could eat it again and again (and have!). Pro tip: Order more than you plan on eating for dinner – it keeps beautifully and makes a great lunch a day or two later.
And there is a “deli” side to Bozzelli’s Deli, as well, filled with such fun options as a vegan meatball sub, a chik’n parm sub, chik’n nuggets and more. Everything holds up well if you choose delivery (which we generally do), so don’t fret.
Alongside the vegan options, vegetarian guests will also find plenty to enjoy. From white pizzas to margheritas to a veggie-heavy variety, there’s a wealth of options without venturing into vegan-cheese territory.
Bozzelli’s is becoming a bit of a pizza empire in the D.C. metro area: With three locations in Virginia and two in the District proper, its reach is fairly expansive. And with a menu like theirs, it’s a well-deserved growth trajectory!
:)