Located at 823 South Washington Street in Old Town Alexandria, Faccia Luna is a comfortable and inviting American trattoria that serves excellent wood-fired pizza and Italian fare at reasonable prices.
The concept launched in the late 80's when co-owner Joe Corey and college buddy Bill McFadden decided to fill a gap in Washington, D.C., by opening a much needed pizza joint. Their venture flourished–Alexandria's own Faccia Luna opened in 1996, and has been a neighborhood favorite ever since. Faccia Luna also has sites in Arlington and State College, Pa.
The signature dishes at Faccia Luna are unquestionably the large selection of wood-fired pizzas prepared with high quality ingredients. The Margherita (tomato sauce and cheese) and the Faccia Luna (sausage, mushroom, roasted red peppers) are the top sellers. I was lucky to sample the Trenton Tomato Pie, an "off the menu" special where the cheese is placed on the pie first and followed with a thick spread of savory tomato sauce–quite delicious! One of my personal favorites is the Sopressata, an Italian dry salami and fresh basil pie.
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Other specialties include the selection of agnolotti pasta, made in-house and filled with a variety of ingredients including ricotta and spinach, roasted butternut squash and parmesan, and mozzarella with sun-dried tomatoes. The menu also presents a large selection of salads and sandwiches, including an "authentic Philly cheesesteak."
Joe takes his wine seriously and hand picks each and every bottle. One of his favorites on the menu is a French rosé called Ma Couleur–a crisp and delightful choice. For vino connoisseurs or those, like me, who have never tried rosé, he promises to run a two week special on the Ma Couleur beginning Aug. 15.
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And then there's dessert: You can't miss with what Joe refers to as the "show stopper" chocolate mousse. I happily concur.
Monday nights at the restaurant offer a great deal for couples–two small salads, one 12 inch pizza and two glasses of house wine or two non-alcoholic drinks for $25.25. On Tuesday nights, they offer half priced wine (a red and a white, both chosen by the staff). Be sure to check out their daily lunch and dinner specials.
The restaurant will be participating in Alexandria's Restaurant Week, (August 19th through the 28th) offering dinner for two for $35. The deal includes your choice of one appetizer, two entree selections of pasta or pizza and one dessert from their special menu.
Parking is free in the underground garage behind the restaurant–located through the alley off Jefferson Street. Hours are Monday - Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Thursday - Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. - 10 p.m. Phone: 703-838-5998.
