My favorite two things in this world would have to be pizza and red wine. You can have each on its own or together and the varieties are endless for both. So when I stumbled upon a cute little new bistro in Little Italy, I was thrilled.
Isola is a pizza and wine bar. No two things could be better suited for each other and here they showcase just how well they go together. Nestled in what used to be a hair salon on 1526 India Street, the revamping of the space is perfect. Tall ceilings, modern but comfortable furniture, and a hideaway back patio all remind me of being in a trattoria in the middle of Rome.
The menu at Isola is short and sweet. No fuse here, it is pizza, salads and antipasti. Everything is cooked in their stone wood-burning oven. This place is as authentic as you can get and I just love it. Everything is so fresh, just demonstrating how simple ingredients can create marvelous flavors.
Now as many know, one of my “go to’s” in any restaurant is any appetizer that has burrata mozzarella. I can’t get enough of the creamy texture, and these days so many restaurants are making their own, I love to compare. The handmade version here is served with thick juicy tomatoes, fresh genova basil pesto and just the right amount of extra virgin olive oil. It’s so simple and certainly did not disappoint.
The Fagioli al Fiasco ($8) was another stand out for me. Cannellini beans, fresh herbs and garlic are all tossed with olive oil and red chile. This is a huge crowd pleaser and fabulous with some crusty Italian bread.
The Salumeria section is unique in its own right. Choose from an assortment of different dishes featuring salt-cured meat. Stick with the classic prosciutto di parma and enjoy it with the thick focaccia bread crusted with sea salt.
Pizza is the star here, of course, and boy how they shine. I think I have tried every one on the menu and even some that are not. One is great to share with two people, but with so many great ones to choose from, splurge and get two. Nothing is better than left-over pizza anyway.
I am a certified mushroom lover so the Funghi ($18) is right up my alley. A mixture of beautiful wild mushrooms, mozzarella and tomatoes are all baked and topped with sharp caciocavallo cheese. The sharpness of the cheese and the earthiness of the mushrooms are divine with sweet tomatoes.
The Broccoli Raab ($16) is a classic dish turned to pizza. Bitter broccoli raab and sweet fennel sausage are tossed with chile mozzarella and ricotta salata and baked till crispy and bubbly.
The Al Mare ($15) is loaded with clams, mussels and shrimp and is definitely for the seafood lover.
You can get a traditional plain old cheese pizza too, but I urge you to try something different. I could write something good about each one, they really are that delicious.
With all this great pizza, you need great wine, and they have a great list to choose from. With the brilliant offering of only Italian vineyards, the wines may not be familiar to many but 80 percent of them are served by the glass so you can really experiment.
The list is designated by the varietal to make it easier for the average Joe to understand. Italian wine is not always the easiest to understand due to its many labeling laws. But here they make it friendly and they are always willing to help. I beg of you though, do not order a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc; try an Arneis or Gavi di Gavi.
The reds are just as great and categorized by region and with a good variety of price points. They also feature Rinaldi Winery which is located in Piemonte and owned by the owner’s brother. With seven to choose from, you can’t go wrong.
So the next time you crave the taste of a good pizza, head over to Isola and enjoy it with a glass of wine.
A pizza and wine bar is a beautiful concept and nobody in town is doing it better than Isola.
