Pi Truck DC

This is a review for the newly opened Pi Pizzzeria Restaurant on 9^th and F.
I am a little biased on Pi because I did their lighting design but… the pizza is amayzing! Deep dish crust to die for! Seriously! They also go out of their way to make sure you’re happy. I’ve eaten at the restaurant with friends and my 10yr old and it was good time for all.
I’ve also used their take out service. There are still a few bugs to work out there but they go above and beyond to make things right. Recently I placed an order for pick up later in the day. When I arrived for pick up they did not have my order. The manager came out and told me they woudl get all three large pies ready for me in 15 minutes and the order would be free. I thought that was way above and beyond and really appreciated it. I will definately go there again and again! Love Pi!

Very good pizza and apple pie!!! Yummy in my tummy! LOL. My favorite pizza is the kirkwood.

The Pi truck was retired on July 31, 2012 :-(
Press Release here:

Tried it again. Maybe I’m just vane, but I feel like the Pi Truck guys took note of the suggestion to liven up the tomato sauce, because I had it again and it was great.
Got the special, which must’ve weighed 3lbs. But the toppings, sauce, and crust were all phenomenal. The cheese was present in copious amounts and the veggies were super fresh.
This is one of my favorite trucks now.

When it comes to pizza, I dont like the fancy stuff. Lets keep it simple with rich tomato sauce, lots of cheese & pepperoni. Lets run it down…
–tomato sauce was flavorful with chunks. I liked it.
–cheese was lacking — I thought they couldve shared the love with a lot more cheese.
–pepperoni was nothing special — thin slices, just ok
Overall, I liked the pizza, however, there is a frozen deep dish pizza I buy at Harris Teeter from one of the joints in Chicago that is better than Pis. Seriously!
Id probably try another kind of pie from Pis if I had someone who was also hungry for deep dish pizza with me and was willing to split the cost… or pay for it :)

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But this pizza on the go is a MUST try in the DC Food Truck Rounds!
The GOOD: This 6 slice pie seems like it can feed 14.159 people… This DEEP DISH does weigh almost 5.897 pounds and it is prepared in the classic manner of the sauce on top! How else would you really want it? REALLY good flavor, friendly staff (GO DAWGS), and good variety as well.
The BAD: As this is a food truck, they have to make their rounds thru out the city so it is not always right outside of my office for lunch! BUT, this leads me to my primary point here — These pies (though well worth it) do cost $ 12. For a Food Truck, the PI Truck is on the high side (really, only the Lobster truck is more expensive — also well worth the price).
**GREEN ALERT** — The Pi Truck serves every pizza in a box called the «GreenBox.» This is made of 100% recycled materials and also breaks down easily into 4 plates. This is great for co-​workers who want to go in on a $ 12 pizza together and then eat outside.
Bottom Line: DC is being hit hard with Food Trucks and we must work hard to keep the good ones and to improve the poor ones. The Pi Truck is definitely one that needs to be kept around for a while! Only 4 stars due to the high price (but again, it is worth it as the pizza can either be shared or used for 2 meals).
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I just don’t think I like deep dish pizza. I loved the thicker crust, but I think the filling was too much and tomato sauce too chunky. But just because I did not like it, does not mean it was bad.
I did love the chicken wings — they were huge and perfectly cooked to tenderness, plus just all around delicious. Probably my favorite wings ever. And the owner of the truck was so incredibly friendly. So while the pizza is not for me, I definitely love the concept. And the chicken wings are a must-​try (hence the four stars).

I was walking around the intersection of K, 17^th, and Connecticut and noticed a parade of food trucks. Since I normally work at 3 pm, i don’t get to experience these as a lunch option very often. Today I opted to try Pi and was pleasantly surprised. for $ 12 I got a 9″ pie to share with my friend. I found it to be a unique experience, as I’ve never had the sauce on TOP of the pizza before. I would say it was pretty ingenuitive, because usually the cheese is sliding off the pizza when I bite into it.
The sauce was sweet, coulda used some kick, but the added packets of cheese and crushed red pepper gave it the zing I was lookin for.
My favorite part about the operations of the truck is that the guy who takes the orders stands OUTSIDE the truck with his Ipad and a clipboard. No one is staring down at you from 3 feet above and yelling, «You want WHAT!!!» because the equipment is so loud in their ears.
Pretty good pizza, great service, and a reasonable price. I vote ⁴⁄₅ all day

