Isola Pizza Bar

While Buon Appetito holds the red-sauce line and Herb & Wood treats vegetables like gallery installations, Isola splits the difference—this is pizza made with Neapolitan technique but served in sleek, marble-topped surroundings where wine pairings matter as much as the crust. The dough earns consistent praise for its structure, though the thin center divides loyalists: some call it authentically charred and blistered, others find it borders on soggy under heavier toppings. If you're ordering loaded pies, request extra time in the oven—the kitchen will oblige.

The white pizza gets repeat orders for good reason, leaning on quality mozzarella and herb oil rather than tomato to carry the flavor. Start with the burrata salad dressed in basil oil—it's the kind of simple opener that proves ingredients matter more than complexity. The wine list runs deeper than most pizzerias bother with, making this a legitimate date-night option rather than just a casual slice stop.

Service hits warmly here, with staff who engage without hovering, though you'll want to scan your glassware before the first pour—quality control occasionally slips on the barware. The contemporary space transitions easily from weeknight family dinner to cocktail-hour meetup, with outdoor tables catching the India Street passeggiata energy. Reservations recommended for prime dinner slots, though the bar accepts walk-ins if you're willing to perch. Park in the nearby structure off Kettner and walk the two blocks—street parking on India turns into a scavenger hunt after 6pm.

This isn't chasing Neapolitan orthodoxy or reinventing the wheel. It's what happens when Little Italy's pizza tradition gets filtered through wine-bar aesthetics, landing somewhere between neighborhood regular and special-occasion worthy.