Anonymous wrote:You people need to come to Haven Pizza in Bethesda. Just up Wisconsin a ways and SOOOOOO much better than Pete's. SOOO much more like actual New Haven pizza.

Pete's in Columbia Heights is pretty good, but the Tenley location usually burns the pizza and the experience of dining there just sucks.

Been there, done that. Better service yes, better pizza no. And it is about 25% more expensive than Pete's, which is already not cheap. Typical new restaurant in Bethesda that just wants to compete to be the biggest ripoff in the DC metro area.

The crust also gets super hard once it hits the air. Flippin Pizza is better, in terms of chewy/thin crust.

It's a huge PITA. We stopped at the one in Tenleytown Friday and they had a host stand outside the door forcing people to line up. The tables inside were almost empty. Go figure.

Actually, I agree the sodium is seriously high. DH and I joke that whenever we go to Pete's we wind up drinking huge amounts of water that night.

You people need to come to Haven Pizza in Bethesda. Just up Wisconsin a ways and SOOOOOO much better than Pete's. SOOO much more like actual New Haven pizza.

Pete's in Columbia Heights is pretty good, but the Tenley location usually burns the pizza and the experience of dining there just sucks.

I'm the sodium commenter...really, the last time I had it, I felt like the pizza was really salty. Maybe it was just a one-off. I'll see the next time. I lived in New Haven so I love the names of the pizzas and they are good, too.

We got about once a week and I have to say we've never had a problem with service.

The sodium comment is just bizarre - DCUM is getting weirder and weirder.

Wow, OP - you go weekly to Pete's? I like it well enough but I think the sodium would kill me if I went more than once a month.

i've only been to that location once or twice, so i'm curious whether the process is different than the other ones? it seems to work ok in the arlington location (except for the parties that linger for RIDICULOUS lengths of time at the outside tables, but that may be another issue). i love that they chase out table squatters who want to sit at tables long before they order their pizza and through off the timing for everyone. i think the biggest issue is that they are just too small for all the people who want their delicious pizza.

Last night was particularly chaotic and they were yelling at people that they weren't allowed to sit at tables... even though that's how it works most night when it's not busy!

Pete's Apizza is a disaster on nights when there are more than 5 or 6 tables filled-- The no waiters system is a total bust once that place gets halfway full. He just needs to bite the bullet and hire real waiters and COMPETENT hosts. The food runner thing just causes too many mixed up orders.

Fuel in Penn Quarter also has a screwed up counter system.....I'm going to have to go with all trendy pizza places in DC have this.

There was just a public meeting about the location that they are opening on Capitol Hill. It is going to have a huge patio, so maybe this won't be such a problem. If that won't fix it, I hope that someone from the restaurant reads your comment because I am excited about having a Pete's on this side of the city. (We already have a similar place called We the Pizza that has an inconvenient counter pick up system which we also only use for take out. Maybe its a trend.)

I don't have an answer to your question but I will ask this: will you all please stop blocking driveways in the immediate area? How about parking another block away where -I- am 99% certain there are open spots, rather than insisting on being 23 yards closer and having showing a fine screw you attitude to the neighbors.

We love Pete's, as does almost everyone in upper NW and Mont. Co. We go weekly, and every time we go, we brace ourselves for some sort of backward-ass ordering and seating system/protocols they have in place. It never makes sense, and seems different every time we go. What is most shocking is that my DW and I have now been able to say with 99% confidence, that they are losing money by operating things the way they do. The counter system just doesn't work, but because they built it hat way originally, they are unwilling to give up and admit the mistake. Hopefully they will retool soon. We have taken to mostly just carry out, which leaves them without my money from the four beers DW and I would drink if we sat there for the meal with our kids. Alcohol has the best margins. This is only one of he ways we figure they are leaving money on he table by operating the way they do.