This is a 4.5 or even a 4.75.
In short, all the hype is warranted.
Let me start this review by saying that I am an East Coaster when it comes to pizza and NYC and Philly-​style pizzas are about the only ones I have ever considered good. I like thin crust, I like a minimal smearing of tomato sauce that must be spicy and complex, there must be lots of stretchy cheese, and it must be fold-​able. THAT is the only pizza in my book.
HOWEVER, I have passed this truck grudgingly so many weeks now that I finally caved. I could not imagine sauce on top of the cheese, I could not imagine how a thick crust could possible be nearly as tasty as a thin one. I could not imagine how cheese smothered in tomato sauce could be nearly as good as tomato sauce smothered in cheese.
But, dammit, this works. It works very well.
I was a whimp. I only had the cheese pizza which is mozzarella, ricotta, and feta (WHO puts feta on a pizza? But it works!). And it was delicious. Everything worked, and even my East Coast sensibilities were overwhelmed by the crust and the thick tomato topping. It was amazing and so very fresh.
Other propers: guy manning the orders was friendly and when he said «It will be ten minutes,» it WAS ten minutes.
Only one, minor (minor) issue: my pizza was lukewarm at best. I know they are trying to deal with multiple orders and everything is delivered fresh but that was a small detraction.
Otherwise, food to value ration is great. This is $ 12 well spent and it will give you, unless you are one of huge appetite, two meals. The pizza also reheats wonderfully.
So, I am a fan. I can’t even believe it myself but, there it is.
GREAT food truck on par with Basil Thyme and Fojol Bros.
Will certainly be back.

This was the first time that I had seen the Pi truck, and I was happy to have another pizza truck option.
I ordered the Southside pizza. The deep crust was great, and the tomato sauce was thick and flavorful. A little too thick actually, as it dominated a modest amount of sausage, green pepper and onion.
Another review noted that their pizza had cooled off before they could eat it. I had a similar experience — my pizza was warm, but far from piping hot.
I love their innovative box which doubles as serving plates and storage.

I had my doubts concerning the a deep-​dish cornmeal crust pizza, but last Friday it was almost 2:00 and I needed something to eat that I could share with my team mates.
Wow! The end-​of-​the-​workweek crusty was thin, it hardly tasted of corn, and it stayed crunchy even under the chunky fresh tomato sauce.
I’ll be back!

Overall, I was impressed. I tried the cheese pizza, which was pretty good. It’s not the best that I’ve ever had, and I was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t a little more cheese, but it’s definitely better than any other deep dish pizza I’ve tried in the DC area.
They’re not lying when they say that the pizza is large enough for two. I had half of mine for lunch and saved the rest for another meal, and it still tasted decent after being reheated. $ 12 isn’t too bad a price, considering how much food you get, and the fact that they take credit cards is a huge plus.
I lucked out, and there was hardly any line thanks to my taking a late lunch, but I can understand how it might get a little long at times. The eight minute wait for the pizza to cook isn’t a bad thing, since it’s proof that the food is fresh, but if you’re in a hurry then it might be an issue.

I would like to say… thank you for always being there at Franklin Square on Fridays.
I know… I know… I have yet to indulge 3.14 pies… I only had it once. It is a shame that I work 1 minute away and only had 1 pie. But let me tell you this, it was the best!
The sauce was succulent… the crust was crispy… and payment was easy (tech savvy, Mr. Jobs: rip: would be proud).
My plan at achieving X, when X has to be greater than pi — 1 (had to type out the words because Unilocal doesn’t allow the greater than character in reviews):
1^st: Relocate to a different side of the building with view of Franklin Square from window. Therefore, on Fridays or any other days I would be able to look out the window and see when the truck starts pulling in.
2^nd: I would then rush downstairs to get my food!
You all might be wondering why my plan involves stalking this food truck? Because some pies tend to be sold out and the line is long! That is why! Stop looking at me like I am crazy. Anywho… I probably can’t relocate but I can make a friend… that happens to have an office with a window directly facing Franklin Square, muahahaha!
I will be back.

