okay long overdue but I still think about this place a month later so.
was in town for an engagement shoot (photographer coming from DC), brutally hot day, near Columbia. the Asian spot next door said they were open then told me the whole staff was on lunch break after I walked in. cool. so I wandered into Niccolo Pizzeria out of desperation and it ended up being one of my best food experiences in the city.
Cleber the owner had me from the jump. warm authentic energy, not the overpowering kind. could tell he owned it before I even knew bc he's SO invested. he put me onto a focaccia sandwich I'd never order at a pizzeria and deadass one of the freshest focaccias ever, crispy outside, fluffy light chew, hot honey, top tier meat. plus plus rec and he still went further.
no formal customer bathroom bc of the space so he let me step behind to wash my hands and said all his customers are family. he wants it to feel like home not a restaurant and it did. gave me a larger than usual sized sampler of his passion fruit gelato bc of the heat (so good, you can taste the passion), replaced my Coke when it fizzed over, handed me a cold water for the walk. if I wasn't rushing I'd have stayed all day.
interesting background too, worked in other hospitality industries before this and you can feel the fire. warm Italian dad energy (idk if he's even Italian but that's the vibe don't kill me 🙈). neighborhood clearly loves him. and the ingredient care is next level, he leaves bags of the Italian wheat he imports out in the guest area so people know what's going into their food.
food phenomenal, service A++. as a certified foodie this is a mom and pop shop that gets it. Cleber you gained a customer for life, bringing all my friends next time. ty for treating a random sweaty photographer like family.