Zavino Pizzeria and Wine Bar

In other news, I’ll be frequenting the city of Philadelphia for the next few months. It's an amazing food city and I'll be sharing my experiences with you along the way.

Let me begin with my dinner at Zavino Pizzeria and Wine Bar. My friend Alex and I went their to catch up over some pizza and wine. It’s a go-to spot for hers, and I was happy to be able to check out another place in the Center City area. I stuck with my wine (Hacienda Sonoma ’09 Cabernet Sauvignon in case you were wondering), but Alex ordered one of the more unique martinis I’ve come across. It wasn’t as much the drink as it was the garnish - olives stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in proscuitto. Decadent AND you can get your buzz on. It really brings new meaning to the term "liquid dinner."

Zavino’s is known for it’s pizzas, so we ordered two. The Diavalo (Alex's favorite) had a kick with spicy sopressata, fior di latte, crushed tomato, chili flakes, oregano and Parmigiano Reggiano. It was a good contrast to the more mild Poplettini with ricotta-stuffed veal meatballs, fior di latte, crushed tomato, spinach, garlic, and shaved provolone. By now you may be wondering what fior di latte is; I did too.

The food was very good and decently priced (pizzas will run you around $15 a piece). There are a number of appetizers to chose from, including a fine list of cheeses and meats. We ended the meal with a slice of the chocolate mousse cake, garnished with strawberries.

The place is teeny tiny and does not take reservations, so be prepared to wait. Luckily, Philadelphia has grasped the wonderful concept of taking your phone number and calling you when your table is ready, allowing guests to walk across the street and grab a drink without the limitations of a buzzer. Pretty awesome if you ask me (DC restauranteurs - please take note).