Somehow a review for the Pi Truck has eluded me ever since first visiting it back in February when they opened, and recommending it to multiple people since then as one my top favorite food trucks in DC. I’ve been back multiple times because I love their pizza that much, and I really think there aren’t many better deals for a filling lunch in DC. Finally, quality deep dish pizza is available here, and strangely it comes from Saint Louis rather than Chicago.
They usually offer 4 types of pizza each day, 2 being vegetarian and 2 containing meat, but I always go with the Southside option, which is topped with sausage, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, green bell peppers and onions. It’s a perfect mix of meat and vegetable with a really solid sauce accompanying it, and comes to you at just $ 12 for a 9 inch individual pizza. And yes, they bake them all to order, so unlike some other pizza truck in DC, you aren’t given a limp single slice that has been sitting in a heating oven for who knows how long. As of my last visit they were also giving out mini packets of crushed red pepper and parmesan with each pizza, a very nice extra touch.
Personally, I think this pizza could last you for 2 meals and in fact the first time I ate here that’s exactly what I did. It’s already cut into 6 slices for you, so I had 3 the first day for lunch and 3 the next and I was quite satisfied each day. You could probably finish the whole thing as one meal if you wanted, I know I have before, but that just made me fuller than was really necessary and I only did it because I had to be somewhere after that had nowhere to safely store and remainder. At $ 6 per serving for really delicious pizza I find it hard to put anything else above this in food truck quantity/​quality value.
One of the really neat things that I initially liked about the Pi Truck seems to have been cut out though. If you look at my older pictures you’ll see they used to have a 100% recycled box that could break down and seemingly «transform» into another shaped container designed perfectly for leftovers without having to keep a huge clunky square box in your fridge. I’m guessing the costs of these must have been too great to keep using, which is a shame. Still, unless you’re a total batshit hippy that’s no reason not to visit this truck and escape the grasp of the limp crust pizza that exist everywhere else in DC.

Arteries be damned! This pizza is good!
So much can be said about personal preference with pizza; but holistically, pizza is just a balance of simple ingredients harmonized in the oven.
Pi Truck executes an astonishingly delicious pizza, food truck or otherwise. There are no unnecessary extravagances, just simple, delicious ingredients baked perfectly crisp in the back of the Pi Truck.
The first thing to catch my attention was the inviting aroma of garlic and basil; I was taken hostage by the quintessential smells of an old fashioned mom-​and-​pop pizzeria… once you catch a whiff of this pizza you are powerless, the pizza has chosen you as its next $ 12 victim.
A crispy cornmeal crust is built sturdy enough for you to stuff your face-​hole with all the deep dish ingredients without the need to resort to eating your pizza like a pretentious European with a fork and knife.
You can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas they serve, and don’t be alarmed by the $ 12 price; it’s a generous portion.

Went with my pizza club. I thought it was bomb. Great tangy sauce. Ingredients tasted good and hearty. Great crust and not too heavy for deep dish. It’s true, you can share the pizzas.
I tried each one except for the plain cheese. I was the only one in my group that was quite as enthusiastic about the overall quality. One complaint my group had the different types tasted similar. Yes, because 70% of the ingredients are the same, the pizzas taste similar. There are no white pizzas or funky varieties… but its great.
The most similar thing you can get in DC is Uno’s and Armand’s. I think its far better, probably because the size of the operation.

