With two Neapolitan pizza ovens (lovingly called "the doppio beasts") stoked with wood and training from the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana of Naples, Italy, Mozzeria has become DC's most Italian pizzeria yet.
But the best part of this pizzeria, which is less than a month old, are its self-proclaimed love languages: Neapolitan pizza and American Sign Language. Beyond airy crusts and molten mozzarella just out of the oven, the ambiance of Mozzeria feels inviting for all customers, especially those who are deaf, because it was designed that way.
(ph credit: Ron Ngiam, Courtesy of CORE architecture + design)
“Unlike “hearing” culture, which is sound-based, Deaf culture is predominantly based on visual, spatial, and tactile communication and cues,” said Mozzeria. “In fact, studies have shown that Deaf people have heightened peripheral vision.”
The staff at Mozzeria in Washington are deaf or hard of hearing and speak American Sign Language. The service is exceptional, highly visual, and immersive for those who don’t sign.
(ph credit: Samuel Sandoval, Courtesy of CORE architecture + design)
“Need another napkin? Just wave to your server from across the room and gesture. No need to wait for the server to come back to your table. If you don’t sign, no worries!” Mozzeria explained.
Owners Melody and Russ Stein opened the original award-winning Mozzeria – San Francisco’s first deaf-owned and operated restaurant- with the goal of cooking authentic pizza while creating more professional opportunities for deaf people.
(ph credit: courtesy of Mozzeria)
Photo Cover credit: Ron Ngiam, Courtesy of CORE architecture + design