I don’t know, you guys. I was not blown away by the pizza here.
My coworker and I went to Pi Truck and split a «Western addition” – I think it’s spinach, mozzarella (a teeny tiny bit), mushrooms, and caramelized onions.
Couple complaints:
1) $ 12 is expensive, especially for pizza.
2) Why are whole pies the only option? I think it’s an awkward amount – a full pizza’s too much, half a pizza’s not quite enough (though after taking another look at my rapidly-​expanding waistline, maybe that’s not such a bad thing)
3) their wait is just ridiculous – first to order, then to wait for the pies
4) I was not a fan of the saucy-​covered-​ness of the pie. Maybe it’s because I just came back from Italy, but I couldn’t get over how the sauce tasted like it came right out of a jar. All the other toppings were completely lost in it, too.
One plus: I did like the cornmeal crust – it gives it a little texture, and doesn’t taste quite as doughy as some other thick crust pizzas do (in the best way possible). I don’t typically like crusts, but this one I ate gladly. But perhaps that was because I was still hungry?
Anyways, this review sounds harsh – but honestly, the pizza here is fine. It’s nothing to write home about – but you can’t really go dreadfully wrong ordering from here.

Oh, hello food coma! I only ate half my pizza and was super full. When they say their pizza feeds two, they mean it! Now, Pi Truck is not to be confused with Dangerously Delicious Pies. Two totally different enterprises, albeit a bit similar with their bad-​ass pi attitude. Pi Truck specializes in deep dish pizza pies, your choice of 4 types for $ 12 a pop. That might seem a bit pricey, but really, one can only eat half the pie in one sitting, so you’re getting 2 for the price of 1 since your lunch will also be your dinner.
I had the Western Addition, which contains spinach, feta, mozzarella, mushrooms, onions. Very flavorful and fresh tasting. My super picky friend was raving about their plain cheese, so take note that this is a great place to bring somewhat unadventurous eaters. Between the yummy pies and perfect weather in Farragut Square, we were happy campers.
One tip: be sure you are getting into the correct line when you go to the Pi Truck. We wasted about 10 minutes in the ‘wait for your pizza order line’ instead of the ‘waiting to order’ line. Oh, and the guys who work the truck are very cute and nice. Nice perk that makes paying $ 12 a little easier.

A taste of STL in DC. I’m not sure how long I lived in DC before I knew that Pi had a location here, but ever since I’ve been meaning to get over to Penn Quarter to get a reminder of home. The only problem is I haven’t found the time to make the trek over there to do so. To the rescue: The Pi Truck DC!
Sidebar: For those of you in DC who have no idea what I’m talking about, Pi is originally from St. Louis. Pi (3.14) is a fitting name for a food establishment from St. Louis, since St. Louis’ area code is 314. Get it? Anyway during the 2008 Presidential campaign, President Obama raved about Pi on a trip to St. Louis and the place took off, which is probably why there is a location now in Washington DC.
Back to the food: Pi serves up Chicago style pizza, deep dish crust, lots of toppings, and covered in tomato sauce. What Pi does differently is the crust. They make it with cornmeal, which gives it a distinct nutty flavor. This is not lost via food truck. I ordered the Southside which contained sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and onions basically my standard pizza toppings. Just as I expected Pi did not let me down. Is the crust a bit thinner then you’d find in the restaurant? It sure is, but you have to remember this is a food truck, where time is money. Small alterations to make a product quicker does not diminish the food that much.
For $ 12 Pi will serve you up more then enough for lunch. You may end up finishing your personal pizza at your desk or taking it home that night. If you see PI on your block, be sure to try some of the best that the midwest has to offer.

Went today to celebrate Pi Day!!! (March 14 ie 3.14) They had a deal wherein pizzas are $ 3.14. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. So me and my two cohorts went and strategized. We were all on different sides of McPhearson Square (the Lobster Truck incident showed me that people don’t mess around). And went it arrived it was like the Flight of the Bumblebee. I got a little scared. So we were 25ish in line…
Pizza was GREAT! It is an upside down pizza! Cheese at the bottom, veggies and such in the middle and then tons of delicious chunky marinara sauce on top. I got the Beltway. And my oh my. The feta cheese, zucchini, olives and basil was a melody in my mouth. I could only eat two slices, which just means delicious leftovers later. Deep dish makes for a lot of food. Also I really like their inventive cornbread crust– adds a bit of sweetness.
Memorable Moments:
In the very long line for pizzas at the Pi Truck. Woman and man are standing in front of us. Woman is opening the box to admire her pizza, but the weight of the pizza is making it wobbly.
Man: «This is not a game!!! Stop playing Russian Roulette with your pizza!!! Geez!!!»
So. Very. Funny.